Last Updated On 17 July 2024, 8:10 AM EDT (Toronto Time)

When Canadians travel abroad, they often put major hallmarks of the countries they visit on their list. These include concert halls, parks, and grand pieces of architecture in general that are worth seeing when travelling the world. And, a bit surprisingly, some of the best pieces of architecture around the world are major casino venues.

Even if you’re not a casino fan, seeing a venue set in a historic building in Europe is a must. Casinos are often set in attractive locations, and they spare no expenses to show grandeur. In this guide, we’ll walk you through some of the grandest casinos around the world that should be on your travel itinerary.

The Sands, Macau

The Sands in Macau was the first ever Vegas property opened in the area back in 2004. When it opened, it was one of the largest casino venues in the world. The casino spreads over an area of 229,000 square feet and is purely focused on casino action. This is one of the casinos you visit simply for the size of it, as there are many better-looking venues on the list.

Action in The Sands in Macau is top-notch, almost on par with live casino games at Casino Days. Live casinos are a great way to enjoy the atmosphere of top land-based casinos such as Macau. They’re much more impressive from a technical point of view, and offer reasonable limits for new and experienced players. But, if you’re planning on visiting Macau, you shouldn’t miss the chance of hitting The Sands.

The Mirage, Las Vegas

If you want to see the most luxurious casinos in the world, you should visit Las Vegas. One of the most iconic venues in Sin City is undoubtedly the Mirage. The famed building triggered a building boom in Vegas in the 1990s. It was developed by famed architect Joel Bergman, and remains a hallmark of casino architecture around the world.

It’s notable for its 3 wings with interactive panels that show the casino’s attractions. It’s not skimping on luxury inside either. You can play hundreds of slot machines and table games if you decide to spend your money. These games offer an immersive experience like no other. They work better because you’re surrounded by the sights and sounds of a real Vegas casino as well as the pairing of trees and stone. The Mirage is certainly a one-of-a-kind casino that you must visit.

Make sure to do it soon – the casino will be closing its doors near the end of 2024 since it’s being converted to a Hard Rock Casino resort. Oh, and per Nevada law, its accumulated $1.6 million jackpot must be paid out before the casino shuts its doors for the last time. Maybe now’s the right time to visit this beautiful piece and have some fun on the slots.

The Wynn, Macau

The Wynn Casino Resort in Macau is not to be confused with the Wynn Palace in the same place. Similar to the Wynn Resort in Las Vegas, the Macau location oozes class. It’s got that distinct glass interior and shape, and being located on the waterfront, it’s one of the most unique pieces of casino architecture you’ll find in the region.

It’s one of the largest hotels in Macau, with deluxe rooms and classy interiors that perfectly show what the Wynn has to offer. It’s not lacking on the casino floor, with hundreds of slot machines and table games. It has the best poker room in Macau if you feel like testing your skills. If you’re visiting Asia and looking for the grandest casinos, this one should be atop your list.

City of Dreams, Macau

Macau is trying to outdo Vegas when it comes to luxury and draw a huge crowd of players in. It has been successful since the Asian Sin City has been breathing down Vegas’ neck for the past decade. It has a lot to thank to iconic architecture which you can see in casinos such as City of Dreams. This casino is located in the Wynn Palace, and has a distinct modern look and feel which extends to the hotel rooms.

The resort is known as CoD Macau and is the 3^rd largest mega-casino in the world. The whole property includes 3 separate casinos, 4 hotels, 5 hotel towers, and a total of 175,000 sq. feet of retail space. This comes in addition to over 2,200 hotel rooms, and thousands of available slot machines and table games.

Video walls, multimedia projections, and an 8 m. bubble fountain on the entrance are the main attractions. On top of that, many of the hotel rooms are as high-tech as it gets, where most of the features are controlled via iPads. It’s a perfect proof of classy contemporary design and high-class interior which makes it a great pick for Canadians travelling abroad.

MGM Grand, Las Vegas

The MGM Grand building is one of the most iconic sights of Las Vegas. Similar to the Mirage, it has a few wings that light up in green during the night to illuminate the hotel in a great way. It comes in addition to the iconic lion entrance which features a statue of the king of the jungle. There was a much larger lion’s head on the entrance which saw players entering the casino via the lion’s mouth. However, Asian players saw it as bad luck and complained, which resulted in the demolition of this entrance and building a new iconic Leo the Lion statue.

Exterior banners often promote entertainment shows which take place in the MGM Grand. It’s one of the most iconic locations in Vegas you must visit.

The Venetian, Macau

If you’re ever in Macau, you must not miss The Venetian. Located right on the Cotai Strip, it’s the largest casino in the world and the largest single hotel structure in Asia. It features over 3,000 hotel suits, thousands of games on the casino floor, and even a sports arena with 15,000 seats.

Similar to its Vegas cousin, you can take gondola trips around the structure as one of the most popular leisure activities. It’s truly a sight to see modeled after Venice that will leave have your jaw drop from all the grandeur.

Sidak Singh Dhanoa

I am a born Canadian citizen and growing daily with my content on INC – Immigration News Canada, developing into an empathetic person and knowing the other side of the story. Born in Toronto, exploring Canada from coast to coast, embracing the nomadic lifestyle.