Every gambler has heard of Las Vegas, Monte Carlo, Reno, Macau and even Florida, these are gambling meccas, where the local economy depends on the gambling dollar more than anything else and where the tourists flock in order to play some slots, poker or blackjack. But you don’t need to head here if you’re looking to risk a few bucks, in fact there are some great casinos in some of the best holiday destinations around the world, so you can enjoy also some sightseeing and some time by the pool whilst you gamble.
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In Europe, for instance, gambling is legal in most countries. So rather than heading for monte Carlo, where one of the most famous casinos in the world is located, why not try some of the other beautiful cities that this fine continent has to offer? There are big and lavish casinos in most of them and any day of the week you can sit down for a game of poker, blackjack or even a pull on the slot machines.
Paris: Online gambling is still a touchy subject in France, but land-based casinos are legal and widely available. In Paris you can find the widest and best selection of these and as Paris is often considered the most romantic city on earth, you can bring your partner along and make a holiday out of it.
Some of the best casinos to play blackjack include the Cercle Wagram, the Cercle Haussman and the Cercle Clichy Montmarte. If you tire of blackjack then head down the world famous street, the Champs-Elysees, and into the Aviation Club de France. This is an exclusive poker room that plays hosts to some of the biggest stops on the biggest European poker tours. Entry is not free and costs around $200 a year, but it is worth it. Even if you’re in town for just a couple of weeks then you should contemplate coughing up the fee so you can sit at the same tables where the best poker players in Europe play for some of the biggest prizes in the game.
Los Angeles: The sun-drenched city of Los Angeles is famous the world over for its film industry and its rich and famous residents. This is one of the most expensive places to live in the world, and with all of that money flying around it is inevitable that a number of casinos would spring up. The bigger establishment include the Commerce Casino, where you can find an assortment of blackjack games, but there are also some smaller venues located throughout the city. These range from slot-heavy venues, to poker rooms and more.
London: London is a very expensive part of the world, where just a cup of coffee and a sandwich could set you back half of you kid’s college fund, but it is a beautiful city and a great place to live and visit. The locals also love to gamble, and England on the whole has a very close relationship with it. Gambling has been legal here in many forms for a long time. In fact, in England kids as young as 16 can buy lottery tickets and bet on horse races, whilst for one of those horse races, the Grand National, it is almost mandatory for the entire country to have a flutter.
In London you can find some of the most exclusive casinos, blackjack tables and poker rooms. In many of these, including the Ritz, you’ll need to be prepared to wager £10.000, or around $15.000 just to buy-in, which is great news for high rollers. Blackjack tables are equally lucrative, and a few of the bigger establishments will be able to match whatever maximum bet you can throw at them. For something a little less exclusive, try the Casino at the Empire, Palm Beach, the Hippodrome or the Grovsenor. A strict dress code is usually employed, and drinks and buy-ins are not cheap by any stretch of the imagination, but they are more accessible than the Ritz or the Crockfords Club.
Singapore: Another place to consider is Singapore. This a grand and glorious part of the world, and one that hasn’t just been touched by money, but has been assaulted by it. This is a phenomenally rich country and after recently legalising casinos, that wealth is only likely to increase. There are not too many options yet, but this is changing rapidly and soon Singapore could easily be one of the best places to gamble in the east, rivalling both Hong Kong and Macau.
Estoril: The Casino Estroil is located on the Portuguese coast, a beautiful and expansive casino that attracts visitors from all over the world. The blackjack here is played under European rules, but there are Vegas-style entertainment shows and there is also a wide choice of other games to play. This casino is located in a picturesque area and is perfect for seekers of sun and sea who want to play a few high risk table games whilst they’re enjoying the heat and the view.
Sydney: The youngest and hippest city in Australia is also a great place to gamble, with the Star Sydney Casino and Hotel being the best place to do so. This is only the second biggest casino in the country, the first of which is located in Melbourne, but considering everything else that Sydney has to offer then this is a great city to spend a few weeks.
Germany: Gambling is widely legal and accepted across Germany, as are many other forms of adult entertainment. This is a rich and clean country, and their casinos match. One of the most beautiful casinos is the Casino Baden-Baden, which is located in the Black Forrest, perfect for a relaxing retreat. This building is over 200 years old and is a joy to behold, especially at night. There are poker tables, blackjack tables and more located inside, and it is also a great place to relax and unwind with a drink or two.
Amsterdam: This is one of the most beautiful and serene cities in Europe. It sometimes gets a bad reputation as a place of debauchery, cheap sex and cheaper drugs, but that is far from the truth. Amsterdam is a very clean and friendly city, the locals go out of their way to help and you can’t help but relax and get into the calm and joyful Dutch mindset when you touchdown in this fabulous part of the world. Like Germany, Amsterdam is a adult’s playground, but there are not too many casinos here.
One of the casinos is actually located inside the airport. Holland Casino Schiphol Airport is basically a trimmed-down version of the other casino in Amsterdam, which is also owned and run by the Holland Casino brand. These are not the biggest or the best casinos in Europe but you can still get a good game of blackjack here and considering what else you have to enjoy in the city, from the relaxing walks by the canals, to the centuries of history and culture, it makes Amsterdam a great location for a gambling holiday.
Other great cities to visit to experience both a great holiday and some great gambling include Buenos Aires in Argentina, Copenhagen in Denmark and Auckland in New Zealand. If tourists come from a country where gambling is illegal then it can be hard to imagine just how widespread legal gambling is, which is why they seek out the Las Vegas’ and Macau’s of the world, seeing these as their only options, but the truth is that gambling is legal in more countries than it is not, so there’s no reason why you can’t turn a relaxing holiday by the beach, or a city holiday rich in sightseeing, into a gambling holiday.