# casino

/kəˈsinoʊ/ (US) · /kɐsˈiːnəʊ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/casino
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. gambling house

noun · CEFR B1

a building or room where people gamble and play games like poker or roulette for money.

For teachers: a public building or establishment where various forms of gambling are conducted.

- They spent the evening at the casino playing blackjack and watching the show.
- The city's economy relies heavily on the revenue generated by the luxury casinos along the waterfront.

### 2. card game

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a card game for two to four players, usually spelled 'Cassino'.

For teachers: a fishing-style card game, typically for two to four players, involving capturing cards from a layout on the table.

- My grandfather taught us how to play casino during the long summer afternoons.
- In the traditional game of casino, the ten of diamonds is a particularly valuable card for scoring points.

Usage: Often spelled with a double 's' to distinguish it from the gambling establishment.

Teaching tip: This is a niche sense; most modern speakers will only know the gambling meaning.

### 3. pleasure house

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

a small house or summer home, especially in Italy, used for relaxing.

For teachers: a small country house or lodge designed for pleasure or leisure. This sense reflects the word's Italian origin before it became associated primarily with gambling.

- The old casino in the garden was once a place for music and dancing.
- The estate featured a charming eighteenth-century casino, originally built as a private retreat for the count's guests.

Teaching tip: Use this only when discussing historical Italian architecture or literature.

## Examples

- The group spent the evening playing cards at the local casino.
- Many cities rely on the tax revenue generated by a large casino to fund public infrastructure projects.
- The rise of digital platforms has forced the traditional casino industry to innovate, blending physical luxury with high-tech gaming interfaces to retain its high-rolling clientele.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.