As we continue to celebrate the reopening of many of the world’s finest bricks-and-mortar casinos, both amateur gamblers and seasoned high-rollers alike are beginning to make plans for an exciting year of casino tourism in 2022.
In a bid to make up for lost time and maximise on enjoyment after 18 months of our usual favourite pastimes being curtailed due to the ongoing global pandemic, it seems many are craving the excitement and adrenaline that comes with a night at the roulette wheel or the poker table – and with some intriguing new developments set to get under way as we head into next year, there’ll be no shortage of luxurious options to choose from.
Add to that the flurry of projects that are in their infancy but offer great promise – not least, the long-awaited arrival of casinos in Japan, which we can expect to see finally come to fruition over the next few years – and it seems we have a lot to look forward to.
While visiting top casinos has served us well during a time when land-based casinos have been largely off limits, there’s nothing quite like the real thing. And with some of the world’s biggest casino giants promising us great things to come, these are the biggest upcoming projects to have on your radar.
Moon World Resorts, Las Vegas
Nevada’s ‘Sin City’ has long been recognised as the world’s premier gambling destination, despite the fact that these days it is being given quite the run for its money by ultra-luxe Macao, which now reports the highest annual revenue in the sector globally. And in 2022, we can expect to see one of Vegas’ most exciting developments yet begin to take shape, as Moon World Resorts gets to work on building a 1/75,000-sized replica of the moon, right in the heart of the strip.
The project, which is expected to cost upwards of $5 billion to construct, is set to open its doors to guests by 2026, and the 735 feet tall by 650 feet wide behemoth will comprise a whopping 5.5 million square feet of floor space to host a casino, nightclub, some 4,000 hotel rooms, exhibition space and top-floor ‘lunar surface’ exhibition.
When it comes to the world’s most exciting places to indulge in a game of roulette, baccarat or poker, it doesn’t get much more unique than this, and it should fit right in with the strip’s existing ostentatious yet opulent offerings. For just $500, you’ll be able to purchase a ‘Cirque de Lune’ experience, which will allow you to spend 90 minutes of exclusive time on this simulated moonscape – so you’ll have no trouble finding something interesting to spend your winnings on.
Caesars, Danville, Virginia
Not content with the current size of its empire, casino heavyweight Caesars Entertainment Inc, which already owns thriving establishments in Vegas and Macao, looks set to make its mark in Virginia over the next couple of years, having recently unveiled the architectural designs for its $500 million premier destination resort casino in Danville.
With the project expected to get underway this December, plans include a towering 18-storey hotel which will include a total of 500 luxurious rooms and suites, with 40,000 square feet of meeting and convention space as well as an entertainment venue with capacity for up to 2,500 guests.
The development’s casino is expected to throw open its doors to the world’s high rollers and amateur casino players alike in late 2023, and will feature more than 1,400 slot machines and table games, a Caesars sportsbook and an impressive 25-table WSOP poker room to round things off.
An excellent resort to choose for a 2023 casino getaway, a stay gets you access to a Michelin-starred dining options, an extensive spa and a range of other luxury amenities, with impeccable service guaranteed throughout.
CAIJ, Nagasaki
When it comes to up-and-coming new casino destinations, all eyes have been on Japan in recent years, and the process of bringing luxury gambling establishments to the nation is now gathering momentum once again after being put on hold at the height of the ongoing global pandemic.
On October 1st, Casinos Austria International Japan showcased details of an impressive plan to create a venue in the Nagasaki Prefecture, within the Huis Ten Bosch of Sasebo – and with 25 casinos around the world already under its belt, we can expect this to be one of its most exciting developments yet.
Although yet to be approved, things are looking favourable for the project to get the go-ahead imminently, and is expected to cost in the region of $3.2 billion to constrict. Set to bring in eight million visitors annually, it will also create 30,000 jobs in the locality and we can expect a grand venue offering up an extensive array of table games and slots, with plenty of added luxuries for good measure.
MGM Resorts International, Osaka
Leading a carefully selected consortium in the creation of an impressive integrated casino resort in Osaka, MGM Resorts International is another of the world’s casino giants looking to make its mark in Japan, having already fended off stiff competition from the likes of Galaxy Entertainment Group Limited and Las Vegas Sands Corporation to win the project.
Expected to begin taking shape within a 121-acre portion of Yumeshima Island in 2022, details of what’s to come are being kept tightly under wraps, and with many of the finer details still to be decided, it seems we’ll just have to be patient with this one. But judging by MGM Resorts International’s current establishments, which include the Bellagio, the Mandalay Bay and the MGM Grand in Vegas, it’s likely that Japanese gambling enthusiasts and high-rolling tourists will be in for a real treat.
Please gamble responsibly (18+ UK) – check age restrictions before participating
