Whether you’re a frequent traveler, heading overseas with your family, or planning a trip for the first time, Casino hotels have started popping up all over the world. And with casino tourism continuing to trend, booking an onsite hotel is a pretty sure bet!

These are luxury hotels and resorts which are owned or attached to the casino, and with cheap rates, central locations, and access to a range of entertainment, this is a great idea for accommodation, even if you don’t plan on gambling (though who knows, you might just end up paying for your entire holiday just by staying there!).

But when it comes to staying at a casino, there are a few necessary things you should know, because these are not your average hotel.

Things You Need to Know About Staying in Casino Hotels

The Tightest Security You’ll See at a Hotel

One of the biggest concerns among travelers these days is security, so a fantastic thing about casino hotels is that security is very tight. You’ll probably find that casinos have the tightest security of any hotel.

In the interest of protecting their gaming licenses, many casinos employ independent security, and some may even have a police presence. Even the slightest hint of suspicious or questionable activity will be cut off, and anyone acting in an abusive manner will be removed from the premises.

As a guest, this means you can sleep safely, but it also means you should keep your behavior (and drinking) in check. Also, be aware that there are cameras absolutely everywhere. You probably shouldn’t do anything stupid while staying there!

Tipping

The country you’re traveling to will depend on whether you’re expected to tip or not. For instance, in Australia there is no culture of tipping, and the price you pay includes all service charges.

But if you’re visiting a country like the United States, where tipping is customary, it’s important to remember that dealers, cocktail waitresses, hotel valets, housekeeping etc, are all paid minimum wage, and make their living almost entirely from your tips.

In this case, it’s usually standard to leave a tip of $1 per drink, or 15 – 20% of a restaurant food bill. If driving and using the hotel valet, a $2-5 tip is normal for handling your car.

Plan on giving a couple of dollars to the bellman, and leaving the same for the housekeepers who service your room. Pay the concierge $10 for special requests, and if you do visit the tables, $5 per hour for the dealer is an average tip.

Check the Gambling / Drinking Age

Just as the culture of tipping varies depending on country, so too does the gambling and drinking age. You should be aware of this before you travel, so you don’t land yourself in legal trouble overseas. Remembering too that casino hotels have tight security.

The legal age for drinking in the United States is 21, though when it comes to gambling, each state determines their own minimum age. In some states, it’s 18, though in most parts of the USA (especially if it’s an alcohol-licensed casino) it’s 21 to match the drinking age. As a general rule, in Canada you must be 19 to enter a casino, though in Australia, the UK and most parts of Europe you must be 18.

This doesn’t mean that you can’t stay at the hotel if you’re underage, or traveling with children, however you won’t be permitted in the gaming areas, and you will not be permitted to drink.

An Attraction in Their Own Right

Most Casinos double as Entertainment Complexes, and have a range of trendy restaurants, nightclubs and bars, well as theaters and resort amenities like water parks and swimming pools onsite.

Off course there are plenty of activities you’ll want to take in offsite, perhaps the Cheltenham Festival where you can get in some Cheltenham betting, but  the complex is usually an attraction in it’s own right, and chances are you’re already planning on heading there at some point. Why not make transport easy by staying onsite!

For instance, Crown Casino Melbourne pulls more visitors to Australia each year than the iconic Sydney Opera House. With an annual 10.9 million visitors compared to the 8.2 million who check in at the Opera House, well known tourist attractions don’t even come close to seeing the type of tourism numbers that Australian casinos do.

Some Offer Free Rooms

If you’re a high roller, or planning on spending a lot of money at the casino, you might be able to get your room for free. The most expensive rooms at many Casino hotels are usually set aside for VIP’s. Though even if you don’t fall into that category, the room rates at casinos are often a lot cheaper than other luxury hotels.

The idea behind offering ridiculously discounted or free rooms for travelers is that the property will make back the money on the casino floor. Casinos don’t really care about the profits from their hotels, and they’re really not interested in whether or not you book an expensive room.

What they do care about is convincing you to open your wallet where it really counts – the casino floor – so will often use cheap accommodation as a lure. Before you travel, join the email list of the casinos you’re thinking about visiting to receive alerts about promotions, and follow them on social media to hear about last minute deals.

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Megan is an Australian Journalist and award-winning travel writer who has been blogging since 2007. Her husband Mike is the American naturalist and wildlife photographer behind Waking Up Wild; a website dedicated to opening your eyes to the wild & natural world.

Committed to bringing you the best in adventure travel from all around the globe, there is no mountain too high, and no fete too extreme! They haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on their list.

If you enjoy getting social, you can follow their journey on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram.