The best gambling city in the world in 2026 is Macau, which took in about US$30.9 billion in casino gaming revenue in 2025, nearly four times the Las Vegas Strip. This list ranks 15 cities by the size of their casino economy, the depth of their resorts and what else a visitor can do there. Las Vegas is second and Singapore third.
Our ranking is our own: we weight 2025 casino revenue most heavily, then resort depth, then how easy the city is to enjoy beyond the tables.
| Rank | City | Key figure (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Macau, China | About US$30.9 billion gaming revenue |
| 2 | Las Vegas, United States | About $8.8 billion on the Strip |
| 3 | Singapore | More than $5.5 billion, up 24% |
| 4 | Manila, Philippines | P182.5 billion licensed casino revenue (national) |
| 5 | Atlantic City, United States | About $2.9 billion casino revenue |
| 6 | London, United Kingdom | Private members’ casino hub |
| 7 | Sydney, Australia | Home of The Star |
| 8 | Monte Carlo, Monaco | Casino open since 1863 |
| 9 | Venice, Italy | Casino on the Grand Canal since 1946 |
| 10 | Reno, United States | About $55 million a month |
| 11 | Toronto, Canada | Ontario casino resorts |
| 12 | Madrid, Spain | El Gordo, 22 December |
| 13 | Paris, France | Casino ban within a 100 km radius |
| 14 | Baden-Baden, Germany | Spa-town casino, early 19th century |
| 15 | Bethlehem, United States | $46.8 million in June 2025 |
How do you choose the best gambling city?
It depends on what you want. Some players want the highest limits, others want legality and safety, and others want a resort where the family has something else to do. We rank on revenue first because money wagered is the clearest sign of where the action is.
Two changes since our first version: Tokyo is no longer on the list, because casinos in Japan are still not legal to play, and Stuttgart is gone because its casino no longer makes it a destination. Osaka is the one to watch: MGM Osaka broke ground in 2025 and is scheduled to open in autumn 2030.
1. Macau, China: About US$30.9 billion in 2025
Macau’s gross gaming revenue reached MOP 247.4 billion in 2025, up about 9.1% on 2024. That is still roughly 85% of its 2019 peak, yet no other city comes close.
The Cotai Strip holds The Venetian Macao, City of Dreams, Wynn Palace and Sands Macao. Baccarat drives most of the revenue, and VIP play recovered strongly in 2025.
How we valued it: government-reported annual gaming revenue for the territory, converted at the year’s exchange rate.
2. Las Vegas, United States: About $8.8 billion on the Strip
Nevada set a fifth straight annual gaming record in 2025 at close to $15.8 billion, and the Strip produced about 56% of it. Revenue held up even though visitor numbers fell 7.5% to 38.54 million.
Las Vegas wins our second place for breadth. The Strip adds the Sphere, residencies, UFC and Formula 1, so a trip does not depend on the tables.
How we valued it: state regulator monthly reports for the Strip, with the visitor total from the city’s tourism authority.
3. Singapore: More than $5.5 billion in 2025
Singapore’s two integrated resorts reportedly earned more than $5.5 billion in 2025, a rise of roughly a quarter, with Marina Bay Sands taking more than two-thirds of the total. Legalization was approved in 2005 and the resorts opened in 2010.
Marina Bay Sands is the larger of the pair. Resorts World Sentosa is investing in a major upgrade known as Resorts World Sentosa 2.0.
How we valued it: operator-reported revenue and market analyst estimates, with a tight cap on casino licences keeping the field small.
4. Manila, Philippines: P182.5 billion in licensed casino revenue
The Philippines’ licensed casinos made P182.5 billion in 2025, down 9.6% as online gaming overtook them nationally. The physical action in Manila clusters in Entertainment City on Manila Bay, home to Solaire, City of Dreams Manila and Okada Manila.
How we valued it: national regulator figures for licensed casinos, used as a ceiling for the city because property-level numbers are not published.
5. Atlantic City, United States: About $2.9 billion
Atlantic City’s casinos earned roughly $2.89 billion in 2025, up about 2.7%. Statewide, New Jersey’s total including online gaming and sports betting hit $6.98 billion, up 10.8%.
Borgata remains the largest property. The city is the nearest big casino stop for most of the US East Coast.
How we valued it: state gaming enforcement division reports, casino-floor revenue only.
6. London, United Kingdom: Where private members’ casinos thrive
London is Europe’s capital for high-end casino clubs, including Crockfords, Les Ambassadeurs, The Ritz Club and the Hippodrome Casino in Leicester Square. Reportedly more than 25 casinos operate in the city.
Great Britain’s land-based gambling, including arcades, betting shops, bingo and casinos, produces several billion pounds a year, by the national regulator’s published yield figures.
How we valued it: the national regulator’s yield figures, since casino-only numbers per city are not published.
7. Sydney, Australia: The Star and the pokies
New South Wales has the most poker machines of any Australian state. Sydney’s flagship is The Star at Pyrmont, near Darling Harbour.
The Star’s owner agreed a A$300 million rescue deal with Bally’s in 2025, and state regulators approved the increased Bally’s shareholding that November.
How we valued it: scale of the single dominant resort and the state’s machine count. We hold it below the top five because its ownership is still being restructured.
8. Monte Carlo, Monaco: The casino that still sets the tone
The Casino de Monte-Carlo opened in 1863 and anchors Monaco’s economy. It appears in the Bond story Casino Royale and in films such as Ocean’s Twelve.
The Monaco Grand Prix and the harbour’s superyachts make the trip more about the setting than the stakes. See also why rich people live in Monaco.
How we valued it: heritage and resort quality rather than revenue, which the operator does not break out by casino.
9. Venice, Italy: Gaming on the Grand Canal
The Ridotto, opened in 1638, is often cited as the first public gambling house in Europe. Today the Casino di Venezia occupies Ca’ Vendramin Calergi on the Grand Canal and has done so since 1946.
Arrive by water taxi and dress up. The building is the draw as much as the tables.
How we valued it: historical standing and venue quality, with limited public revenue data.
10. Reno, United States: The Biggest Little City in the World
Reno’s casinos took in about $55.6 million in November 2025, up 7.1% on the year, and its win for the year to that point was up 4.1%. The city has long been Nevada’s second gaming market after the Strip.
Grand Sierra Resort and Atlantis are the best known, with Lake Tahoe an hour’s drive away.
How we valued it: Nevada regulator monthly win figures for Reno.
11. Toronto, Canada: Ontario’s casino resorts
Ontario’s casino industry runs in the province’s cities and resort towns. Casino Rama sits north of Toronto near Orillia, and Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort is the large resort on the Falls. For more, see our guide to luxurious things to do in Canada.
The original version of this article called Rama Canada’s first casino. That is not accurate, so we removed the claim.
How we valued it: resort scale and tourist appeal, since city-level revenue is not published.
12. Madrid, Spain: Home of El Gordo
Spain’s Christmas lottery, El Gordo, is drawn each 22 December and pays around €2.7 billion in prizes. A full ticket costs €200, and most people buy a tenth for €20.
Casino Gran Madrid sits just outside the city at Torrelodones. Betting on football, especially Real Madrid matches, is the local habit.
How we valued it: lottery scale and casino access, discounted for the casino’s distance from the centre.
13. Paris, France: A city with no casinos in it
French law has long kept casinos about 100 km from Paris, so the city is known for private card clubs instead. The famous exception is the spa-town casino at Enghien-les-Bains, a short trip north of the centre.
How we valued it: access for visitors, which is limited by that rule.
14. Baden-Baden, Germany: The spa-town casino
Spielbank Baden-Baden is housed in the Kurhaus and dates to the early 19th century. Baden-Baden’s casino has long drawn European society to a spa town in the Black Forest.
How we valued it: historical standing and venue, with no public revenue data.
15. Bethlehem, United States: Wind Creek Bethlehem
The former Sands Casino Resort is now Wind Creek Bethlehem. In June 2025 it reported $46.8 million in revenue, the fifth largest in Pennsylvania, and led the state in table games with $22.6 million.
How we valued it: Pennsylvania gaming control board monthly reports.
FAQ
What is the best gambling city in the world?
Macau is the largest by revenue, with about US$30.9 billion in 2025. Las Vegas is the best all-round choice for most visitors because of its entertainment.
Which city has the most casino revenue after Macau?
Las Vegas is next, with about $8.8 billion won on the Strip in 2025. Singapore follows with more than $5.5 billion.
Is gambling legal in Japan now?
Not at a casino. Japan passed an integrated resort law, and MGM Osaka broke ground in 2025 for an opening in autumn 2030.
Why is there no casino in Paris?
French law has long kept casinos about 100 km from Paris, with a few spa-town exceptions. Players use private card clubs in the city or travel to Enghien-les-Bains.
Which cities joined or left the list?
Manila and Baden-Baden joined, while Tokyo and Stuttgart left. Singapore and Atlantic City moved up on recent revenue.
How we put this list together
We ranked cities from published 2025 casino revenue and our own judgment of resort depth. Figures are approximate and were checked in October 2026.
Last updated: October 2026.
