World’s Most Famous Land Based Casinos

ever since the days of early civilization we have found a way to try and make a quick buck while having a good time. Whether it is placing bets on fighting gladiators and chickens or racing horses and dogs, it seems to have been a favourite pastime for eons.

The History of Modern Day Casinos

It has proven to be near impossible to pinpoint the exact point in history when gambling began taking place, however, there are records dating back to 2300 BC in China, as well as many other pre-Christian societies such as Egypt and Greece to name just a few. It wasn’t until the early 19th century that the term “casino” was coined which incidentally coincided with the boom in the industry as we know it.

The first gambling hall was established in the 1600’s hundreds in Venice, Italy and although it was referred to as a casino it certainly possessed all the properties of the modern day casino but, it was closed shortly afterwards due to the government realizing it was impoverishing the city residents.

In 1931, the American government passed the Gambling act which allowed the state of Nevada to open the first legitimate brick and mortar establishment. The iconic city of lights became the undisputed home of casinos throughout the world and continues to dominate the scene to this day.

The Bellagio

The Bellagio resort hotel and casino is arguably one of the most decadent casinos on the face of this planet. Designed and based on a little town in Italy, this casino has managed to carve its name in the tapestry of casino history thanks to its unrivalled decadence and splendour.

Located on the infamous Las Vegas strip, the hotel and casino has been a feature in many blockbuster movies including Ocean’s Eleven. The casino is home to one of the most awe inspiring water fountains which is located within its 8 acre manmade lake. The show attracts millions of spectators a year who wish to see the brilliantly choreographed show which lasts 15 minutes and incorporates over 1200 water nozzles and 4500 lights to create this spectacle.

The Bellagio houses incredible fine art around the hotel and even has a private room for some of the rarer pieces held within the building and often holds exhibits. To top it off, there is a botanical garden located on the property which changes themes throughout the year. The venue is also home to the water Cirque du Soleil.

The Grand Lisboa

The casino opened its doors to the public in 2007 and since then has gone on to become one of the most renowned establishments in the world. Arguably the most fantastic piece of architecture to grace the skyline of Macau, the building boasts 58 floors, over 400 rooms, 1000 slot machines and more than 800 tables for guests to take their pick from.

The casino restaurant was granted 3 stars by the Michelin Star group and offers patrons a choice of over 14,000 wines. It also displays the Star of Stanley Ho which is the largest cushion diamond of 218.08 carats.

Casino De Monte Carlo

More commonly known as the Monte Carlo, this casino exudes opulence and glamour. The infamous casino is based in the iconic town of Monaco and even has its very own opera house. If you’re a citizen of Monaco its bad news for you, the casino only permits foreigners to enter the casino and is one of the largest contributors to the quaint town’s economy.

Although the Monte Carlo casino has been through its fair share of ups and downs over the years, they managed to get their big break after being featured in numerous James Bond films as well as Ocean’s Eleven and Madagascar.

MGM Grand

When the hotel and casino first opened in 1993, it held the title of largest hotel in the world, however, it has recently been surpassed by the Venetian and the Palazzo. The casino floor offers more than 2500 slots and 139 tables; it is still considered one of the largest in the world.

The MGM Grand is probably the most famous of all casinos in the world thanks to featuring in countless blockbuster movies. One of the main attractions of the resort and casino has to be the MGM grand garden arena which hosts a myriad of sporting spectacles and major concerts.

The building is part of a massive complex which allows visitors the ability to indulge in everything from casino games to special events and let us not forget the lion habitat located within the casino itself.

Wynn

This luxury resort and casino is yet another located on the renowned Las Vegas strip which was first opened in 2005 and since then has undergone substantial renovations to increase the size and features it offers.

Considered the world’s 7th largest casino in terms of area, the hotel boasts more than 2700 rooms with 45 floors. The entire complex is massive to say the least. There is something for absolutely everyone who visits the resort.

There are 3 different world class nightclubs located within the venue, numerous restaurants that assure world class dishes thanks to the resort being awarded a variety of awards, including Michelin 5 stars and the Forbes 5 star rating for their hotel and spa. The lake of dreams which is situated within the casino showcases an absurdly large water curtain in front of a mountain.

Venetian Resort Hotel Casino

Opened in 1999 on the grounds of the Sands hotel, the Venetian resort hotel and casino is currently the world’s 2nd largest  complex, the first being the Venetian Hotel & Casino in Macau. The hotel is 36 stories high and incorporates over 4000 rooms and 3000 suites with a casino floor of more than 11,000 square metres.

The design is inspired by the picturesque town of Venice, Italy and showcases architectural replicas of many Venetian landmarks, including a Riviera where guests can take gondola rides.

There are countless activities for guests to indulge in apart from the casino floor of course, these include attending one of the 4 theatres, dancing the night away at their world class nightclub or spend the day traversing the massive shopping complex.

Rio All-suite Hotel & Casino

As the name would suggest, the hotel and casino takes its design inspiration from the vibey and colourful city of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. The casino opened their doors to the public in 1990 and includes a wine cellar that holds in excess of 50,000 bottles of wine.

The casino covers an area of just under 11,000 square metres where patrons can take their pick from thousands of slots and hundreds of table games, including blackjack, roulette and poker.

Ever since 2005, the Rio has been the home of the World Series of Poker and hosts the prestigious competition yearly. The casino also hosts the Kart racing championships to take part in where the circuit is constructed in the parking lot. For those looking to have some good clean fun, why not check out the monster mini golf course or have a look around the KISS museum, you might even get lucky enough to meet one of the band members who frequent the casino.