You can feel the energy and excitement the minute you step foot inside a Toronto area casino. Since the mid 90's millions of residents and tourists have enjoyed all the challenges and thrills that come with the casino experience in the Greater Toronto Area. 

The word Casino is Italian. It comes from the root word "casa" meaning, house. It originally referred to a small villa, but over time the word changed to mean a structure built for pleasure. 

In the 19th century casino came to include any kind of event that involved music, dancing and gambling. Today Canada has casinos in over 20 major markets including the Toronto area. 

Casino's in Toronto fall under the jurisdiction of Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).  Established in the late 90's, the AGCO makes sure that the sale and consumption of alcohol is conducted properly and that casino gaming is carried out in a way that is socially and financially responsible. 

Although there isn't a commercial casino located in Toronto's downtown core, there are casinos on the outskirts of the city that are known around the world as premier spots to try your luck at games like roulette, blackjack and slots. 

Casino Rama is often referred to as Toronto's Casino. It is located just a short drive north of the city and is Ontario's only First Nation's commercial casino. 

Rama has built a strong reputation around gambling, entertainment, dancing, dinning and excellent service. The casino draws some pretty big acts like, KISS, Michael Bolton, and Foreigner; to name a few. 

A special rotunda links Rama Casino to a luxury hotel for those who wish to spend the night before heading back to Toronto. The suites have been described as plush and spacious. 

They naturally are accented with native artwork. For more information on casino Rama go to www.casinorama.com.

Tourists visiting the city of Toronto will often take day trips to places like Niagara Falls. In Niagara there are two casinos for your enjoyment, Casino Niagara and Fallsview Casino. 

Located near the famous Clifton Hill is Casino Niagara. Here they cater to every level of gambling enthusiast from long-time players to newcomers. During the week they even have "learn to play" sessions. 

Just 5 minutes drive away and overlooking Horseshoe Falls is Fallsview Casino. It is considered one of the most elegant casino's in the country. Visit www.fallsviewcasinoresort.com for details.

All Charity Casinos in the province are regulated by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. The OLG monitors activity at the facilities, as well as handling all other forms of gambling in the province on Ontario related to charity. The OLG is also in charge of slot machines at commercial casinos in throughout the province.

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation have 6 Charity Casino's under its jurisdiction. They include: Brantford, Point Edward, Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay, Thousand Islands, and Great Blue Heron Casino. 

Great Blue Heron Casino is less than an hour drive from Toronto; to the northeast is the quaint and picturesque community of Port Perry. Great Blue Heron is situated in First Nations territory, overlooking Scugog Island. 

Although it is described as more intimate than many other casinos in the Toronto area, there are 60 game tables here and well over 500 slot machines. This charity casino also has an award winning buffet restaurant. Check out the casino at www.gbhcasino.com.

The Ontario Lottery Corporation regulates casinos as well as other gambling opportunities such as horse racing, bingo and lotteries. 

They generate close to 4 billion dollars annually in economic activity. Some of the proceeds go towards education, research, prevention and treatment of problem gambling. 

Money also goes to local and provincial charities, to support amateur athletes, as well as to health related programs in the province of Ontario.

If you have never been to a casino, but are interested in giving it a try, Toronto just might be a good place to start. The OLG tries to make it easy for newcomers to not feel intimidated. 

For starters, their website includes a section on how to play certain games. There are interactive tutorials to get you started before you actually hit the casino. 

The charity casinos in the Toronto area also provide opportunities to win prizes like televisions and other valuable products. Visit www.olg.ca for more information.

Whether it is a commercial or charity casino in Toronto, the fun and entertainment is non-stop.