In these decadent temples of temptation, opulent furnishings and overflowing bars elevate gambling to an art form. With table games and slot machines in abundance, these ten casinos offer an experience like no other.
Whether it’s the glitz, glamor and endless buffets of Las Vegas or the sea of slots in Macau, casino hotels often seem to blend together as one big blur. But not all are created equal, and some truly shine as gaming destinations that offer much more than the chance to gamble away your hard-earned money.
The MGM Grand on the Las Vegas Strip is a storied casino that attracts both hardened dollar spinners and curious newbies. This megahotel offers the usual range of game tables and slots, but also hosts World Poker Tour events and a high-end poker room that draws hordes of professional players. The casino is also home to several restaurants, including Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill and Union Mesa. And there’s no shortage of retail outlets, with everything from Brighton jewelry to Bedre chocolates.
Gambling in some form has been a part of every society throughout history. It is widely believed that the precise origin of gambling is unknown, but it is known that it was practiced in Ancient Mesopotamia, Greece, Rome, Elizabethan England and Napoleon’s France. Modern casino gambling is based on games of chance and skill, with the most popular being blackjack, roulette, craps and video poker. Each of these games has a mathematically determined expectation of winning that gives the house an advantage over the players. This can be referred to as the house edge, and it is what makes it possible for casinos to offer comps to their best patrons.
Casinos use a variety of methods to keep their patrons happy and their assets secure. They have a physical security force that patrols the premises, and a specialized department that operates their closed circuit television system. These departments work together to quickly investigate any suspicious or definite criminal activity. Casinos are also increasingly using technology to monitor and control their games. Chips with microcircuitry allow the casino to oversee exactly how much is being wagered minute by minute; roulette wheels are electronically monitored regularly to discover any statistical deviations from expected results; and some games are entirely automated, allowing players to bet on them by pushing buttons.
Some casino resorts are built with their own water parks and other entertainment amenities. For example, the Wynn Palace Casino in Macau features a performance lake where choreographed fountain shows are set to music. It also has an indoor and outdoor pool, a spa with over 30 treatments, and several luxury restaurants. Other resorts offer unique attractions, such as the ‘flower mountain’ at Bellagio, which is made from over 3,000 flowers. Some casinos even have their own ice cream shops, as the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas does.