If you’re the kind of wheeler dealer who is at home around the green baize tables of a casino, the holiday destinations of the world are desperate for you to pay them a visit right now. There is a global boom in casino gambling and that is seeing the world’s resorts investing millions of dollars in their facilities. It means that places as far flung as Macau, Singapore, Australia’s Gold Coast, South Africa’s Sun City and the capitals of Europe are all visitors are welcomed with open arms.
Just as there is a global surge in online gambling that has seen companies like Bet365 and PokerStars become household names, there has also been a corresponding increase in the level of activity around what industry insiders call ‘bricks and mortar’ casinos. And along with that investment in their gaming rooms these resorts also offer tremendous facilities for travellers of all persuasions.
A cross-investment of the betting revenues the casinos produce means that hotel, leisure and holiday complexes are being developed as never before. So whether you’re looking for a vegan restaurant in Las Vegas, a safari excursion in South Africa or a hot tub in Baden Baden, casino complexes represent an ideal way to find what you’re looking for.
Accommodation and entertainment in these resorts is invariably to a high standard – luxury is part of the overall pitch after all. What is more, the subsidies that are on offer mean that such a high end experience doesn’t have to be a budget breaker. The fact that many of the casino franchises are part of multinational groups mean that economies of scale – on a grand scale! – play into the hands of those smart travellers who are prepared to shop around to book in advance.
For people in the accommodation business there is simply nothing worse than an empty room. But at the same time they are not keen to auction them off cheap just for the sake of it. A reliable booking is worth more to them than a host of late discounted bookings, so they go out of their way to make them that little bit more enticing. The ready supply of relatively cheap flights to these destinations is itself no small part of the bigger picture.
And with gambling of all varieties becoming less of a niche activity and more and more accepted as part of the mainstream leisure industry, there is a growing overlap with other sectors. Free shows, on-site golf-courses as well as all-you-can-eat buffets and free drinks are difficult to ignore. And that sort of all-encompassing provision is making casino resorts more family friendly than, perhaps, was the case in years gone by.
For the established and experienced casino visitor times have never been so good. Those who are just beginning to appreciate what the casino experience has to offer may not have the same sense of an upturn, but that doesn’t mean they are not enjoying what are some of the best and most affordable holiday destinations anywhere. And of course, a win at the tables can add a whole extra sheen to a casino-based break.
