Most people associate gambling with Las Vegas, even if they live thousands of miles away from North America, let alone Sin City. However, Las Vegas’ reputation is well-deserved. With its hundreds of casinos, and hundreds of thousands of casino games, Vegas is certainly one of the biggest gambling cities in the world.

Yet, it is hardly the only one. There are other destinations worth visiting that may be a more budget-friendly option but provide the same unmistakable quality players from far and wide have heard about on The Strip. Today, we take a look at the hottest gambling destination that may be within reach or, surprisingly, you may even live close by!

1. Macau, China

Macau is often called the Mecca of Gambling, and rightfully so. The Special Administrative Region (SAR) has permitted gambling since the 1850s and is one of the most tightly regulated gambling jurisdictions in the world.

This has not stopped gamblers from far and wide from flocking to the Cotai Strip, Macau’s own version of The Strip, and the 31+ casinos located all across the city. The SAR is known for its high table limits, which attract high rollers and wealthy customers from all across Asia and beyond.

The SAR-slash-city stands out with such properties as The Venetian Macao, one of the largest worldwide, City of Dreams, Galaxy Macau, and many others.

Macau, though, caters to both ordinary and VIP clientele, offering flexible betting limits, games, and ranges. In 2024, the SAR recorded a record-breaking gross gaming revenue of MOP226.78bn or $28.12bn.

2. Las Vegas, USA

Las Vegas, Nevada, is most certainly one of the top gambling destinations in the world. The city is rightly called the Entertainment Capital of the World, and it mixes traditional casino gaming with a whole lot more – from prominent sports events, such as the Las Vegas GP, to concerts and residencies by popular artists such as Bruno Mars.

The Strip, which is Las Vegas’ gambling artery, features more than 31 major casinos, among which are the Bellagio, Caesars Palace, and MGM Grand. There, visitors can also find Las Vegas’ biggest casino, Wynn Las Vegas.

There are more than 50 casinos across The Strip and Downtown, and they offer a whole lot of variety – from slot machines to table games, to poker and sports betting, and well beyond.

Combining unmatched hospitality options with countless entertainment possibilities, and world-class gaming, Las Vegas is not only one of the biggest gambling cities in the world – it’s one of the very best!

3. Paris, France

When it comes to gambling, the French capital may not be immediately on your radar, but it should. Gambling establishments in France are known as clubs, and they specifically focus on table games, such as Punto Banco, Baccarat, Poker, Mahjong, and others.

There are, of course, some caveats to observe here. Unlike Macau or Las Vegas, Paris does not offer some major types of games, such as slot machines or, surprisingly, roulette.

You would think that the country that invented the game would be playing it, but roulette is not among the allowed options at local establishments.

Instead, Paris focuses on providing players with these smaller-sized experiences across the eight gambling clubs found in the capital. Among them are such establishments as Club Pierre Charron, Club Montmarte, Paris élysées Club, and more.

Is Paris still worth visiting as a gambling destination? Perhaps not purely and solely for gaming at clubs, but as a well-rounded cultural experience, it certainly is.

4. London, UK

London is another city on the list of the biggest gambling destinations in the world, and you would not be surprised to find out as much. After all, the enigmatic Niko Tosa, the player who beat roulette, made a killing at the Aspinall Club and got in hot water with police authorities who couldn’t prove cheating – because Tosa was not cheating.

London has more than 50 establishments, which feature a relatively small number of slot machines – around a thousand. Yet, the city focuses on providing a more high-class experience with fewer tables, higher limits, and slightly more select clientele.

The city’s establishment attracts high rollers and wealthy players who enjoy the chic interior of its establishment and don’t mind being whisked away to private lounges or enjoying the less-crowded and less-busy gaming floors. You could almost argue that London is an antipode to the ostentatious style of gaming practiced in Las Vegas, but that is not necessarily a bad thing.

5. Singapore

The city-state of Singapore is itself one of the hottest gambling destinations in Asia. Singapore’s casino gaming revenue rose to $5.66bn in 2024, and although it still trails other regional hubs, the Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa continue to attract players from far and wide.

Both properties are world-class in every way that matters. They provide more than 5,000 slot machines collectively and feature more than 1,000 table games, including blackjack, roulette, baccarat, Sic Bo, many different poker variants, and more.

Visitors may also enjoy dozens of private rooms that host VIP and high-stakes games and offer an unparalleled experience. The Marina Bay Sands Casino and Resorts World Sentosa Casino are part of integrated resorts.

6. Atlantic City, New Jersey

Atlantic City is certainly one of the largest gambling cities in the world, and in the United States. An estimated 27m come to the town to gamble across dozens of casinos. Presently, there are nine casinos in New Jersey as reported on the Official Site of the State of New Jersey and Casino Guru News’ own breakdown of the local industry.

The total gross gaming revenue in New Jersey hit $6.30bn in 2024, edging up 9% from the $5.78bn in 2023, and results have been climbing up. The exact number of slots in Atlantic City is difficult to pinpoint, but it exceeds 10,000 slot machines, including progressive jackpots that are locally available.

There are more than 1,000 table games in AtlanticCity, based on the latest data, collected from the nine official casino websites. All told, Atlantic City is a premier gambling destination that is very much worth exploring.

7. Monte Carlo, Monaco

Monte Carlo often makes the scene for a great Netflix movie about gambling, such as Casino Royale. Yet, Monte Carlo is more than that, and it is praised as one of the best gambling destinations worldwide.

Monte Carlo has four main casinos, including the world’s oldest - Casino de Monte-Carlo, founded in 1863. Up next, there are Casino Café de Paris, Sun Casino, and Monte-Carlo Bay Casino, with all four properties providing visitors with an unmatched experience.

Similarly to London, Monte Carlo focuses on exclusivity and old-world luxury. Yet, the casinos are happy to cater to the mass market even if they host the occasional Hollywood production. There is no single data point about the gross gaming revenue generated by casinos in Monte Carlo, with individual numbers available for some casinos.

However, casino revenue is often very closely reported with other entertainment revenue, which makes it hard to pinpoint the exact numbers. Monte Carlo attracts around 330,000 international tourists every year.

8. Sydney, Australia

Sydney is home to some of the very best casinos in Australia, with the Star Sydney and Crown Sydney, hailed as the country’s flagship brick-and-mortar venues. The two properties are slightly different, as The Star Sydney features a mix of slot games and table games, whereas Crown Sydney has a more exclusive feel, focusing on 160+ table games only.

Although both properties have faced intensified regulatory scrutiny, they are expected to continue operating, with The Star holding a license through 2041, which is the reason why Crown Sydney cannot offer pokies – as slot machines are called in Australia.

Australian gross gambling turnover hit $164.3m in 2022-23. Overall, casinos in New South Wales are Australia’s biggest and best known, and they offer a mix of services to cater to any taste – whether you want to play the pokies or want to sit in a private lobby and enjoy a high-stakes game of baccarat.

9. Reno, Nevada

Reno is another gambling destination to explore in the United States. It is arguably one of the biggest gambling cities by virtue of the fact that people who visit often do not enjoy its rustic charm, but rather – focus on the available casino games.

As such, Reno tries to differentiate its range, providing local players with affordable gameplay, while also offering various betting ranges. You will find budget options as well as high-stakes table games. The city offers more than 20 excellent casino establishments, among which are Peppermill Resort Spa Casino, Grand Sierra Resort and Casino, and Silver Legacy Resort & Casino.

The city itself hosts more than 14,000 slot machines, and runs both sports betting as well as other table games to ensure a one-of-a-kind experience for everyone interested

10. Detroit, USA

Detroit is deservedly one of the biggest gambling cities in the world, with The Motor City playing host to three worthwhile establishments. Those are the MGM Grand Detroit, MotorCity Casino Hotel, and Hollywood CasinoatGreektown, featuring thousands of slot machines and table games.

The casinos were opened from 1999 through 2000 and have been a fixture in the gambling landscape of the United States. In 2024, the casinos paid $264.8m in city wagering taxes to Detroit, making for a significant boost to the local economy.

Collectively, the casinos offer more than 6,000 slot machines, along with table games such as roulette, poker, and baccarat to local and out-of-state visitors.