# What Are Other Countries' Equivalents of Las Vegas? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 13, 2011, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-other-countries-equivalents-of-las-vegas/588916 "2011-07-13T19:56:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ctnguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@ctnguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ctnguy)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-other-countries-equivalents-of-las-vegas/588916/21 "2011-07-14T00:26:23Z")
During the apartheid era, gambling was illegal in South Africa but legal in some of the nominally-independent homelands, which is why [Sun City](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_City,_North_West) was set up in the former Boputhatswana. But it’s a multi-hotel resort, not an actual city. ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-other-countries-equivalents-of-las-vegas/588916/22 "2011-07-14T00:32:00Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > Wasn’t there an Israeli firm that would sail out of Israel’s jurisdiction and allow passengers to gamble? Probably, but also, Turkish Cyprus is full of Casinos and is also an easy flight from most middle east cities so might count for the OP’s purposes as well. > **[Northern Cyprus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Cyprus)** > > Northern Cyprus,\[a\] officially the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC),\[b\] is a de facto state that comprises the northeastern portion of the island of Cyprus. It is recognised only by Turkey, and its territory is considered by all other states to be part of the Republic of Cyprus. Northern Cyprus extends from the tip of the Karpass Peninsula in the northeast to Morphou Bay, Cape Kormakitis and its westernmost point, the Kokkina exclave in the west. Its southernmost point is the vill A... ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-other-countries-equivalents-of-las-vegas/588916/23 "2011-07-14T01:08:32Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > By which I mean, is there a city in, say, the UK, which is a destination for gambling and entertainment (of the sort that you couldn’t find at home), and not really much else (people aren’t going to Vegas for museums and archaelogical digs). For example, I could go to Memphis or St. Louis for gambling and entertainment, but Vegas has a certain … cachet … that neither of those cities has. Well, as I understand it (correct me if I’m wrong) part of Vegas’ raison detre is due to US laws - gambling being illegal in much of the rest of the country, it forms a default concentration. In the UK, you can legally go into a bookies on every other street. So there’s no concentration of gambling, and its associated paraphernalia. It’s all spreadout and low-key. ---
**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-other-countries-equivalents-of-las-vegas/588916/24 "2011-07-14T01:33:22Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > However, Monte Carlo is a very upscale place. The “commoners” won’t visit a casino there. > > I’m not convinced there’s any equivalent of Las Vegas anywhere (for instance, if I’m not mistaken, Las Vegas is the most visited city in the world, when you include American visitors). > > Macao in the past? Definitely NOT in the past. Macao passed Lost Wages, I mean Las Vegas, in revenue in 2007. Another point is that there is horse and greyhound racing. and I might add the best looking whores anywhere. And they are legal in the sense that prostitution laws are just not enforced. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-other-countries-equivalents-of-las-vegas/588916/25 "2011-07-14T01:35:54Z")
What about places like Ibiza? I’ve heard it has very interesting ruins that the vast majority of visitors never see. Or is Ibiza passe? I haven’t heard anything about it in several years. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-other-countries-equivalents-of-las-vegas/588916/26 "2011-07-14T01:55:46Z")
One thing Vegas still has over it’s recent domestic competition is it’s the ONLY place in the entire USA where you can legally put a $10 bet (or a $100,000 bet for that matter) on a NBA, NFL, MLB pro game, as well as many assorted NCAA college games. Not allowed in Atlantic City, New Orleans, Indian Casinos, etc. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-other-countries-equivalents-of-las-vegas/588916/27 "2011-07-14T03:08:23Z")
Niagara Falls, Ontario, as mentioned, seems to have aspirations to it. It now has two casinos and it’s a trashy, garish tourist trap. It’s as close as we come. As mentioned, though, the problem with trying to build up Niagara Falls is that it’s not a legal oasis. Ontario has casinos everywhere - the biggest is actually in Orillia - and so the locals go set fire to their money wherever the easiest drive is. ---
**Author:** ![Asympotically\_fat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Asympotically\_fat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asympotically_fat)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-other-countries-equivalents-of-las-vegas/588916/28 "2011-07-14T03:25:58Z")
> [@coremelt](#): > > Probably, but also, Turkish Cyprus is full of Casinos and is also an easy flight from most middle east cities so might count for the OP’s purposes as well. > > [Northern Cyprus - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Cyprus) I haven’t been there for a few years, but I wouldn’t really call Northern Cyprus Las Vegas-like. There’s casinos there and there’s always been organised crime there too, but no more than you’d expect for a place where tourism is one of the primary industries. Girne/Kyrenia has always been the glitzy town in Northern Cyprus since even before the invasion and I know that town very well I would not say it’s that vegas-esque. You do get toruists from the middle-east, but the vast majority of tourists are European, specifically English and German. ---
**Author:** ![Asympotically\_fat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e47c2d/32.png) [@Asympotically\_fat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asympotically_fat)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-other-countries-equivalents-of-las-vegas/588916/29 "2011-07-14T03:28:14Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > What about places like Ibiza? I’ve heard it has very interesting ruins that the vast majority of visitors never see. Or is Ibiza passe? I haven’t heard anything about it in several years. Never been there, but from what I understand Ibizia is still goign strong, mainly due to it’s legendary status. Obviously it’s not known for gambling, but for dance music and it’s hedonistic reputation. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-other-countries-equivalents-of-las-vegas/588916/30 "2011-07-14T03:34:59Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > One thing Vegas still has over it’s recent domestic competition is it’s the ONLY place in the entire USA where you can legally put a $10 bet (or a $100,000 bet for that matter) on a NBA, NFL, MLB pro game, as well as many assorted NCAA college games. > > Not allowed in Atlantic City, New Orleans, Indian Casinos, etc. Reno too, and probably other Nevada places that let it happen in smaller down. What Nevada has that Indian casinos (at least in California) is non-bullshit games. In California, craps uses zero dice. To repeat: THEY DON’T USE DICE IN CRAPS. Other games are similarly crippled, I’m told. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-other-countries-equivalents-of-las-vegas/588916/31 "2011-07-14T04:05:20Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Reno too, and probably other Nevada places that let it happen in smaller down. You are 100% correct. I meant to say Nevada, (not just Vegas) is the only place legally allowed to offer sports bookmaking—Thanks for pointing that out, for those unfamiliar with US laws… And even tiny Nevada towns with very small casinos usually offer a sports book; some are offered thru a computerized machine (similar to an ATM) where you can give any winning bet tickets to the lady at the cashier’s cage to collect your bet. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-other-countries-equivalents-of-las-vegas/588916/32 "2011-07-14T04:10:10Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > In California, craps uses zero dice. To repeat: THEY DON’T USE DICE IN CRAPS. Other games are similarly crippled, I’m told. How do you play craps without dice? ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-other-countries-equivalents-of-las-vegas/588916/33 "2011-07-14T04:56:40Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > How do you play craps without dice? [Using cards](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craps#Card-based_variations). It looks like some variations use both dice and cards. I am not sure why one casino may use one vs. the other. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-other-countries-equivalents-of-las-vegas/588916/34 "2011-07-14T05:13:49Z")
Poipet, Cambodia, on the border with Thailand, has quite a few casinos, many if not all of them Thai-owned actually. Thais flock there to gamble. Phnom Penh has a casino or two also, but no one goes there just to gamble. A big resort-casino recently opened on Singapore’s Sentosa Island. There’s also a sizable Burmese casino right on the Golden Triangle, but I don’t think the traffic is large. Certainly not on the scale of Poipet in Cambodia. Kathmandu has casinos that are barred to Nepalis. They’re strictly for foreigners. ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-other-countries-equivalents-of-las-vegas/588916/35 "2011-07-14T07:55:43Z")
> [@These are my own pants](#): > > I haven’t been there for a few years, but I wouldn’t really call Northern Cyprus Las Vegas-like. There’s casinos there and there’s always been organised crime there too > You do get toruists from the middle-east, but the vast majority of tourists are European, specifically English and German. I’ve never been there but a friend of mine works for an online casino based there as a remote programmer and had to visit a couple of times. From what I’ve been told many many rich arabs who live in UAE, Saudi etc fly there because of the easily availability of gambling, alcohol and prostitution and because whatever they get up to there is not likely to wind up getting back to their families. “What happens in Turkish Cyprus, stays in Turkish Cyprus”. 😉 In that way it’s like Vegas. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-other-countries-equivalents-of-las-vegas/588916/36 "2011-07-14T10:08:27Z")
Closest you’ll get in Norway is taking the ferry to Denmark or Germany just as a cruise, which many people do. Gambling is illegal in Norway except in limited “for charity” lotto and sports betting run by the government and lotteries and slot machines run by non-profits like the Red Cross. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-other-countries-equivalents-of-las-vegas/588916/37 "2011-07-14T10:52:49Z")
Saudi Arabia has Bahrain ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-other-countries-equivalents-of-las-vegas/588916/38 "2011-07-14T13:22:37Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > When people use random numerical methods to simulate something complicated, we don’t call it the Las Vegas method. Las Vegas is the Monte Carlo of the US. Actually, both terms are used in Computer Science (regardless of nationality) with subtly different meanings. Start reading [here](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Vegas_algorithm). ---
**Author:** ![isaiahrobinson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/85e7bf/32.png) [@isaiahrobinson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/isaiahrobinson)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-other-countries-equivalents-of-las-vegas/588916/39 "2011-07-14T14:05:26Z")
A lot of rich Iranians go to Dubai. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2011, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-other-countries-equivalents-of-las-vegas/588916/40 "2011-07-14T23:34:23Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > …Kathmandu has casinos that are barred to Nepalis. They’re strictly for foreigners. Isn’t that also the case with Singapore’s casinos? > [@naita](#): > > Closest you’ll get in Norway is taking the ferry to Denmark or Germany just as a cruise, which many people do. Gambling is illegal in Norway except in limited “for charity” lotto and sports betting run by the government and lotteries and slot machines run by non-profits like the Red Cross. Don’t those cruiseferries also sell alot of duty-free alcohol for people to stock up on instead of paying the higher prices in government’s liquor monopoly? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-other-countries-equivalents-of-las-vegas/588916.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-other-countries-equivalents-of-las-vegas/588916.md?page=3)