Category Archives: Casino Venues / Resorts

Dubbed ‘the most beautiful casino in the world’ by Marlene Dietrich, Casino Baden-Baden is situated in the spa town of the same name, on the edge of the Black Forest, in the state of Baden-Württemberg in south-western Germany. Housed in the classically inspired Kurhaus, built between 1821 and 1824, Casino Baden-Baden was taken over by Jacques Bénazet, who had previously run the Palais Royal in Paris, in 1838. Granted his heritage, it is no surprise that Bénazet based the interior design of Casino Baden-Baden on that of stately French palaces, with rich, intricately designed furniture and fittings, including an abundance of chandeliers, mirrors and gold leaf

Even today, although the halcyon days of Casino Baden-Baden are long gone, the large gambling hall still evokes the spirit of the Belle Époque, in terms of opulence and style. At 2,200 square feet, the casino floor is small by usual standards, but – notwithstanding the modern slot machines that occupy much of the floor space – patrons can immerse themselves in an ‘old school’ gambling experience. Time-honoured classics, such as blackjack, poker, punto banco and roulette – American and French – are available in the table games section. The thought of a modern nightclub in such a venerable building may seem a little incongruous but, while trendy and upbeat, Club Bernstein is stylishly decorated and provides an intimate, almost exclusive, setting in which to enjoy playing poker and roulette.

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.

As the name suggests, Resorts World Sentosa is what has become known as an Integrated Resort Casino (IRC) on Sentosa Island, which is part of the Republic of Singapore in South East Asia. Unsurprisingly, Resorts World Sensosa occupies a huge physical site, with the casino floor alone covering in excess of 160,000 square feet, or 1.5 hectares, which is the maximum area allowed, by law, in Singapore.

Owned and operated by Genting Singapore plc, the leading casino operator in Asia,

Resorts World Sentosa Casino opened on Chinese New Year, 2010. The Casino, which lies beneath the lavishly appointed suites of Crockfords Tower at Resorts World Sentosa, features over 500 gaming tables. Available table games include, but are by no means limited to, baccarat, blackjack, Caribbean stud poker, craps, roulette, three card poker and Texas hold’em poker, plus some other, more exotic, typically Asian offerings, such as si ki pi and sic bo, or tai sai. Electronic versions of baccarat, roulette and sic bo are also available and are supplemented by 2,400 slot machines, known locally as ‘jackpot machines’.

Resorts World Sentosa is one of two integrated resorts in Singapore – the other being the Marina Bay Sands, owned and operated by the Las Vegas Sands Corporation – but the only one where poker is available. Indeed, a separate, dedicated poker room offers seven poker tables; small blinds start at S$10, with a 5% rake, capped at S$50.

Sun City Casino Resort is, as its name suggests, an integrated resort casino in North West Province in north-central South Africa. Sun City Casino Resort opened in 1979 – long before the first inclusive elections in South Africa in 1994 – in what was, in the days of apartheid, the nominally independent Republic of Bophuthatswana. Consequently, Sun City Casino Resort was one of the few places in South Africa where affluent, white tourists could gamble legally.

Despite its chequered history, Sun City Casino Resort has evolved with the times and, especially since its most recent renovation, in 2017, become a popular holiday destination, renowned for its Las Vegas-style glamour, glitz and sophistication. Open 365 days a year, Sun City Casino Resort boasts a casino floor covering 125,000 square feet, which, put in perspective, is on a par with The Venetian, or the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, in Las Vegas.

The state-of-the-art casino includes smoking and non-smoking areas and features 40 or so gaming tables, offering baccarat, blackjack, roulette and stud poker, to name but a few of the popular table games. Electronic gaming machines, including slot machines with stakes between R0.01 and R100 – R100 is the equivalent of just over £5.50 – number over 850. Many slot machines feature progressive jackpots and/or promotions that provide opportunities for players to win non-cash prizes.