I remember taking a trip to Vegas and being stunned by the line of luxurious casinos, where you could wander into each or watch the fountain show outside Bellagio.
Later on however, I learned that the Vegas casinos aren’t necessarily seen as the best in the world. Sure, it’s bet-city, where people go for a wild experience and a night they won’t remember (like in The Hangover). But if you’re looking for the biggest and best casinos in the world, you’ll actually find many of the most illustrious casinos dotted all over the world. So read on to find out the best of them all.
Casino de Monte-Carlo, Monaco
In both GoldenEye and Never Say Never Again, plus popping up in a few others, Monaco is associated with James Bond’s character quite heavily, with the glitz and glamour, the yachts with the filthy rich on board and every guy in a tuxedo, that should paint the picture perfectly.
You’ll see supercars down almost every road, as well as mega yachts moored up in the docks, with people visiting designer shops for their Prada or Gucci handbags. This is an expensive location in the French Riviera, close to the border with Italy.
Of course, you could combine your visit with the Monaco Grand Prix, but expect hotel prices to go through the roof during this period. The Belle Epoque building is incredibly memorable and the history behind the building and the area makes this contrast quite drastically with the Vegas casinos.
You will need to dress smart if you plan on visiting, so no turning up in a t-shirt.
Whether you enjoy online casino sites or actually visiting them in person, Monaco should make your tick-list if you dream of seeing the most luxurious casinos in the world.
Sun City Resort, South Africa
Located in the North West province of South Africa, around a 2 hour drive from Johannesburg, a lot of tourists combine this with a safari trip, while the safari is a key reason why this one makes the list as it does add some glamour to the experience.
For many who plan on visiting Sun City Resort, they’ll fly into Johannesburg and then have a private transfer arranged in advance, but if you prefer you can rent a car and make your own journey there. There are also organised tours that take you to both experiences.
You can hope to see all of the big five at the Pilanesberg National Park, but no guarantee like always. It’s also a great area to visit for golfing fanatics, with golf tourism starting to boom in the area, with many choosing to visit the Gary Player Country Club.
Unlike the first option on the list, which was highly exclusive and belonged to ‘old money’ as they put it, this is a much more fun and holiday-feel casino. This means you don’t have to pack a tuxedo in order to get inside, they’re more relaxed with the clothing requirements.
You’ll find a huge amount of slot machines, as you’d expect, plus all the usual suspects (poker games, blackjack tables and roulette). There are also the electronic games available, plus sports betting.
Bellagio, Las Vegas
Alright, I mentioned at the start that visiting Bellagio was a massive experience for me, watching the fountain show outside before heading indoors to see what all the fuss was about.
Movies have made these scenes highly memorable, such as Ocean’s Eleven, therefore it does feel like you’ve walked into a memory of a great film. This really is the symbol of Vegas for me, albeit the Hangover movie has moved a bit of attention over to Caesars Palace, with the roman inspired architecture.
Bellagio has all the big games and some expensive restaurants for when you need to stop for dinner. Located along the Vegas Strip, this does feel like one you have to tick off in your lifetime, even if we’re only talking standing outside and admiring it.
Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
When you fly out to South East Asia, you can see such a mix of traditional culture and futuristic lifestyles within such a short distance.
Marina Bay Sands is definitely one of the most luxurious and futuristic sights you’ll see while in Singapore, plus if you have the budget then you should definitely stay in the luxurious 5 star hotel.
Singapore is such a clean and modern country, it really does take tourists by surprise if they’re visiting for the first time.
Of course, the rooftop infinity pool in the Sands SkyPark has to be highlighted as a key attraction, while you can obviously expect some pool parties here, but the pool is actually for the hotel guests rather than casual visitors who have popped in for a photo or for a swim. 57 storeys up, you’ll also find luxurious hotel rooms, a big casino and a shopping mall, plus even an ArtScience museum.
You won’t have a long journey if flying into Changi airport, just a 20-30 minute drive. If you imagine Monte Carlo was the most traditional option, this would arguably be the most modern alternative.
You can enter the casino 24 hours a day, but you must be 21 or over, while you should also bring your passport with you, as locals have to pay an entry fee, so you get an exception by showing your passport.
While here, you should take a trip over to the Gardens by the Bay, as well as the Spectra light and water show, both of which are key attractions in Singapore.
The Venetian Macao, Macau
China really does do everything bigger nowadays and Macau has become a growing tourism spot for those with excessive wealth and a desire to splash the cash on a game of poker or blackjack.
But this really is different to others on this list and largely because the casino is huge. We’re not just talking bigger than the others, I seriously mean giant. There are around 3,000 suites, a 550,000 square foot casino and even has indoor canals with gondolas floating along like a scene from Venice, hence the name.
This might all sound a bit odd, but cast your mind over to Vegas, where you have recreations of the Eiffel Tower and the Sphinx and you see how a similar mindset was adopted when creating the Venetian Macao.
It goes to the extreme levels of outdoor piazzas (indoors), bridges over the river and painted on ‘Italian skies’ on the ceiling.
