Gambling cities. Where is Monte Carlo - the European capital of gambling

After the ban on gambling in Russia, special zones were created where you can legally enjoy the game and try your luck. For many today, the issue of the location of such places is acute, as they travel to the USA or Europe to indulge in pleasure and again feel a pleasant feeling of excitement. However, the casino is much closer than you might imagine.

Gambling zones in Russia for 2019

If you have been to European or American casinos, where there is gloss and a high level of service, then you will not like playing in Russia. However, for inexperienced people the services offered here will be sufficient. Russian casinos offer:

• roulette;
• black Jack;
• poker;
• slot machines.

Gambling zones on the map of Russia (photo)

• "Azov City". This site is located between the Rostov region and the Krasnodar region. 1000 hectares of land were allocated for it. The first casino opened in 2010. Since then, many other establishments have appeared that are waiting for new and regular players. Today, the fate of this territory is in question, since Sochi with a more developed infrastructure is nearby. While discussions are ongoing, the casino is working and pleasing players with its services.
• "Siberian coin", as the name implies, is located in Siberia, namely in its southern part. This site operates just 300 km from Barnaul, in the Altai Territory. Its size is 2300 hectares. Since 2014, there has been one casino operating here, which can accommodate up to 500 people at once. There are a large number of slot machines, poker, VIP rooms and much more. The construction of hotels and a number of new facilities is in development.
• "Primorye" located in the Far East near Vladivostok. The area of ​​this site is relatively small (620 hectares). There is also only one casino operating here, located in close proximity to Ant Bay. Roulette, blackjack, slot machines and poker are the main services of this establishment. In the future there will be hotels, a beach, a ski resort and a yacht club.
• "Amber" For now it only works on paper. It is located in the Kaliningrad region, but there is still not a single operating casino here. The problem is acceptance of the concept. Investors cannot agree on how exactly this site should be developed. Thus, the estimated launch date is 2029.

The main challenge is accessibility. Today, only rich people and people with above-average income can play in gambling establishments. By developing and offering various options for the middle class, it will be possible to significantly increase the income of gambling clubs and take them out of the online world. Experts say that it will not be possible to create a Russian Las Vegas, however, it will be possible to increase investment and tourist attractiveness.

Currently, there are several gambling zones in the world, in particular in the USA, Macau and Singapore.

One of the most popular in the world and leading in USA gambling center is Las Vegas (Nevada). Almost 40 million tourists visit the city every year.

In 1931, all gambling was officially legalized in the state of Nevada, while it remained illegal in most other states. In 1941, the first casino, El Rancho Vegas, opened in the city. Every year the number of casinos has constantly grown, and currently there are more than 120 casinos in the city, the total number of licensed gaming establishments exceeds 1,700, the number of slot machines is more than 200 thousand. In 2013, the profit of all gambling establishments in Las Vegas was $6.5 billion. The most famous casinos are Wynn Las Vegas, Flamingo, Planet Hollywood, Venetian, Bellagio, Luxor, Stratosphere, Circus Circus, etc.

One of the most famous scams Las Vegas casinos use an improved card counting system (developed in 1962 by mathematics professor Edward Thorpe). With her help in the 1990s. A team of American students known as the MIT Team, exchanging coded words and signs, won more than $10 million over several years.

The biggest robbery Las Vegas casino happened in 1993. Then criminals stole a truck parked near the Circus Circus casino, which contained about $3 million.

Biggest win in history- $40 million - received in March 2003 by an American programmer (who decided not to disclose his name) at the Excalibur casino in Las Vegas.

Such famous Hollywood films as “Viva Las Vegas”, “Ocean’s Eleven”, “The Godfather”, “Rain Man”, etc. were filmed in Las Vegas.

Another large gambling zone is located in Macau. Gambling in this territory, which once belonged to Portugal, has been permitted since 1847. The active development of the gambling business began in 1962, when the Sociedade de Turismo e Diverses de Macau (STDM) syndicate was granted monopoly rights to conduct all types of gambling . After sovereignty over Macau passed to the PRC in 1999, gambling policy did not change.

In 2002, the Sociedade de Turismo e Diverses de Macau's monopoly expired. Sociedade de Jogos de Macau (a subsidiary of STDM), as well as major global companies in this field: Wynn Resorts, Las Vegas Sands, Galaxy Entertainment Group, MGM Mirage, received the right to operate in the gambling business.

Macau is the only place in China, where you can legally gamble. There are 33 casinos here, with more than 4 thousand slot machines and 850 gaming tables. The most famous are the Galaxy, Grand Lisboa and The Venetian casinos. The gambling business brings Macau more than 70% of all revenues, which amounted to $45 billion in 2013. Macau casinos are visited annually by about 30 million tourists from around the world.

In 2011, scammers from Macau managed to pull off scam for $24 million playing baccarat (a card game in which players try to score as many points as possible using two or three cards). They replaced regular shuffles (a device for shuffling cards) with special ones equipped with cameras, sensors and mirrors, which were accidentally discovered during an inspection of casino equipment. As a result, seven people were arrested.

Currently, the third largest gambling area after Macau and Las Vegas is considered Singapore. A 40-year ban on gambling was lifted here in 2005. Only two casinos operate legally. They were opened only in 2010, their profitability in 2013 exceeded $6 billion. In the first gambling complex built in Singapore, Resorts World Sentosa on Sentosa Island, in addition to the casino, there are 10 restaurants, six hotels, a shopping center, and a Universal theme park Studios, Marine Life Park with the largest aquarium in the world and other entertainment facilities.

The second complex - Marina Bay Sands - consists of three 55-storey towers with a huge outdoor swimming pool on their roofs, and includes more than 2.5 thousand rooms for recreation, seven restaurants, an exhibition center, a museum, two cinemas, two ice skating rinks, shopping area.

Known scam, which was carried out at Resorts World Sentosa by a croupier and his two accomplices, robbing the casino of $100 thousand. The croupier overpaid his accomplices by $100 each time they exchanged their chips (chips) of $500 and $1000 for chips of lower denomination. In 2011, the court sentenced the croupier to 2 years in prison, and the accomplices to 21 months in prison each.

Casinos are places where people make and lose fortunes, but some gambling complexes are more worthy of their status as temples of Lady Luck than others. Most often, these casinos are part of larger resorts that include hotels, restaurants and entertainment complexes. This same ranking of the world's largest casinos only takes into account the area where the gambling actually takes place.

Borgata Casino in Atlantic City

Atlantic City has long been known as America's favorite gambling destination and one of the most prominent resort towns in the Northeastern United States. While the entire complex is quite extensive and includes numerous restaurants, nightclubs and the largest hotel in New Jersey (the main Tower with 2,002 rooms), the casino itself occupies 80,000 square meters, has 4,000 coin-operated machines and 200 gaming tables. Not only is the Borgata impressive in scale, it is also really well run, being the most profitable casino in the city and one of the best in the US.

Casino Lisboa

The largest casino in Europe is located in the least expected of places: the Portuguese capital of Lisbon, on the shores of the Atlantic. Casino Lisboa is operated by a company owned by Hong Kong billionaire Stanley Ho, who also owns Casino Lisboa in Macau. The entire gaming area is 82,000 square meters with 1,000 slot machines and 26 poker tables. There are also seven restaurants and bars, as well as approximately 1,000 hotel rooms.

MGM Grand in Las Vegas

It's impossible to make a list of the biggest casinos in the world without including one from Sin City. In this case, it's the MGM Grand from Las Vegas. Located on the famous Las Vegas Strip, it is not only a huge 85,500 square meter casino, but also the second largest hotel in the world with 6,852 rooms. With more than 2,500 slot machines and 139 tables, in addition to a state-of-the-art sportsbook area, the MGM Grand in Las Vegas is one of the best places in the world for those looking to try their luck. Other entertainment venues are also present, including the world famous Hakkasan nightclub.

MGM Macau

MGM Macau (formerly called MGM Grand Macau) opened in late 2007 and is one of many huge casinos based in this wealthy city. Like other establishments on this list, it is also part of an extensive entertainment complex that includes a hotel, numerous restaurants and a conference center. The casino occupies 110,000 square meters and two floors around the magnificent Grande Praça, a huge shopping center right at the base of the hotel.

Sands Casino Macao

Another great casino in Macau. Opened in 2004, Sands Macao was the first Las Vegas-style casino in this popular city for gamblers. Since then, it has been one of the main sources of wealth for its owner, American billionaire Sheldon Adelson, one of the richest people in the world. The casino underwent an expansion and renovation process several years ago, increasing its area by almost 50%.

Rio Casino Resort in South Africa

Rio Casino Resort (formerly known as Tusk Rio Casino Resort) is the largest casino in Africa and the southern hemisphere. Located in the modest South African town of Klerksdorp, the casino has a gaming area of ​​130,000 square meters, in addition to 70 rooms at the Metcourt Hotel. As its name suggests, the casino is inspired by the famous Rio Carnival and provides guests with numerous entertainment options, in addition to all kinds of gambling.

Casino Ponte 16 in Macau

Located in the Macau Harbor area (historic city centre), Ponte 16 is a world-class resort consisting of a five-star hotel, casino and the first and only Michael Jackson gallery in Asia. The casino covers an area of ​​135,000 square meters with 109 gaming tables, 307 coin-operated machines and 2 VIP lounges. Its attractive design is inspired by Macau's unique cultural heritage, with European (mainly Portuguese) styling mixed with traditional Chinese elements.

Foxwoods Resorts Casino

Foxwoods Casino is located in Mashantucket, Connecticut, on the Pequot Indian Reservation. One of the largest entertainment complexes in North America, the resort includes six casinos, four hotels and several restaurants, including the Hard Rock Cafe. The casinos themselves cover an area of ​​172,000 square meters, with over 380 gaming tables and 6,300 slot machines.

City of Dreams in Macau

You've probably already realized that Macau is one of the best cities for gambling lovers. The City of Dreams is one of the largest casinos in the world with a total gaming area of ​​210,000 square meters, 450 gaming tables, and 1,514 slot machines. The casino is in good company as it is part of the same complex as the Grand Hyatt Macau and the Hard Rock Hotel.

Venetian Macao Casino

So, the largest casino in the world is also located in Macau. Modeled after the Venetian Las Vegas, the Macau casino is much more than a mere replica. Opened in 2007 on Macau's Cotai Strip, this stunningly large casino is not only the largest of its kind, but also the seventh largest building in the world in terms of total floor area. More than half of the 275,000 square meter area is gaming area with 3,400 coin-operated machines and 800 gaming tables, while the 15,000-seat CotaiArena is a superb venue for all types of events, from boxing, basketball and tennis matches, to shows and concerts.

The casinos of these cities are considered to be “classics of the genre.” The most famous, luxurious and rich casinos of the Old and New Worlds are the fruits of the labor of many brilliant entrepreneurs, but sometimes they are a happy coincidence, like a gift from windy Fortune.

Baden Baden

It is generally accepted that modern gambling began in Baden-Baden, Germany, in October 1748. It was then that several tavern and hotel owners received the right to conduct gambling in their establishments. And in 1824, the Baden-Baden Gambling House opened - the most famous and most beautiful casino in the Old World. True, it should be noted that at that time a casino was understood as a kind of house of culture, and the gaming halls themselves could only be part of it. And, for example, in Kultur Kasino in Bern there was never a game at all. By the middle of the 19th century, Baden-Baden became a favorite vacation spot for European and Russian nobility. Russian writers become frequent guests of the city - Gogol, Turgenev, Dostoevsky, whose losses are legendary here. Residents of Baden-Baden, having learned that you are from Russia, will gasp for a long time and tell you legends about Russian Badeners. They will certainly show you the tree under which the prototype of Dostoevsky’s story “The Gambler” shot himself. True, the same tree will be shown to you in Wiesbaden and Bad Homburg. Nowadays Baden-Baden is called nothing more than “the city of millionaires” or “the summer capital of Europe”. Having become the birthplace of the modern gambling business, even after two centuries it managed to retain its fame as the European gambling capital of the world.

Bad Homburg

The history of Baden-Baden was repeated on a smaller scale in the resort town of Bad Homburg, now a suburb of Frankfurt. In 1843, the second oldest casino in Europe opened here, not without the arrival of the Russian nobility. This city has not gained the same fame as Baden-Baden, but it is worth mentioning for this reason. The casino in Bad Homburg belonged to the Frenchman Maurice Blanc. In 1861, Kaiser Wilhelm banned gambling in Germany, and it was also banned in France at that time. Therefore, leaving his casino, Blanc moved to the Principality of Monaco and went straight to a reception with Crown Prince Charles III. This was the beginning of the great history of Monte Carlo.

Monte Carlo

The Principality of Monaco is a narrow strip of coast about three kilometers long and no more than three hundred meters wide. The country is surrounded on three sides by French territory, and on the fourth by the Mediterranean Sea. For seven centuries, the owners of this very well located territory, the princes of Grimaldi, traded in piracy and robbery. But in the 19th century, the maritime racket ceased to be profitable, and the dynasty was on the verge of ruin. It was during this unkind time for Prince Charles III that Maurice Blanc came to him and said, according to legend, something like this: “What you are doing is childish. Give me a piece of territory on the other side of the bay, and I will build a city there that will rob all of Europe." After some thought, the ruler of Monaco agreed, stipulating as a condition a tenth share of the profits and that the city would be named after him. The deal was completed. Initially, the casino was located in a barn-like room with four gambling tables. Roulette and card games, prohibited by law in many European countries, magnetically attracted rich people from all over the world to Monte Carlo. A few years later, a huge gambling palace and hotel were built in Monte Carlo, a railway line was built, gardens were laid out, and the port was reconstructed. In 1866, by decree of the ruler of Monaco, Charles III, this part of the principality was solemnly renamed Monte Carlo.

For several years, Blanc was the European casino monopolist. By the way, the former Blanc casino in Bad Homburg later received the name “Mother of Monte Carlo”. Currently, the gaming complex in Monaco consists of two buildings. The casino has a huge number of rooms. There are more than forty roulette tables alone. There are halls where everyone is allowed to play, in any clothing, but they close at midnight. Entrance to the night halls is allowed only in tuxedos. Members of European royal houses, Formula 1 champions and Hollywood stars spend their time here. Bets on one baccarat game here sometimes reach $40,000.

Las Vegas

In the middle of a flat, cracked sand basin, surrounded on three sides by mountains, a mirage rises. Tourists approaching Las Vegas for the first time are literally glued to the windows in utter amazement - there, below, are the Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building and the Brooklyn Bridge! And only the pilots habitually turn the car around, focusing on the column of light shooting vertically from the Cheops pyramid. The appearance of all this here in the desert is unrealistic, illogical, inexplicable by rational reasons. This is the result of a chain of accidents.

In 1829, a trade caravan heading to Los Angeles lost its way. Under the heavy sun of the red desert, death awaited him and would have waited if the Mexican Rafael Rivera had not been lucky enough to find an oasis with an artesian spring among the sands. Raphael called this place "Fertile Valleys", in Spanish "Las Vegas". In 1864, this territory became the 36th American state - Nevada. And in 1931, Nevada became the first and only state to legalize gambling. This coincided, very conveniently, with the start of construction of a grandiose dam on the Colorado River, 50 km from the Las Vegas railway station. To “organize leisure time” for five thousand workers, several casinos opened in the city. In 1936, after construction was completed, crowds of tourists came to see this gigantic dam and they traveled mainly in their cars along Highway 91. Hotels that received tourists stood along the highway, a little far from the city center. Casinos, on the contrary, were concentrated in the center. This discrepancy first caught the eye of gambling magnate Thomas Hull, and in 1941 he built the luxurious El Rancho hotel-casino next to the highway. From that time on, the rapid transformation of a small section of the highway into the gambling street of the Strip began, and Las Vegas into an American and world gambling center.

“El Rancho” and “Flamingo” began the tradition of building “themed” casino hotels, each of which provided its guests with some kind of living legend - a piece of ancient Rome, Egypt, Paris. The latest new buildings of the late 20th century are simply amazing. Inside the world's most expensive hotel, the Bellagio, there is an 8-acre artificial lake surrounded by poplar trees and "Tuscan" villas. The Mandalay Bay Hotel contains a tropical lagoon complete with beach and surf. And in the “Venice” under construction there will be a copy of St. Mark’s Square and a half-kilometer canal with real gondoliers. This will cost an absolutely astronomical amount - $2,250 million. It’s not surprising, according to experts, the daily profit of the global gambling center is about 15 billion (!) dollars.

So, this is a classic of the genre. But new casinos and luxurious gaming complexes are appearing all over the world: Atlantic City, Macau and other cities will soon claim the title of gaming capitals of the world. However, Fortune can smile on you in numerous casinos and gaming centers in our city, so don’t miss your chance and hit the jackpot.

In Russia, gambling is prohibited throughout the country, but there are countries where gambling is officially permitted and, of course, brings good income to both casino owners and countries in the form of taxes. If you go there, you can not only spend extra money (if you have any), but also tickle your nerves - sometimes the excitement reaches its peak when playing.

1. USA

There are several huge gambling zones in the United States, the most famous of which is undoubtedly Las Vegas. We can say that the entire city consists of casinos, clubs and other similar establishments - the gambling business forms the basis of the city's economy. People specifically come to Las Vegas from other countries to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of excitement, so if you suddenly have an “extra” tidy sum, then Las Vegas is a great way to spend it.

One of the most famous casinos in this city is the Stratosphere Las Vegas, a hotel-casino located on the Las Vegas Strip. The area of ​​the gambling establishment is 7 thousand m2, and there are games for every taste - cards, roulette, slot machines, and in some halls you can bet on sweepstakes like horse racing that take place throughout the country. By the way, Stratosphere attracts players with reasonable rates compared to most other city casinos: for example, the minimum bet on blackjack here is only five dollars.

Las Vegas is not the only such place in the USA: the American government is well aware that the money that tourists spend in casinos is a good way to replenish the state budget, so investments in the gambling business in this country are actively encouraged by law, and shares of the largest gambling companies are listed on American stock exchanges and attract serious investors.

2. Monaco

When it comes to Monaco - a tiny European country consisting, in general, of just one city - most people will immediately remember the Formula 1 championship held here annually and the casino: the gambling business in Monaco is one of the leading sectors of the country's economy, and, of course, everything is regulated by law.

Casinos in Monaco are considered the most prestigious casinos in the world, thanks, first of all, not even to the service and variety of entertainment provided, but to the clientele. In order to get into one of the establishments - especially the world-famous Monte Carlo - you will have to comply with a certain dress code: suit, shirt and tie for men and evening dress for women. The stakes in Monaco casinos are quite high: with about ten dollars in your pocket, even with great luck you will not be able to hit the jackpot - you will have to stock up on a larger amount. In addition, Monte Carlo is one of the oldest casinos in Europe: the building where it is located is already 120 years old, and it was built specifically for these purposes.

3. Malta

Another small European state where the gambling business is thriving is Malta. Thanks to progressive legislation in the field of regulation of the gambling business, anyone with sufficient funds can open a casino in Malta. The state provides entrepreneurs with the maximum degree of security and confidentiality when doing business in this area, so it is not surprising that there are more than a hundred casinos, slot machine halls, lotteries, bookmakers and betting exchanges located in the country.

In Malta, the laws on the gambling business are clearly regulated: in particular, it is the only country in the world where the types of gambling business are prescribed in the relevant legislation.

The most famous Maltese gambling establishments are the classic “Dragonara Casino”, the more modern and undemanding to the player’s budget and dress code “Oracle Casino”, the luxurious “Casino at Portomaso” and known as the museum “Casino di Venezia”.

Online casinos are extremely popular in Malta: bets are accepted via the Internet, and access to online services of this kind is available throughout the country from anywhere.

4. UK

The passion for gambling is characteristic of almost all British people. People in this country began to play for money several centuries ago - they placed bets on horse races and sports competitions. Relatively small gambling houses appeared in Great Britain a couple of centuries ago and have been successfully operating since then.

And not so long ago, in 2007, Prime Minister Tony Blair proposed opening several huge casinos in London, comparable in scale and luxury to Las Vegas casinos. Initially, it was planned to open 40 such establishments, but as a result, only one so-called “super-casino” appeared in London - the Ritz, which can be found at 150 Piccadilly, W1J 9BR London.

In other regions of the country there are also huge gambling houses, and in each region there is one giant casino, comparable in area to the above-mentioned “Stratosphere” - eight medium-sized and eight small, the calculation is simple: one casino per 125 thousand people of the country’s population. There are many who want to open their own business here, including foreign investors who are showing interest, despite the huge tax rate - as much as 50% of the casino’s income must go to the state treasury.

British casinos are surprising primarily because they do not give loans: the pedantic British decided that you can only play for cash. If you have spent all the money you had in your wallet, then even if you ask the casino to lend you money or offer real estate, jewelry or some other valuable asset as collateral, you will most likely be refused. Perhaps only in Great Britain does the principle “No money - no game” apply - the peculiarities of the mentality, no less.

5. Gibraltar

In fact, Gibraltar is an overseas territory of Great Britain, but it should be discussed separately: first of all, this area has its own government and legislation (though based largely in the image and likeness of the British one).

Gibraltar is characterized by an extremely low tax rate for gambling enterprises - only one percent of the value of cash turnover, with no more than £425 thousand per year. That is, even if the casino earned more in a year - and this usually happens in Gibraltar - the state does not oblige the enterprise to pay more than the agreed amount, and this applies to both classic “land-based” casinos and virtual ones.

At the same time, the state ensures strict control over each such company - it eliminates the possibility of concealing taxes and provides casino owners with protection and patronage, therefore only companies with an unblemished reputation can obtain a license to open their business in this area.

Like almost everywhere in Europe, online casinos are thriving in Gibraltar: several are among the top ten establishments of this kind in the world - for example, 888.com and Eurogrand Casino, and in regular casinos in Gibraltar, in addition to standard card games and roulette You can also find dice games like craps and sic bo.

6. India

Today, India ranks ninth in the world in terms of gambling revenue: there are more than 200 casinos here, where you can find all types of gambling, although only horse racing and the lottery are officially allowed in the country. However, in 2001, a large casino “Royale” opened in the most beloved state among tourists, Goa: it is based on the Caravel liner and is in no way inferior to other world-famous establishments - both in terms of service and money, which they rotate there.

The Indian government believes that the gambling business is a progressive sector of the economy, which in the future can become one of the main items of the country's budget. Despite the conservatism of the state and the mentality in which the emergence of such establishments in the country until recently seemed impossible, there is a possibility that India will soon delight players with a huge number of different gambling houses. But with the legislation on this issue in India, not everything is going smoothly yet - most of the funds from existing casinos go into the pockets of foreign investors, and this issue has yet to be resolved.

7. Cambodia

Cambodia is one of the poorest countries in the world, it is included in the list of 50 least developed countries, and more than 80% of the country's population lives below the poverty line. The standard income for most Khmers is $2 a day, with prices for basic necessities comparable to other Asian countries. Oddly enough, this was precisely the reason for the opening of several world-class casinos in Cambodia - there was no other way to attract foreign investment, since the country is not rich in either natural resources or any developed industry.

Unfortunately, there is no control over these investments, and, as in the case of India, most of the proceeds from the activities of gambling houses do not go to the country’s treasury, but into the pockets of casino owners - in this regard, in 2009, the Prime Minister Cambodia's Hun Sen has ordered the closure of all casinos in the country.

As often happens in such cases, some of the establishments were indeed closed, but the other part remained and is thriving: for example, a player can visit the Naga casino - a guest can stay in a comfortable four-star hotel, the prices for rooms are relatively low, and play his fun until the money runs out. And even if they run out, Cambodia is not England, and here they are happy to lend, although sometimes at high interest rates.

8. China

Gambling in China has a rich past - people started playing for money here more than 4 thousand years ago. In the seventh century AD, luxurious gambling houses for the rich and nobility began to appear on the territory of the then empire, and in the 20th century, Chinese casinos gained enormous popularity among foreign players.

In the Chinese province of Macau, considered a “pearl” among Asian gambling centers, almost any gambling-related activity is legally permitted, including various betting shops. In addition, there are about 30 huge casinos operating in China - in most cases, such gambling centers are located in Macau, Shanghai and Hong Kong.

The Chinese are a gambling people, so even those who for some reason cannot go to large gambling zones treat themselves to the lottery. This may be due to the fact that for centuries China has been dominated by the philosophies of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism, where the belief in fate and chance is of great importance.