Imagine the thrill of the roulette wheel spinning, the anticipation as the cards are dealt, the jingle of coins pouring from a slot machine – all from the comfort of a world-class, luxurious hotel. Welcome to “Where Luxury Meets Luck: The Top 5 Casino Hotels of 2023,” where we merge the electrifying excitement of high-stakes gambling with the opulence of five-star accommodations. In this exclusive guide, we’ll transport you to the dazzling lights of Las Vegas, the historic charm of Monte Carlo, and the tropical allure of Macau. Prepare to embark on a global journey through extravagant lobbies, gourmet restaurants, indulgent spas, and, of course, top-tier gaming floors. Whether you’re a seasoned high-roller or a curious traveler seeking the ultimate vacation experience, this article promises to unveil the crème de la crème of casino hotels that promise not just a game of chance, but a gateway to an unforgettable adventure. So, sit back, relax, and let’s explore together where luxury truly meets luck.
- Bellagio Las Vegas
Bellagio is a high-end resort, hotel, and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The property is owned by The Blackstone Group and managed by MGM Resorts International. The concept of Bellagio was birthed by casino proprietor Steve Wynn and was erected on the previous site of the Dunes Hotel Casino. Mirage Resorts, Wynn’s firm, acquired the Dunes in 1992. In 1994, plans were unveiled to replace it with Beau Rivage, a French-themed resort. However, Wynn altered the project’s theme in 1995, modeling it after the village of Bellagio near Lake Como. Jon Jerde was the designer behind the resort. Marnell Corrao Associates began construction on November 1, 1995, as the general contractor.
The Bellagio debuted on October 15, 1998, with a 36-story tower housing 3,005 rooms. It was constructed for $1.6 billion, making it the world’s priciest resort at the time. Initial revenues fell short of projections, leading to Wynn’s exit from the resort in May 2000 when Mirage Resorts merged with MGM Grand Inc. Profits increased under the stewardship of the newly established MGM Mirage (later MGM Resorts). A new 33-story hotel tower, with 928 rooms, was inaugurated in 2004. MGM retained ownership of the Bellagio until 2019 when The Blackstone Group purchased the resort for $4.25 billion. MGM continues to run the property under a lease agreement.
The Bellagio sprawls over 77 acres (31 ha) and includes a 156,000 sq ft (14,500 m2) casino. At its inception, it hosted 2,700 slot machines and 173 table games. Wynn insisted on minimal signage above slot machines, preferring the resort’s architecture to take center stage. As of 2003, less than half of the resort’s revenue came from gaming. The poker room expanded in 2004 due to the game’s growing popularity. The casino features a high-limit poker area, initially dubbed Bobby’s Room, named after Bellagio president and longtime MGM executive Bobby Baldwin. As of 2018, the minimum buy-in was $20,000. It was the most frequented high-limit poker room in Las Vegas until the nearby Aria resort opened in 2009. The Aria’s poker room provided players with a premium alternative to Bobby’s Room. In October 2020, MGM discreetly renamed it the Legends Room, two years after Baldwin departed from the company. In 2002, the casino initiated a poker tournament series. The casino also hosts the annual WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic and the Five-Star World Poker Classic. In 2013, the Bellagio launched Villa Privé, a private 2,600 sq ft (240 m2) casino room for high rollers.
The Fountains of Bellagio, a music-synchronized water fountain show, is the resort’s main attraction. It is performed on an 8.5-acre artificial lake in front of the resort. Other attractions include the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art and a conservatory and botanical gardens. The hotel lobby showcases Fiori di Como, a sculpture by glass artist Dale Chihuly, which is the largest glass sculpture in the world.
Bellagio boasts several restaurants, including Le Cirque and Picasso, led by chef Julian Serrano. Other chefs who have worked at the resort include Todd English, Michael Mina, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, and Wolfgang Puck. Bellagio houses a 1,800-seat theater for performances of O, a water-themed show by Cirque du Soleil. The property also includes a high-end retail area that introduced several luxury brands to Las Vegas, such as Chanel, Gucci, and Prada.
- MGM Grand Las Vegas
Situated on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, the MGM Grand Las Vegas is a hotel and casino of remarkable scale. It boasts the title of the world’s largest single hotel with a staggering 6,852 rooms. Upon its opening in 1993, it was the biggest hotel complex globally. Today, it stands as the third-largest hotel complex by room count worldwide and the second-largest hotel resort complex in the United States, trailing behind the combined The Venetian and The Palazzo.
Owned by Vici Properties and managed by MGM Resorts International, the MGM Grand’s main building rises to a height of 293 ft across 30 floors. The property encompasses five outdoor pools, rivers, and waterfalls spread over 6.6 acres, a convention center spanning 380,000 sq ft, the MGM Grand Garden Arena, and the Grand Spa. It also accommodates an array of shops, nightclubs, restaurants, and Clark County’s largest casino, occupying 171,500 sq ft.
The MGM Grand’s gaming floor, one of the most extensive in Las Vegas, measures 171,500 square feet. It hosts over 2,500 gaming machines and 139 poker and table games. The slot machines vary from 1¢ to $1,000, including progressive slots, video poker, and multi-game machines. High rollers can indulge in the special High Limit Slots area, offering slot machines with payouts reaching up to $500,000.
The state-of-the-art race and sports book betting area features thirty-six 60-inch plasma TVs and twenty-four 42-inch plasmas. It offers bets on various sports, including soccer, football, boxing, MMA, and more. It also introduced “SkyBoxes,” private boxes accommodating up to ten guests, complete with beverage servers and complimentary food.
In 1999, MGM Grand showcased a unique attraction: a glass-sided lion habitat within the casino area, housing up to six lions daily. Visitors could observe the lions through a transparent tunnel, often walking beneath lounging lions. These lions were under the care of exotic animal trainer Keith Evans and resided at his ranch 12 miles away from Las Vegas. However, this habitat permanently closed on January 31, 2012, as part of MGM Grand’s renovation.
In September 2009, “CSI: The Experience” opened in the Studio Walk. This interactive exhibit invites guests to solve one of three murder cases, guided by touchscreen stations, cast member videos, and realistically recreated evidence. Upon completion, visitors receive a case summary and a CSI diploma.
Built on the former site of the MGM Grand Adventures theme park, TopGolf opened its doors in May 2016. Additionally, Level Up Las Vegas, constructed on the previous site of Rainforest Cafe, welcomed guests starting in December 2016.
- Wynn Las Vegas
Wynn Las Vegas, commonly known as Wynn, is a high-end resort and casino situated on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The property is under the ownership and management of Wynn Resorts. The site was previously home to the Desert Inn resort, which debuted in 1950. Casino mogul Steve Wynn acquired the Desert Inn in 2000, shutting it down with plans to erect a new resort in its place. The design phase spanned two and a half years, and construction kicked off on October 31, 2002, under Marnell Corrao Associates as the general contractor.
With a price tag of $2.7 billion, Wynn Las Vegas surpassed its predecessor, the $1.6 billion Bellagio, to become the costliest resort ever constructed at the time. Wynn Las Vegas opened its doors on April 28, 2005, offering 2,716 rooms and a 111,000-square-foot casino. Upon its inauguration, it featured 1,962 slot machines and 137 table games, with distinctive chandeliers hovering over each gaming table. The property also encompassed a poker room, a keno lounge, a baccarat salon, and a sportsbook with a VIP lounge. In a pioneering move, Wynn Las Vegas had room keycards that doubled as slot cards. The casino was one of the first in Las Vegas, alongside the Hard Rock Hotel, to incorporate RFID technology in its gaming chips to deter counterfeiting. In 2011, the resort became the pioneer in Las Vegas to accept bets on non-sporting events. The sportsbook underwent a significant makeover in 2017, including the installation of a 137-foot by 11-foot video wall.
At its opening, the 45-story hotel tower held the title of the tallest building in Nevada. In December 2008, Wynn Resorts launched Encore Las Vegas, a sister property situated directly north of the Wynn. Encore introduced an additional hotel tower, more gaming space, and several dining and entertainment venues. Collectively, the 215-acre Wynn complex encompasses 4,748 rooms and 188,786 square feet of gaming space. Following the additions at Encore, Wynn declared his $5.2 billion complex complete in May 2010.
Unlike many Strip resorts, Wynn Las Vegas doesn’t have a theme. It also deviates from Wynn’s past resorts by not featuring a free attraction for pedestrians. Instead, most of the attractions are obscured by an artificial mountain, intended to pique curiosity and attract people to the resort. A show called Lake of Dreams takes place on a 3-acre lake surrounded by a mountain and several restaurants.
The Desert Inn’s golf course was retained and revamped to become the Wynn’s course. At its launch, the resort also housed Nevada’s sole Ferrari and Maserati dealership, which shut down in 2015. The property hosts two retail areas, Wynn Esplanade and Wynn Plaza, the latter taking the place of the dealership in 2018. Tryst, a nightclub by Victor Drai, opened in 2005 and ran for a decade.
Wynn Las Vegas has garnered numerous awards since its opening, including the AAA Five Diamond Award and the Forbes Travel Guide Five Star award. Its restaurants have also received accolades, including Alex, a French restaurant by chef Alex Stratta that closed in 2011, and Wing Lei, the only Chinese restaurant in the U.S. to receive a Michelin Star. Other popular eateries include The Buffet at Wynn.
The resort’s flagship show was Le Rêve, which premiered with the property in 2005. It enjoyed a successful run until its closure in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The show was staged in the Wynn Theater. Another venue, the Broadway Theater, was built with the resort. It was later renamed the Encore Theater, after the sister resort property, and currently sits between the two resorts. The Encore Theater has hosted numerous shows, such as Avenue Q and Spamalot, and performers including Danny Gans and Garth Brooks.
- Aria Resort and Casino
Located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, Aria Resort and Casino is a high-end resort and casino forming the central feature of the CityCenter complex. The property’s ownership rests with The Blackstone Group, while MGM Resorts International runs its operations. Construction began on June 25, 2006, following a design by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects. The environmentally conscious design earned the Aria a LEED Gold certification, making it the largest hotel globally to achieve this. The resort, which began welcoming guests on December 16, 2009, was one of the most technologically advanced hotels at the time. Initially, it was a joint venture between MGM and Dubai World, but Blackstone bought it in 2021.
The Aria’s hotel features two curved glass towers that rise to 50 stories, housing 4,004 rooms and suites. It has been recognized with the AAA Five Diamond Award and a five-star rating from Forbes Travel Guide. The Aria also hosts CityCenter’s only casino, which spans 150,000 sq ft and offers slot machines, table games, and a race and sports book. All gaming machines are managed and monitored from a 3,000 sq ft data center, and the games offered are adjusted based on real-time performance data. Unconventionally, the casino design incorporates exterior windows along the edges and skylights in the high-limit gaming area, introducing natural light into the space.
Aria’s poker room houses 24 tables and initially included The Ivey Room, an exclusive high-limit poker room named after poker player Phil Ivey. This room opened in May 2010, providing high roller players with direct access to the cashier’s cage, 24-hour table-side dining, and the highest stakes games at Aria. However, it was renamed Table 1 in February 2019. The Aria poker room is also a venue for World Poker Tour (WPT) events, including the inaugural WPT500 in July 2014 which attracted 3,599 entrants. This event continued annually until 2019.
Other amenities at Aria include an 80,000 sq ft salon and spa, 500,000 sq ft of convention space, several restaurants, artwork, and water attractions. Aria formerly housed CityCenter’s only performance theater until its closure in 2016 for a convention center expansion. The 1,840-seat theater initially staged Viva Elvis, a Cirque du Soleil show inspired by Elvis Presley’s music, running from 2010 to 2012. Due to low ticket sales, the show closed, and Zarkana, another Cirque du Soleil production, took its place until the theater’s closure.
- Caesars Palace
Situated in Paradise, Nevada, Caesars Palace is a renowned luxury hotel and casino nestled between the Bellagio and The Mirage on the Las Vegas Strip. This iconic landmark, one of the largest and most recognized in Las Vegas, was established in 1966 by Jay Sarno and Stanley Mallin. They aimed to create a lavish facility that would transport guests back to the Roman Empire era, complete with statues, columns, and iconography reminiscent of Hollywood’s Roman period productions. A striking 20-foot statue of Augustus Caesar near the entrance exemplifies this theme. The property is now under the ownership of Vici Properties and is operated by Caesars Entertainment.
Boasting a AAA Five Diamond Award, Caesars Palace offers 3,960 rooms and suites across six towers and over 300,000 square feet of convention space. The resort has a diverse selection of restaurants, including several that serve authentic Chinese cuisine to cater to the wealthy East Asian gambling demographic. Since its inception, the resort has been geared towards attracting high rollers.
The expansive casino, spread across 150,000 sq ft, includes a variety of gaming options such as blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat, Spanish 21, mini-baccarat, Pai Gow, and Pai Gow poker. The casino also features a 24-hour poker room spanning 4,500 square feet and a plethora of slot machines and video poker machines.
Caesars Forum, the hotel’s original casino, opened in 1966 with 30 gaming tables and 250 slot machines. The Forum features 20 black Italian marble columns adorned with white marble and gold leaf trimmings, friezes and statues depicting Roman conquests, and a vast chandelier in the shape of a Roman medallion composed of 100,000 handcrafted and polished crystals. As a nod to tradition, even in 2005, cocktail waitresses still donned the original uniform designed by Jay Sarno – white, off-the-shoulder mini-tunics paired with high-heeled Roman sandals.
The modern casino facilities include an array of table games and a 24-hour poker room situated between The Colosseum and the Race & Sports Book. The poker room, which moved to this location in June 2014, offers 16 tables, free Wi-Fi, and USB charging ports. Various traditional reel-type slot machines, video reel machines, video poker games, video blackjack or keno are available for players, with bets ranging from 1¢ to $500.
Beyond being a hub for high-stakes gambling, Caesars Palace has been a prominent venue for live music and sports entertainment since the late 1970s. It has hosted the Caesars Palace Grand Prix from 1981 to 1982 and boxing matches. The resort’s main performance venue, The Colosseum, can seat 4,296 people and has a stage spanning 22,450 square feet. The stage was specially built for Celine Dion’s show, “A New Day”, in 2003. After a break in 2007, Dion returned to the Colosseum with her new show, “Celine”, in March 2011, performing 65 shows per year until June 9, 2018. Over the years, the resort has seen performances from a long list of notable entertainers, including Frank Sinatra, Morrissey, Reba McEntire, Brooks & Dunn, Sammy Davis Jr., Ella Fitzgerald, Teresa Teng, Count Basie, Dean Martin, Tom Jones, Rod Stewart, Stevie Nicks, The Moody Blues, Celine Dion, Ike & Tina Turner, Shania Twain, Bette Midler, Cher, Elton John, Liberace, Diana Ross, Liza Minnelli, Julio Iglesias, Ann-Margret, Tony Bennett, Harry Belafonte, Lena Horne, Judy Garland, Gloria Estefan, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Keith Urban, Sting, Matt Goss, and Deana Martin.
Top 5 Online Gambling Platforms in 2023
Let’s also explore the realm of online gambling, as it’s currently a highly trending sector in the world of gambling. Online gambling has revolutionized the way we engage with games of chance and skill, offering unparalleled convenience and accessibility compared to traditional brick-and-mortar casinos. The ability to play anytime, anywhere, coupled with a wide variety of gaming options, makes online gambling an increasingly popular pastime for many around the globe. Here are the top 5 online gambling platforms available worldwide:
Bet365: Bet365 is a British online gambling company that offers sports betting, poker, casinos, games, and bingo, as well as video streams of sporting events. The platform is renowned for its comprehensive live betting options, with a vast array of sports and events covered. Bet365 also excels in security, using advanced encryption technologies to ensure player data is safe and secure. The platform provides multiple payment options, including credit/debit cards, e-wallets like Skrill and Neteller, and bank transfers.
Bovada: Bovada is a popular online betting platform known for its diverse range of games and betting options. From sports betting to poker, slots, and table games, Bovada caters to all types of gamblers. The site offers a user-friendly interface, extensive betting guides, and excellent customer service. Moreover, Bovada has a strong reputation for security and fairness, with all games tested by third-party auditors.
BetMGM Casino: BetMGM Casino is a comprehensive online gambling site offering a wide array of casino games, including slots, blackjack, roulette, and live dealer games. The platform is praised for its robust selection of poker and card games. The site employs high-level SSL encryption to protect player’s personal and financial details. Furthermore, BetMGM Casino provides several payment options, including Visa, MasterCard, and PayPal.
PokerStars: PokerStars is one of the leading online poker sites, offering a variety of poker games and tournaments with different stake levels. The platform is known for its superior software, which ensures a smooth and enjoyable gaming experience. PokerStars also takes player security seriously, employing state-of-the-art technology to safeguard player data. The platform supports a wide range of deposit and withdrawal methods, including credit/debit cards, e-wallets, and bank transfers.
888 Holdings Plc: 888 Holdings operates several high-profile gambling websites, including 888casino, 888poker, and 888sport. The platform offers a wide range of gambling options, from traditional casino games and poker to sports betting. 888 Holdings is known for its commitment to responsible gambling and player protection. The platform utilizes advanced security protocols and supports a multitude of payment methods.
In conclusion, while each of these platforms offers a unique gambling experience, they all share a commitment to providing a safe, secure, and enjoyable environment for players. Whether you’re a seasoned gambler or a newcomer, these platforms offer an excellent starting point for your online gambling journey.
