Put It All on Black, Baby: Best Gambling Around the World
Gambling used to be about more. More glitz, more glamour, more money. Legendary acts like Frank Sinatra played at The Sands and high-stakes casinos catered to the celebrity set with private tables and luxury bungalows—all refreshingly free of the flash and bang of the paparazzi. Curvaceous bottle-blondes in sequined dresses hung on the arms of tuxedoed, cigar-smoking gentlemen.
A good day at the tables could turn any pauper into a prince, but old money bought you real prestige. Today’s small-town Indian casinos and ubiquitous Cirque du Soleil shows can’t quite live up to the great gambling experiences of the past. But sprinkled across the globe are high-stakes hideaways that capture the spirit of the golden days of gambling. Read on as Jetset Extra takes you to the top destinations in the world for casinos and gaming.
Baden-Baden, Germany
Baden-Baden is one of the most picturesque of all the German bathing towns. While some head to Baden-Baden for its famous thermal waters and therapeutic pools, others dive into the magnificent Baden-Baden Casino. Also known as the “Kurhaus,” it is Germany’s oldest and largest casino, founded in 1809. Take in the French style chateaux and its extravagant interior with a guided tour of the casino and its rooms, offered every morning. When hitting the tables, here’s hoping you have better luck than Dostoyevsky, who is rumored to have written The Gambler after losing at the casino. Bet big and stay at Belle Époque.
Macao
Size matters. The small Chinese peninsula (just 11 square miles) known as Cotai Slip is quickly becoming an exotic version of Las Vegas. Just an hour-long ferry ride from Hong Kong, the newly built strip boasts the world’s largest casino: The Venetian Macao. This mammoth gaming hotel complex is large enough to hold ninety Boeing 747 jumbo jets and has over 4,000 slots and 800 gaming tables. The Venetian isn’t the only big name property to hit this little peninsula. The Wynn, MGM, Sangri-La and InterContinental are all upping the ante with billion-dollar casino resorts. Macao’s old strip still attracts visitors with its Asian-inspired charm, home to the classic Casino Lisboa and Sands Casino. Either way, it’s a win-win.
Adelaide, Australia
Perched above the historic Railway Station building in Adelaide, the Adelaide Casino is South Australia’s must-play destination. The casino just got a $5 million makeover to return the glamour of yesteryear to its Marble Hall, including a gigantic custom-built chandelier made from over 2000 hand-blown glass bubbles from Italy. When not playing blackjack or three-card poker in the 19th century hall, sip cocktails at the glamorous Chandelier Bar. For an even more spectacular toast, take a day trip to the nearby Barossa wine country. Just an hour drive from Adelaide, the Barossa is one of the world’s great wine regions, rivaling Bordeaux, Napa and Tuscany. Spend a day visiting wineries, farm shops, artisan butchers and bakers, award-winning cheese makers and microbrewers. Take a long drive through the Barossa’s villages, rolling hills, stone churches and vineyards before checking in at The Louise—a luxury vineyard retreat comprised of just 15 suites offering individual terraces overlooking the vineyards, dual rain showers and spa tubs, espresso-makers, outdoor showers, fireplaces, and more.
Sun City, South Africa
Sun City’s 60-acre man-made jungle offers all the adventure you desire, from a “big five” safari to high-stakes games at the five-star Palace of the Lost City. Only 90 minutes from Johannesburg, Sun City is home to three other resorts, a Gary Player-designed golf course, a crocodile sanctuary, and Valley of the Waves, one of the world’s most extreme water parks. Novice gamblers eager to learn the tricks of the trade can enroll in the Sun City School of Gaming to learn the skills and protocol of table games like blackjack, craps, roulette and stud poker. Lose yourself, but hopefully not your life savings, at The Palace of the Lost City at Sun City.
Paradise Island, Bahamas
There is no better place to gamble when you are in the Caribbean than on Paradise Island. The island is comprised of 685 acres designed exclusively to delight and entertain visitors. Its main attraction, Atlantis, is massive—we’re talking over 50,000 square feet—and offers endless play, not to mention unique marine life attractions and beautiful beaches for all you sun-worshippers. Atlantis Resort has breathtaking skylights, beautiful lagoons and gardens, and huge indoor aquarium—all almost pretty enough to pull you away from that roulette wheel. Your number is about to come up at the Atlantis Resort.
Monte Carlo, Monaco
Monte Carlo is the Halston of the gambling world—glittering, beautifully designed, and forever classic. Indulge in the opulence of the Casino de Monte-Carlo. Since its opening in 1863, the rich and famous have flocked to the casino designed by architect Charles Garnier (also responsible for the Opera Garnier in Paris), making it your best bet for celebrity hobnobbing. But don’t mistake Monte Carlo for The Strip—no flip-flops or short-shorts allowed. This ritzy destination enforces a strict dress code: men, suit up, and women, be prepared to dazzle. And who knows? While watching the World Poker Tour you might happen to catch the filming of the next James Bond movie. Slip Daniel Craig the key to your room at the Hotel de Paris.
For More Information:
BADEN-BADEN, GERMANY
Casino Baden-Baden
Kaiserallee 1
Baden-Baden
Germany
Tel: 0 72 21 / 30 24-0
Hotel Belle Epoque
Maria-Viktoria-Strasse 2c
Baden-Baden
Germany
Tel: 49 (0) 7221 30066 0
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA
Adelaide Casino
North Terrace
Adelaide
Tel: 61 8 8212 2811
The Louise
Corner Seppeltsfield and Stonewell Roads
Marananga, Barossa Valley
Tel: 61 8 8562 2722
MACAO
The Venetian Macao
Estrada da Baía de N. Senhora da Esperança, s/n,
Taipa, Macao
Tel: 853 2882 8877
SUN CITY, SOUTH AFRICA
The Palace of the Lost City
Sun City Resort
Sun City
South Africa
PARADISE ISLAND, BAHAMAS
Atlantis
One Casino Drive
Paradise Island
Bahamas
Tel: 1 242 363 3000
MONTE CARLO, MONACO
Casino de Monte-Carlo
Place du Casino
Monaco
Tel: 377 98 06 21 21
Hotel de Paris
Place du Casino
Monaco
Tel : 377 98 06 30 00
