There’s something of a geographical split around the globe as to the best destination for casino gaming.
Those in the Western world will likely identify Las Vegas the gambling capital of this fair planet. Hurtling towards a century of casino gaming, Sin City remains a top destination for tourists and blackjack lovers alike.
But Vegas isn’t the only location with a claim to the crown, and in Asia no place can match the glitz, glamour and excitement of the casinos of Macau. The Chinese principality had become the largest, in terms of revenue, gambling destination on earth prior to 2020.
There’s a world beyond Vegas and Macau, of course, and you might be surprised to learn that other destinations have a casino landscape that, while not matching those two kings of the industry for size and scale, are certainly well worth a visit.
Many of these locations are perfect for tourism as it is, so if you do find yourself with some spare money while planning your next sojourn abroad, perhaps the countries and cities below should be near the top of your list.
Australia
Although Australia does still have some fairly draconian rules governing the gambling industry, casinos can be operated freely in a number of the country’s states and territories.
The first casino boom down under took place in the 1970s, with the Wrest Point Hotel Casino – the inaugural gaming establishment in Tasmania – the first to open its doors to punters in 1973.
Today, there are dozens of casinos located across Australia, with Queensland, Tasmania and the Northern Territory in place as the main hubs for gambling in the country.
Wrest Point is still open to this day in the sumptuous surroundings of the Sandy Bay marina, while brands like The Star Grand and Crown are confirmed as the most popular casino firms in Australia….despite the legal woes of the latter.
If you are plotting a trip to Australia and want to tie that in with a trip to the casino, Melbourne is perhaps the city of choice. This is a bustling metropolis of fine cuisine, culture and shopping, and despite being much-maligned the Crown Casino remains a major focal point of the city.
And, if you have a mind for such things, the famous Flemington and Moonee Valley racecourses are not far away….
The Bahamas
Sun and sea lovers wouldn’t need much persuading to visit the Bahamas on holiday if they could afford it, but knowing that there’s a handful of so-called ‘mega casinos’ on the island might just be the final push they need.
Not that far from other tourist hotspots like Florida, Cuba and the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas is home to white beaches, turquoise waters and exotic wildlife.
Nassau, the de facto capital of the island, is home to a couple of famous casinos too, including the Baha Mar resort. Self styled as ‘the Caribbean’s largest and most luxurious casino’, the Baha Mar boasts more than 1,000 slot machines, 18 different table games and a sportsbook powered by William Hill.
Although the government has implemented an eye-watering tax regime on the gambling sector in the Bahamas, casinos continue to thrive – so much so that Bahamian officials have publicly called upon businesses to apply for gambling licenses, in order to increase the number of gaming establishments in the country beyond those established in Nassau.
Generating around $150 million (£127 million) in revenue each year, Bahamas casinos are particularly popular with visitors from the United States and Canada.
Philippines
Although Macau is considered to be the capital of gambling in Asia, the Philippines still holds plenty of appeal for travellers seeking a top-notch casino experience.
Like many countries in south east Asia, the Philippines was hit hard by the worldwide health crisis, but so popular have their casinos proved that, now it is adjudged safe to travel and frequent hospitality venues in the country, their gambling revenue is recovering towards pre-2020 levels already.
That equates to around $4.6 billion (£3.9 billion) annually, with a number of global operators like Resorts World nestled alongside the state-owned casinos in cities such as Manila.
Jamaica
While Jamaica does have some casinos and gaming venues, these are not the all-singing, all-dancing establishments you might enjoy in other parts of the world.
However, that could be about to change, with officials in the country revealing a number of new developments that could open the door to major operators heading to the Caribbean island.
Although standalone casinos are, for the most part, prohibited, new gaming licenses will be considered for casino firms that partner with a resort hotel.
Work has already begun on a Hard Rock Casino in Montego Bay, while a Princess Hotels & Resorts property is also expected to be handed a licence once construction work is completed.
Croatia
The UK has no shortage of casinos to play at, while Monaco and Paris are well-renowned for the opulence of their establishments.
But if you want to try a different European destination with a casino landscape of its own, there’s a couple of different options – Croatia is very much high up on the list.
A popular location for tourists these days, Croatia boasts decent weather, some stunning beaches, charming towns and friendly locals.
And there’s more than a dozen casinos spread across the country too, and the good news is that some of these are located in the more amenable places for international travellers, including Dubrovnik and Split.
Of them, it’s perhaps the Casino Adriatic Opatija that will feel the most familiar to punters that have previously visited Las Vegas. This sprawling venue is located within the Grand Hotel Adriatic resort, and offers unparalleled views across Kvarner Bay.
Although casino gaming in Croatia is still in its growth phase, note that Entain – one of the biggest gambling operators in the world – successfully acquired the Croatian firm SuperSport in August. That indicates the expected boom in gambling in the country in the months and years ahead.
Georgia
No, not the American state, but the small country to the east of Europe.
It’s city, Batumi, has been described by the BBC as the ‘Las Vegas of the Black Sea’, and you can probably guess why. It’s the neon lights, the whirring of the slot machines and the sky-scraping buildings, some of which house casinos.
Casino Iveria and the Princess Casino are just two of the more popular options for gamers, and while swathes of Georgia are under Russian control, cities like Batumi and Tbilisi are emerging as new and exciting tourist hotspots.
United Arab Emirates
Although a Muslim-orientated state, where gambling is illegal, authorities in the UAE have circumnavigated the rules by building an artificial island to house the country’s first casino.
The U.S. chain Wyatt Resorts have won the rights to build the first casino in the Middle Eastern country, with Al-Marjan Island – part of the Ras al-Khaimah principality and around an hour from Dubai – the destination.
The casino isn’t set to open its doors until 2026, but when it does stacks of slot machines and games tables will be available on the property, which will also house 1,000 rooms, a shopping centre and a convention hall.
If it proves successful, other casinos could follow in the region.
New York
Las Vegas could soon have a rival for supremacy in the American casino market.
There are casinos in New York already, however these are situated in downtown or out-of-earshot locations such as Queens and Westchester.
But there are ambitious plans to bring gaming into the heart of the city, with Caesars plotting an audacious attempt to build a casino in the heart of Times Square.
There are set to be three licenses handed out in Manhattan, although the lengthy process could take until 2025 before any casinos open their doors in the Big Apple.