Glam Casinos
If you fancy a flutter, there's more to it than the local betting shop. Why not try some of the world's most elegant casinos for an experience - and a holiday - you'll never forget? From Las Vegas, Sin City itself, to the Chinese-governed metropolis of Macau, you'll discover casinos where glamour is the real name of the game.
Luxor, Las Vegas
Las Vegas is the casino city and Luxor's pyramid-shaped hotel and casino complex is testament to Vegas' opulence, where casinos are as lavish as the deluxe suites. Every game imaginable is on offer from blackjack and baccarat to craps to roulette as well as 2,000 slot machines and video poker. The casino also features a poker room, which hosts free daily poker lessons and a tournament. There are also 17 giant-screen TVs showing all the sporting events plus an additional 128 individual monitors. Nothing is lacking in Vegas.
Casino de Monte Carlo, Monaco
Some casinos may come and go, but Casino de Monte Carlo remains one of the world's most glamorous, with its history of attracting nobility and royals. Designed by Charles Garnier, (Paris Opera architect), the beautiful casino features 35 gaming tables and 316 slot machines. Trente et quarante, Chemin de fer, Banque Deux Tableaux, English roulette, European roulette, Punto-banco, craps, American roulette and blackjack are all on offer. The casino is so glam that jacket and tie are obligatory in the private gaming rooms.
Wyndham El San Juan Hotel & Casino, Puerto Rico
El San Juan's European decor, crystal chandeliers and tuxedo-clad staff make it one of the Caribbean's classiest casino venues. You can play the slots, blackjack, baccarat, poker and Caribbean stud in the 13,000-square foot casino and high rollers will appreciate the increased betting limits ($2,000 a hand in Blackjack and $1,000 maximum with double odds at Craps). El San Juan is the only casino in Puerto Rico to offer a poker parlour which includes traditional poker such as a 7-card stud and Texas Hold-em.
Casino Baden-Baden, Germany
Baden-Baden is more renowned for its thermal waters, but the Casino Baden-Baden, once described as the world's most beautiful by Marlene Dietrich, offers private gaming salons and a well-loved Baccara Terrace (a game similar to Baccarat). The 32,000-square foot casino features 113 slot machines and 24 table games for American roulette, baccarat, French roulette and poker. Many years ago, real silver and gold chips were used on the roulette tables. Now that's lavish. Another unlikely casino destination is the Russian capital of Moscow. The Casino Metropol, Moscow, is an elegant 24-hour casino offering 11 tables of blackjack, roulette and poker, with minimum stakes of $25 and a formal dress code.
Casino and Hotel Lisboa, Macau
Asia is fast becoming a casino hotspot and Macau, (a former Portuguese colony now governed by China) owes much of its affluence to its gambling industry. Hotel Lisboa, a Macau landmark and famed casino hotel, houses Macau's largest casino. Open round-the-clock, this gambling playground offers roulette, baccarat, blackjack, Kino, Cussec, Pai Gao (played with Chinese dominoes) and Fantan on its 146 gaming tables or you can try your luck in over a hundred slot machines.
By Meera Dattani
