From opulent furnishings to overflowing bars, these temples of temptation elevate gambling to an art form. In these ten temples, players can try their luck at games of chance such as roulette, craps, blackjack, and poker.

Modern casinos are like indoor amusement parks for adults, but they wouldn’t exist without the billions of dollars in profits raked in by their games of chance. Slot machines, blackjack, poker, baccarat, and other gambling games are responsible for the majority of the revenue. Other attractions include musical shows, lighted fountains, shopping centers and lavish hotels.

Casinos use technology to monitor their customers and their games. They have video cameras everywhere on the premises, and the machines themselves are highly monitored for statistical deviations from expected outcomes. They also have chips that are linked to the computer systems on each table, allowing casinos to oversee how much is wagered minute by minute and alert them immediately of any anomalies; roulette wheels are electronically monitored to discover any statistical deviation from their expected results as well.

In addition to these technological measures, casinos make an extra profit from compulsive gamblers, who generate a significant portion of the casino’s revenue (and cost a substantial amount in treatment and lost productivity). However, studies show that the net value of a casino to a community is negative, owing to losses from local entertainment and the indirect costs from problem gambling.