Arguably one of the most famous destinations in the Caribbean, The Commonwealth Of The Bahamas is made up of more than seven hundred islands. Gambling was legalised in the country in 1969 and provides a solid chunk of its economy. It’s also key to tourism, given that locals are actually banned from attending the casinos on the islands.
Based over an area of more than five thousand square miles and with a population of roughly four hundred thousand, the Bahamas is a member of the Commonwealth Realms that has been governmentally independent of the United Kingdom since 1973. It is one of the richest countries in the Americas, following only the United States of America and Canada.
The Casinos
Nassau, Bahamas (R. Peterkin / Bigstockphoto.com)
Though locals are banned from gambling in casinos in the Bahamas, the same isn’t true of tourists and they are immensely popular destinations. It is especially common to see guests from the United States attending casinos on the islands. You’ll find bingo rooms in many of the casinos at that game is also legal, as is sports betting.
Atlantis Casino at Atlantis Paradise Island Bahamas
One Casino Drive, Paradise Island, Bahamas
When discussing casinos in the Bahamas there really is nowhere else to start but with Atlantis Paradise Island. It is easily the largest such venue anywhere on the islands, having opened as Paradise Island Hotel and Casino in 1968 and then taking on its current moniker in 1998. With nearly four thousand rooms and a large number of suites, it is an impressive venue.
The ocean-themed resort centres around Aquaventure, the sixty-two hectare waterscape. When people aren’t swimming, using slides or playing golf they head to the casino and they are rarely, if ever, disappointed. After all, if you’re disappointed by ninety table games and more than eight hundred and fifty electronic gaming machines then your expectations might be too high.
The casino is based over around one hundred thousand square foot of gaming floor, with practically every game you could wish to play on offer. As well as a sportsbook and a racebook, you’ll also find the likes of blackjack, roulette, Ultimate Texas Hold’em and craps on offer. The electronic gaming machines promise video poker, slots and more.
Baha Mar Casino at Baha Mar Resort
1 Baha Mar Blvd, Nassau, Bahamas
Located in Nassau, the Baha Mar Casino within the Baha Mar Resort actually matches the Atlantis Paradise Island Casino in the sense that its gaming floor is around one hundred thousand square foot in size. It’s also incredibly impressive thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows that allow you to look out over the sea as you play your various games.
When it comes to those games, there are around one hundred and fifty table games and one and a half thousand electronic gaming machines. That means that there’ll barely be a slot game that you’ll want to play that isn’t available. Add to them electronic roulette, video poker and electronic versions of most casino games and you’ll see where they’re so popular.
Of course, there are also real-life versions of the games you’ll find on the electronic machines. Baccarat, European roulette, three-card poker and craps are all there for you to play, plus there are VIP rooms you can head into if you’d like to play a private game of something. The resort promises numerous bars, restaurants and other places to get a drink or a snack.
Resorts World Bimini Casino
PPX9+4FF, Bailey Town, Bahamas
Resorts World is a big mover and shaker in the casino industry, boasting large entertainment venues in such places as Birmingham and Malaysia, with a casino in Las Vegas currently under construction. Resorts World is a brand owned by the Genting Group, so there’s plenty of knowledge and experience of casinos ploughed into their offerings.
The venue opened in 2012 over seven hundred and fifty acres on the North Bimini island. As well as a hotel with more than three hundred rooms, the site has just shy of five hundred townhouses, a number of villas and as many as six restaurants. The casino isn’t actually the largest, being based over just ten thousand square foot of gaming floor.
That’s enough space for over one hundred electronic gaming machines and thirty tables, with the latter promising the likes of blsckjack, craps, three-card poker, baccarat, Ultimate Texas Hold’em poker and roulette. The electronic machines offer video poker and a host of slot games. There are a number of restaurants on site as well as bars, serving food and drinks.