Casinos have never been venues for just gambling. Even the early days, underground illicit ones were more than that; they were places to network. Today, they’re a little more inclusive, and their broad appeal has made them an entertainment hub.
While online casinos compete on who has the best promotions and most payment methods, physical casinos have much more scope for differentiation. When provided with a canvas to build a multi-million dollar entertainment hub, there has been a tendency to go all-in on aesthetics. The result has been a mixture of sophisticated architecture to obnoxious theme parks - and everything in between. This article looks at a handful of the most striking casinos, where their essence is just as much in the building as it is on the tables and slots.
Casino de Monte Carlo
Monaco's Monte Carlo district has a long history, not just in gambling but also the Grand Prix. The Casino de Monte Carlo, which you may know from its appearances in James Bond, was established in 1863. For reference, this is only two years after Monaco was founded.
It was designed by Charles Garnier, who was also the architect behind the Paris Opera House. The casino has Beaux-Arts façade with many Corinthian columns. Its domed roof has become a regal icon, along with its well-kept front gardens which only adds to the atmosphere of elegance. Crystal chandeliers and many intricate designs are all around the building, making it feel a mix between a museum and a state manor house.
Luxor Casino
The Luxor Casino in Las Vegas may not be quite as sophisticated as the Monte Carlo, but it stand unapologetically as a postmodern mod to ancient Egypt - a culture that has become widespread within online casino gaming. The casino opened in the early 90s and is 30 stories of black glass pyramid. It can look absurd on first glance, but it is an architectural marvel nonetheless. Designed by Veldon Simpson, the exterior is pretty much a replica (but bigger) of the Sphinx at the entrance. Its interior? Egyptian-themed artifacts and statues.
The Luxor is home to the world’s largest atrium (by volume), so it is historic in its own right. There are many thousands of slot machines and gaming tables around. Its most iconic feature is perhaps the Luxor Sky Beam, which is outside of the building, but shone from its pointed roof. In fact, this light show is visible from many, many miles away, and even attracts wildlife from afar.
The Venetian
The Venetian is an interesting casino in Las Vegas that transports visitors to the Renaissance era in Venice. It has impressive recreations of Venetian landmarks, such as St. Mark’s Square and the Rialto Bridge. In fact, it was so popular that it also got built in Macau, too, ten years later. Both appear architecturally similar.
All around it are man-made canals, but what’s truly impressive is its size. Inside the Macau version, it spans ten million square feet. It was designed by HKS, Inc., and its architecture was essentially to blend Venetian Gothic style with modern luxury.
Marina Bay Sands
Marina Bay Sands in Singapore is a casino that is mostly recognizable by anyone, even if they’re uninterest in casinos. It redefined modern architecture with its futuristic design by Moshe Safdie.
The structure was completed in 2010 at a cost of almost $7 billion. It has three 55-story towers which are connected by the SkyPark— this is the name given to the rooftop oasis with an infinity pool.
The design was inspired by a house of cards. The structure has sleek curves everywhere with no sharp edges, making it bold in its engineering feats. The casino itself has the world’s largest atrium gaming floor with several thousand slot machines and table games. Of course, the building is also a resort of shopping outlets, theatres and many other amenities.
Morpheus Casino
The Morpheus Casino in Macau is truly spectacular, and it’s a building many haven’t seen before. Its avant-garde architecture was designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. It was only recently completed in 2018 and is a 40 story hotel-casino and its main feature is its exoskeleton design, along with geometric voids that create dramatic urban windows. The voids are geometrically heterogeneous, making it feel even more bespoke and unique.
Its futuristic aesthetic isn’t the end of the story. Inside is a luxurious interior that has various gaming salons for high rollers and around 500 gaming tables. The central atrium spans the height of the building and connects its two towers through sky bridges.
Conclusion
Clearly, there’s a lot of money in gambling. Specifically, brick-and-mortar, resort-style gambling not only attracts, and to some degree is subsidized by, high rollers, but also has a hotel revenue stream too. Because of the cash flow potential, lots of money has been placed on the architecture as a means to pull people in. After all, how else are you supposed to decide which one to choose for your vacation?
