Do you ever visit a property and have to take a sharp intake of breath as you look around at it because it seems to have it all? Do you ever find yourself wondering how much it costs to create something and comparing that with its current market value? While luxury hotels can be a big expense, spare a thought for the development money behind some of the world’s most expensive casinos.
The Aria Campus, Las Vegas, USA
Mind-boggling in scale and character, the Aria Campus, Las Vegas, is so much more than a gambling playground. It describes itself as a glittering city within a vibrant metropolis. When real estate investors and the gaming industry come together, luxury building developments know few financial bounds. There are over 150 casinos in Las Vegas, and most of them are vying to be the grandest. Some like the MGM or Caesar’s Palace get close, but The Aria Campus “bags the chips” for facilities, tables, and entertainment.
A magnificent homage to luxury, the Aria Campus is a wonderland featuring superior shops, the finest dining, and inviting pool waters to dive into. The complex even has its own monorail to transport you around the site, which includes a dazzling array of shops, twenty restaurants, and more than 4000 sumptuous rooms.
Marina Bay Sands in Singapore
It took more than $6.5 billion to build the Marine Bay Sands iconic triple-towered architectural masterpiece in Singapore. This casino features the finest eateries, over 2,000 hotel rooms with stunning views, and luxury shopping at its best. Then, to cap that, the gaming rooms are, of course, of the very highest quality. Catering to all tastes, there are over 2400 slots, 700 tables, and even private VIP rooms. For those wanting to cool off after the thrill of the big win, a vast, rooftop pool awaits.
Situated in Singapore, the ‘Garden City’, made up of 63 islands, is a welcoming independent country offering much to see and enjoy. While many do not make it further than the Marina Bay Sands casino, those who do will find a vibrant, bustling city to enjoy. It has a pleasantly warm climate, fine gastronomy, and welcoming people.
Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore
Singapore, a small island country situated between Malaysia and Indonesia, may lack in size, but it makes up for it in luxury, hosting not one but two of the world’s most expensive casinos. Resorts World, Sentosa, welcomes visitors to its sumptuous surroundings and is one of the most costly casino complexes ever built. It boasts
excellent restaurants and bars, top-level service from experienced staff, high-level playing suites, over 500 tables with at least 14 different games, and over 2450 of the best slot machines!
And that is not all; there is more to this incredible place! Visitors can enjoy Universal Studios theme park, villas overlooking the beach with round-the-clock butler service, Equarius tree-top lofts, 5-star dining, and the Adventure Cove Water park. This is a one-of-a-kind destination with something for everyone to tick off from their bucket list.
The developing online US casino market
These days, it is not only bricks and mortar casinos that are bringing in the billions. The online gambling industry accounts for a considerable chunk of the profits generated in the worldwide gambling sector. The investments to build not only the platforms themselves but all of the online infrastructure mean that the businesses with the deepest pockets have been the ones that have been able to build successful, profitable brands. Some of the largest investments in US casinos are currently in the virtual sector, as millions of customers can be reached online.
While prominent names like MGM, Entain, Flutter, and Bet365 have invested heavily in their online businesses, specific figures for online development are difficult to obtain. Suffice to say that acquisition, technology development, marketing, and sponsorship deals do not come cheap. Having invested all that money in a highly competitive market, there is constant development of online casino offerings to attract players. Review sites like Casino.org know where you can find promo codes to make your playing time even more rewarding.
The Venetian, Macau
Meanwhile, in the “Las Vegas of Asia,” as Macau has been dubbed, billions of dollars have been invested in the construction of a spectacular casino complex considered the largest in the world.
Situated on the south coast of China, Macau is an autonomous region with separate laws and regulations from the mainland. Previously a Portuguese territory, it earns a significant proportion of its income from gambling and provides some of the most extraordinary venues. The Venetian is themed after the Italian city of Venice and features gondola rides on a recreated Grand Canal, complete with serenading gondoliers. There are four outdoor Italianate pools, top-end retail and dining at the Shoppes boutique center, and 3000 stunning hotel rooms and suites. Visitors get to choose from a wide range of restaurants and get what the resort describes as an “out of this world experience”.
However, most people come for the sheer pleasure of gambling and spend time at one of the more than 2000 slot machines or over 600 gaming tables. The high-limit Ruby room is available for VIPs, but the hugely lavish casino floor is open to all. International clientele play on an impressive range of games or relax at the well-stocked bars.
Is the most lavish yet to come?
Opening in early 2027, The Wynn Al Marjan Island is set to be the showstopper of all builds, featuring private beaches, a marina with full servicing facilities, glittering pools, fine restaurants, boutiques, and nightclubs – all with a view of the stunning Arabian Gulf.
A vast casino, private villas, a convention space and a central tower 305 metres high with 70 storeys of sea view luxury accommodation, are all being created as an island paradise.
The chances are that this will probably be one of the most expensive casinos ever built at $5.1 billion. The tycoons behind it must be hoping that it will attract the world’s wealthiest punters.
