For a lot of vacationers, the kind and the eminence of the facilities offered by their selected hotel or resort are just as significant as the tourist spot itself.
This is particularly spot-on of global gambling fans that are looking for lavish and luxurious accommodation in the most stunning and picturesque spots, combined with world-class and premium land casino games and facilities.
A prominent example is that of Las Vegas, Nevada in the United States, the world’s most popular gambling city, earning for itself the moniker “Sin City.” Las Vegas features hundreds of casino resorts, casinos, hotels, motels, B&Bs and more to suit the most discriminate of palates. Its most illustrious – and posh – casino resorts, however, are found on the famous (or at times, infamous) “Vegas Strip” and usually have more rooms than they have games.
Many of the world's top casinos offer excessive extras: they feature expansive suites, celebrity chefs, and over-the-top entertainment, to boot. In addition, visitors would also find all the familiar favorites ranging from Roulette, Blackjack, and Craps to Video Poker, Keno, The Wheel of Fortune and so much more, not to mention the most beloved and sought-after game of all — slots.
As a matter of fact, slot games (which are also called slot machines, fruit machines and the classic “one-arm bandits”) often take up the most space of any land casino gaming floor. As such, slot fans that are seeking exotic, thrilling and indulgent holiday destinations around the globe can just opt to “kill two birds with one stone” by electing to reside at or near land casinos with the largest and finest choice of slots in the world.
Indeed, when it comes to land casinos with slots aplenty, the list is fairly long, but here are the finest land casino resort spas that people should consider:
Marina Bay Sands
Singapore's crown jewel — Marina Bay Sands — which was built in 2010 as a $5.6 billion property, is an embarrassment of riches, featuring 600 gaming tables and 2,500 slot machines and electronic tables, along with an indoor skating rink, the world's longest elevated swimming pool, and a museum.
Its three 55-story hotel towers— which hold a whopping 2,561 rooms in all—are connected by a roof terrace called Sky Park, with restaurants including Spago by world-renowned chef Wolfgang Puck, a nightclub, and an observatory deck with 360-degree views of the splendid Singapore skyline. There's also an 800,000-square-foot mall with such popular, not to mention, pricey storefronts such as Alexander McQueen, Chopard, Versace, Cartier, and Louis Vuitton.
Wynn Palace
A mere 20 minutes from the center of Macau on the Cotai strip, the Wynn Palace is a $4.6 billion luxury resort and casino built to showcase the most luxurious of the Wynn brand's offerings. The casino has 350 tables— with over $125 million dollars spent on the artwork alone — while the hotel possesses 1,706 rooms, almost 200,000 square feet of luxury shopping, and an eight-acre "Performance Lake" for stunning light and water shows.
The Cosmopolitan
A nifty combination of sexy and stylish, the Cosmopolitan opened its doors in 2010 and not long after became one of the most sought-after spots on the Vegas strip. While the 100,000-square-foot casino is nothing to sneeze at (after all, it has 1,300 slot machines and a high-limit lounge called the Talon Club, above) the restaurants and nightlife are just as outstanding. Its offerings include Scarpetta, Blue Ribbon Sushi, three restaurants from iconic chef José Andrés, plus Marquee nightclub, and Momofuku and Milk Bar.
Crown Melbourne
The Australian complex has three hotels (which include the five-star Crown Towers), two spas, and a 220,000-square foot casino with a VIP room for high-stakes players. Restaurants include outposts of top eateries from all over the world: Dinner by Heston Blumenthal (England's most celebrated chef), Nobu, and Rockpool Bar and Grill from prominent Australian chef Neil Perry.
City of Dreams
A recent addition to Manila's growing list of resort casinos, the sprawling City of Dreams has three luxury hotels— namely the Nobu Hotel, Crown Towers, and Hyatt City of Dreams — plus a number of different casinos. The premiere experiences can be located at the Signature Club (for private gaming), and the Li Ying Vip Club (for private salons and dining rooms.) Meanwhile, its nightclub, Pangaea Ultra-Lounge, vows to treat its visitors like royalty and bills itself as having "the most exclusive bottle service ever."
Casino de Monte Carlo
The exquisite Casino de Monte Carlo has watched over the Mediterranean since 1863, with magnificent details like glass chandeliers, rococo ceilings, and an atrium made of marble and gold. However, citizens of Monaco cannot enter the hotel, leaving tourists from every corner of the globe to place their bets on table games such as Punto Banco and Trente et Quarante, as well as American games like blackjack and poker. With a row of Lambos, Ferraris and Aston Martins unfailingly lingering outside, it's no wonder that James Bond spent so much time at this swank locale.
MGM National Harbor
Located at the edge of Washington, D.C., this 125,000-square-foot casino features a 24-story resort, restaurants from José Andrés and Marcus Samuelsson, an entertainment theater that seats 3,000, and a slew of high-end retail shops.
MGM Grand
The MGM Grand has one of Las Vegas's most high-class accommodations: the Mansion — an 18th Century-inspired collection of villas that comes with a separate entrance, Rolls-Royce pick-up, butlers, and a private pool, plus a VIP high-roller area. Aside from the Mansion, there's the three-Michelin-starred restaurant Joël Robuchon, as well as the Skylofts, which has two-story balconies and plunge pools.
Mandalay Bay
Home to not just the Mandalay Bay hotel itself — with over 3,300 rooms, a 135,000-square-foot casino, and a shark reef — the property also houses two of Vegas's best luxury hotels-within-a-hotel: the Delano and the Four Seasons. Restaurants on-site are a parade of the world's most popular and beloved chefs, including Alain Ducasse's Rivea, Charlie Palmer Steakhouse, Fleur by Hubert Keller, and Lupo by Wolfgang Puck.
Aria
Aria's 150,000-square-foot casino floor has 145 table games and 1,940 slot machines, and a 24-table Poker Room — although high rollers make their way to the Ivey Room, which is a one-table, high-limit space named after Hall of Fame and champion poker player, Phil Ivey. With restaurants that include the Jean-Georges Steakhouse, Sage, Carbone, and Julian Serrano, its dining selections are world-class, and those looking to indulge can choose to either light the night up at new JEWEL nightclub or just relax at its spa, which features indulgent treatments like a "Gold Facial."
The Wynn and Encore
Steve Wynn's psalm to lavishness, the Wynn and its sister resort Encore are both symbolic of the brand's top-to-toe approach to opulence. Its highlights include the Sky Casino, a private gaming room on the 63rd floor with panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows and a minimum credit line of $300,000, the only golf club on the strip, and a Ferrari-Maserati dealership.
Mohegan Sun
Owned by the Mohegan tribe, this 364,000-square-foot casino in Connecticut has a fresher vibe compared to its competitor, Foxwoods, which is located right across the river. A popular venue for concerts and entertainment — Bruce Springsteen and Bruno Mars to name a few —it also offers an Elemis spa, a golf course, and two hotel towers.
Sun City
Situated a few hours outside Johannesburg is South Africa's premier casino, Sun City Resort, found on the border of Pilanesberg National Game Park. The complex features four hotels (including the luxurious Palace of the Lost City) and four 18-hole golf courses, along with a number of progressive casino amenities — such as an animal farm and water park. Big-time spenders can be located in the international high-stakes gaming area — the Sun City International Prive.
The Clermont Club
An exclusive gaming club found in London's upper-class Mayfair on Berkeley Square, the invitation-only hangout has drawn aristocrats and A-listers since the early 19th Century. Aside from the gambling, the Clermont Club is still famous for its role in a number of infamous scandals — which include financial cons and even rumors of an aristocratic murder cover-up — that set upper-crust London tongues wagging.
Atlantis Resort and Casino
Extending a seven-acre lagoon, Atlantis's casino holds more than 700 slot machines, a Vegas-style race and sportsbook, and several stunning Chihuly glass sculptures all through the facility. For hotel guests that are looking for the ne plus ultra of luxury, there's the Atlantic Marina — which is a luxury yacht harbor — and the pristine Bridge Suite, which would set back visitors $25,000 per night.
Crown Aspinalls
Established in the 1960s by John Aspinall, who made his name for founding the Clermont Club, Crown Aspinalls is a private, members-only club found in London's Mayfair. The club compels a strict dress code — only those in formalwear (tuxedos for men; evening dresses for ladies) are allowed entry.
Borgata
Home to Atlantic City's biggest poker room, the Borgata frequently hosts tournaments that feature some of the best and brightest players from all over the world. The hotel itself is just as remarkable, with restaurants that include Bobby Flay Steak and Wolfgang Puck, and a boutique hotel-within-a-hotel, the Water Club, which costs an estimated $400 million to erect.
Bellagio
When Las Vegas's Bellagio opened its doors way back in 1998, it was considered to be the most expensive hotel built in history, with costs going up to a massive $1.6 billion. It remains equally luxurious to this day, thanks to a high-limit poker room with a $20,000 buy-in, a private gaming villa with a minimum credit limit of $300,000, and a Petrossian caviar bar. The 2,000 Chihuly glass-blown flowers in the lobby have become something of a Las Vegas fixture — second only to the iconic “Fountains of Bellagio” water show.
Foxwoods
Clocking in at a massive nine million square feet, Foxwoods is the largest casino in the Western Hemisphere, with a gaming area that has almost 5,000 slot machines. Outside of the gambling floor, players would find a 4,000-seat theater, six fine dining options, and a boutique suite collection, the Villas at Foxwoods, featuring 23 suites with 24-hour butler service.
Venetian Macau
The world's largest casino, Venetian Macau is a $2.4 billion facsimile of the Vegas original. With a casino space that boasts of the size of Windsor Castle and games that range from roulette to Chinese Sic Bo, it is nothing short of a gamblers' sanctuary. In the vast hotel, meanwhile, the best room is the 3,830-square-foot Cielo suite, which has its own spa facility for private treatments.
Caesars Palace
An icon on the strip for five decades, Caesars Palace was Las Vegas's first theme hotel and remains to be a dynamic place. For example, it just completed a $75-million revamp that included the addition of a Nobu Hotel (the world's first) and an outpost of the celebrity-favored Mr. Chow. On-site, the 300,000-square-foot complex also has one of America's best restaurants: the three-Michelin starred Guy Savoy. Its 2,900-square-foot high-roller Forum Emperor Suite was featured in Rain Man and remains one of Vegas's most iconic places to stay.
Casino Barrière Les Princes
A glimmering casino in the famously Haute spirit of Cannes, the Casino Princes is found on the Croisette near the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès. The gilded space is filled with chandeliers, featuring games such as Texas hold 'em and craps beside 270 new generation slot machines. Just down the road is its sister hotel, Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes, where players would find a Christian Dior Penthouse, a private beach, a Clarins spa, a screening room, and the Rotunde Louise Pommery Champagne lounge.
Casino Baden-Baden
Supposedly called Germany's most beautiful casino by Marlene Dietrich, Casino Baden-Baden was established over a century ago in 1824 and is found in the famous German spa town. It's also home to the Faberge Museum, and after visiting, Dostoyevsky was inspired to write The Gambler. The casino has distinct areas for classical gaming and for slot machines: poker, roulette, and blackjack hold court on the ground floor, while the slot machines are located in the basement under vaulted ceilings.
There is also a strict dress code — men are requested to wear a jacket and tie — and while there's no hotel, there is a restaurant and nightclub, with the royally-approved Brenners Park Hotel and Spa just minutes away.
