The best countries in the world for exploring casinos
People choose their travel destinations for all sorts of reasons and to fit every interest, budget and desire for experiences. Food, art and culture are three of the major motivators for travel for many people. Attending events, visiting monuments or historical sites, or going to theme parks and other attractions are some of the others.
Visiting casinos can be considered a bit of all of the above. While the games are the same across every casino, the architecture, scenery, culture and the entertainment can all vary dramatically. Don’t forget the food as well! In this article, we’ll give you a list of all of the best countries in the world for exploring casinos.
Marina Bay Sands is a $5.5 billion development that includes one of the world’s most luxurious casino.
Singapore
The laws in Singapore require casinos to be a part of an integrated resort (IR). While this does limit the number of casinos, it means that those that exist have all of the bells and whistles. Resorts World Sentosa Casino and MBS Casino are two of the popular gambling destinations, and both have other amenities as well.
The Marina Bay Sands is one of the most striking buildings on the Singapore skyline. Alongside the casino, the resort has a SkyPark observation deck, the ArtScience Museum and a digital light canvas interactive exhibition. There is also a theatre, nightclubs and lounges, numerous restaurants and a holistic spa and gym that offers traditional classes and more interesting experiences like sound meditation.USA
Obviously, the United States is one of the best countries in the world for exploring casinos – and Las Vegas is at the top of the list. Las Vegas is perhaps the iconic casino destination. The Las Vegas Strip is lined with some of the world’s best casinos and most recognizable resorts. Once you’ve played enough hands of poker and worn out your arm on the slot machines, Vegas boasts plenty of shows, shopping and rides.
The East Coast alternative to Las Vegas is Atlantic City. Many of the same casino brands are represented in both cities. Atlantic City doesn’t have the same type of flashiness as Las Vegas – it has that specific New Jersey vibe that can’t be found anywhere else in the world.
For a real change from the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas and Atlantic City, visiting Deadwood is a must. It is a historic center of the Wild West, made even more famous by the award-winning HBO series. The small casinos that are still operating in this small town in South Dakota have captured that old-time Wild West saloon feel. Plus, Deadwood is less than a two-hour drive from Badlands National Park, one of the country’s most unique landscapes.
Canada
Just like the United States, Canada has different gambling cultures across the different provinces. For example, if you’re from Vancouver or Toronto, you will find the gambling culture in any of the territories very different, and vice versa. The resort casinos in Niagara Falls and Montreal are some of the best in the country. The Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu in Charlevoix is one of North America’s only chateau hotels and casinos, and paying a visit there is like stepping into another time.
Online casinos cross some of the provincial lines. Not every online casino is available in every province due to differences in regulations, and if you’re traveling across multiple provinces and territories, it can be hard to keep track. A comprehensive guide that is available at askgamblers.com/online-casinos/countries/ca can help you find the best online options, depending on where you are.
Monaco
Any casino aficionado will want to visit Monaco, the European heart of classic casino gambling. The Casino de Monte-Carlo is an iconic and traditional casino. You will find plenty of card tables and roulette wheels but very few slot machines or video poker screens. Movie fans will love seeing where numerous James Bond films were set. Look for the casino in Goldeneye (1995), Never Say Never Again (1983) and Casino Royale (2006).
A trip to Monaco can’t be spent just inside the casino. The country is a beautiful part of the Riviera, and any visit should include time spent enjoying the coast and basking in the sun. Other things to do include visiting the Oceanographic Museum, the Prince’s Palace and the Princess Grace Botanical Gardens.
South Africa
South Africa does not have a huge number of casinos but it does have several fantastic resort casinos with a uniquely South African feel. Sun City Resort in Rustenburg is unmissable. Alongside the top-tier casino, there are two golf courses, an arcade, shows and concerts, hot air balloon safaris, game tours, an outdoor adventure centre, rope courses and a spa. That’s not counting all of the restaurants, shops and regular resort amenities.
There are many other things to do in South Africa. It is a large and diverse country. Glamping in Ngala Private Game Reserve is a special experience that puts you in the heart of the African bush. Glamping lets you enjoy being out in the wild without having to sacrifice all of the comforts of home. A great way to see a lot of the country is to drive the coastline between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth.
Macau
Macau is an autonomous region on China’s southern coast, with a long and colourful history. It became a Portuguese colony in the 16th century and since then has been a destination for Western visitors. It established itself as an international gambling destination in the 20th century and has become a must-visit destination for casino travelers.
Macau’s casinos are split between the two main islands. Three of the most impressive resort casinos are the Venetian Macao Casino, the Casino Grand Lisboa and the Casino Hotel MGM. Macau Fisherman’s Wharf is billed as the area’s first theme park, and it also deserves a visit when you want a break from the casino floor. It has a nightclub, a pickleball complex, a spa, a replica Roman amphitheatre and a vintage shopping avenue.