Whether in Las Vegas, Monaco or Singapore, the world’s most exclusive casinos offer high-glamour thrills for those willing to splash the cash. Featuring opulent suites, spas and fine dining alongside roulette wheels and blackjack tables, these luxury gambling hubs take the term “high-roller” to new heights.

Gambling has been part of human culture for millennia. Archaeological records show the use of dice as early as 2300 BC, while playing cards arrived around 500 AD. Today, casinos are found in nearly every country that allows them, and the United States leads the pack with more than 2,147 casinos.

Casinos have built-in advantages to ensure their profitability. Regardless of the game or the amount of money a patron wagers, the house will ultimately win. To reduce the edge, casinos impose betting limits on games, ensuring that a patron will not win more than a specified amount. They also monitor the results of games, and if an outcome falls outside of expected norms they will take steps to prevent that game from being played in their casino.

Modern casinos heavily employ technology to improve security and monitor gambling activities. Known as chip tracking, this system allows casinos to watch betting chips’ microcircuitry and instantly discover any anomalies. In addition, casinos will monitor the results of each spin of a roulette wheel or roll of the dice and alert staff if an outcome deviates from its expected average. Lastly, most casinos will have security forces and a specialized surveillance department that patrols the property to look for suspicious or definite criminal activity.