We’ve gone through most of the rest in ‘The best casino in the world Part 1’ and now we are getting to the pointy end of the list. We have three more casinos we really need to mention before unveiling our champion, so let’s dive straight into ‘The best casino in the world Part 2’.
When is a lot too much? When does size just become ridiculous? Not yet apparently because The Venetian Macao resort and casino is a testament to how much further we, as gamblers and chasers of entertainment, are willing to push boundaries, to build bigger, to offer more.
The Venetian Macao is massive – like, truly enormous – and it’s not even the biggest casino in the world. That title belongs to WinStar World Casino in Oklahoma, USA. But The Venetian Macao sits quite comfortably at 2nd place because it offers more than just size – it is a gambler’s paradise.
Some facts about The Venetian Macao:
For the CasinoPlay.com crew, what sets The Venetian Macao apart from WinStar World – and what puts it on the list of BEST casinos in the world – is not the size, it’s the setting and the offering. Sure, its size is super impressive (and not a little intimidating to be honest) but it’s the Macau setting, the incredible opulence, and the fact that it offers 8x as many table games as WinStar World.
Size is one thing but to impress us you really need to know how to use it as well.
The Venetian Macao has spared no expense in creating a faux Venice extravaganza in this Asian territory that already has a reputation as a gambler’s paradise, and to back up its size with an almost endless list of offerings for gamblers. As far as family goes, it is in Macau which offers a host of activities apart from casinos but this is where it may just fall down the list a little. It really is geared for the gambler.
Pros:
ABSOLUTELY MASSIVE
Endless variety of games and gambling activities
Great location
Attention to detail in everything from décor to experiences
Cons:
Not really a family-friendly destination – although there are some fascinating historical and tourist areas around Macau
The sheer size can be intimidating and overwhelming
Not too much on offer apart from the gambling
Sorry hipsters, there’s not even a hint of irony in the name Paradise Island. Situated in the idyllic paradise of the Bahamas, this casino resort is, in a word, spectacular. One of the final projects of visionary hotelier Sol Kerzner, Atlantis Paradise Island is a fitting epitaph to the man who knew how to put on a show – and where to place it.
Like Resorts World Sentosa, Atlantis Paradise Island is truly a getaway destination for the whole family. Unlike Resorts World Sentosa, Atlantis Paradise Island is a place where you can take a step back, soak up the Caribbean lifestyle, unwind and recharge – and still have a thrilling time at the casino or in the surrounding resort.
Not only is Atlantis Paradise Island in the middle of one of the most desirable destinations in the world, it’s also in the middle of one of the most awesome waterparks in the world: Aquaventure. Aquaventure is 154 acres of fresh and saltwater lagoons, pools, marine habitats (including an incredible Bottlenose Dolphin rehabilitation centre), river rides and water slides. It even has a slide that takes you through the middle of a shark-infested lagoon!
On the stay and play side you have an incredible number of choices when it comes to the hotels and cabanas, from family-friendly and affordable to the top-tier, money is no option suites. The Bridge Suite in the Royal Tower is listed as the 10th most expensive hotel suite in the world at $25,000 per night.
The casino, as with every casino that the Sun King was ever involved in, offers the highest quality games and croupiers for discerning players – with a laid-back Caribbean vibe everywhere. Playing at the Atlantis Paradise Island Casino is as much about relaxing and having fun as the pristine white sand beaches and turquoise waters that surround it. There are 85 gaming tables offering poker, blackjack, baccarat, craps and roulette and over 800 slot machines to keep you enthralled when you’re not snorkelling or sipping cocktails poolside or strolling the gorgeous beaches at sunset.
Pros:
Location, location, location
Good variety and selection of games
Family and kiddie-friendly
Incredible not-gambling activities
A Caribbean paradise
Cons:
Family focus
Casino is an add-on not the main drawcard (that would be the whole island experience thing)
Possibly the most iconic casino resort in the world, Bellagio is the place where gambling is more than a passion, it’s a way of life.
Everything about this casino is geared toward the gambler. From its 10,800m2 gambling space to its 2,000 slot machines with progressive jackpots as high as $2,000,000 to its 200 gaming tables offering everything from blackjack to roulette to craps to specialty games like Pai Gow, Bellagio is the gambler’s dream destination.
There is more to Bellagio than just the casino, however. Not many people are lucky enough to know that Bellagio has an extensive Conservatory and Botanical Garden. Or that it is home to the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art with exhibitions of the most famous artworks in history. Or that the reputation that Bellagio is built on is one of the utmost in service – especially if you’re a high roller. Nothing is impossible when it comes to the Bellagio concierge service.
But there are two things that make Bellagio stand out as one of the best casinos in the world.
The first is the Bellagio Fountains. In a city where prime real estate on The Strip is as rare as a first spin progressive jackpot win, Bellagio has an 8-acre manmade lake with one of the most famous and most recognisable musical fountains in the world. 1,200 nozzles, 4,500 lights, water jets that reach 140m into the air, all to make a pretty (and admittedly, mesmerising) musical water show that anyone walking by can enjoy. If that’s not a commitment to offering only the best then we don’t know what is.
The second is the poker room. Known to pro poker players as “The Office”, the Bellagio poker room has seen all the greats pass through its doors. It was where the Word Series of Poker debuted. It even has an exclusive area called the “Legend’s Room” where the exclusive, high stakes Big Game is played. The stakes at the Big Game are astronomical to us mere dabblers in the art of poker. Blinds are regularly set at $4,000/$8,000. Wagers are often $100,000 per hand. And pots are typically over $1,000,000.
Pros:
Iconic
Serious casino
Regular high stakes games
Exclusive privé areas for private play
Reputation for service excellence
Cons:
Just way too big
Not family-friendly
In the middle of a very iconic but quite seedy city
You are quite likely to be cleaned out by a true pro
And yet, for all its grandeur and iconic status and whales and big numbers, Bellagio is still not the CasinoPlay.com Best Casino in The World!
This South African icon is truly the best casino in the world when you consider everything it has to offer quality, location, amenities, extras, gambling, family-friendly, dining, staying, and so much more.
Where else can you spend your nights gambling and your days soaking up the African sun? Or choose to stay in über-luxury accommodation or a fun, self-catered cottage where you can do your own thing? Where else can you enjoy next-gen gaming one minute and a drive through a Big 5 nature reserve the next?
Sun City has it all and more. From the various hotels that offer every level of accommodation to its incredible surrounding. The Palace of the Lost City sits in the middle of a 25-hectare man-made botanical garden. The Valley of the Waves is practically a man-made ocean with waves and slides and so much fun I want to scream!
This casino resort, the first that was the vision of the man who made Atlantis – Sol Kerzner – is famous for a reason. Not only does it have everything, it also wraps it all into a warm, friendly and decidedly not-only-gamblers-welcome package. Kerzner’s vision of an oasis for the whole family is more than accomplished, it has expanded into a destination visited by thousands every month from all over the world.
The opulence of the Palace at the Lost City cannot be understated. The fittings and furniture, for example, are almost exclusively handcrafted. It features a mural that took 5,000 hours to paint by hand. And it’s apparently the world largest themed resort hotel!
But, just a short walk away, is a world where things are simpler and more affordable. And yet still gives the gambler and the family access to all the fun and entertainment they are looking for.
It also features two world-famous and world-class golf courses (watch out for crocodiles?).
And when it comes to world-class, the casino offers the highest quality games and services for gamblers from every level of experience with over 850 slot machines and 40 dedicated gambling tables.
Truly a testament to Sol Kerzner’s ambition for quality, attention to details and a resort that offers something for everyone.
So, there you have it – the CasinoPlay.com crew’s pick for the best casino in the world. There are hundreds of casinos out there and there are likely casinos that deserve higher recognition (WinStar because of its size, Caesar’s Palace because of its iconic history, the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, MGM Grand or Arai in Las Vegas, the list goes on) but we were looking for something different, something unique, and something that truly offered thrills and excitement from the casino and beyond to give us a destination where we could spend a week or two and not feel like it was too much, that we could happily stay a week or two more.
As always – have fun and play responsibly and, if you hit that jackpot, give us a call and we’ll help you travel the world and explore the best that the casino biz has to offer! You’re paying.
