10 of the most spectacular casinos around the world

Matej Kastelic // Shutterstock Gambling has existed for millennia and the first casinos opened for business some four centuries ago. But casinos are changing. Online betting is creating rigorous competition, so casino owners have pivoted to building dazzling edifices that are architecturally unique and offer far more than slots and table games. OLBG curated a list of 10 of the most impressive and unique casinos around the globe. Most are casino hotels that offer up to thousands of rooms for not only gamesters but non-gamesters and families. Most feature an array of restaurants, including some of the best in the world, as well as state-of-the-art nightclubs, lounges, and bars. Some have swimming pools and luxury spas. Others even have an onsite golf course or two. In short, most of these casinos offer complete vacation experiences that let you, say, golf in the morning, get a massage or hit the pool in the afternoon, dine in the evening, gamble at night, and then head to your luxurious guest room once you’ve (hopefully) hit the jackpot. You will likely find the new generation of casinos a safe bet–and an exhilarating choice for your next getaway. Marina Bay Sands Travel__Photography // Shutterstock – Location: Singapore It’s no surprise that this casino resort, which opened in 2010, was seen in “Crazy Rich Asians” and other films as it’s arguably the most iconic building in Singapore. Equal parts hotel, casino, and rooftop park, it’s an architectural wonder in the shape of the Roman Numeral III, appropriately composed of three towers housing 2,500-plus guest rooms. It’s topped by SkyPark, a 340-meter-long park and observation deck laid across the top of the 57-story towers. While gaming enthusiasts like the casino’s 1,600 slot machines and 500 gaming tables, other visitors can keep busy at the park (where there’s a 150-meter-long infinity pool) and the resort’s ArtScience Museum, skate rink, theater, shopping mall, and an astonishing 47 restaurants (several featuring celebrity chefs). Sun City Artush // Shutterstock – Location: South Africa This casino stays open until at least 2 a.m. on weeknights and is open 24 hours on weekends, so you can try your luck at the slots or any of the 40 different table games whenever you want. Be sure to set aside time for everything else the resort has to offer. By day, options include two world-class golf courses, a world-class water park, two spas, two levels of family entertainment, mountain bike trails, water sports, tennis courts, and a visit to adjacent Pilanesberg National Park. Two dozen restaurants serve everything from Portuguese cuisine to kid-friendly fare. By night, you can patronize any of the resort’s 10 bars and lounges (including three pool bars) before retiring to your luxurious hotel room. Ocean Casino Resort Sky Cinema // Shutterstock – Location: Atlantic City, New Jersey The proximity to New York City and the appeal of the beach boardwalk have lured people to Atlantic City for generations, and the Ocean Resort Casino will keep them coming. Gamesters love the 2,000 slots, 125 table games, and major sports-book operation. Guests love the four-diamond hotel (1,400 rooms); 20-acre beachfront property; 20 restaurants, bars, lounges, and nightclubs; ocean-view indoor/outdoor pool, and views from the tallest building in the city. Visitors can also attend Ovation Hall concerts (where Beyonce has performed) or unwind at the Exhale Spa (voted best in New Jersey in 2021). The former Revel Casino Hotel reopened as the Ocean in 2018. Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas Francesco Joesph // Shutterstock – Location: Paradise Island, Bahamas If you are seeking paradise (aren’t we all?), you don’t need to venture far off the Florida coast to find it. Atlantis is literally in paradise as the resort and casino occupy all of the Bahamas’ Paradise Island. And, for those too young to have heard the 1968 Donovan song lyrics, Atlantis was a fictional utopian island mentioned in Plato’s “Dialogues.” But there’s nothing fictional about the resort, which offers much more than gaming-with-a-view. Among the attractions are 40 restaurants, bars, and lounges; a massive water park; 11 pools; 5 miles of beaches; and a golf course. Casino di Campione D’Italia