Interest in online casinos is at an all-time high at present, with the impact of the global pandemic over the past two years sparking a record number of sign-ups being reported by many of the leading online betting platforms. According to Statista, the global online gambling market is anticipated to be valued at more than 92.9 billion US dollars in 2023, up from 59 billion US dollars in 2019.
Allowing players to log on and enjoy all the perks and pleasures of a real life game, any time, anywhere, it’s easy to see why the likes of Parimatch are enjoying such popularity as we move increasingly into the digital world – but for many of the world’s biggest high-rollers, there’s still nothing like visiting a physical casino set right amidst the bright lights of Vegas.
Las Vegas is awash with some of the most opulent and extravagant casino resorts in the world, each showcasing a breath-taking combination of lavish interiors, five-star facilities and alluring gaming and entertainment scenes that are unrivalled by almost anywhere else in the world.
From Roman-inspired Caesars to the Venetian, which features its very own canal modelled on the iconic Grand Canal found in Venice itself, it’s a city that certainly doesn’t do things by halves – and with the competition to be crowned the very finest of the bunch an ongoing battle, Sin City’s casino resorts are known for going all-out in the pursuit of luxury.
Nevertheless, it seems there’s one resort that just can’t be beaten. The Wynn Las Vegas has once again topped Travel+Leisure’s Vegas hotel rankings for a third consecutive year, scoring an impressive 91.89 out of 100 in the publication’s annual ‘Best Of’ awards.
A force to be reckoned with
It’s perhaps unsurprising to see this show-stopping establishment reign triumphant once more. For starters, it remains the single most starred property in the world, owing to its incredible suites, decadent dining scene and opulent spa.
Despite its name, the wider resort actually incorporates two towers and the surrounding property – one being the identically named as the Wynn Las Vegas, and the other known as the Encore Resort. Between them, they comprise almost 5,000 breath-taking accommodation options and are surrounded by lush gardens that stretch for over 215 acres – but while the Wynn Las Vegas has come out on top again this year, the Encore Resort falls slightly behind, coming in at a still respectable ranking of sixth place.
Having recently undergone an impressive renovation to the value of $200 million – which, according to the company, ‘represents the most extensive design evolution ever made to the tower’s 2,674 guest rooms, suites, elevator lobbies and resort tower corridors’, it’s certainly fair to say that the resort works hard to retain its title.
Over the past year, the Wynn has also cut the ribbon on three brand new lounges to keep its high-end clientele coming back for more. The Overlook Lounge, Aft Cocktail Deck and Bar Parasol all serve up a creative selection of cocktails, courtesy of resort mixologist Mariena Mercer Boarini, and with customers flocking in to be some of the first to taste them, it’s another string to the resort’s ever growing bow.
Although it already offers an impressive shopping scene and is home to a string of high-end, designer boutiques – including Louis Vuitton and Givenchy – for its guests to peruse, the Wynn has big plans for expansion in this area before the year is out, with the goal to unveil a host of additional big names to be added to the line-up soon.
The Wynn’s latest epic win is just the latest in a long line as a company, having scooped a whopping 24 five-star recognitions in the Forbes Travel Guide Awards 2022 across its entire portfolio, which currently includes five properties across the U.S. and in Macau.
Although it might seem like the brand has luxury all sewn up, it isn’t without its competitors – particularly in Vegas. The esteemed Cosmopolitan, located on the famous Strip, came in at a close second in the Travel+Leisure awards, and it wasn’t the only one in hot pursuit of the title. The Cromwell, the Four Seasons and the Venetian all came in with similarly high scores, finishing in third, fourth and fifth respectively – although surprisingly, the Bellagio didn’t make the cut.
MGM, which controls a vast number of properties on the strip, was unsurprisingly the top scoring operator of the bunch, with four of its luxury casino resorts finishing within the top ten.
Nevertheless, it seems the Wynn Las Vegas is a tough act to follow – although with a number of big money renovations currently taking place within Vegas’ best loved resorts and some brand new establishments set to open their doors over the next year, whether it will remain triumphant next time rewards season rolls around remains to be seen.
