If you are feeling lucky and want to gamble in style, there are an increasing number of extravagant places all around the globe to do it at. While most might think that the world’s best lie in Sin City — Las Vegas — there are in fact, other options that are just as lavish or even more in locales such as Germany, Singapore, and China.
Without further ado, here is a list (in random order) of the most lavish casino resorts around the world reviewed not just by the kind of games they provide, but also the type of lodging and amenities that they provide:
1) The Venetian Macao in China
From the mid-16th century to 1999, when it was moved back to China, Macau was a Portuguese colony. These days, it’s considered to be the “Monte Carlo of the Orient,” and home to many of the world’s largest and most extravagant casinos, which include the Venetian Macau, the biggest casino on earth and the sixth largest structure in the world.
The complex cost a whopping $2.4 billion to build. The intricate complex includes a sports events hall and a massive 550,000-square-foot gambling area. Extraordinary both inside and out, the Venetian Macao features the same quasi-Venetian style as its related resort in Las Vegas it was patterned after, including replicas of the lagoon city’s canals.
There are 3,000 luxurious, all-suite guest rooms, over 30 restaurants that present guests with various cuisine from all over the world, a play zone, garden swimming pools and wide-ranging recreational facilities, as well as 3,000 slots and 750 table games, with an overall floor space of almost 10.8 million square feet.
2) The Wynn Macau in China
This colossal property erected by American casino magnate Steve Wynn is located on Macau’s waterfront and is designed after his curved tower in Las Vegas. It features more than 100,000 square feet of gaming space with over than 500 table games and 840 slot machines as well as more than 1,000 ultra-luxurious rooms.
If you (or most likely, your partner) is into shopping, you’ll find that the Wynn Macau is more than capable of keeping you busy in its 54,000 square-foot shopping complex that hold some of the most luxurious labels on the market today. This includes the likes of Giorgio Armani, Ferrari, Christian Dior, and Chanel.
The Wynn Macau also has six gourmet restaurants and a world-class spa facility. The resort unfailingly receives rave reviews from visitors from all corners of the globe, with its consistent and exceptional overall experience. And rather than leaning on a gaudy marketing campaign, it oftentimes promotes through word-of-mouth.
3) Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas
Caesar’s is one of Vegas’ iconic names, which opened almost 50 years ago and becoming a shining beacon of luxury, enduring scandals, recessions and a whole lot more. Its opulent rooms and 166,000 square feet of gaming space have been the definition of affluence on The Strip.
The massive spa features Roman baths, while ornate mosaics and classical architecture frame the pools. All of its buildings and interiors mimic a style that is patterned after Ancient Rome — something that other Vegas locales have tried to imitate since its inception. Looming large at the heart of The Strip, it features 3,348 hotel guest rooms and suites, 25 distinct restaurants and cafes, the 50,000-square-foot Qua Baths & Spa as well as the world-famous Forum Shops with more than 160 specialty stores.
4) Sun City Casino Resort in South Africa
This massive Las Vegas-like resort is situated about two hours from Johannesburg in South Africa’s North West province. It first opened its doors way back in 1979, in what was then referred to as the state of Bophuthatswana, one of the apartheid government’s chosen areas for the black majority population where the country’s regulations did not apply equally, paving the way for both gambling and topless revenue shows.
Sun City immediately became a well-loved harbor for high rollers and all kinds of gamblers. These days, it ranks as one of the top casino resorts in the world, as it features four hotels, more than 850 slot machines and almost 40 gaming tables for blackjack, American roulette, stud poker, and Punto Baccarat. Visitors can even elect to go on a safari with the resort offering its own private game reserve.
5) The Wynn Las Vegas in Las Vegas
When it opened its doors back in 2005, The Wynn Las Vegas was the most expensive hotel-casino ever built, costing a whopping $2.7 billion to get off the ground. The more than 2,700 suites came at an average cost of $1 million each. During that time, Richard Branson stressed, “There is nobody in the world who creates such entertaining and beautiful casinos…I would say every other casino must be nervous. He’s lifted the bar dramatically.”
Although that record has since been broken in 2010 with the $5.5 billion construction of the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, it still is one of the crowning jewels of casino resorts in the world. The Wynn sits on 217 acres with its resort exhibiting a 111,000-square-foot casino and 19 distinctive dining experiences, almost 75,000 square feet of retail space, an exclusive 18-hole championship golf course, cutting-edge recreational centers and a whole lot more.
6) The Grand Lisboa in Macau, China
Macau already features a grandiose cityscape. However, the Grand Lisboa, which has been designed to look and feel like a birdcage, still manages to stand out as one of the city’s most defining landmarks.
The hotel/casino is Macau’s tallest building, capped with the largest LED dome in the entire world, made up of more than a million LED lights. The inside lives up to the glittering exterior with 1,000 slots and 800 gaming tables spread across spacious and intricately designed floors. The Grand Lisboa caters to affluent tourists and gamblers, and has recently tapped one of the world’s most famous chefs and offers an extensive array of almost 15,000 wines, to become the first institution in China to be awarded the “Grand Award” honor by Wine Spectator magazine.
7) The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino in Las Vegas
Much like its sister resort in Macau, the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino in Vegas, lets guests experience the ardor of Italy, which includes the opportunity to go on an authentic Venetian gondola, that floats underneath bridges and balconies through the “Grand Canal.”
Every detail was made to give visitors the ultimate vacation stay, including everything from the world’s biggest standard suites to one of the most stylish casinos. It’s part of the largest five-diamond hotel and resort complex in the world, with 4,049 suites and 4,059 hotel rooms aside from the 120,000 square-foot casino and one of the best hotel spas on earth. Guests can also take their pick from 19 various restaurants, which feature an astounding number of James Beard Award-winning chefs the likes of Emeril Lagasse and Wolfgang Puck, as well as shop at 80 international boutiques.
8) City of Dreams in Macau, China
Often called CoD, the City of Dreams opened their doors in 2009 at a massive cost of $2.1 billion. It features 420,000 square feet of gambling space, which includes 550 gaming tables and 1,500 slots, making it another one of the most mammoth casinos in the world.
The City of Dreams also has over 20 restaurants, highlighted by the Michelin-starred Chinese Restaurant, Jade Dragon, which showcases culinary masterpieces made by Chef extraordinaire Tam Kwok Fung. The resort’s stirring water show, House of Dancing Water, includes 80 performers from all over the world in a special round theater that has a pool which holds 3.7 million gallons of water.
9) Foxwoods Resort Casino in Ledyard, Connecticut
Astonishingly, Las Vegas doesn’t have America’s largest casino. That honor actually belongs to Ledyard, Connecticut’s Foxwoods Resort Casino, which is operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Indian tribe.
Established in 1968, it has 4.7 million square feet of gaming space across six casinos, with over 7,000 gaming machines and 17 various kinds of table games as well as one of the world’s largest bingo halls. It also provides families with children with a two-story arcade for their kind of fun and enjoyment.
10) MGM Grand Casino in Las Vegas
Aside from being situated in one of the biggest hotels in entire the world, the MGM Grand Casino has one of the largest gaming floors in the city at 171,500 square feet. It has 139 gaming tables and 2,500 slot machines that boast of payouts of as much as a half-million dollars.
At Skylofts — which is a luxury hotel found at the top of the MGM Grand, you’ll be amazed to see a private sanctuary hidden within the clouds. Guests can luxuriate in a bath that fizzes with tiny champagne-like massage bubbles, TVs in the mirrors and even airport pickup in a $400,000 car. Remotes operate everything from the TV and DVD player all the way to the lights, temperature, and drapes. Guests will also have their own 24-hour butler to unpack and pack suitcases.
11) Bellagio in Las Vegas
Considered to be one of the world’s most famous casino resorts, the Bellagio was designed by the fabled Steve Wynn at a massive price tag of $88 million. It’s primarily known for its fountain that’s been featured in a number of popular films such as “The Hangover” and “Ocean’s 11,” but in terms of gambling, the Bellagio is world-famous for high-end poker rooms called “The Office,” and consistently hosts World Poker Tour events.
Various pro players pay a visit because of the high table limits. Bets can go as high as $4,000/$8,000 in the “Big Game” at Bobby’s Room, with pots usually going up above $1 million. Aside from poker, there are 2,000 slot machines, paying as much as $2 million, as well as exclusive fashion stores for upscale shopping aficionados.
12) Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore
One of the most luxurious properties ever established in the modern world, Resorts World Sentosa on Sentosa Island is located off the southern coast of Singapore and was built at a cost of almost $5 billion. It not only has a casino and six hotels, but also the Universal Studios theme park, Adventure Cove Water Park and a Marine Life Park that holds the world’s largest oceanarium.
The casino features more than 2,400 slot machines and electronic table game machines as well as more than 500 table games, such as blackjack, poker, and baccarat. Each of the hotels features its own distinct theme, totaling more than 1,500 luxurious rooms, which includes trendy beach villas that wow guests with breathtaking views and personal butlers. Tree-top lofts also give guests an idyllic escape for nature lovers nestled in a canopy of trees perched almost 40 feet above the ground.
13) Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
Although it’s not the largest casino in the entire world, it’s the second most pricey casino property to have been established, coming in with a price tag of $5.5 billion to make. It also houses the largest atrium casino on the planet, with 500 gaming tables and 2,500 slot machines.
When your luck runs out, don’t worry; there are still tons of things to keep you busy. The highlight is called the SkyPark on the 57th floor, which boasts of a 500-foot infinity pool that feels like you’re swimming on top of Singapore with its 360-degree views. The resort also has the Marina Bay Sands Science Museum and a grand theater. Singapore residents are charged $100 for the privilege of walking through the door, so you’ll need to bring your passport to prove you aren’t a local to get in for free.
14) The Kurhaus of Baden-Baden in Germany
The Kurhaus is one of the most luxurious hotel-casinos. It’s also one of the oldest. This splendid casino resort was actually established way back in the 1820s, representative of Imperial German luxury, taking guests back to a time before mass tourism.
While many people take in the Baden-Baden for its therapeutic mineral springs, the casino is very popular for being one of the most exclusive and elegant in all of Europe. It has 113 slots and 24 gaming tables, including baccarat, French roulette, American roulette and poker across 32,289 square feet of gaming space. Guests can also spend time relaxing at the celebrated spa or taking in the sights of the Black Forest.
