As is the case on a number of Caribbean islands, things can be quite confusing when talking about gambling and Sint Maarten. That’s because it is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands that takes up forty percent of an island that is called Saint Martin. The other sixty percent is made up of the Collectivité de Saint-Martin, a French overseas collectivity.
The French side is also known simple as Saint Martin, which is why you could look up the island and think there’s casinos all over it. In actual fact there are no casinos on the French side and all of the ones based on the island are located in the Dutch forty percent, which is Sint Maarten. Little wonder people get confused. There are plenty of casinos here, though.
Sint Maarten Casino List
Sint Maarten
When you look into the casinos in Sint Maarten it soon becomes apparent that the Dutch have seemingly tried to make up for the fact that there are no casinos on the French side of Saint Martin. Considering Sint Maarten is based over just thirteen square miles and houses a mere forty-one thousand plus people permanently, the number of casinos here is excessive.
Here’s a look at them all, explaining the different things you can expect to experience depending on which casino it is that you choose to go to. Interestingly, at the time of writing there is a moratorium in place on new casino licences being issued, but the ones that are already in existence are allowed to carry on operating.
Casino Royale at Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Casino & Spa
Maho Beach, 1 Rhine Rd, Sint Maarten
Whilst not the casino that the James Bond novel was named after, it’s not a shock that there would be a Casino Royale on at least one Caribbean island. This one labels itself as the ‘largest gaming emporium on the island’, so that gives you some indication of the sort of experience to expect there. Its gaming floor is based over twenty-one thousand feet, for example.
Located in the village of Maho, the Casino Royale has four hundred slot machines on offer for patrons to get involved with. They promise an interesting mix of traditional slot games, video poker and electronic versions of games such as roulette. You’ll also be able to play roulette, three-card poker, blackjack and other games on one of the twenty-two tables available.
The Casino Royale also boasts a brand new TK Royale Poker Room, where cash games of No Limit Texas Hold’em and Pot Limit Omaha take place on a regular basis. Add to that the tournaments that are common and you can see why it’s such a popular destination for poker players. There are also restaurants and bars on site.
Porto Cupecoy Hotel, Marina and Casino
The casino at Porto Cupecoy is one of the newest on the island, located within one of the most upscale communities in the area. That’s because the hotel is made up of luxury condominium apartments that range from one to four bedrooms in size. Also on site are fine dining restaurants and amazing shops.
It’s the casino that we’re the most interested in, of course, and as you’d expect from somewhere like this, it’s all about the glamour. Located at the entrance of the complex, it boasts modern slot machines and numerous table games. That includes the likes of American roulette, blackjack and others. It opens at eleven in the morning for slots and seven at night for table games.
Coliseum Princess Casino
Located in Philipsburg, there’s no prize for guessing what the theme of this casino is. The Ancient Rome-based establishment promises the gladiators that turn up to take on the games a selection of blackjack, three-card poker and roulette. There are also more than three hundred slot machines that you’ll be able to wile away some time on, if that’s your thing.
Though not the smallest casino in Sint Maarten, the Coliseum Princess Casino doesn’t have any restaurants on site. There are a number nearby, so that might be where you’ll need to head between hands if you want a bite to eat. There are bars here, though, so you’re not going to go thirsty. There is also plenty of entertainment to keep you amused.
Hollywood Casino
There is something of a constant party atmosphere at the Hollywood Casino in Sint Maarten. Located at Pelican Key, it has a number of hotels close to it, meaning that it’s often quite busy. Decorated with movie stills, Oscars statues and other memorabilia from tinsel town, there are one hundred and fifty slot machines on site as well as twenty table games.
The selection of table games offered is quite interesting, with the usual fare of blackjack, roulette and poker added to with more exotic offerings such as Baccarat and Punto Banco. Food and drink is available on site, whilst entertainment usually takes place daily. There’s also cash and tournament poker played regularly here.
Dunes Casino
Found between Princess Juliana Airport and Maho Reef, Dunes Casino promises a relaxed atmosphere and a pleasant gaming experience. That’s because it tends not to be as busy as some of the other casinos on the island. In part, it’s likely that that’s because it is an entirely electronic experience, with no table games to speak of.
There are more than two hundred electronic machines, however, so you’re certainly unlikely to struggle to be able to play something when you get there. Open from eleven in the morning through until three in the morning seven days a week, one of the big draws of the casino is its newly created sportsbook that lets punters bet on sporting events.
Paradise Plaza
Located in Simpson Bay, the Paradise Plaza is more of a slot emporium than a casino. That’s because it doesn’t have any table games on offer, but instead promises two hundred and fifty slot machines. There are electronic versions of the table games that casino-lovers enjoy playing, but many people don’t think that that’s quite the same thing.
The casino is set over more than ten thousand square foot, with race betting and a sports book also available to visitors. There isn’t a restaurant on site but there is a bar that serves both drinks and snacks. The hotel’s location also means that there are a few eateries nearby, so if you can tear yourself away from the slot machines you’ll be able to eat whenever you want.
Tropicana Casino
This is perhaps better described as a bingo hall than a casino, given the extent to which the bingo takes centre stage. Surrounding the bingo hall are three hundred slot machines, though, so that’s what earns it its casino title. There’s also electronic roulette, so there’s plenty of the more ‘traditional’ casino options if you also include the video poker.
In terms of what else is on site, the short answer is ‘not much’. There’s a bar where you can get drinks as well as snacks, but you’re not going to be having three-course meals here. It really is all about the gambling and the various types of that that you can do. You’ll doubtless head here for the slots but the infections happiness of the staff with get you playing bingo in no time.
Princess Casino
The Princess Casino is sometimes given the moniker of ‘the little Las Vegas of Sint Maarten’, largely because of the plush and luxurious decoration that has been given to the place. Slot machines dominate the gaming floor, with more than five hundred of them promising visitors the latest slot games and electronic versions of other casino offerings.
If neither slots nor electronic gaming is your thing then you need not worry; there are also fifteen table games on offer for punters here. That includes craps, roulette and blackjack, plus there’s a poker table where cash games of No Limit Texas Hold’em are commonplace. Entertainment is regularly held in the casino, with food and drink available on site.
Beach Plaza Casino
You’ll find the Beach Plaza Casino in the heart of Philipsburg, which means that it’s something of a stop-off venue for cruise ship passengers. Given that Philipsburg is seen as the heart of Sint Maarten, it’s not a surprise that this tends to be a busy casino. That’s not helped by the fact that it’s a relatively small venue, with the gaming floor being set over just five hundred and fifty square metres.
Within that space, though, you’ll find one hundred and eighty slot machines, ranging from penny slots all the way through to $5 per spin games. There are no able games, but there is a sports book here. The casino opens its doors at eleven in the morning and then. Stays open all the way through to three in the morning, so there’s plenty of time for you to get along.
Casino Rouge et Noir
If you know much about casino games then it won’t take you long to figure out what this venue is named after. Casino Rouge et Noir is set on the beach front in Philipsburg, meaning that you can play all of your favourite casino games with the site of a Caribbean beach in the background. You don’t get much more luxurious than that.
Obviously roulette is one of the most popular games here, but it’s far from the only one. There are thirteen table games that allow you to get involved on the likes of three-card poker and blackjack, with one hundred and thirty slot machines also available. There’s a full bar, whilst the casino’s location means that you can also get food from nearby restaurants.
Diamond Casino
Diamond Casino promises visitors access to one hundred and forty state-of-the-art slot machines, as well as seven table games. The table games offer punters Caribbean stud poker, three-card poker, roulette and blackjack, whilst the gaming machines offer electronic versions of other casino favourites.
The slot machines are popular, especially as the Diamond Casino is located in the heart of Sint Maarten’s capital and therefore tends to welcome a lot of people that just happen to be walking past and fancy a break from the Caribbean sun. There’s a sportsbook on site, for those of you that want to bet on sporting action from around the world.
Jump Up Casino
Jump Up Casino gets its name from the carnival theme that is ever-present. That includes constant music playing and a generally quite festive atmosphere to keep guests entertained. Most people will come here for the slots, though there are also video poker machines that are popular. On top of that you can get involved in some bingo in the Jump Up Casino.
Open from ten in the morning through to four in the morning, the casino has one hundred and sixty electronic gaming machines in its two thousand eight hundred square foot space. Whilst drinks are available, food is best obtained from one of the cafés or restaurants located nearby. Located not far from the centre of Philipsburg, it’s an easy place to find.