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Feeling jaded by Monaco's glitter and finding Vegas too tame? It's about time you broadened your horizons in search of a gaming table with a panoramic twist or a roulette adventure that’s really ear-catching.

Let's face it, some gaming palaces are the results of overly ambitious dreams – while some have come to fruition, others are mere castles in the air. Here's a rundown of the most outlandish casinos – the hits and misses of the gaming world. And, of course, a sprinkle of funny post to keep the mood light!

Dreams Beneath the Waves: Macau's Missed Opportunity

Back in 2005, Ken Ho and Kerry Packer, two casino magnates, were hell-bent on crafting the planet’s premiere underwater casino in Macau. The City of Dreams was still a blueprint, a brainchild of visionary designers, and those blueprints boasted a breathtaking underwater casino haven with 3,000 slot machines and 250 tables that was grabbing headlines around the globe.

Fast forward to 2009, and the City of Dreams was unveiled – an imposing structure with 420,000 square feet dedicated to gaming, yet, it remained firmly on terra firma. An aquarium, bubble fountain, and water theatre were nods to the aquatic dream, but the vision of gambling with the fish remained submerged.

However, don't lose heart. A brief flight away in Singapore sits the Resorts World Sentosa. Its massive 15,000 square metre casino may not be submerged, but you can snag an Ocean Suite with a bedroom beneath the waves – giving the fish a chance to peek back at you!

Tracks to Riches: Vegas's Elusive Rail Casino

In a city like Vegas, where the extraordinary is ordinary, a train journey filled with the clink of chips and shuffle of cards seemed just around the corner. The X-Train promised a 5.5-hour escape from Los Angeles to the neon desert, doubling as a gambler's paradise.

Regrettably, the alluring X-Train never chugged beyond fantasy, leaving train-bound gambling to the realm of the internet. Still, don't be too downcast – there's chatter of a revived luxury X-Train, creating a posh path to Vegas. While it may not boast a rolling casino, CEO Michael Barron dreams of accompanying X-Hotels complete with their own lavish gaming floors to enhance the journey.

Roll the Dice in an English Manor: Somerset's Secret

At North Cadbury Court, a grand 16th-century manor house nestled in the lush landscapes of South-West England, guests can indulge in opulence. Beyond the regular offerings like a Bar Room, Snooker Room, Indoor Pool, and Jacuzzi, this vast estate harbors a clandestine thrill.

Step into the manor's underbelly, and you'll discover a rare gem – an underground casino. Here, a professional croupier will deal you into a night of blackjack, roulette, or poker in this intimate hideaway. And for those who wish to boogie after betting, a disco room waits in the wings, making North Cadbury Court a place where the high-rollers can dance the night away.

On your quest for the perfect hand or the jackpot spin, don't forget to check out the best poker rooms in Vegas for a slice of the traditional gambling experience that's both top-notch and authentic.

The Sky-High Casino Dream: Casino Jet Lounge

Oh, the Casino Jet Lounge! It's like something straight out of a James Bond movie – sleek, stylish, and soaring miles above the clouds. Once upon a time, the dream team of luxury aviation designers from Airjet Designers and the French geniuses at Designescence got together to conjure up a casino concept straight out of the future for the Boeing 777. Picture this: you're gliding across the skies, cocktail in hand, the hum of the engine in the background, and the allure of Lady Luck just a few steps away.

But alas, the vision was just too grand, too out of reach. When I think about the logistics of keeping a roulette wheel steady at 35,000 feet, I can't help but chuckle. It's no surprise that the costs and exclusivity grounded the Casino Jet Lounge before it could take flight. Virgin toyed with a similar notion once, aiming to add a touch of the casino buzz to their stand-up bars in the upper classes. And who could forget when Singapore Airlines boldly tried to make slot machines a thing in their aisles back in '81? That little adventure, however, was over faster than a two-month layover.

A Chill Gaming Experience: Esperanza Base, Antarctica

Now, ice bars and ice hotels are all the rage worldwide, but an ice casino? That's next level cool—literally and figuratively! Yet, the Esperanza Base in Antarctica might just have the frostiest gambling den of them all. I mean, imagine rolling dice surrounded by eternal snow and the quiet wilderness—it sends shivers down my spine just picturing it!

Home to a cozy community of 60 souls, this Argentinian base boasts a hub fondly dubbed the 'casino'. With a name like 'esperanza'—Spanish for 'hope'—it's like a beacon of promise, flashing the possibility of a win even in the world's most secluded nook. I can see the residents and the odd gutsy globe-trotter gathering, betting on more than just the weather. Oh, the stories they must have!

Going Underground: Desert Cave Hotel, Australia

Underground casinos? They come in two varieties: the shady kind you avoid and the literally sub-level sort. Thankfully, the dicey days are dwindling, giving way to venues that are as legitimate as they are intriguing. Look no further than the depths below for a different kind of casino thrill.

Deep in the South Aussie outback lies Coober Pedy, where the Desert Cave Hotel offers a gamble like no other. Once an opal mine, now it's a haven for those looking to hit the jackpot under the earth's surface. Boasting the title of the world's only underground poker machines—this place is a subterranean wonderland (or a claustrophobic's worst nightmare). For adventurers and oddity-seekers, it's a buried treasure in the world of gambling.

The Big Smoke's Tiny Casino: Taxi Cab Casino, London

Then there's that tiny gem of a casino—the one that transformed an iconic British black cab into a mobile gambling hotspot. Imagine slipping into the back seat and finding yourself in the midst of a blackjack game with a live dealer, the city lights flashing by as you sip on your favourite cocktail. It's like something out of a suave spy film, isn't it?

In 2016, this pint-sized powerhouse hit the streets in a celebration of sport, making stops through London, Glasgow, and Birmingham, giving passengers a free ride they'd never forget. But, like all good things, this quirky casino's wheels have stopped turning, so if you're in the UK hailing a cab, don't count on hitting the jackpot between stoplights nowadays.

The Casino Behind Bars: Prison Casino, Nevada

Now, here's a venue that'll make you do a double-take: a casino within the walls of the Nevada State Prison. It's true! For over three decades, the inmates ran a betting shop that was all the buzz—blackjack, craps, poker—you name it, they played it. And the wardens? They were all in, seeing it as a harmless diversion to keep the peace.

It was a slice of Vegas behind bars until someone upstairs decided that gambling and prison jumpsuits didn't mix. Just like that, in '67, a swift stroke of the legislative pen ended the inmates' games for good. But while it lasted, that casino was a high-stakes haven in the most unexpected of places.

Rivers Casino: A Quirky Tale from Chicago, USA

Picture this: a casino that once floated on a shallow pool, a curious remnant of a time when you had to be adrift to deal a hand or spin a wheel. That's Rivers Casino for you, nestled in Illinois, where the sounds of slots and the shuffling of cards started in 2011. Back in the day, not only did casinos have to float, they had to literally set sail before the high-stakes fun began. Luckily for Rivers, by the time they appeared on the scene, these rules had loosened up.

It was a rather odd spectacle, this hotel-cum-casino, bobbing on the water just to fit into the legal definition of a 'riverboat' casino. But as times changed, so did the laws. By 2019, a breath of fresh air allowed Rivers Casino to plant its foundations firmly on land, becoming Illinois' very first land-based casino—no more nautical nonsense!

The Enigmatic Casino Pyongyang in North Korea

North Korea isn't exactly the first place that springs to mind when you think 'casino' or even 'fun.' But believe it or not, hidden within this enigmatic nation are a few spots where you can toss chips and spin reels. One such place is Casino Pyongyang, a spot exclusively for the adventurous tourist, with the Chinese forming a significant chunk of their clientele.

Deep within the Yanggkado International hotel's basement, Casino Pyongyang flickers to life each night, closing its secretive doors at the stroke of 3am. It's a time capsule of sorts, not home to the flashy, high-tech slots of Vegas, but it's got charm, and classic table games to satiate the gambling appetite.

Over in the port city of Rason, North Korea, the Chinese tourists have another haunt to satisfy their gaming cravings—the Imperial Hotel and Casino, a sanctuary for those seeking a flutter away from prying eyes.

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