Hand on heart, who doesn’t immediately think of the neon metropolis of Las Vegas in the state of Nevada when they hear the term casino resort? But even beyond “Sin City”, there are plenty of exciting destinations for you, combining luxurious surroundings, an extensive entertainment programme and gambling.
Although classic resorts are hotel complexes that offer their guests everything they need without having to leave them, there are entire cities, especially in Europe, that have developed into holiday resorts.
Hardly any casino has a more sophisticated fame than the casino in Monte Carlo, which opened in 1854 and has been considered a playground for the rich and famous since the last century. An associated concert hall and gastronomy, opulent architecture by the creator of the Paris Opera and illustrious guests make the casino an experience. Several luxury hotels can be found just a few steps away, and the palm-fringed Riviera is practically on the doorstep. If you are a novice, however, you should familiarize yourself with the games beforehand, for example in reputable online casinos with the best payouts.
Not far behind the French border, Nice offers all the amenities of a casino resort and a cultural offer that does not have to hide behind Monte Carlo. Turquoise blue water, white beaches, theatres, top-class gastronomy and museums of all kinds offer you a change from a visit to the casino. While Monte Carlo is known as the filming location for several adventures of the gambling super agent James Bond, Nice played a leading role in Hitchcock’s classic “Over the Rooftops of Nice” in 1955 with Cary Grant and the future Monegasque princess Grace Kelly.
Even closer is the Kurhaus Baden-Baden , a German resort with one of the most traditional casinos in the world. Hollywood star Marlene Dietrich, who had sat down at the gaming tables here just like Nobel Prize winners and crowned heads, even described the house as the most beautiful casino in the world. Since 2021, Baden-Baden has even been one of eleven health resorts in seven European countries that have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List as “Great Spa Towns of Europe”.
If you’re looking to go far, you’ll also find a wide range of casino resorts for every type of holiday. Nature lovers, but also honeymooners, are in the right place at Crocs Resort in Costa Rica . Saying “I do” on the beach, lying by the pool or under a waterfall, exploring the jungle with an expert guide or riding along the Pacific shore on horseback are just a few of the most popular leisure activities. Costa Rica is also a family paradise, so parents and their children will have just as much fun here as singles and couples.
If you prefer to see elephants, giraffes and lions instead of turtles, whales, sloths and ocelots, you will find the opportunity to combine your casino holiday with a photo safari at the “Sun City” in South Africa . But golf and tennis fans also get their money’s worth here. South Africa has a wide range of world-class golf courses, and the climate allows for outdoor sports almost all year round.
The name Paradise almost says it all. On the Bahamas island, the “Atlantis Resort” is the largest casino in the Caribbean. As befits an island resort, the water is one of the main attractions. A huge water park offers fun for young and old, and eleven pools invite you to take a quieter dip or laze on a deck chair. Beach, waterfalls and caves, snorkeling and boat trips leave no room for boredom. Animal lovers can experience manta rays, sharks, turtles and dolphins.
If you prefer to experience the excitement of a vibrant metropolis instead of pure nature, you won’t be disappointed by a visit to the “Marina Bay Sands” in Singapore . Built according to Feng Shui principles, the building consists of three 194-metre-high towers reminiscent of stacks of cards, which are connected by a roof garden, and has now become the landmark of the city-state. The Sky Park, as the roof garden is officially called, allows you to enjoy a panoramic view of the entire city skyline. A public observation deck is also accessible to non-hotel guests, and the lush gardens, a jogging track, and a lofty infinity pool have made the Sky-Park one of Singapore’s top attractions. Light shows, a “Museum of Wonders” shaped like a lotus flower and a futuristic-looking pedestrian bridge modelled on a double helix make the trip to the “Marina Bay Sands” an unforgettable experience.
The 155,000-square-foot complex is considered one of the most luxurious casino resorts in the world. But there is much more in the three towers. Hotel rooms and suites, conference halls, theatres, museums, event plazas, restaurants and shops and the view of the ocean, ensure that no wish remains unfulfilled.
On the island of Macau , you can choose between two of the largest casinos in the world. The island itself is now part of China again, but the traces of the centuries-long Portuguese colonial era can still be felt, which adds to Macau’s appeal. “The Venetian Macau” is anything but typically Chinese. The casino resort, which opened in 2007, is the second largest casino in the world with 51,000 square meters of gaming space. As its name suggests, it offers a touch of Venice in the Far East, and you can have fun with a gondola ride through man-made lagoons in between. Concerts and sporting events are also on the program of the resort, which offers its guests 2905 suites.
Hip and modern instead of European-nostalgic is the place to be in the nearby “City of Dreams” in Macau. With 39,000 square meters of gaming space, it is the third largest casino in the world. Luxury shops in the resort, a video aquarium, fountains and a dancing water theater are reminiscent of the luxury palaces of Las Vegas, combined with an Asian flair. The number of visitors confirms the success. Even if the desert city in Nevada is the most famous gambling metropolis, there are now resorts for every requirement and every taste, and internationally.
