Top 10 gambling cities in the world

Online casinos have extended the fun and thrills for gamblers across the world. With the rise online casinos, better security and more and more trusted operators, gamblers don’t need to leave the comfort of their homes to play their favourite games. In fact, with the growth of the mobile casino market, gamblers can enjoy their favourite pastime from wherever they are, whenever they want.

But that certainly doesn’t mean that land-based casinos are going to close their doors.

Casinos in all forms are big business and the bigger casinos are entertainment destinations in their own right with hundreds of offerings apart from the casino itself. Cinemas, restaurants, arcades, shopping – there is more to do in a modern casino than just gamble.

Which leads us to those cities that are built on gambling. We all know the big guns – Las Vegas, Monte Carlo, Macau – but there are a couple of destinations that may surprise you in our Top 10 list of gambling cities. These are destinations – like modern casinos – that offer far more than gambling. From the neon wonderland of Vegas to the azure beaches of the Caribbean, from the opulence of Monaco to the cosmopolitan city of Melbourne – these are the Top 10 Gambling Cities in the World.

Melbourne, Australia

Crown Casino

Not many gamblers realise the size of the gambling community in Australia. And not many would put Melbourne on a list of gambling cities.

Nevertheless, Melbourne is a major cultural centre in Australia and a major gambling centre as well. Melbourne is home to Crown Casino, the largest casino in Australia, but the gambling culture goes way beyond the casino.

The Australian Open, one of the Grand Slam tennis tournaments, attracts a huge gambling crowd as well as coinciding with the Aussie Millions Poker Championship.

The Melbourne Cup, one of horse racings most prestigious meets, is held at Flemington Racecourse every year.

For those looking to find a new and exciting gambling city, Melbourne should be at the top of your list. The city itself is gorgeous and the surrounding attractions will keep you entertained for weeks.

Aruba, Caribbean

Aruba Caribbean

Aruba is a tiny island in the Caribbean off the coast of Venezuela. It is a major tourist destination that features gorgeous coastlines and brilliant weather all year round.

It also features some stunning casinos for the travelling gambler. This 32km long island has a total of 13 casinos, many of them world class and situated in some of the top hotel chains in the world like the Ritz-Carlton and the Hyatt.

Aruba is where the popular casino game Caribbean Stud originated and playing a few hands of this iconic game while surrounded by the white sands and blue seas of the Caribbean is truly a taste of paradise.

San José, Costa Rica

 Palma Real

The capital city of the Central American country of Costa Rica is not a place that springs to mind when you think about gambling cities. And yet this city is host to more than thirty casinos.

With Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the south-east and the Pacific and the Caribbean on each side, Costa Rica is a tropical paradise that is a little off the beaten track. It is very popular with tourists, especially Americans, and San José is at the top of the reasons to visit.

Stunning surroundings, untouched wilderness, and the best of two oceans are reasons enough for a visit. Add in the huge number of top-class casinos and you have a destination fir for any gamblers itinerary.

Atlantic City, USA

ballys atlantic city

Built purely for gamblers who can’t take the time to get to Las Vegas, Atlantic City may run a close second place to top gambling cities in America but it really does cater to every gamblers wishes.

Famous for its boardwalk and its big-name entertainment extravaganzas, Atlantic City is a haven for gamblers with every feature of this North Eastern Seaboard city designed and aimed at bringing in gamblers. Big name casinos like Bally’s dominate the skyline and offer the travelling gambler every sort of game and attraction you can possibly imagine.

Atlantic City also has some family-friendly attractions so you can keep the kids occupied before you hit the tables.

Singapore, Asia

Marina Bay Sands

Singapore, a city famous (infamous) for its insanely strict and heavily enforced laws like no chewing gum (ever!), no spitting in public and definitely no littering, has recently entered the global gambling market.

For a newcomer, they are making some serious strides.

Already a destination for its incredible architecture, stunning scenery, one of the best zoos in the world, UNESCO Heritage Site Botanical Gardens and numerous tourist attractions, the opening of the acclaimed Marina Bay Sands Casino and Resorts World Casino have ensured that Singapore features one every gamblers bucket list.

With Singapore’s emphasis on opulence and only-the-best quality, these casinos are fast becoming among the top rated in the world – no surprise when you consider that the Marina Bay Sands is a resort boasting one of the world’s most recognisable buildings and home to some of the world’s top restaurants run by the world’s top chefs including, Gordon Ramsay, Wolfgang Puck and Tetsuya Wakuda.

London, United Kingdom

Hippodrome casino

In a city with such an incredibly vast history and so many historical and culture landmarks, it is quite surprising that the gambling side of entertainment is so low key. While many bars and pubs feature the iconic ‘fruit machines’, bookies will take a punt on pretty much anything and horseracing and sports betting is incredibly prevalent, London is often overlooked as a gambling destination.

But with 25 casinos, London should be far higher in the eyes of gamblers everywhere.

From ultra-exclusive, members-only establishments where the likes of Kerry Packer win or lose millions of Pounds on a single bet to the more open-to-the-public casinos of Leicester Square, you can find a casino that will match and raise all your expectations.

The Casino at the Empire, Aspers Casino, The Ritz Club and, one of our favourites, the Hippodrome Casino are all waiting to show you a good time.

Paris, France

Grand Casino de Lyon - Pharaoh

Like London, Paris has a rich and decadent history filled with art and culture and music – and gambling.

From the salons to the streets, gambling has been a favourite pastime of the people of France and the people of Paris in particular.

Not much has changed. Apart from the advances in technology, Paris is a major gambling destination with some of the world’s most amazing casinos. These casinos are so popular because, weirdly for such a libertarian society, France has banned all online casino and online gambling activity.

Still, the chance to explore the City of Love by day and then hit the tables for some high-end action at night definitely gives us a certain feeling of joie de vivre.

Monte Carlo, Monaco

casino de monte carlo

What is it that makes Monte Carlo such a desired destination for the followers of Lady Luck? The entire city (at a most generous use of the word) is less than half a square kilometre in size in a country (actually a principality) that is smaller than a Johannesburg suburb.

And that features a grand total of FOUR casinos.

Well, apart from the fact that the main casino – Casino de Monte Carlo – is probably one of the most famous and iconic in all gambling history. And that Monte Carlo, and Monaco, is home to more ridiculously rich people per capita than any other COUNTRY in the world. Or that the words opulence, glamour, wealth, luxury, prestige and just ridiculously over the top displays of wealth are all synonymous with this playground of celebrities and tycoons.

Monte Carlo is every gamblers dream destination. It brings together the thrills of gambling, the trappings of luxury, the displays of wealth and the unique camaraderie that is shared by gamblers of all walks of life.

And puts it squarely on one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world.

Las Vegas, USA

Golden Nugget Las Vegas

Sin City. The place every gambler pictures when you mention a gambling city. A destination dedicated to chance and fortune. Where fortunes are made and lost. Where excess is simply another way of saying you’re having a good time.

This is the most iconic gambling city in the world and home to the largest casinos and hotels, the biggest jackpots, the brightest lights and the most off-the-hook party lifestyles on the planet.

The Bellagio. Caesar’s Palace. Circus Circus. Golden Nugget. Wynn Las Vegas. You’ve seen them on TV. You’ve read about them in books. There really is not much more that can be said about Las Vegas. Especially when you know that “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas”.

This was the casino city that started them all.

So, why is at 2nd place?

Macau, Asia

Venetian Macau

If the other items on our list are gambling cities, Macau is a gambling capital. This city has grown exponentially over the years driven by construction and built on gambling. Gambling tourism accounts for more than half of Macau’s economy, it is home to over 30 casinos currently with another 20+ in the pipeline, it has some of the biggest casinos in the world including the 10,500,000 square foot Venetian Macau and the gambling industry here is SEVEN TIMES LARGER THAN LAS VEGAS!

This is a city that is serious about gambling, a city that is built to make sure that every gambler feels right at home and has everything they could possibly imagine.

Apart from the size of the casinos (and the number of casinos) it is the small, weird things that make Macau a true delight away from the tables and slots like the solid gold ingots floor tiles at the Jackie Chan owned Emperor Palace Casino – real gold bars set in tiles that you walk over when you enter the lobby.

Now THAT is how you show off your dedication to gambling.