The history of casinos and gambling dates to a thousand years back with the earliest gambling recorded in about 2300 BC in China. Moreover, there is evidence of an Egyptian dice which dates back to 1500 BC. Gambling has always been a favourite pastime in human history, although, it was still an illegal activity until the year 1638. Yes, there were gambling dens, halls and saloon bars for players to get together and play. Casino di Venezia, in Venice, Italy, was the first legalized casino that allowed players to enjoy gambling activities without getting into trouble with the authorities.

It was only in the late 18th and 19th centuries that the word ‘casino’ was coined, and this birthed some of the world’s most glamorous casinos in Europe. Extravagant palace-like buildings were built for the elite gamblers to fit in. These glamorous buildings consisted of luxury, entertainment, gambling events, high-end boutiques, shopping malls, top-class restaurants, five-star hotels, spas and cruise ships, to tug at your heart’s strings.

We know how costly it is to spend the night at one of the world’s most famous hotels and casinos. So, why not spend your Africa Millions’ R1,9 billion payout in one of these luxurious hotels and casinos?

1. The Kurhaus of Baden-Baden Casino, Germany

Not only is this one of the oldest casinos to date but it’s the most glamorous and luxurious! Marlene Dietrich, a German-American actress and singer in the 1980s, described The Karhaus as “the most beautiful casino in the world”. It is a spa resort, casino and conference – all in one. The casino is modelled after the royal French palaces and offers classic gambling like roulette, poker and blackjack. For relaxation, guests can visit the hotel’s casino’s spa, go on a tour of the famous Black Forest and visit the tourist destinations in Baden-Baden. Its conference centre is also known to host some of the most prominent international events like the Chess Tourney, Olympic Congress organised by the International Olympic Committee and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) summit.

2. The Bellagio Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas

This extravagant Las Vegas casino is about 116 000 sq. feet with Italian-themed interiors. The casino’s main attraction is the beautiful fountain situated just outside the hotel. Numerous water shows take place at this amazing fountain which keeps guests entertained and mesmerized throughout the day. For the first time in the Bellagio’s history, the water was set alight in the casino’s most recent water show display. This was done in honour of the season finale of the popular HBO series, The Game of Thrones. In addition to its long list of fame, the Bellagio Casino was also featured in the Ocean’s Eleven movie.

3. Hotel de Paris and Casino de Monte-Carlo, Monaco

You might have seen this breath-taking hotel in famous movies such as the animated Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted and the James Bond offerings like Never Say Never Again and GoldenEye, amongst others. Situated in Monaco, this 18th-century hotel is connected to the Casino de Monte by a short flight of stairs. Both venues are made for high rollers with millions to spend. Furthermore, the hotel is famous for its picturesque views of the Mediterranean Sea, the Prince’s Palace, casino hotel, private beach, the finest restaurants, F1 Grand Prix racetrack, historic landmarks, spas and many more. Although the hotel’s rooftop caught fire earlier this year, it is still reported amongst the top hotels with Casino de Monte Carlo a favourite to high rollers.

4. Sun City Resort and Casino, South Africa

As the saying goes “local is lekker”. This South African resort and casino is amongst the world’s most luxurious and expensive casinos in the world. Situated in Rustenburg, North West, Sun City Resort casinos include world-class salon privé at The Palace of the Lost City and Soho Hotel. Local and international high rollers get to take their gaming experience to a whole new level with the state-of-the-art casino features such as; slots, blackjack, roulette and many more. However, there are more activities on offer for that leisure and relaxation time like the big five safari, hot air balloon rides, golf, 5-star restaurants, zip slides, entertainment for the family and many more. Go and discover the thrill of this mythical lost African Kingdom.

5. The Wynn Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas

Spend your money at this beautiful Las Vegas hotel and casino. This Forbes Guide Five-Star Award-winning hotel offers a leading casino, restaurants, spas, salons, world-class shopping malls, entertainment an incredible nightlife experience. As a guest at the Wynn Las Vegas and Encore casino, you would experience once-in-a-lifetime gaming pleasure. You could take things to the ultimate level and spend those big bucks at the various table games, slots, salons, poolside gaming, sportsbooks and the exclusive poker room. Or let off some steam with some of Hollywood’s A-list artists performing at the Encore Beach and XS nightclubs. For shopping addicts, there are high-end stores such as Balmain, Saint Laurent, Stella McCartney, Bottega Veneta, Louis Vuitton Men’s stores and many more to splash those millions on.

6. Ibiza Gran Hotel Casino, Balearic Islands, Spain

Book yourself into this grand Balearic Islands’ five-star hotel and casino in Spain. While spending your winnings in grandeur style at the luxurious casino’s slot machines, gambling halls, poker room and a private room with an exclusive table. Described as a ‘gastronomic’ experience, guests can enjoy casual meals and statement drinks in between their gaming from the casino’s three bars and lounge area. To increase your level of pleasure, you could pamper yourself at the hotel’s open spa that offers customised aqua, beauty, fitness and wellness experiences for your wellbeing. If you love the distinct Mediterranean cuisine and exotic island life and culture, then this is the place you would want to visit.

7. Venetian Macao Resort Hotel Casino, China

Described as the world’s largest casino and the Las Vegas of Asia. This Venetian casino hotel is 10,500,000 square feet, with 39 floors. It’s the single largest hotel structure in Asia and recorded as the seventh-largest building in the world by floor area. The casino area is divided into four themed gaming areas – Golden Fish, Imperial House, Red Drago and the Phoenix – with over 6 000 slot machines and 800 gambling tables for that ‘go big or go home’ experience. This hotel-casino is certainly made for big winners and high rollers like yourself. On site, there’s the Sands Shoppes mall which has been described as ‘the ultimate shopping destination’ for those big spenders with their 9-digit status. High-end shops like Cartier, Rolex, Bvlgari, Emporio Armani, Gucci and many others will certainly tickle your fancy. Premium guests get private access to the Paiza Club’s dining and lounge areas, gaming rooms, lobby, reception and private lifts to their rooms.

This VIP experience is truly made for you. So, this could be your chance to explore these luxurious hotels and casinos with LottoStar’s Africa Millions’ payout of over R1,9 billion.