Top 10 Weirdest Casinos in the World

In September 2012, Viejas Casino in Southern California entered the world record books for building the largest functioning blackjack table in the world. How awesome is that? But that is little compared to some of the unique and bizarre things you will experience at some brick-and-mortar casinos.

For a long time, casinos have broadened the scope of gambling entertainment. Now, along with their table games and slot machines, they excite players through their unique building designs, structural add-ons and special offerings. 

While some casinos are situated in naturally strange locations like the Esperanza Base in Antarctica, others are built with unique and crazy designs to attract tourists at first sight, such as the City of Dreams in Macau.

Irrespective of where these unique casinos are located; Las Vegas strip, Asia,  Macau, or your street, one thing is certain; when you step into them, you will feel as if you have been whisked away into a new world. 

If you are looking for an unusual casino getaway, then get ready to be amazed by our list of the top ten strangest casinos in the world. 

10. City of Dreams, Macau

[Source: retailnews.asia] 

The City of Dreams was opened in 2009 in Macau Cotai. The impressive edifice sprawls over 420,000 feet of gaming space with several eye-popping features, including a dancing water theatre, an aquarium, and a bubble fountain. Thousands of slot machines and many table games adorn its gaming rooms. 

However, as magnificent as the City of Dreams is, its present-day establishment was not the initial plan of its operators. 

The City of Dreams was meant to be the world's first underwater casino. Its investors had plans to make the complex casino subaquatic, in the sense that you would be able to gamble and stay in fascinating hotel rooms under the water. Sadly, they couldn't achieve this goal. 

But still, the City of Dreams retains its special appeal and will certainly give you a one-of-a-kind gambling experience.

9. Desert Cave Australia

[Source: uniqhotels.com]

Desert Cave Hotel is located in Coober Pedy, northern South Australia, 846 km from the city of Adelaide. The town is famous for precious opals and underground establishments, especially the Desert Cave Hotel.

Formerly the location of an old opal mine, Desert Cave Hotel, is carved out of the rocky desert landscape. The casino offers you an unforgettable gambling experience, that is, if you can withstand the heat and the limited space. 

Like the rest of the town, almost everything in Desert Cave is under the desert; its rooms, bar, and renowned gaming room filled with about 12 video poker machines. You can also play table games like Blackjack and online slots. While Desert Cave may not be glamorous, it easily qualifies for a bizarre casino. It is an ideal location for anyone looking for an unusual gambling experience. 

8. Rivers Casino, USA

[Source: tripadvisor.com] 

The story behind Rivers Casino is bizarre and funny. It clearly expresses man's ingenuity to beat the system. In 2011, not many states in the US had favourable casino gambling laws, especially Illinois. 

The law stated at that time that casinos within the state must operate on water. In fact, they must set sail before they start conducting their gambling businesses for the day. As such, the limited number of available gambling establishments were riverboat casinos.

To comply with this strange gaming law, Rivers Casino operators did the unthinkable; They built the casino on a shallow area of water! Ironically, this strategy enabled the casino to qualify as a riverboat and was allowed to offer gambling services in the state.

Conveniently located near Chicago's downtown and O'Hare International Airport, Rivers Casino is a favourite destination for locals and travellers. Guests can play over 1000 slot machines and traditional table games, including poker, blackjack, baccarat and roulette.

In 2019, Illinois legislators ditched the law and issued its first land-based gambling licence to Rivers Casino. However, the casino has not stopped using the "built on a puddle" line as its marketing strategy. Why? That's what drives the crowd! 

7. Casino di Venezia

[Source: architecturaldigest.com]

How does it feel to play in a casino that has survived centuries? One that has existed before more than half of the countries in the world today? A casino where people have hit it big and lost their bankroll for hundreds of years? Only one casino can give you this experience; it's the oldest casino in the world, Casino di Venezia, in Venice, Italy. 

While this gambling destination doesn't share the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas casinos, its charm is in its age and historical importance. Opened in 1638, Casino di Venezia is located on the largest canal in Venice, the Grand Canal. Its old-school Italian architectural design and priceless interior decorations tell its rich history.

The casino has been featured in various Venice Film Festival events and Hollywood movies, including Casino Royale. As exquisite as this venue is, Casino di Venezia still welcomes visitors from around the world. You can play a long list of casino games like blackjack, poker, roulette, etc.

The casino has a free boat shuttle service that ferries guests to its front doors. Casino di Venezia is surely one location a gambler must visit before they die. 

6. Casino Pyongyang

[Source: nknews.org]

When North Korea rings a bell in our hearts, it isn't really for entertainment, especially gambling. But then you will be surprised to know that the restrictive country is home to two casinos. One of them is Casino Pyongyang. 

The casino is located in the basement of the Yanggakdo International Hotel in Pyongyang. It features a selection of real-money casino tables and slots that players can access every night until 3 am local time every day.

However, this casino isn't like your normal Las Vegas gambling establishment. Under North Korea's harsh gambling laws, locals cannot gamble online or at any of the two land-based casinos in the country.

As such, the casino only offers gaming entertainment to tourists, especially the Chinese. 

Since North Koreans are not allowed within the casino's premises, its workforce consists mainly of foreigners, especially people from friendly countries. 

5. X-train Las Vegas

[Source: reviewjournal.com]

X-train is one of the most surprising innovations that came out of Las Vegas. The concept takes the phrase "gambling on the go" to a new level. The X-train aims to excite your typical rail journey with an awesome gambling experience.

It features casino tables in carriages, a fully-stocked bar and restaurant, and large screens showing sports games. 

This is surely one train ride you will never forget in your life. 

But don't be quick to go to the station though, because this train is not operational yet. It has been in the works for around 12 years, and the great news is that it will be launched soon. 

This amazing gambling train will cost you $500 in ticket fees, with free food and drinks in the mix. 

4. Casino Jet Lounge, France

[Source: edition.cnn.com]

Operators have continued to push the boundaries with surprising gambling concepts like the Casino Jet Lounge. Designed by Airjet Designs and Designescence, Casino Jet Lounge is a passenger aircraft fitted with a functioning casino. 

Right in the jet's forward section, you can play card games like poker and blackjack. It also features a local bar and a designated section where you can chat with other players on the plane. 

The fun in this idea is that a game round starts when the plane is in the air. While taking off, landing or experiencing turbulence, the casino area is shut to protect the safety of players. 

However, this stellar gambling experience is mainly open to VIP players who can afford to wager about £30,000.

3. Taxi Cab Casino

[Source: birminghammail.co.uk]

This is perhaps the smallest casino you will ever come across. As its name implies, Taxi Cab casino is a mini-casino in a British black cab. 

The gambling house on wheels boasts a blackjack table, TVs screening sports, a bar and internet gambling facilities. In the car's back seat, you can play a blackjack hand with a real dealer. However, roulette isn't part of the options available because of the car's limited space.

The Taxi Cab casino was set up by Grosvenor Casino in 2016 to promote its "play your way" campaign in celebration of the summer of sport. Passengers can get free rides to any nearby Hill Street Casino or other parts of the city for a voluntary donation to Carers Trust, the casino's chosen charity. 

Unfortunately, you won't be able to hail down this diesel gambling house anymore. After touring several cities, the taxi cab casino was discontinued. 

2. Esperanza Base, Antarctica

[Source: oceanwide-expeditions.com]

Antarctica is not known to harbour much, partly because it is one of the remotest locations in the world. However, the region is home to ice animals and several countries' research stations. 

Where there are people, you can be sure that there will be a quest for entertainment. In the case of Argentinian scientists, the solution is in the form of a community centre in their Esperanza Base. 

While the centre offers other entertainment, its most popular attraction is a casino. Featuring some table games, the casino serves the gambling needs of about 60 individuals living on the Base. 

Tourists are also welcome to play in the small and unusual casino. So, if your vacation ever takes you to Antarctica, don't forget to visit Esperanza Base for a few gaming rounds.

1. Prison Casino, Nevada, USA

[Source: nevadastateprison.org]

Today, penitentiaries offer a lot of rehabilitation services to inmates, but gambling is not one of them. However, Nevada State Prison was once home to one of the strangest casinos in the world, and it operated for 35 years (1932-1967). The casino allowed inmates to gamble on various table games like blackjack, craps, and poker with tokens.

Prisoners were not allowed to exchange the tokens for cash. However, they could use them to buy candy and tobacco at the food canteen. Prison authorities oversaw the gambling operations and considered it a good distraction and source of entertainment for the prisoners.

Interestingly the casino was also open to locals and tourists. However, visitors have to follow the strict engagement laws of the prison for everyone’s safety. 

In 1967, a bill outlawing prison casinos was passed, which led to the closure of the casino in the same year. While it no longer exists, the site of the casino is now a museum and popular tourist attraction.
Conclusion 
From the icy plains of Antarctica to the rocky landscape of Australia, these casinos offer you more than standard slots and table games. While they may not give you the glitz and glamour you are used to in Las Vegas,  they should nevertheless be on your gambling bucket list for at least a one-time experience.