Gambling is as old as mankind. There is evidence of cavemen betting using dice made from ankle bones. Ancient Romans created lotteries, and Confucius recorded that a gambler who couldn’t pay his debt would lose his arm to his opponent.

Penalties aren’t as harsh nowadays, and millions of people enjoy games of chance each year, often in casinos where craps, blackjack, poker and roulette tables share space with rows of slot machines. Sports betting also commands a large following in Nevada’s casinos and at horse and greyhound tracks across the country.

Las Vegas is the reigning monarch of gambling, although Macau is poised to take that title, with the world’s largest casino (by far) already open and a host of new casino resorts in the works. Atlantic City is another major draw stateside, and great gambling can also be found in France, Australia and the Bahamas.