Most people choose summer as the time for their holiday, but during the winter period we like to take a little break from writing online casino reviews for you.
And there are many advantages to taking a break later in the year – you escape the chill, there are less people to bother you, and it’s a chance to have a Christmas to remember.
Having fun is one of the most important things while you’re on holiday. There’s nothing as fun than games, and what could be more fun than games where you can win some money?
That’s why we recommend that you take a winter gambling vacation this year and we’ve picked the top ten places you should visit!
Winter vacation 1: Las Vegas, USA
Las Vegas is the place to be for gambling fun. It’s a city where the fear and loathing of making a loss can be dusted down, served a tall drink, and sat at the poker table to place a bet among the stars of the game. But is Las Vegas still the place to be during the winter? You bet.
There are 130 casinos in Las Vegas, with something for every type of gambler. Whether you’re looking for sports, poker, baccarat, slots, or something else, you’ll find it in Vegas. With so many gambling venues to pick from, the hardest part is deciding where to bet – we recommend you try these Vegas casinos first and then let intuition be your guide:
Whatever the time of year, there’s somewhere to gamble in Vegas. Indeed, even during the winter chill, casinos are bustling with punters from across the globe.
Winter vacation 2: Salzburg, Austria
Gambling may not be the first thing on your mind when we tell you to visit Salzburg. If you’re a sports fan you’ll think of watching the football team (Red Bull), and if you’re fond of culture you’ll imagine seeing Altstadt’s medieval and Baroque architecture. But Salzburg has some great casinos, making it perfect for a winter gambling vacation.
Casino Salzburg is the highlight of Austrian gambling. It’s set in a gorgeous, Baroque castle-palace, making it one of the most regal betting venues you could ever visit. You truly have to see it to understand its magnificence. But the beauty of Casino Salzburg is more than skin deep – you’ll love the sheer variety of roulette, poker, baccarat, and blackjack on offer.
Winter vacation 3: Prague, Czech Republic
Prague is renowned for its incredible architecture, excellent beer, and local love for heavy metal. But it also has another reputation as the stag capital of the world. Prague rolls out the red carpet for people looking to enjoy some debauchery and mischief — and that includes gambling.
While its city centre isn’t huge, Prague is no chore to get around and many of its casinos are all very close to each other. Atrium, Ambassador, Forbes, Viva, ARBES, and Magic Planet are a stone’s throw away from one another. After you’ve tried your hand at some of the great games on offer (all the classics are there), we recommend a stroll on the stunning Charles Bridge.
Winter vacation 4: Venice, Italy
If Venice is known for one thing above all others it’s gondolas. Indeed, it’s the reason around 20 million people visit there every year. But Venice isn’t only famous for its boat rides – it’s also home to Europe’s oldest casino, Casino di Venezia.
Casino di Venezia has been in operation since 1638, less than 30 years after William Shakespeare died. While it’s a casino steeped in history, there’s far more to Venice’s top gambling spot – there’s EZ Baccarat, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, roulette, slots, and so much more.
Winter vacation 5: Helsinki, Finland
Formerly part of Russia, Finland has many treats of its own – 39 national parks, Santa’s office in Rovaniemi, Lapland, Moomins, and more saunas than there are people (probably). There’s too much to see in this tiny nation to squash into one vacation, so we recommend you visit its capital, Helsinki.
Helsinki has sights and fun galore, including the cathedral, Esplanadi (known locally as “Espa”), Temppeliaukio church, Linnanmäki, and the brilliant Flow Festival in August. But there’s also Casino Helsinki, a little known gambling venue with lots to offer.
Casino Helsinki is open from lunchtime till 4am, with blackjack, roulette, Russian poker, slots, punto banco, and blackjack among the many games you can play. It’s an unexpected highlight for gamblers from a faraway land.
Credit: Flickr
Winter vacation 6: San Juan, Puerto Rico
Everyone enjoys a Caribbean holiday. Fun, sun, and lying on their tum on gorgeous beaches — what’s not to love? There are many great places to take a vacation in the Caribbean, but we’re picking San Juan in Puerto Rico. It has all the warmth you demand from the Carribean, along with a thriving gambling culture.
There are some incredible casinos in San Juan, with highlights including Ritz Carlton Stellaris Casino, and San Juan Casino and Spa. But our personal pick is Antiguo Casino. Not only does it have all the games you could ask for, but it’s also steeped in history — it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.
Winter vacation 7: London, England
London: city of smoke, sporting history, the West End, and home to Her Majesty the Queen. There are too many great reasons to visit London to cram into one article. But first and foremost, it’s a perfect winter vacation and gambling destination for gamblers.
Winter is about wrapping up warm, drinking hot chocolate, and staying inside, right? Nonsense — it’s about having fun. There’s more mischief to be had in the dark, and gamblers can have plenty of fun in the many great casinos in London – we advise that you try them all, because they’re each brilliant in their own way.
Winter vacation 8: Goa, India
Goa has a very different take on the Hinduism spiritualism that India is known for. Instead of having 33 supreme gods Goa has just one, fun – well, that and gamblor, the neon clawed god of gambling.
Goa has night-long beach parties, stunning sands, impeccable resorts, and over ten casinos for you to gamble at, with some truly delightful floating casinos that are worth visiting.
While there are many great casinos in Goa, it has to be a floating one that gets our recommendation, and we’re picking Casino Pride 2 Floating Casino Goa. Just make sure you’re 21 if you want to experience its full gaming delights.
Winter vacation 9: Nassau, Bahamas
We’re such fans of the joys that you get from a Caribbean holiday that we’ve added Nassau, from the Bahamas to our list. Not only does it offer everything that’s so wonderful about the Caribbean, but it also has a casino that plays host to the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure.
Atlantis is the venue for PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, one of the biggest events in the poker calendar, and it’s no surprise – it has more than 85 table games and 700 slots. And if that wasn’t reason enough for gamblers to go, there’s also a chance that you’ll bump into a true star of the poker world – like Andrew Neeme.
Winter vacation 10: Niagara Falls, New York (USA) & Ontario (Canada)
Straddling the two great North American nations of Canada and the USA, Niagara Falls is a natural wonder – 3,160 tons of water flows over the enormous waterfall every second.
Millions of people visit this great sight every year, but it’s not only perfect for nature lovers. With casinos on both sides of its border and frosty winter climes, Niagara Falls is also perfect for a winter gambling vacation.
On the US side you’ll find Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino, which has been praised by gamblers for its “outstanding” service and features slots table, games, poker, and keno among its games.
Fallsview Casino is Canada’s Niagaran gift to gamblers and it’s a real treat – it fits 3,000 slots and video poker machines, 130 table games (including baccarat, blackjack, roulette, and craps), and a poker room into its 200,000 square feet operation.
Credit: Flickr
You might have spotted that we cheated a little – yes, Niagara Falls is one place, but it’s in two cities. So, we’ve given you 11 great places to take a winter gambling vacation. There’s a great mix of cultures, traditions, and fun things to do. But all these different destinations have the same thing in common – they’re perfect for gamblers.
