It’s a cliché to say that we live in a shrinking world. But, like most clichés, there’s more than a grain of truth to it.

Air travel is probably more affordable than it’s ever been and there are great deals always to be had on accommodation in even the most prestigious resorts and hotels.

People are also finding more and more reasons to travel beyond the traditional. In the past these included searching for a beach holiday, travelling to explore the culture of another country or just to visit friends and relatives.

But, increasingly, the chance to visit some of the world’s most impressive gambling destinations has become a major draw. Some believe that, ironically, it’s been the inexorable rise of the online casino sector that has helped to stimulate this boom. Having experienced the thrill of games like roulette, blackjack and baccarat online this has spurred players on to travel the world to play these games in the online casinos “bricks and mortar” predecessors.

A look at the figures
In 2022 the global market for gambling tourism was estimated as being worth over $287 million. And, if it continues to grow at the predicted annual rate of 5.9%, by 2031 it should be worth $477 million.

Research into the games that people travel to play suggest that poker is a key driver, probably thanks to the high profile that the game achieves thanks to televised tournaments.

However roulette and blackjack also prove to be very popular and it’s these games that have great crossover with online casinos too. So it’s not too great a stretch of the imagination to suppose that many gambling tourists get their first experience of how to play blackjack online. This certainly also gives great preparation for playing it in one of the world’s casinos.

Figures also seem to suggest that there is a distinctly male bias to gambling tourism with partners who may be accompanying more for the travel opportunities than for the gaming.

Key destinations such as Las Vegas have long been conscious of this fact and keen to offer alternative reasons to visit for non-players. So this is one of the reasons why many of the major casinos also hold residencies for major artists ranging from Lady Gaga to country star garth Brooks.

Three key destinations

Las Vegas is the place that most people think of first when it comes to gambling tourism, for good reason,

In 2023 it welcomed almost 41 million visitors attracted by its glitz, glamour and world-class casinos. Many of these names have become truly iconic having built their reputations over the decades. Caesars Palace, the Bellagio and the Venetian are just three of the biggest. But there are many more for visitors to enjoy – 175 in total, ranging from the mega resorts to smaller, more intimate and exclusive locations. By offering such a wide range of options, aimed at distinctly different types of players, Las Vegas continues to thrive as a destination.

However, in terms of revenue it has been eclipsed by a relative newcomer to the gambling tourism scene.

Gambling was first legalised in Macau by its Portuguese occupiers in the late 19th Century, But the sector really came to life in the early 2000s soon after the Chinese government regained control of the special administrative region in 1999.

The decision was made to offer casino licences to foreign investors – which were snapped up by many of the big names in Las Vegas. So today you’ll find there’s a Venetian, a Sands, a Wynn and an MGM there too.

The fact that this is a Far Eastern destination makes it all the more appealing for the gambling tourist – and the area’s fascinating architecture and history also add greatly to its appeal for players and non-players alike.

People travelling to gamble in Monaco do so to enjoy a very different kind of experience. While Vegas and Macau are bold and brash, the principality of Monaco is restrained, refined and exclusive.

As if to prove that there’s nothing new under the sun, the casino there was established in 1858 expressly to attract tourists to make up for the lost revenue once Monaco had declared independence from France.

It was following a trend already established in Europe where countries like Germany had begun to develop resorts such as Baden-Baden and which were popular with the higher echelons of society.

Today, you don’t need to be related to one of Europe’s most important families to play at the Casino de Monte Carlo, but having a very healthy bank balance does help.

So gambling tourism is very much on the up and up internationally and is likely to continue gaining popularity. Whether online casino operators will regard this as a boost to their own sector, or as a threat, remains to be seen.