5 top travel destinations for casino lovers

*The bright lights of Macau and a casino named after the capital of Portugal, of which this Chinese city used to be a part. Image credit: Andrew Moore/Creative Commons*

Gambling can be a lot of fun, especially as most of the excitement comes simply from the thrill of chasing a win – no matter whether that’s $5 with William Hill like I made last weekend, or $5,000 from Casino Billions Canada. Some people even go on holiday specifically to gamble, so I’ve rounded up some of the top destinations for casino lovers.

Macau, China

*A slice of Venice lies at the heart of China's south coast, courtesy of The Venetian Macau. Image credit: Tristan Schmurr/Creative Commons*

At first glance, Macau looks like a city from 100 years in the future thanks to its eclectic skyscrapers which are illuminated with bright colours each night. It is one of China’s gambling capitals, with half of its economy supported by casinos. This former Portuguese colony sports a line-up that would give Las Vegas a run for its money with names such as Casino Lisboa, Sands Macau, The Venetian Macau and Wynn Macau.

Ontario, Canada

*Caesars Windsor Hotel & Resort is a tourist magnet for this Canadian border city. Image credit: Danielle Scott/Creative Commons*

Scattered across the Canadian state of Ontario are 70 casinos with over 30,000 slots and gaming machines and 618 table games combined. From the extravagant Caesars Windsor Hotel & Casino with its upscale steakhouse, live entertainment and bar with views of the Detroit skyline to the award-winning horse racing, gaming dining and entertainment complex Grand River Raceway in Elora, there’s plenty to keep keen bettors happy.

San Jose, Costa Rica

*Gambling is surprisingly popular in Costa Rican capital, San Jose. Image credit: Leonora (Ellie) Enking/Creative Commons*

One of the lesser-known gambling destinations on this list, San Jose can certainly hold its own when it comes to betting. With more than 30 casinos, this Costa Rican capital has plenty of games to keep visitors occupied, and an attractive exchange rate for tourists coming in with American, Canadian or European currency. If you’re stuck for something to do when the casinos are closed, you only have beautiful architecture, the stunning La Sabana Metropolitan Park and a wide variety of museums to fall back on.

Singapore

Singapore is a steel and glass utopia and a hit with tourists thanks to a seemingly endless supply of activities. In addition to the Singapore Flyer, the world’s second-largest observation wheel, it has a Universal Studios theme park, a beautiful waterfront promenade and a Cloud Forest. It is also home to a large number of casinos, the most notable of which is Marina Bay Sands Casino, which has over 2,500 rooms, multiple swimming pools, nightclubs and the largest atrium casino in the world.

Las Vegas, USA

*The famous Las Vegas sign which greets thousands of tourists each year.*

We round off with the headline act – Las Vegas. This desert city is synonymous with dice, roulette and slot machines, and its selection of neon light-illuminated casinos such as Caesars Palace, Casino Royale, the Bellagio and many more. Should you get bored of betting, there’s plenty more to see and do including the Stratosphere, with its tower-top amusement park, or a day trip to the nearby Hoover Dam.