When you think of casinos, the first thing that comes to most peoples’ minds is typically, “Sin City,” Las Vegas, Nevada. The sheer number of casinos crammed into one town definitely puts the destination on the map. But what about the biggest casino in the world?
The modern age of the internet and explosion of technology has also put a bit of a new spin on this question. With the advent of online casinos and the massive number of games they offer, players they attract, and options they have, can online casinos compete for “biggest”?
Let’s run the numbers and find out.
Land-based behemoths
Size matters, right? Well, when we’re talking about the world’s largest land-based casinos, there are a few factors that come into play. The physical size of the building (overall square footage) is one aspect to consider, but also the sheer number of games offered, as well as the gross revenue the casinos bring in.
The casinos in these buildings are just the beginning, however. These colossal structures house thousands of games, beautiful resorts, shopping centers, restaurants, golf courses, nightclubs, sports lounges, pools, and spas. From one exquisite plaza to the next, you’ll think you were in a complete city, rather than a single structure.
Square footage
Macau, the Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China is home to The Venetian Macau which is the largest casino-resort in the world, the largest single structure hotel building in Asia, and also the seventh-largest building in the world by floor area. With 10,500,000 square feet (980,000 m2) of floor space, The Venetian Macau is modeled on its sister casino resort The Venetian Las Vegas.
Technically, The Venetian Macau only has 546,000 square feet of floor area, with the remainder of the space dedicated to the hotel, shopping areas, and other entertainment activities. The true winner for the largest dedicated casino space in the world is actually the WinStar World Casino in Oklahoma, USA with a whopping 600,000 square footage total.
Number of games
The WinStar World Casino tops the list again with its extensive offering of games. Blowing its rivals out of the water, it boasts more than 7,000 gaming machines, around 100 table games, 800-capacity bingo hall, and non-smoking poker room.
Runner-up to WinStar, The Venetian Macau, showcases more than 6,000 slot machines and 800 gaming tables, as well as four themed gambling areas.
Highest grossing
Despite the glitz, glamour, and international renown of Las Vegas, you might be surprised to know that not a single one of the casinos in Las Vegas ranks among the top ten highest-grossing casinos in the world. So, which casinos actually bring in the most cash?
According to a report from the GBGC (Global Betting and Gaming Consultants), all of the world’s top-grossing casinos are in Asia, with 8 of the top 10 highest earners in Macau.
The number one for gross income is the Galaxy Macau, a palatial paradise that drips luxury. It’s vast grounds, gaming offerings, and luxurious surroundings made the Galaxy Macau the most successful casino in the world, in terms of revenue. In 2014, it brought in $5.85 billion dollars.
Online titans
For gambling enthusiasts out there who like to play virtually, there is a huge world of opportunity to win big in online casinos. It’s a tough call when looking for the australian pokies app for real money brand. Not everyone has the same opinion. But the numbers never lie.
The world’s largest online casinos are held and traded by the London Stock Exchange, the Toronto Stock Exchange, and the Stockholm Stock Exchange. Comprising billions in annual profits, tens of thousands of online games, and tens of thousands of employees, the online titans are giving traditional, land-based casinos a run for their money.
SlotsMillion, CasinoGods, LeoVegas, and 888 are some of the best options for online gambling, with thousands of games to choose from, secure payment and payouts, easy registration, and some of the best bonus programs in existence.
Number of games
Quantity and variety of gaming offerings truly make online casinos untouchable with a number of online brands each, including jackpot slots, live casino, poker, blackjack, bingo, sports betting, and social and mobile gaming platforms.
Highest grossing
A pioneer of the online gaming scene, in 2017, 888 Holdings (located in Gibraltar) wowed the world with net revenue of $540 million and a market cap of $1.15 billion. The slightly bigger kids on the block, in terms of online casinos, are The Stars Group, Kindred Group, GVC Holdings, and Flutter (formerly Paddy Power Betfair) — all boasting net earnings of more than $1 billion in 2017.
Play big, win big
Regardless of whether you play at a land-based casino or online, the big winners here are the players. With literally tens of thousands of games to choose from, incredible bonuses and incentives, luxury accommodations and activities, and a huge range of withdrawal and deposit options, there is no lack of fantastic perks when it comes to gambling, whether in-person or online.