Gambling Spots Open Near Me
Casinos Near Portland Ilani Casino. Located just north of Portland in Ridgefield, Washington, ilani Casino (pronounced “ay-lon-ay”) is the newest entry in the local gaming and entertainment scene. The casino takes its name from the indigenous Cowlitz tribe’s word for “sing.”. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, Hollywood Casino boasts over 3,200 slot machines, 89 tables featuring 20 different games and a World Poker Tour poker room with 41 tables.
Though airfare has certainly increased the past several years there are generally more flights per destination than ever. And with airlines and hoteliers competing online there are still affordable ways for the mobile gambler to get out and test the waters at some of the more popular casinos in the world.
In this post we are going to introduce seven of the best gambling and casino destinations in the world. Some of these you may be well aware of. Others perhaps less so. Hopefully you will find at least one location you will consider worth putting some coin aside for and visiting soon as possible.
There are over 1500 casinos in the United States alone. To put this into some perspective there are roughly as many casinos in the US as there are in the rest of the world combined. We have chosen two American destinations for our list that likely don’t come at any surprise. Outside the US gaming is expanding rapidly. We introduce two Asian locations, both of which have risen within the past decade to dominate global casino revenues.
1. Las Vegas
First off at the top of the list is the world’s de facto gambler Mecca, otherwise known as the “city of lights” and, of course, “sin city”. Each year, Las Vegas Strip casinos take in over $6 Billion, $118 Million of which from poker alone. If you went last year you would have been one of the over 42.3 Million to have taken in the lights and sights of the world’s most celebrated gaming industry. What makes that figure more impressive is the fact that, outside of conventions, there really is no other reason for visiting Las Vegas than the Strip.
And gaming is not the only thing on tap. The intense competition for gambling dollars has created immense investment by casinos in entertainment attractions, each outdoing the other in lavishness and spectacle. Las Vegas is synonymous with its glamorous showgirls and entertainers like the Rat Pack and Wayne Newton, spectacular fountains, pyramids and a replica of the Eiffel Tower. Recently, Cirque du Soleil has established a permanent presence and can be seen year-round, performing their peerless brand of gymnastics that can take your breath away.
However, should you find yourself looking for diversions from the gaming tables or your funds are getting low, Las Vegas is not without options. If you weigh over 350 pounds you may eat for free at the Heart Attack Grill restaurant. Be sure to inquire about their triple deck cheese and bacon burger! Elsewhere, you can fire off a grenade launcher, twice, for $40. And there is a heavy-equipment playground where you can drive bulldozers.
2. Macau (also spelt Macao)
Located next to Hong Kong on the western side of the Pearl River Delta, Macau was a colony of the Portuguese Empire until it was returned over to China in 1999. Though officially under Chinese rule, Macau has retained a high degree of autonomy and has used it to established itself as one of the world’s richest cities.
In 2006, Macau became the world’s largest gaming center, with 2015 gaming revenue reaching over $28.3 Billion. You won’t have to worry about find a game, as Macau casinos contain in total nearly 6000 gaming tables.
Though the US gaming industry remains atop casino gambling revenues by country, Macau is the home of the eight most lucrative gaming houses worldwide. Number one on that list is the Galaxy Macau, with a 2014 revenue of US$5.85 Billion, almost as much as the entire Las Vegas Strip combined!
Near the equator, Macau’s climate is temperate, with a yearly average of 72 °F. If you like the heat and don’t mind the humidity Macau’s summer temperatures routinely reach over 80 °F. If that is too for you then January temperatures average a much more manageable 58 °F. Whichever you prefer the Macau’s tourist infrastructure is fully modern so you can expect your stay to be comfortable.
3. Atlantic City
The United State’s other famous gambling destination is Atlantic City, and is perhaps a more reclined counterpart to the glitz and glamour of the Las Vegas Strip. A small resort town with a population of 39 000, Atlantic City has charm to spare with its casinos, oceanside beaches and of course, the world famous Boardwalk.
There are eight casinos in Atlantic City. The largest and newest is the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa, with 3153 slot machines and 263 gaming tables. The Borgata also claims to have the winningest slots in the both the Atlantic City and Pennsylvania gaming markets.
Gambling Spots Open Near Me Now
A true tourist destination, Atlantic City proves it is not just about the gambling. The Atlantic City area is home to seven of the state’s top ten ranked golf courses and is among the top three world-class venues for hosting marquee boxing events. And of course there is the aforementioned Boardwalk. Built in 1870, the Atlantic City Boardwalk is ranked by National Geographic as the best in the US.
4. Monte Carlo
The history and legend of the Monte Carlo casino speaks for itself. Perched on the shores of the Mediterranean, the Monte Carlo remains peerless in its reputation for sophistication and luxurious gaming.
While the casino has retained its rich decour that has made it so famous it has sought to keep up with technological advances in the gaming industry. As such, you are able to play slot machines both classic and modern. In its gaming suites, Monte Carlo offers European, and English, Roulettes, Trente et Quarante, Black Jack, and the universally popular Texas Hold’em Poker.
While most casinos are closed and cavernous environments where gamblers are encouraged to lose track of time and the outside world, the summertime Salle Blanche & Terrasse offers table play with its matchless view over the Riviera.
Outside the casino, Monte Carlo offers a wide variety of events and activities. Festivals occur year-round. Day and night tours provide you with expert guides. One favorite is a short (one half hour) or day long tour with a professional driver and Lamborghini.
5. Baden-Baden
Located in the German Rhineland and just north of the university city of Heidelberg, Baden-Baden is special for those attracted to old-world opulence. The history of the town is very old, used over millennia for its special healing mineral spas.
The ornate casino was established over 200 years ago and designed as a French palace, with large chandeliers, gold details and lush, red velvet drapes. Its heyday may have been in the 19th century when it was popular with European nobility and elite classes from around the world. Currently, while still providing the richness of its heritage, you will find over 100 slots and two dozen gaming tables offering Black Jack, Poker, Roulette and Baccarat.
Situated in the Rebland Wine Region and near the Black Forest National Park, Baden-Baden offers quality dining, shopping districts.
6. Singapore
Opened in 2010, Singapore’s two casinos ranks it fourth in world-wide gaming revenues, between Canada and Australia. The Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa round out the top ten casinos in the world, with 2015 revenues of US$2.57 and US$1.76 respectively.
The largest of the two, the Marina Bay Sands, with its iconic and immediately recognizable three-towers motif, asserts itself on the Singaporean Marina Bay skyline. The Sands offers 160 000 square feet of space, filled with 700 tables and 2500 machines over four floors and 24 hour access, with dress code.
Fully modernized, and alongside the traditional gaming tables and slots, the Sands offers Rapid Table Games, with touch screens and computerized waging that offer Baccarat, Roulette and Sic-Bo. Note to poker players: other than Singapore Stud, poker is not available at the Sands. The Sands also offers the famous 3 acre Avalon Sands Skypark.
The smaller of the two in size, the Resorts World Casino Sentosa still provides almost as many tables and machines as the Sands. The Sentosa can also be somewhat pricier, with rooms up to $1200.
Once a Dutch colony, the trade-routes port maintains its rich cultural background in its main historic districts of Little India, Arab Street, Chinatown and Orchard Road. The ArtScience Museum is over 49000 square feet and hosts exhibits that merge science and technology with art and design.
7. Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls has two casinos. The Casino Niagara, the first permanent casino to open in the province of Ontario, offers 95 000 square feet of floor space spread out over two stories, which includes 1500 slots machines and 45 gaming tables – including 12 poker tables – and sports betting. The Niagara also offers weekly live entertainment, a comedy club and several venues for dining and drinks.
The Fallsview Casino Resort is an impressive, $1 Billion complex, adding its prominence to the Niagara skyline in 2004. The Fallsview boasts 200 000 square feet of gaming space, including over 100 gaming tables and over 3000 slots.
The Fallsview has a premiere reputation for world-calibre live acts, a luxury hotel and spa facilities, brand name shopping and exquisite dining. And, as its name suggests, the Fallsview offers a wonderful window upon the magnificence of the Horseshoe Falls. The Fallsview hotel contains 374 rooms alongside a spa area of 15 000 square feet.
Gambling Spots Open Near Me Map
Niagara Falls’ attractions include Queen Victoria Park, The Maid of the Mist tour (which takes you behind the Falls), Skylon Tower and Pavilion with revolving restaurant and observation deck overlooking the Falls, a Butterfly Conservatory, Wax Museums and Marine Land. The Niagara area also continues to establish its reputation as a world-class golf destination.
Gambling Spots Open Near Me Right Now
Long known as the Honeymoon Capital of the World, Niagara Falls has been a favorite destination of newlyweds for generations. With its world-class casino and gaming facilities it is a fun-filled destination for couples who share an enthusiasm for gaming.
Conclusion
The global casino and gaming industry and culture is currently booming and there are many world-class venues and locations to choose from, depending on your tastes and interests. Gaming revenues provide enormous tax benefits for the host governments. This importance to local economies has brought ruling powers on board with the industry, creating a standardization the world over. This standardization seeks to ensure that gaming centers as diverse as Macau or Niagara Falls develop and maintain reputations for providing gaming tourists with nothing less than a fantastic experience.
Which ever venue catches your attention, I hope this list has provided a few ideas for where to go for your next gaming adventure.
Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.