WET BETS
4/27/2007 10:32:35 AM by Sandy Lindsey
We bet on what we consider to be the best waterfront casinos in the world — one for every inhabitable continent and every corner of the Caribbean. We bet you’ll have the time of your life — and hopefully leave with enough money to continent-hop to one of the other gambling meccas we recommend.
NORTH AMERICA
Beau Rivage
875 Beach Blvd.
Biloxi, Mississippi
BeauRivage.com
Nestled along the scenic Gulf Coast in Biloxi, Mississippi, the Beau Rivage could easily claim the motto: “You can’t keep a good casino down.” Despite being devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, as of August 2006, the casino is back and truly better than ever. The completely enhanced architecture and interior design combines a contemporary décor with the expected Southern charm and stately elegance of the area. The redesigned casino floor now boasts a new poker room, state-of-the-art gaming, and an improved, yet still exclusive high-limits section. Thousands of plants and flowers bring the abundance of the South into the impressive lobby and atrium. The completely redone 1,740 guest rooms, including 95 deluxe suites, all feature a contemporary yet cozy feel with 32-inch LCD flat-screen televisions and the amenities required of a AAA Four Diamond resort. Golfers will be thrilled with the Tom Fazio Fallen Oak Golf Course.
The resort’s 85,00-square-foot casino is a city in and of itself with 2,100 slot machines, 230 videopoker games, 93 table games including a two-tiered poker room with 16 tables and regularly scheduled tournaments. The room features not only the expected blackjack, roulette and baccarat, but a high-limit slot room with 100 machines, a private buffet, separate cashier and round-the-clock concierge. Dining options include everything from celebrity chef Todd English’s famed Mediterranean cuisine, to a steakhouse with a 3,500-bottle wine collection, all the way down to classic American sandwiches and a gourmet coffee shop.
Top entertainment is a given with the headliner list including such luminaries as Jay Leno, Tony Bennett, Sinbad, Kenny G., LeAnn Rimes, Olivia Newton-John, Michael Bolton, Howie Mandel, The Blue Man Group, The Four Tops, The Temptations, The Beach Boys, Ray Romano and Brad Garrett, Kenny Rogers and Julio Iglesias, to name a few. Every seat is a good one in the 1,550-seat theater with its $1 million, high-tech sound and lighting system. The complex has just about everything one could want on-site including a spa and salon that provides personalized service for everything from wraps and massages to facials and eyelash extensions, all with expansive views of the striking waters of the Gulf of Mexico. This wholly-owned subsidiary of MGM Mirage opened in 1999 at a cost of $800 million, and just completed its post-Katrina renovation at a cost of an additional $550 million.
SOUTH AMERICA
Conrad Hotel & Casino
Avenida Barritz y Artigas
Parada 4, Punta del Este, Uruguay
ConradHotels1.Hilton.com
Las Vegas comes to Uruguay at the Conrad Hotel & Casino. Facing popular LaMansa Beach, the Conrad International Punta del Este is the hottest casino resort in the region. A mere 35 minutes from Buenos Aires by airplane and a couple of hours south of Sao Paulo, Brazil, the resort offers open terraces with ocean views that make the most of its prime waterfront location. The heart of the complex is the casino and showrooms that form the basis for Punta del Este’s booming nightlife. In addition to high-end gaming, the casino offers everything from fashion shows to Las Vegas-style reviews, dance performances, magic shows, and of course, the stunning, action-packed casino floor. Five restaurants offer a wide selection of international cuisine from the private St. Tropez restaurant which is famous for its Mediterranean and Southeastern Coast cuisine down to poolside barbeque. Knowing that one cannot gamble 24/7, the hotel and casino offer challenging golf, two lit tennis courts, horseback riding, water-skiing and scuba diving. There’s also an excellent health club with top-notch personal trainers. The upscale hotel has 302 rooms of which 24 are lavish suites. All these features combine to pack the Conrad with an international jet-set during the “season.” The Miss Uruguay contest has been held on-site.
EUROPE
Casino de Monte Carlo
Place du Casino
MC 98000, Monaco
Casino-Monte-Carlo.com
Across the pond — as the English would say — from the waterfront casinos is the venerable Casino de Monte Carlo Square. If Monte Carlo is known for glamour, and it is, the casino square is a huge boon to that image. Built in 1863 and designed by master architect Charles Garnier, the awe-inspiring architecture is crafted around an atrium paved in marble and encircled by 28 onyx columns. Behind the “Salle Garnier,” a red-and-gold Italianate theatre is an exact miniature replica of the Opera in Paris that features top performances annually. Further along, one comes to the magnificent gaming rooms, which are highlighted by artesian stained-glass windows, classic sculptures and priceless allegorical paintings. Additionally, the Casino Square features top-name luxury boutiques to spend winnings at the world-famous Casino Gardens & Terraces, which overlook the sea. Even non-flower lovers will find the terraces an elegant respite from the crowds of tourists that the square attracts. A path leads down to the sea, with its selection of superyachts of the rich and famous who are in town, as well as the Grimaldi Forum and the National Museum. The gaming here is as dramatic as the surroundings. European roulette, English roulette, trente et quarante, chemin de fer, banque a deux tableau, punto banco, and blackjack are the popular highlights. At the high-stakes end, don’t be surprised to see world-traveling celebrities and a royal or two. The Sun Casino, which opened in 1975, shows a distinct American influence, and attracts elegant players interested in blackjack, American roulette and craps. The room, which has been featured in several movies, also hosts, along with the main room, 300 slot machines and the Grand Jackpot, including the “Colossus” — the largest gaming machine in the country. In 2001, the Sun Casino underwent renovation that included new circus-themed décor. Fittingly so, as this place is without a doubt “The Greatest Show on Earth.”
AFRICA
Grand West Casino
1 Vanguard Drive,
Goodwood, Cape Town
South Africa
GrandWest.co.za
The Grand West Casino is the focal
point of the mammoth new Sun International Entertainment Center in Cape Town, South Africa. Just 20 minutes from the city center in the lush suburb of Goodwood, the Victorian-style casino features non-stop excitement in the form of 66 tables, American roulette, blackjack, poker, punto banco, African express and diamond rush. The main floor is literally covered with 1,750 SmartCard slot machines. Daily jackpots range up to an impressive two million rand, while the high-roller is treated to the deluxe amenities of Salon Privé, accessible 24/7. In addition to the exclusive casino, there’s a four-star hotel, haute restaurants, bistros, pubs, cinemas, as well as a top-notch jazz club, and, yes, an oversized ice-skating rink. Families are entertained by a wide selection of videogame machines, roller coasters, merry-go-rounds, and an authentic go-cart track.
THE CARIBBEAN
Ocean World
Marina & Casino
Cofresi, Puerto Plata
Dominican Republic
OceanWorldMarina.com
Boating right up to high-stakes gambling and sophisticated entertainment doesn’t get any more up-to-the-moment than at the brand-new $100 million Ocean World Marina & Casino complex that officially opened this past December. The luxe property, which is located on the north shore of the Dominican Republic three miles west of Puerto Plata in Cofresi, is adjacent to the famed Ocean World Adventure Park, making it an excellent family venue.
“There’s no question that Ocean World Marina, given its ideal location between the Turks & Caicos and Puerto Rico, has opened the way for more vessels to travel further within the Caribbean,” says Harry Raymond, general manager of Ocean World Marina. “Sportfishing boats now have a place to stop, refuel and buy supplies in this region for the first time,” he continues, adding that Ocean World Marina was especially designed to accommodate megayachts with dock space for yachts up to 250 feet. “We have already become a popular marina for both boat owners and their crew.”
But, of course, the main attraction is the opulent casino. “We are exceptionally proud of the entire extraordinary Ocean World complex,” says Stefan Meister, VP of Ocean World. “In addition to the glamorous casino, there is the world-class Bravissimo Show, gourmet restaurants, an exciting animal park where visitors can swim with dolphins and other marine life, live entertainment both day and night and much more. The Dominican Republic is an amazing destination where the tourism industry continues to grow.” From the minute you step off the dock, the four-story landmark casino impresses.
Breathtaking mosaics of dolphins, tropical fish and whales create the perfect backdrop for the five-star dining, lavish cocktail lounges, live music and gaming, all set to ocean views. The unique artwork includes sculptures of mermaids and mermen functioning as columns and the floor-to-ceiling aquarium of colorful tropical fish in the main lobby.
Isle of Capri Casino
Royal Palm Way
Lucaya, Grand Bahama Island
The Bahamas
IsleOfCapriCasino.com/Lucaya
The Bahamas are renowned for some of the best gaming in the world, yet the Isle of Capri Casino at Our Lucaya in Freeport, Grand Bahama, stands out even in this impressive crowd. A mere 55 miles off the coast of South Florida, the casino is part of the Starwood Westin and Sheraton Our Lucaya Beach, Golf & Casino resort complex. The well-appointed casino offers virtually non-stop action in the form of 350-plus slot machines, 49 video poker machines and 33 table games offering roulette, black jack, craps, three-card poker, Caribbean stud and mini-baccarat. In direct contrast to the fervent games of chance and skill, the pristine beaches offer clear tropical waters lapping gently at the shore. Since its subtle beginnings as a single riverboat along the Mississippi, the Isle of Capri chain, founded in 1992, has steadily grown to incorporate 13 casinos in 11 locations in the Bahamas, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi and Missouri, as well as the Pompano Park Harness Track. By using the IsleOne Card while gaming, players can also get cash back in the form of five dollars for every 100 IsleOne Points, as well as receive coupons in the mail, earn free or discounted meals and prime seats for live entertainment. The IsleMiles reward portion of the program allows players to earn IsleMiles at any Isle of Capri Casino — five miles for every IsleOne point earned to be used toward a free vacation to this island paradise, Carnival Cruises and brand-name goods.
Stellaris Casino
L.G. Smith Blvd.101
Palm Beach, Aruba
StellarisCasino.com
All the best action at the Aruba Mariott Resort takes place in the celebrated Stellaris Casino. The largest casino on Aruba at 18,000 square feet, this place entices visitors to just step inside for the feel of true Las Vegas gambling. The exhilaration is highest at the 32 gaming tables offering craps, roulette, let-it-ride poker, three- and four-card poker, Caribbean stud poker and everyone’s favorite standby, blackjack. In addition, there are 500-plus state-of-the-art slot machines. Further interest is garnered by the popular weekly slot tournaments, blackjack tournaments and “Aruban Nights,” which is as much fun as it sounds. Live entertainment comes in the form of a variety of the most popular island bands and a crowded dance floor. Serious gamblers are accommodated at the high-stakes tables. As if all that wasn’t enough, the Aruba Mariott takes care of the upscale rooms and deluxe list of amenities on its 10 prime oceanfront acres.
ASIA
Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino
1 Salinas Drive
Lahug, Cebu City
6000 Philippines
WaterfrontHotels.net
Forget Japan. The new hotspot in Asian gaming is the Philippines. The Waterfront Cebu City Casino features Club Waterfront, sure to fulfill every yachtman’s dream of upscale international gaming, with big baccarat, mini baccarat, blackjack and roulette. The décor and service are geared to the discriminating world traveler. The mammoth Casino Filipino pays tribute, via its intricate décor, to the historic Filipino Town Plaza. Whether underneath the stars or in the daytime shadow of a skyscraper, the action is non-stop here. 
Choices include mini, midi, and big baccarat, blackjack, super six, pontoon, paige, stud poker, roulette, red/white, big/small and craps. This famous landmark property is in the center of the bustling Queen City of the South. In addition to the 24/7 casino, the building features 562 upscale guest rooms and plenty of dining options from dressy to casual to local and international cuisine.
AUSTRALIA
Jupiters Townsville
Hotel & Casino
Sir Leslie Thiess Drive
Townsville QLD 4810
JupitersTownsville.com.au
Jupiters Townsville Hotel & Casino is the perfect melding of the serenity of the sea with the excitement of high-stakes gambling. To make the most of the development’s unique location, the company constructed two balconies in 2006 that overlook the beautiful waters and yachts at the marina and scenic Magnetic Island. Inside the casino, it’s all “bright lights, big city” with continuous thrills in the form of blackjack, roulette, Texas hold ‘em, Caribbean stud poker, bacarrat, and the latest high-tech games available.
The casino is the nucleus of Townsville’s nightlife and is legendary throughout North Queensland. Townsville itself is the largest tropical city in Australia with 320 sunny days. Nearby attractions include the Great Barrier Reef Magnetic Island, Reef HQ Aquarium Museum, world-class diving, boat and jetski rentals, fishing trips, golf, horseback riding, gold mines and enough nightclubs to keep you partying ‘till sunrise.