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The central Austrian city of Salzburg, near the German border, is probably best known as the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the setting for the Rogers and Hammerstein musical ‘The Sound of Music’. However, from a gambling perspective, Salzburg – or rather Wals-Siezenheim, two-and-a-half miles west of Salzburg – has, since 1993, been home to Casino Salzburg.

Casino Salzburg is housed in Schloss Klessheim, which originally dates from the turn of the eighteenth century and is a fine example of the Baroque architecture for which Salzburg is renowned. However, beyond the impressive exterior, guests can find a modern, recently restored, renovated and redesigned casino floor.

Various gaming areas, which collectively cover about 25,000 square feet, or just over half an acre, incorporate 30 or so gaming tables. Poker, including two variants, known as ‘Tropical Stud’ and ‘Easy Hold’em’, which allow players to bet against the bank, rather than each other, is very much in evidence, with 11 tables in total. So, too, are blackjack and American, double-zero roulette, but baccarat and punto banco are also available. Electronic gaming machines and slot machines are plentiful, with over 200 to choose from.

Visitors should be aware that they will be required to produce a passport and pay a fee – at the time of writing, €30 – to enter Casino Salzburg. However, the €30 cover charge is, effectively, refunded in the form of casino chips or a slot machine card.

To the worldwide audience, the Bellagio, on the Las Vegas Strip, is probably best known for the ‘Fountains of Bellagio’, which served as the backdrop for an iconic scene in the slickest Hollywood blockbuster for many a year, ‘Ocean’s Eleven’, which was released in 2001. Nevertheless, since opening in 1998, on the site formerly occupied by the Dunes Hotel, the Bellagio – which, at the time, was the most expensive hotel in the world, at a cost of $1.6 billion – has become one of the most sought-after destinations for gamblers worldwide.

The casino floor, which occupies 156,000 square, hosts hundreds of gaming tables including all the usual favourites, such as baccarat, blackjack, craps and roulette, and many more besides. Slot machine players can take their pick of, literally, thousands of low- and high-stakes machines, offering jackpots of up to $2 million. The Bellagio also has a world famous poker room, which is the home of the World Poker Tour (WPT), but recreational players can participate in lower-stakes, $2/$4 blind games without the fear and trepidation of taking on the ‘big boys’.

Indeed, for anyone seeking respite and diversion from gambling activities, a naturally lit, botanical conservatory situated just off the main lobby of the Bellagio features flowers, plants and decorations that reflect the changing season. In fact, the conservatory is considered a ‘must-see’ attraction for all visitors, gamblers or otherwise.

Ideal for when the sh!t hits the fan when you’re on tilt!