Five Casino Hotels That Are Destinations in Their Own Right
Some casino hotels are just a place to sleep near the gaming floor. These five are different — each one is a genuine landmark, the kind of building people travel to see even if they never sit down at a table. What follows is a short introduction to each.
The Venetian Resort — Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Built around a scaled recreation of Venice, complete with indoor canals and gondola rides, the Venetian turned the idea of a casino hotel into full-blown theatre. Its all-suite rooms and vast gaming floor helped set the standard for the modern Las Vegas resort era.
Casino de Spa — Spa, Belgium
Opened in 1763, this is the oldest casino in the world still in operation, and the source of the English word “spa” itself. Set in a quiet Belgian town known for its mineral springs, it pairs old-world gaming rooms with a history that predates every other entry on this list by more than a century.
The Ritz Club — Mayfair, London, United Kingdom
Tucked beneath the Ritz Hotel on Piccadilly, this is one of the most discreet and storied gaming rooms in Europe. It favours quiet formality over spectacle, drawing a clientele more interested in atmosphere and history than scale.
Foxwoods Resort Casino — Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States
Set in the Connecticut woodlands and owned by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, Foxwoods is one of the largest resort casinos in North America, with sprawling gaming halls, multiple hotel towers, and a scale that rivals properties on the Las Vegas Strip.
Grand Casino Baden — Baden, Switzerland
Not to be confused with Baden-Baden in Germany, this lakeside Swiss property pairs a modern gaming hall with thermal baths and a spa town setting just outside Zurich — a quieter, more understated alternative to the grander European halls.
What Ties These Five Together
Architectural identity. Each of these properties is a recognisable building in its own right, distinct from any city skyline around it.
Long-standing history. The newest entry on this list has been open for decades; the oldest for over 250 years.
A full resort experience. Dining, spa facilities, and event spaces sit alongside the gaming floor at every property listed here.
This piece is an independent editorial guide to physical casino hotel properties, written from a traveller’s perspective.
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