Enjoying gambling and casino culture is a popular pursuit around the world. While the popularity of online casino games has been steadily growing since the 1990s, and there has been a definite spike in the number of people who play casino games since the pandemic, millions of locals and tourists still visit casino resorts to revel in the unique experiences they offer.
Join us as we take a whirlwind tour of different casino cultures around the world.
Las Vegas, USA
Since Las Vegas is the undisputed world capital of gambling, it will come as no surprise that we’re starting with The Entertainment Capital of the World.
Casino culture has largely shaped Las Vegas since gambling was legalized there in 1931. As the playground of America, the former pioneering outpost-turned-city with its liberal gambling and divorce laws, its lavishly decorated casino hotels, and big-name entertainment has influenced popular culture far beyond its borders. Did you know that there are 58 places called Las Vegas in 12 countries outside of the US?
Today, the MGM Grand takes pride of place in the City of Lights as the largest single-structure hotel in the US. With 6,852 rooms, it is the third-largest hotel complex in the world by number of rooms. Two of the next biggest resorts – Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino and the Bellagio Hotel and Casino are also owned by MGM Resorts.
But there’s a lot more to the MGM Grand than its size alone. The MGM Grand Las Vegas has built on the city’s lavish reputation of the past and coupled this with entertainment innovations that have been responsible for creating the casino culture of the modern era that the world knows so well and loves to imitate.
Individuals who want to play world-class casino poker games head for the MGM Grand Poker Room – the Strip’s #1 hotspot for Texas Hold’em, While the Bellagio has some of the most dynamic slot action you’ll find in Las Vegas. If you enjoy playing online slots, you’ll want to experience the excitement of the slot floor with over 2,300 slot machines, video reels and video poker games.
Along with their vast offering of the best games you can play at a casino, the fun and action never set, with award-winning eateries to try out, A-list entertainment like Cirque du Soleil, art galleries, extraordinary pools and cabanas, spas, salons and barbers, and concierge services that are tasked with making your Vegas dreams come true. Without doubt, Vegas has set the tone for every other massively successful casino around the world.
Macau, China
While Las Vegas will always hold first place as the pioneer and heart of casino culture, China’s Macau region is creating its own special brand of casino lifestyle. Forbes now ranks six Macau casinos among the 20 largest in the world. One of these is the MGM Macau.
The first development phase, with the possibility of future expansion, included a 222,000 sq ft casino floor spread over two levels that wrap around the Grande Praça. Baccarat casino games are popular in Macau, and there is more than enough room to indulge in this and other casino table games and slots.
This entertainment wonderland includes 15,630 sq ft of event space, the Six Senses Spa with 12 treatment areas, as well as retail space, restaurants, bars, and lounges. The MGM Macau will soon add 47,000 sq ft to its casino floor, which will allow for another 70 game tables and 240 slot machines.
But the casino resort is by no means a replica of American casino culture. The mystique and beauty of Chinese culture are represented in the carefully chosen décor, cuisine and entertainment.
Another MGM Resort, the MGM Cotai, is no less dazzling. Called the “jewelry box” of Cotai, it’s the largest property and the first mega-size complex in Macau to achieve the China Green Building Design Label Three-Star Certification. Visitors can experience luxury Chinese cultural touches aplenty. From fine dining and regional Chinese cuisine to the “Lion Techno-cultural Dance” presented by MGM and Guangzhou Song and Dance Theater, and an immersive multi-sensory art exhibition that uses innovative technology and living artistry to showcase natural wonders that include several UNESCO World Heritage Sites in China.
The United Kingdom
While the Monte Carlo Casino is the most iconic casino in Europe, gambling has always been a popular pursuit in the UK. This is evident these days in a number of Vegas-style super casino complexes that are springing up. This makes the UK gambling scene one of the most diverse in the region.
While the future no doubt lies with the mega-sized casino offering, there is still place for the smaller, exclusive club-style establishments of the past. Crockford’s Club, for example, is based on the former London gentlemen’s club and is recognized as the world’s oldest private members gaming club. The environment is of understated opulence and offers an old-world VIP experience. Playing blackjack at a casino doesn’t get more exclusive than this, since only the well-heeled and well-connected ever make it past the front steps.
Malta
Malta continues the tradition of grand casino cultures, with an offering of gambling establishments set in buildings that include an elegant colonial-style villa and a restored 17th-century harbor-side palace. In the past decade, many online casinos have been set up in Malta, but the Mediterranean archipelago still attracts more than a million tourists each year, many of whom enjoy a night out at the tiny republic’s casinos. While the Dragonara Casino has been modernized to offer all the casino games and amenities you’d expect of a luxury establishment, it continues to project a Maltese casino culture that is steeped in elegance and history. This includes the ancient legend of a dragon that lived at the end of the San Ġiljan peninsula and inspired the imposing architecture of the palace that today houses the casino.
Create your own casino culture wherever you are
We hope you’ve been inspired to visit a casino on your next vacation and soak up the culture of that city or region. In the meantime, you can relax and play all your favorites, from slots and casino table games to a variety of poker tournaments whenever you choose. It’s simple and easy to join in the fun by registering with us online, and you’ll be playing in no time at all.
