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Casinos around the world attract tourists by offering much more than simply gambling. Many casino hotels and resorts offer up nonstop entertainment, delicious restaurants, sporting events, relaxing spas, plenty of shopping, and luxurious rooms and suites to retire in each night.

Whether you’re into blackjack and slots or not, casinos still offer something for nearly every traveler, and if Southeast Asia, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, and America’s Southwest all have something in common it’s their incredible casinos.

There’s something like 10,000 casinos worldwide, many offering up free perks such as free meals and drinks as well as free casino credit.

To help inspire your next casino holiday, I have rounded up the world’s top 10 casino travel destinations. If you play your cards right, you may just end up paying for your holiday.

Top 10 Casino Travel Destinations

Las Vegas, Nevada

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Let’s start with what has to be the most famous gambling city, Las Vegas. With hundreds of casinos to choose from including some of the world’s most luxurious, the Las Vegas Strip offers up just about every kind of table game and slot machine imaginable.

When you’re not stuffing your face at endless buffets or getting hitched by Elvis, there are performances by leading musicians, electric nightclubs, and first-class shopping to check out. When it comes to where to stay in Sin City, you’ll find the world’s greatest selection of AAA Five Diamond hotels, many of which have featured in countless blockbuster movies.

The Venetian Resort along with The Palazzo Hotel and Casino Resort is the world’s second-largest hotel. Here you can surround yourself in notable recreated Italian landmarks like the Rialto Bridge as you partake in a romantic gondola ride. For those who are gamblers, The Venetian offers up two daily poker tournaments.

Meanwhile, over at the Wynn Las Vegas you can feel the spray of a giant waterfall in the middle of the desert and tee it up at the Wynn Golf Club.

Caesars Palace offers up incredible sports betting, while the Bellagio will captivate you with its famous dancing fountains which put on free daily shows where the jets of water are choreographed to music.

If that wasn’t enough, The Mirage offers up dolphins, tigers, and erupting volcanoes, oh my.

Monte Carlo, Monaco

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While some aspects of Vegas can be a bit trashy, cheesy, or downright sleazy, Monaco is anything but. Monaco and its world-famous Casino de Monte-Carlo is pure luxury and class, attracting the rich and famous who often arrive by private jet or yacht.

Located along the French Riviera, Monaco offers up some of the world’s oldest casinos, some of which date back to the mid 19th century. Many of Monaco’s casinos are ultra-exclusive and require an invite by someone notable just to be let through the doors.

Casino Café de Paris is another one of Monaco’s most beautiful casinos, however, there is a more casual casino which is far easier to set foot in which is called Sun Casino. Unlike the fancier casinos, you won’t be required to wear a tuxedo or cocktail dress at Sun.

Only non-citizens are allowed to gamble in Monaco’s casinos, although a great majority of its residents are foreign-citizens and many of those millionaires or billionaires.

Monaco is also famous for hosting the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix and European Poker Tour Grand Final.

Macao

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Another one of the world’s top gambling cities is Macau, an autonomous region on China’s south coast.

Gambling tourism accounts for a very large chunk of Macau’s economy, whereas casinos are outlawed on mainland China. Macau’s world-class casinos have gained it the nickname as the “Monte Carlo of the East”, offering up around  three dozen casinos.

The largest is the gorgeous Venetian Macau which is a 39-story casino with over ten million square feet of space inside.

Macau Palace Casino and Lisboa Casino both offer gamblers uniquely Chinese betting games like fan tan and sic bo. Forbes has ranked a half dozen of the city’s casinos among the world’s largest.

Niagara Falls, Canada and U.S.

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The thundering Niagara Falls offers up three incredible casinos.

On the Canada side, you have Casino Niagara with weekly live entertainment and the impressive luxury Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort which offers up loads of gaming in the form of over 3,000 slots and over 100 table games along with spa treatments, shopping, and incredible dining.

Over on the American side of the Niagara River is the Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel which was solely built to compete with Canada’s Niagara casinos. Not only is Seneca’s 150,000 square feet of gaming space impressive, it is also recognized as the largest hotel in New York outside of Manhattan.

While you may be able to gamble in Canada’s Niagara casinos as early as age 19, you’ll have to wait until you’re at least 21 to gamble on the American side at Seneca.

Aruba

If you fancy some hot sun in the South Caribbean, then head to Aruba where you’ll find casinos in most of the island’s major resorts.

Many casinos in Aruba are open 24 hours a day for at least slot machine play.  The legal gambling age for Aruba’s casinos is 18 and many of Aruba’s casinos feature theme-night events that all ages will enjoy.

Aruba Marriott Resort and its Stellaris Casino is the island’s largest casino, offering up direct access to Palm Beach.  The resort also features its Tradewinds Club with an exclusive H2Oasis adults-only pool and poolside bar.

Other notable casinos in Aruba include Westin Resort’s Palm Beach Casino, Hyatt Regency Casino, Wind Creek Crystal Casino, Holiday Inn’s Excelsior Casino which features Aruba’s largest Poker Room, and Hotel Riu Palace which is one of the top casinos in the Caribbean

Singapore

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One of the newest and hottest gambling destinations is Singapore. Gambling was only recently legalized here in 2006 and four years later two casinos came onto the scene.

They have since added a third gambling option into the mix in the form of a casino cruise ship known as the Aegean Paradise Cruise.

Back on solid ground, you have the Marina Bay Sands Casino which is Singapore’s largest and features the world-famous infinity pool on its SkyPark which looks out over the city. Resorts World Sentosa offers up Singapore’s other land-based casino. You can also bet on horses in Singapore if that’s your thing.

While Singaporean citizens are required to pay an entry fee to enter the city’s casinos, tourists can enter free so long as they meet the age limit requirement which is 21.

Biloxi, Mississippi

Along the Gulf Coast in Biloxi, Mississippi, you’ll find eight first-class casinos. In addition to offering up great gambling opportunities, many of Biloxi’s casinos feature championship golf courses, performing arts theatres, spas, and marinas.

Two of Biloxi’s finest hotels include Harrah’s Gulf Coast Casino, which replaced the Grand Casino Biloxi which was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, and the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino feature incredible golf courses.

Guests of Harrah’s can tee it up at the Jack Nicklaus designed Grand Bear Golf Course, while those staying at Beau Rivage can tackle the Tom Fazio designed Fallen Oak course.

Other notable casinos in Biloxi include the Golden Nugget, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, and the city’s only entirely smoke-free casino, Palace Casino Resort.

Nassau, Bahamas

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You’ll find a few great casinos tucked away in The Bahamas on both New Providence Island where the capital Nassau is located as well as just offshore on Paradise Island.

In Nassau, Baha Mar Casino at Grand Hyatt is your best bet for gambling while the giant Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island is probably the finest in the region and features its own private seven-acre lagoon. Atlantis also hosts an annual Poker Stars Caribbean tournament.

If you run out of cash to gamble with, Baha Mar features two infinity pools overlooking the beautiful Cable Beach to unwind or you can book in for their yoga with live flamingos experience which is something your unlikely to forget any time soon.

San Juan, Puerto Rico

San Juan, Puerto Rico provides eight different casinos for visitors, most of which offer slot machine play 24 hours a day. San Juan casinos are located within the city’s hotels, many of which are big brand hotels like Marriott and Ritz-Carlton.

The Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel and Casino is the newest and largest casino in Puerto Rico, featuring over 20,000 square feet of gaming space. Many of the city’s other casinos are located in the upscale Condado neighborhood right along the beach with incredible ocean views.

These include several hotels under the Marriott Brand including San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino, La Concha Renaissance San Juan Resort, and the ultra-glamorous Ritz-Carlton San Juan Hotel, Spa, and Casino.

Atlantic City, New Jersey

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While America’s west is home to Vegas, you’ll find another vibrant gambling city along the east coast as well. Atlantic City has had a long history with casinos, many being rebranded or closing down over the years.

Today, there are nine great casinos to choose from including favorites like Bally’s Atlantic City, and the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Tropicana Resort, and Caesars Atlantic City.

In addition to casinos, Atlantic City is home to incredible shopping around the Playground Pier and limitless dining options at celebrity chef branded restaurants.

Add in the beautiful beachfront filled with all kind of outdoor recreation opportunities, pumping nightlife, and an iconic boardwalk that’s perfect for people watching and you have an all-around great holiday destination.

Megan is an Australian Journalist and award-winning travel writer who has been blogging since 2007. Her husband Mike is the American naturalist and wildlife photographer behind Waking Up Wild; an online magazine dedicated to opening your eyes to the wonders of the wild & natural world.

Having visited 100+ countries across all seven continents, Megan’s travels focus on cultural immersion, authentic discovery and incredible journeys. She has a strong passion for ecotourism, and aims to promote responsible travel experiences.

    

    2 Comments

  1. Singapore Casino Marina Bay Sands is new but is one of the fabulous place to venture into.

    • Totally agree, I can’t wait to get back! :)

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