A casino is a gambling establishment where people gamble for cash or chips. Some casinos also offer table games, like blackjack and roulette, where players compete against the house rather than each other. Other casinos offer a variety of electronic gambling machines, such as video poker and slot machines. A casino may be operated by a hotel, resort, or private company.

The glitzy casinos we visit on our weekends out aren’t just designed to be beautiful; they’re carefully engineered to trick us into gambling the night away. From dazzling lights to funky smells, casinos use psychology to make us spend more and crave coming back even when we’re losing money.

Casinos were once the exclusive playground of European royalty and aristocracy, but today they’re a global industry that lures high-rollers from all over the world. From Las Vegas to Macau, the world’s biggest casinos dazzle with their size, style and spectacle. From a colossal chandelier to one-of-a-kind art collections, these casinos are truly mesmerizing.

Whether you’re a fan of gambling or just interested in its history, these spectacular casinos are sure to leave an impression. The elegant spa town of Baden-Baden first opened its doors to Europe’s elite 150 years ago, and while the casino has since changed hands many times it still reflects its old-world heritage with red-and-gold poker rooms and a plethora of blackjack and roulette tables.

As a result, it’s easily one of the best casinos in the world, if not the best. Its sprawling casino covers 165,000 square feet and features a two-tier gaming floor with more than 1,000 slot machines and 26 table games. The complex also houses a contemporary art gallery, three restaurants and a flexible auditorium for live performances.

The largest casino in the world is actually located in Ledyard, Connecticut. Despite the popular image of the Las Vegas strip as America’s only top-notch casino, it’s actually the state’s second-largest, with a whopping 3,300 slot machines and 600 table games spread across more than 100,000 square feet of space. Guests can enjoy everything from a luxury spa to gourmet food and exciting shows at this incredible property.

Other than being a great place to play your favorite casino games, these casinos are also beautiful buildings and have plenty of entertainment for non-gamblers as well. Check out these incredible casinos for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

While most casino visitors don’t think about how the building was designed, every detail is meant to influence them and keep them gambling the night away. For example, a study from the Journal of Behavioral Addictions found that people who gambled while listening to low-tempo music stayed at the casino longer than those who played in the presence of high-tempo music. Casinos also rely on scent to keep people in the gambling mood, wafting scented oils throughout their ventilation systems. The effect is supposed to evoke feelings of bliss and make the players feel relaxed and happy, which keeps them coming back for more.