A casino is more than just a place to gamble: these opulent establishments offer a luxury experience. Whether it’s the historic elegance of Monte-Carlo or the modern majesty of Singapore, these casinos impress from every angle.

The word casino is derived from the Latin for “town hall,” and originally referred to any public hall for music or dancing. In the second half of the 19th century, it came to mean a collection of gaming or gambling rooms. The first famous casinos were built in Europe, including the Monte Carlo in Monaco, opened in 1863, and still a major source of income for the principality today. Other European casinos include the Hotel Casino de Paris in France, Casino Estoril in Portugal and Corfu’s Casino Royal in Greece.

In the United States, the most famous casinos are in Las Vegas, Nevada and Atlantic City in New Jersey. However, since the 1980s casinos have also appeared on American Indian reservations, where state laws on gambling are less restrictive. Currently, 40 states have some form of legalized casino gambling.

In addition to offering the usual fare of table games and slots, the WinStar World Casino & Resort features several restaurants, including Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill, which serves up down-home cooking and generous portions. Other dining options include Kirby’s Prime Steakhouse and the upscale Wolfgang Puck restaurant. For sports fans, the casino has a large area dedicated to football, baseball and other sports, and there are 60 plasma televisions to watch the action on.