There’s no denying the allure of casinos. They can be found on six of the world’s seven continents and the only reason they aren’t in Antarctica is because no one wants to gamble with upsetting its precious ecosystem!

Casinos attract people from all walks of life and for many more reasons than simply gambling. From being pampered in luxury hotels, enjoying elegant dining, shopping, and getting more than your fill of world-class entertainment, casinos often have a lot to offer.

But there’s no need to take a gamble on these top 5 casino destinations in the world, as I’d be willing to bet each will provide you with an exceptional travel experience.

5 of the Greatest Casino Destinations in the World

Monte-Carlo, Monaco

Within Monaco on the gorgeous French Riviera, you’ll find Monte Carlo with all its luxury and style; it’s here where the rich and famous come to play.

Casino de Monte-Carlo is one of the main drawcards for Monaco, offering up games like roulette, blackjack, craps, baccarat, stud poker, and slots. It even lured James Bond himself for two different films and it was a shooting location for Ocean’s Twelve.

Monte Carlo offers much more than just gambling though, hosting the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix, Monaco Yacht Show, European Poker Tour Grand Final, and world championship boxing matches. Add in luxury cars and yachts set to a backdrop of stunning Mediterranean coastline, and you have yourself a truly first-class travel destination.

Monaco is one of the world’s most densely populated countries, with almost one third of its residents being millionaires. Oddly enough, Monaco citizens aren’t allowed to gamble in Monte Carlo.

Thankfully for the casino, more than 75% of Monaco’s residents hail from other nations. While citizens may not be able to step foot in the gaming rooms, they can take in Monte Carlo’s Opéra de Monte-Carlo.

Las Vegas-Nevada, USA

The Vegas Strip has easily become the world’s most famous live casino destination, as well as being known for its non-stop entertainment. With well over a hundred different casinos, Vegas is a destination that can be visited numerous times and it will still be a struggle to see it in its entirety.

It’s here where some of the most notable casinos in the world reside including Caesar’s Palace, Bellagio, Venetian, Mandalay Bay, Wynn, and MGM Grand.

While you can try your luck at pretty much every game under the hot Nevada sun, you’ll also find world class music acts, sporting events, nightclubs, fine dining experiences, endless buffets, and plenty of great shopping.

There are roughly 150,000 different hotels rooms to choose from, Vegas offering up more AAA Five Diamond hotels than anywhere else in the world.

Best of all, Vegas can be a very budget friendly destination unlike places such as Monte Carlo. And if you’re an outdoors person, you can take advantage of dozens of golf courses as well as plenty of other outdoor recreation in nearby areas.

Check out Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Zion National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, and Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. There’s also Valley of Fire State Park which makes for a great outdoor day trip from Vegas.

Oh, and you can of course get married by Elvis in less than five minutes. About the only thing you can’t do in Vegas is play the lottery since ironically the sale of lottery tickets is prohibited in Nevada.

Baden-Baden, Germany

With a population of just under 55,000 people, the spa town of Baden-Baden in south-western Germany is one of the most visited sparsely populated areas in the world. The city became popular in the 19th century as a place for the European elite classes, attracting notables like the famous Russian writer Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoyevsky.

The town’s Baden-Baden Casino offers a much classier and more refined atmosphere than that found in Las Vegas. One of the oldest casinos in Europe, it substitutes the neon lights and showgirls of Vegas with elegant interior design featuring chandeliers, fine art, and gorgeous architecture.

The roughly 200-year-old building which takes its design inspiration from famous French palaces continues to attract notable literary figures and Hollywood stars. The casino’s Florentine Hall hosted a NATO summit back in 2009 that welcomed world leaders such as U.S. President Barack Obama.

When you’re not enjoying the 2,250-square-foot casino space with its 17 gaming tables, there are relaxing mineral-rich spas that date back to the Roman Period which are said to be some of the best thermal springs in Europe. The springs are said to help treat a range of cardiovascular problems, joint disorders, and respiratory ailments.

Baden-Baden also offers up the Frieder Burda Museum which displays one of the finest modern art collections in the world. See masterpieces by artists like Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock, Georg Baselitz, and Ernst Ludwig Kirchner. The area in and around Baden-Baden also offer up great golfing, tennis, hiking, and mountain climbing.

Macau, China

Once a former Portuguese colony, Macau is located in the South China Sea. Known as the “Monte Carlo of the East”, gambling tourism is said to make up around half of the local economy, taking in more money than Vegas.

Gambling and casinos are illegal on mainland China, so Chinese residents must head to the gambling cruise ships found in Hong Kong or the world-class casinos of Macau to get their gambling fix.

Just an hour ferry ride from Hong Kong, Macau offers up around 40 casinos including the mammoth-sized Venetian Macao which looks like The Venetian Las Vegas on steroids. This 39-story casino hotel is said to be the second largest casino in the world and one of the largest buildings in Asia, offering up over 10.5 million square feet of space.

Macau’s casinos are somewhat unique in that in addition to traditional games like roulette, baccarat, and blackjack, you’ll also find uniquely Chinese games of chance like sic bo and Fan Tan. Look for them in casinos like Macau Palace Casino, Lisboa Casino, and Waldo Casino.

In addition to the casinos, Macau offers up 24 hours of entertainment, since many shops and restaurants never close. You can also brave the world’s highest commercial bungee jump at 233 meters off the Macau Tower.

Morocco, Africa

You may not think of Africa as a gambling destination, but you will indeed find great casinos in Morocco despite it being an Islamic country which is a religion that normally shies away from gambling.

You’ll find most of Morocco’s casinos in three locales which include Tangier, Marrakesh, and Agadir, the last of which is the largest gambling city with its three different gambling facilities.

A few notable casinos are Marrakech’s La Mamounia at the foot of the Atlas Mountains and the Mazagan Beach and Golf Resort in El Jadida. Take any winnings you get from the casinos to experience all Morocco has to offer.

Visit the tanneries in Fez to see where fine leather goods are made, be mesmerized by Casablanca’s Hassan II Mosque which is the largest in the country, take an adventurous camel safari into the Sahara Desert, or simply find relaxation in a public hammam (steam bath).

Conclusion

While there are plenty more casino tourism destinations to explore in the world, I hope my top five recommendations give you an idea of what to expect when visiting one of these gambling hot spots.

As you can clearly see, these destinations offer much more than simply making bets and hopes of striking it rich. If you partake in the many things these regions have to offer, you’re sure to enjoy a rewarding experience regardless of whether you’re ever dealt a winning hand.