casino

/kah-SEE-noh/

casino

A close-up view of a rectangular green felt poker table covered in colorful stacks of gambling chips and a few playing cards.

The primary meaning of casino is a gambling establishment.

casino(noun)

mB1

casino

gambling establishment

Also:

gaming house

formal term for gambling location

📝 In Action

Perdió todo su dinero en la mesa de ruleta del casino.

He lost all his money at the casino's roulette table.

Fuimos a Montecarlo solo para ver los casinos famosos.

We went to Monte Carlo just to see the famous casinos.

Word Connections

Synonyms

sala de juegos (game room)

Common Collocations

ir al casino – to go to the casino
dueño del casino – casino owner

💡 Grammar Points

Gender Note

Even though it ends in '-o', which is typical for masculine words, remember the article: 'el casino'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Pronunciation Tip

The stress is on the middle syllable (ca-SI-no), pronounced similarly to the English word but with a clear Spanish 's' sound.

An interior scene of a quiet, elegant social club room featuring comfortable armchairs, a small wooden table, and a fireplace.

Less commonly, casino can refer to a social club or private recreational center.

casino(noun)

mC1

social club

private society or recreational center

Also:

gentlemen's club

historical exclusive club

📝 In Action

El viejo casino del pueblo organiza bailes todos los sábados.

The town's old social club organizes dances every Saturday.

Mi abuelo solía leer el periódico en el casino antes de almorzar.

My grandfather used to read the newspaper at the club before lunch.

Word Connections

Synonyms

club social (social club)
centro recreativo (recreational center)

❌ Common Pitfalls

Context Confusion

Mistake: "Using 'casino' to mean 'social club' in a modern, international context (e.g., describing New York City)."

Correction: Use 'club social' or 'centro comunitario' unless you are specifically referring to a historical building or region where this usage is known (like parts of Spain).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: casino

Question 1 of 2

Which Spanish phrase means 'to go to the gambling establishment'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

casa(house) - noun

casita(small house) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'casino' only used for gambling in Spanish?

No. While its main modern use is for a gambling establishment, in some regions, especially historically in Spain, it still refers to a non-gambling community center or social club. Context usually makes the meaning clear.

How do I know if the word refers to gambling or a social club?

Look at the context. If the sentence mentions cards, poker, money, or roulette, it means gambling. If it mentions dances, reading the newspaper, or community meetings, it likely means a social club.