World's Best Casinos
Christina Valhouli
Casinos are in the chips.
According to the Washington, D.C.-based American Gaming Association, about 51 million people--a group equivalent to roughly one quarter of the U.S. population over 21--visited a casino in 2002. From 2001 to 2002, the U.S. gaming industry grew by 3%, from $25.7 billion to $26.5 billion. And that's only the number of people who visited casinos domestically--and legally. Worldwide, although no hard figures exist, the number could be estimated to be double that.
From the glittering lights of the Las Vegas strip to the illegal pai gow parlors of New York's Chinatown, there is a wide range of casinos from which these potential 100 million people can choose. For most, proximity is the deciding factor, as in the case of places like Atlantic City where shuttle buses crammed with tourists run 24 hours a day. Equally popular are the continuous hovercrafts linking Hong Kong and Macao, and the daily flights to Las Vegas from airports around the globe.
Of course, there is more to casinos than just gambling. Since the early 1960s casinos have operated on the assumption that while black jack or roulette might be their main revenue stream, it is important to offer other incentives as well to keep occasional gamblers coming back to the tables. As a result, floor shows, free drinks, all-you-can-eat buffets and, increasingly, plush accommodations became more common. Today, Las Vegas pushes itself as much as a family destination as a gambling destination.
For the person looking for a top-end casino, such concerns as proximity and all-you-can-eat buffets are of less importance. There are basically two kinds of people in this bracket: the well-heeled amateur and the hard-core gambler. For the purposes of this article, however, we will set aside the hard-core gambler because they tend to follow the money and don't necessarily need luxury amenities to attract them.
The well-heeled amateur, on the other hand, is someone who has the cash to play, wants the best, is likely to bring along his or her family and wants them to be entertained while he or she is hitting the tables. At this level, many top casinos offer much the same experience as far as gambling goes: all offer many of the same games, as well as such perks as private rooms.
Ironically, what makes one top casino distinctive from another is often not so different from what attracts the average punter, except that what is on offer is usually considerably better. Why settle for a bus when a casino will send a private jet? Why wait in line at the buffet when you can have a gourmet meal sent to your room? In some cases, why even pay for a suite because the casino, expecting you to gamble heavily, will provide you with a complimentary suite?
In some cases, the experience of gambling in an exclusive casino, rubbing elbows with royalty, is enough of an attraction. At London's private Clermont Club, there are no fancy boutiques or musical extravaganzas. Members may spend their winnings on vintage Champagne, or another flutter, but little else.
Another more "old world" casino is the world-famous Casino de Monte Carlo, which opened in 1863 and also eschews the resort mentality now in vogue. But the entire principality of Monaco is one big playground of the rich, so the well-heeled amateur may amuse himself at baccarat while his family hits the beach at the Société de Bains de Mer.
But visitors to Europe shouldn't expect perks like private planes. Because of European gaming laws, casinos are not allowed to directly "entice" clients.
In other places, though, some people prefer a little more pampering and a little less wagering. For example, in addition to floor shows, golf and spa services, the Bellagio in Las Vegas offers a branch of New York's swank Le Cirque restaurant as well as Hermès and Chanel boutiques.
Whether your gambling tastes run towards London or Las Vegas, you're sure to find a suitable one on our list of the World's Best Casinos. All of the casinos on our list are in glamorous, sophisticated locations--such as Monte Carlo, Antigua and Moscow. The casinos vary in size, from the intimate St. James Club in Antigua to the sprawling Casino Baden-Baden in Germany. Wherever you go, may Lady Luck be on your side.
