Though lady luck may not always shine upon you, gambling is the reason Las Vegas exists and no visit is complete without placing at least one bet. So whether it’s slots, blackjack, poker, craps, baccarat, roulette, keno, bingo or sports betting that strikes your fancy, get your gaming on at one of these casinos that stand out from the competition.

High rollers gravitate to the luxurious casinos at the Wynn and the Bellagio Hotels where $100 minimums on table games are the norm in the public areas while private salons provide the privilege of placing up to $1000 bets on roulette, baccarat and blackjack. Other upscale choices although with table minimums in the less stratospheric range are the Venetian where you ante up under ornate frescoed ceilings, the sleek and contemporary Mirage which features extensive non-smoking areas unlike many other casinos and Caesars Palace, the Vegas classic where you can break the bank surrounded by a riot of excess that includes marble arches and faux Roman statuary.

There’s something for everyone at the MGM Grand, the largest casino in the world with four Hollywood themed gambling areas complete with almost 4,000 slots and 150 tables plus an enormous adjacent amusement park where you can let the kids loose to do their own kind of gaming. Families also flock to the Circus-Circus where the kids are entertained by big top acts, clowns and the Adventuredome Theme Park while parents retreat to a casino with 2,000 slots and every game of chance with limits so low you might not even care if you lose.

The see and be seen crowd favors the Palms Casino with its nightclub vibe and hip hop soundtrack while the Hard Rock Casino attracts the MTV demographic with rock and roll memorabilia and live bands. The Cosmopolitan is the newest trendy casino in town featuring stunning strip views through walls of glass and exclusive private gaming cabanas for groups of friends who want to play among themselves.

Pari-mutuel bettors head to the Mandalay Bay where the plush race and sports book area boasts 300 seats and 17 of largest instant simulcast screens in town. And even non gamblers will want to visit The New York New York and Paris Las Vegas Casinos to experience their amusing and kitschy splendor meant to recreate two of the world’s great cities.

For a taste of old time Vegas get off the Strip and check out the Downtown casinos like the Golden Nugget, Four Queens and the Horseshoe featuring flashy signage out front and 25-cent roulette and $2 blackjack tables inside. Another casino with ultra low limits is the less flashy Red Rock, the favorite casino of the locals while the Plaza presents the largest bingo and keno parlors in town where a cast of characters from all walks of life waits patiently for their numbers to be called.

You certainly don’t have to be an experienced gambler to appreciate the Vegas casinos. Attractions in their own rights, no visit to Sin City is enjoyably sinful enough without making your pilgrimage and putting down your wager.