Like to gamble? Why not stay where you can play? From Foxwoods in Connecticut to the Ibiza Gran Hotel, take a trip with Lady Luck to these top 10 casino hotels. You can bet our selections include The Donald.
1. Foxwoods Resort Casino, Mashantucket, Connecticut
(Foxwoods Resort Casino)
Better known for Ivy Leaguers and autumn leaves than slot machines and five card stud, Connecticut offers a pleasant surprise in the form of Foxwoods Resort Casino. Owned and operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, this property is actually home to six casinos, along with two Rees Jones-designed championship golf courses, a Troon Golf Academy and a whopping 38 restaurants with three steakhouses including Craftsteak by Tom Colicchio. Accommodations range from MGM Grand at Foxwoods and the more secluded Two Trees Inn to the Grand Pequot Tower featuring exclusive villas with private butler service. Along with G Spa, located at the MGM Grand, the resort also houses Norwich Spa at Foxwoods, for those who want to double down on their pampering experience. Add a bowling alley, nightclubs, comedy clubs and haute shopping, and you can see why North America’s largest casino resort has made its way onto our list of top ten casino hotels.
2. Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City
(Trump Taj Mahal)
At this 51-story casino hotel, the extravagant world of Trump-orchestrated excess begins with larger-than-life stone elephants and 70-plus minarets. Grandeur is the defining design element, from the Austrian crystal chandelier in the center of the lobby to the Atlantic Ocean views from many of the 2,010 guest rooms. One of the largest casino hotels in the world, it offers every opportunity to double your money and your fun. Whether you ante up in the exclusive high limit gaming salon, place a bet in the smoke-free poker room or simply toss a few coins into the slots, you’ll relish the action at this impressive property. When you’re not striking it rich, you can relax with a spa treatment, gourmet meal or shopping spree in one of the hotel’s exclusive boutiques.
3. The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino, Las Vegas
(The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino)
Connected to its sister property The Venetian by the Grand Canal Shoppes arcade, The Palazzo is a lavish destination that manages to offer a boutique-like atmosphere. This all-suite hotel’s European-inspired casino features everything a gambler’s heart could desire, including a race and sports book, high limit poker salon with butler service and 112,000-square-foot poker room showcasing hand-painted frescoed ceilings. As for the suites, they define pampering, with their sunken living rooms, marble-clad bathrooms and tastefully palatial décor. Although The Palazzo shares facilities such as Canyon Ranch SpaClub with The Venetian, it houses top venues of its own, the most notable being Mario Batali’s Carnevino, Wolfgang Puck’s CUT and Emeril Lagasse’s Table 10. Needless to say, of the many hotel-casino choices you have when visiting Las Vegas, this one is a sure bet.
4. The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan, Puerto Rico
(The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan)
Beautiful beaches and blackjack — welcome to the pleasures of The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan. Located on eight lush acres fronted by the inviting waters of the Atlantic Ocean, this property pairs sophisticated modern décor with a casual setting and more than just the expected high-end spa, picturesque pool and fine dining. The hotel’s casino brings gaming to your front door, with roulette, blackjack, mini baccarat and let-it-ride games. And with more than 340 slot machines, fans of the one-armed bandit can keep busy round the clock. Best of all, the atmosphere is pure Ritz-Carlton: classy and elegant. When not romancing Lady Luck, you can head out to explore the island’s varied attractions, including El Morro Fortress, El Yunque Rainforest and the Bacardi Rum distillery. And afterward, make sure to indulge at one of the house restaurants, which include BLT Steak and Il Mulino New York.
5. Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
(Marina Bay Sands)
When the words “lavish” and “decadent” are understatements, you know a place is extraordinary. It’s hard to know where to begin at the Moshe Safdie-designed Marina Bay Sands. For starters, seekers of the good life will find a spectacular infinity pool that soars above the city, a Banyan Tree spa and a museum with a permanent exhibit devoted to the excesses of eighteenth-century France. There are also high-end productions ranging from Phantom of the Opera to Barbie LIVE! and an array of installations that make this sprawling property feel like a living art gallery. In the realm of fine dining, expect the best, including Wolfgang Puck’s CUT, Mario Batali’s Osteria Mozza and a Guy Savoy outpost. As for the casino, it holds its own in this extravagant setting, with more than 2,300 slots and almost 500 gaming tables.
6. Ibiza Gran Hotel, Spain
(Ibiza Gran Hotel)
Best known for its jet-set tourism and exuberant nightlife, Ibiza is the perfect spot for a casino. Classy and understated (words not often used to describe gambling joints), Casino de Ibiza is a stylish venue that suits its Ibiza Gran Hotel setting. Gaming tables, slot machines and Texas hold ’em tournaments provide plenty of action after days spent lounging with fellow pretty people in one of the pools. Further relaxation includes unwinding in your suite or indulging at the full-service spa — both showcasing an aesthetic that is dramatic and soothing at the same time. Adorned with elegant design elements and a collection of commissioned site-specific modern artworks, the hotel offers the added appeal of a great location, overlooking Old Town and the Mediterranean Sea.
7. The Venetian Macao Resort Hotel, China
(The Venetian Macao Resort Hotel)
Modeled after its sister property in Las Vegas, The Venetian Macao is just one of the many impressive casino hotels that have given Macau world-class status as a gambling mecca. This massive place is all about bigger-is-better. Its 3,000 suites each have a minimum of 750 square feet of space, and if you can drag yourself away from your lavish accommodation (the finest of which include spa rooms and chauffeured limousine transfers), set aside time — and lots of it — to explore the casino. The resort’s gaming space is the largest in the world at 374,000 square feet, with approximately 500 gaming tables and 2,000 slot machines. Though you can spend 24/7 placing bets, the hotel has more to offer, including a high-end shopping mall, health and wellness center, exceptional choice of Chinese and international fine dining venues and entertainment that includes headliners from Asia and around the world.
8. Sun City Resort, South Africa
(Sun City Resort)
A premier South African gambling destination, the extravagant Sun City resort features two casino areas with slots, poker, blackjack, roulette, The Salon Prive for high-stakes games and a gaming school with free lessons on technique and table etiquette. But you don’t need to place a bet in order to take advantage of everything this property has to offer. At The Valley of Waves water park, you can test your mettle at the Temple of Courage water chute, and while out and about, you can enjoy elephant encounters and visits to cultural villages and a crocodile sanctuary. Two excellent golf courses have been designed by Gary Player, and the highlight of the four luxury hotels is the fantastical Palace of the Lost City. Best of all, the resort is set next to malaria-free Pilanesberg Game Reserve and features game drives and hot air balloon flights in search of the Big 5.
9. Hotel de Paris, Monte Carlo, Monaco
(Hotel de Paris)
Famous for its jet-set lifestyle and magnificent casinos, Monte Carlo is ideal for a high rolling holiday. As for the lodging of choice, none can compare to Hotel de Paris, connected to the Place du Casino by a mere flight of stairs. Despite how popular this opulent hotel has become since it first opened in 1864, it still retains an air of discretion. As for its indulgences, you’re invited to explore them all, beginning with the incomparable wine list offered at Le Bar Américain. After a decadent meal of Riviera-inspired cuisine at Le Louis XV — Alain Ducasse, we suggest you dress up (ditch the shorts and flip-flops) and head for Place du Casino’s legendary Casino de Monte-Carlo, a Belle Époque landmark that served as a setting in the first James Bond novel, Casino Royale.
10. Park Hyatt Mendoza, Argentina
(Park Hyatt Mendoza)
An elegantly restored, nineteenth-century, Spanish colonial façade greets guests at this luxurious property, overlooking the Plaza de la Independencia. Although the city of Mendoza is known for its nearby vineyards and Andes’ ski resorts (which can be seen from some of the guest rooms), this hotel gives visitors plenty of good reasons to stay in town. The Mendoza Kaua Club & Spa features its own line of products incorporating ingredients from local grapes, and the two-level Regency Casino Mendoza unites elegant European ambience with personal service to create an atmosphere that lures in glamorous gamblers from around the world. The variety of table games includes all the usual suspects, as well as punto y banca, a local variation of baccarat.
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