10 of the World's Most Luxurious Casinos

From the Bellagio to Mayfair, the most opulent gaming rooms on the planet

The world's finest casinos have always been about more than gambling. They are theatres of aspiration, architectural statements and temples to the idea that leisure can be elevated into something approaching art. We have selected ten establishments that genuinely deserve the overused adjective 'luxurious'.

#1: The Palm Beach, Mayfair

We start at home, because it seems only right. The Palm Beach on Berkeley Street occupies a part of London that could only ever be Mayfair: discreet, expensive and possessed of a quiet confidence that needs no advertisement. The main gaming area is housed in what was once the ballroom of the Mayfair Hotel, and the proportions of the room alone are enough to make you feel like someone important.

This casino, though, is owned by Genting and gets their full attention along with stablemates The Colony and Crockfords.

All of these swanky Mayfair establishments offer top-notch gaming with glamour, exclusivity and prestige - but the Palm Beach has a little something extra.

The main gaming area has always edged this place ahead too, being as it is situated in what used to be the ballroom of The Mayfair Hotel. There's even a palm tree-shaped chandelier hanging from the ceiling, which – you'll probably be pleased to hear – is as close as the theming gets in respect of the name of this casino.

In terms of exclusivity, it's a lot easier to gain access here than at some other Mayfair establishments, though the tone is still decidedly upmarket – and we think that's exactly how it ought to be in Mayfair these days.

#2: The Bellagio, Las Vegas

The Bellagio is the casino that changed Las Vegas. Before Steve Wynn built it in 1998, the Strip had largely abandoned its mid-century ambition to be the most glamorous place on earth, settling instead for a populist spectacle of themed resorts and cut-price buffets. The Bellagio reasserted the idea that Las Vegas could be genuinely luxurious.

The dancing fountains that front the resort are, frankly, magnificent. The gallery of fine art inside is genuine and impressive. The casino floor is vast but somehow manages to feel intimate, which is a considerable achievement. The rooms are excellent. The restaurants are extraordinary. The Bellagio is, by any measure, one of the great hotels of the world.

#3: Casino de Monte-Carlo

Interestingly another casino with the same pedigree, the same level of lavish decor and their own online outlet also exists outside the UK – we're talking, of course, about the Monte Carlo Casino.

This is hands down the best-located casino on the planet when it comes to scenery. Set high above the ultra-exclusive principality of Monaco you'll get to see the French Riviera in all its glory when you arrive, leave or play in the Salle Blanche and Terrasse.

The main gaming area offers a surprisingly diverse set of games, and where almost any casino with this kind of pedigree in the UK would turn its nose up at more modern gaming innovations like slots and Ultimate Texas Hold 'Em poker, there's no such snobbery here. The Monte Carlo may be over 150 years old and require jackets to be worn after 8pm, but there's nothing stuffy about it.

#4: The Venetian, Las Vegas

This may seem a little off at first: How can you equate somewhere in Mayfair with anywhere in a resort that looks like a film set? But luxury is about more than just some nice carpet and a few marble pillars. It's also about the general atmosphere of the place.

And that's why, at the superb Venetian hotel, nobody cares that you're not actually by the Adriatic and that the canals are on the second floor. It doesn't matter that it's all fake, because it's fake on such a massive, impressive scale.

Inside, all the rooms are suites. All 5,030 of them. Not only that, but they're all huge, starting at 650 square feet – and each one comes with its own sunken living room and marble bathroom.

#5: Crockfords, London

No analysis of the UK casino scene can miss out Crockfords. This notorious - now thankfully properly respectable – institution has more heritage than almost anywhere else on our list.

William Crockford was the son of a fishmonger, but even as a child possessed an extraordinary ability to calculate odds.

After quite legitimately thrashing a prominent London meat merchant at Cribbage he found himself with enough cash to move into the world of gambling. He eventually set up a club in St James's which was the first of its kind to offer an environment for the upper classes to gamble.

During the Regency era there was a surfeit of bored, wealthy young men on the scene thanks to 40 years of agricultural and industrial revolution, and Crockford was exactly the man to provide them with entertainment.

The club shut in 1842 and then re-opened much later in 1924 for the purpose of bridge tournaments, though card and table games rapidly appeared afterwards, and after moving premises to fashionable Curzon Street in Mayfair the transformation from illicit upper crust playboy club to reputable casino was complete.

Today Crockfords is fully owned and operated by the Genting empire – Asia's largest casino brand and a reliable capital base to ensure continued high standards. The decor is impeccable and there's Roulette, Baccarat, Blackjack and table poker on round the clock with high stakes and the best dealers in town.

#6: The Baden-Baden Casino

The Kurhaus in Baden Baden is a spa resort and casino in the Black Forest – and it illustrates the difference in culture between British and German gaming perfectly.

Ironically it started up the same year that Crockfords did in 1824. Architect Frederick Weinbrenner designed the building with huge, imposing Corinthian columns and neo-classical styling.

There's plenty of history to the place, too: Dostoyevsky's The Gambler was inspired by a visit here, and Marlene Dietrich once called it the most beautiful casino in the world.

#7: Les Ambassadeurs, London

Another Mayfair stalwart, this club – known affectionately as Les A – has a stunning view over Hyde Park from its position on Hamilton Place.

The interior, however, is also a feast for the eyes: The building was bought by Landing International Development in 2015 and has undergone a massive refurbishment.

The entire premises now looks fabulous, with a no-expense-spared old school charisma that money alone cannot buy.

Needless to say there are also plenty of private rooms, and again Les A go one step further with a salle privee that even has its own restaurant – and we don't know of anywhere else on the planet that offers such a facility.

#8: The City of Dreams, Macau

You can, though enjoy some seriously upscale fun at the City of Dreams in Macau.

At first glance this initially garish-looking hotel with 42,000 square feet of gaming may appear to be a complete anathema to anyone seeking the refinement of Mayfair's top casinos, but it actually offers the most refined experience that Macau has to offer and in a town that's second only to Vegas in terms of gaming variety, that's no mean feat.

You'll also get incredible views – not of a park but of the entire Hong Kong skyline which even Vegas can't match for pure light and energy.

#9: Wynn Mayfair, London

Hopping back to London, one gaming venue that has been making waves is Wynn Mayfair. Formerly Crown Aspinall's, this Curzon Street address is now part of Steve Wynn's global empire, bringing Las Vegas levels of investment and ambition to one of Mayfair's most historic gaming addresses.

Members only, as you would expect from a venue of this calibre, the club offers a gaming experience that sits comfortably alongside anything the Strip can offer – while remaining, at its heart, utterly and unmistakably Mayfair.

#10: Casino Monte Carlo

This is an experience that the UK just doesn't have the scenery or the weather for – and even though Vegas and Macau arguably have both, they can't match it for sheer class and elegance so if you're determined to enjoy a casino experience that is nothing short of unforgettable then we'd suggest a visit to Le Casino. You don't need to use any other name if you're within 20 miles of the place – the cab driver will know where you mean.