A casino is a gambling establishment that has games of chance and pays out winnings in money. Casinos are typically built near or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, cruise ships, and other tourist attractions. In military and non-military usage, a casino or kasino may also refer to an officers’ mess.
The term casino has come to mean a lavish, glamorous venue that is the center of attention and a magnet for wealthy people from around the world. But a casino is really just a place to gamble, and there are many less lavish places that could still be called casinos. The elegant spa town of Baden-Baden, Germany is one such example. Its casino, which opened in 1872, first attracted royalty and aristocracy from across Europe. But nowadays, it caters to a more diverse crowd, with dozens of blackjack and roulette tables and red-and-gold poker rooms.
