Looking for magnificent casino design? Land-based casinos are some of the most intricately designed buildings in the world.
They are made to fascinate and amaze visitors so they come back for more. Although some design choices may seem questionable, like no windows or clocks and a labyrinth-esque floor layout, all of these choices are intentional and are part of key design concepts that most casinos use.
Why are There No Clocks or Windows in Casinos?
This is a purposeful decision, noted by gambling author Bill Friedman in his book Designing Casinos to Dominate the Competition. This book explores the different things casinos can incorporate into their designs to keep visitors interested and captivated so they stay and play for longer.
To reach these conclusions, Friedman studied over 80 casinos in Nevada across 20 years to try and figure out what made them successful. He determined several design choices that casinos should implement to keep players playing for longer.
Casinos avoid placing clocks and windows on the casino floor so you can focus on casino games without any distractions, like noticing what time it is and realizing you should probably get going. If you don’t know the time, you’re more likely to stay longer.
The maze-like layout of some casinos is also intentional. They want to avoid giving you a clear path to different sections of the casino so that you have to look around and see more games before getting where you want to be. If you pass by a wall of enticing slots on your way to the bathroom, you might check them out on your way back.
Low lighting, low ceilings, and smaller rooms create a sense of intimacy that makes people feel comfortable and want to stay longer. Friedman discourages the use of tall, wide ceilings because they don’t feel as cozy and welcoming.
Now, let’s take a look at the beautiful insides and outsides of the most beautiful casinos across the world.
The Baden-Baden Casino, Germany
Germany’s oldest casino is absolutely stunning. During a visit, Marlene Dietrich famously dubbed The Baden-Baden Casino “the most beautiful casino in the world”. The building was designed in 1824 by German architect Friedrich Weinbrenner, who was responsible for designing several classically styled buildings in the country.
It is a great spot for “old-school” gambling, focusing mainly on roulette, blackjack, and poker. If you’re into more modern types of gambling, the casino also offers a variety of slot machines. To take in the full glamour of the Baden-Baden, you can book a guided tour to gain insight into the building’s full history.
Morpheus Casino, Macau
This casino is inside one of the coolest-looking buildings I’ve ever seen. Morpheus is a 524-foot tall neo-futurist luxury hotel in Macau, described by TIME as “the world’s first free-form exoskeleton-bound high-rise”. The intricate design was inspired by Chinese jade carving and from the inside, it looks even cooler.
Morpheus Casino opened in 2018 on a floor of the building. They decided to opt-out of using junket– expense-paid trips offered to prospective VIP clients by middlemen – to build their clientele database.
Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Atlantic City
Opened in 2003, Borgata is the top-grossing casino in Atlantic City. It is the largest hotel in New Jersey and the third-largest building in Atlantic City. Its interior Tuscan/modern fusion design is warm and inviting, and the outdoor pool and beer gardens feel like a tropical getaway. The casino floor is 161,000 square feet and offers over 4,000 slot machines, 180 table games, and 50 poker tables.
Casino de Monte Carlo, Monaco
Monte Carlo Casino opened in 1863 as part of an effort to save the Monegasque economy. Though it had a rocky start, the casino is now one of the most famous in the world and is absolutely breathtaking both inside and outside.
Several iconic casino-themed films have been shot at Monte Carlo, including Ocean’s Twelve and James Bond movies Never Say Never Again and GoldenEye. However, Monaco’s very own citizens aren’t permitted to step foot inside the casino; the casino is intended only for foreigners to visit.
Adelaide Casino, Australia / SkyCity Adelaide
As the sole licensed casino in South Australia, SkyCity Adelaide is definitely a place to check out if you’re ever in the area. Though the exterior is inconspicuous from the front and covered mostly by the Adelaide railway station, the interior designs are beautiful.
The casino itself boasts a large range of gaming machines, state-of-the-art automated table games stadiums, roulette, baccarat, blackjack, poker, and other favorites across two levels.
Sun City Resort, South Africa
Sun City Resort, South Africa.
The Sun City Resort looks like a castle from a Disney movie. There are four hotels within the complex, multiple restaurants and bars, live entertainment, and of course, the legendary casino. Sun City Casino offers thrills for experiences and first-time gamblers with hundreds of slot machines and over 40 table games, so everybody can have a good time.
From inside the casino, you can see they’ve utilized their ceiling space by creating a tropical jungle theme, complete with greenery and adorable paintings of monkeys. Yet, they still manage to create that intimate feeling by putting a roof over the area.
Sun City Casino.
The Venetian Resort, Las Vegas
Venetian Resort’s exterior.
This Venice-inspired casino is truly breathtaking. It contains architectural replicas of iconic Venitian landmarks, such as the Lion of Venice Column, St. Mark’s Campanile (the bell tower), and Palazzo Ducale (the Doge’s Palace).
The Venetian Resort offers an insane amount of extras, including private gondola rides with a singing gondolier. You can catch a ride indoors or outdoors and take in the beautiful architecture of the resort. With their average suite being “nearly double the size of the average Las Vegas hotel room”, they are the image of a luxurious Vegas getaway.
No, this isn’t Italy — welcome to the Venetian casino.
The Ritz Club, United Kingdom
The Ritz Club in 1906, when it was still the Ritz ballroom.
The Ritz Club was located in the basement of the Ritz Hotel in London, England. The original Ritz ballroom was converted into the casino, with all original furnishings being restored or replicated to maintain the luxurious feel. When they first reopened as a casino under separate management from the hotel in 1978, they offered high-stakes games and attracted wealthy gamblers from all over. In June 1998, the location officially became the Ritz Club.
This gorgeous spot unfortunately announced its permanent closure in 2020. They hadn’t made a profit since 2016 and with massive losses due to the COVID pandemic, they were no longer able to remain open.
Casino de Genting, Malaysia
Genting Casino’s exterior, Malaysia.
There are actually two casinos within Resorts World Genting – Casino de Genting and Sky Casino, but they are technically both the same casino. It is one of the biggest casinos in Southeast Asia and is the only legal land-based casino in Malaysia. The full resort is home to six hotels, a theme park, shows, shopping, and multiple restaurants. It’s like its own city full of entertainment.
While Casino de Genting is a more intimate casino setting, Sky Casino is a wide-open space that Friedman would hate. The floor plan is very open and the second level looks out onto the main floor. The tall ceiling design is inspired by an “enchanted forest theme” aimed to bring in the ambiance of the beautiful outdoors.
Photo Credit: Resort World Genting
Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore
Resorts World Sentosa’s exterior.
Located on an island off the coast of Singapore, Resorts World Sentosa is home to a theme park, water park, aquarium, and casino. Singaporean residents have to pay a daily ($150) or annual ($3,000) fee to gain entry to the casino, but foreign visitors can enter for free. Entry fees are collected by the Singapore Totalisator Board and are used for public funding and charity, rather than being kept by the casino.
Resort World Sentosa.
The inside of the resort gives off an almost underwater vibe with dim blue lighting, which compliments the aquarium nicely. The casino offers a large variety of games, including blackjack, baccarat, poker, pai gow, pontoon, roulette, tai sai, slots, and more.
