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Where in the World Do You Want To Play Today?

The footloose gamer will be happy to know that there are no less than 4,727 gaming establishments worldwide. Almost anywhere one lands, it seems, there are casinos, horse tracks, dog tracks, racinos and cruise ships eager to provide the thrills, amenities and service one has come to expect. But where is a gamer to find the greater variety to suit the whim of the moment?

Over 300 million residents, 50 million poker players and approximately 20 million overseas tourists ensure that America is far and away the leader with at least 1,662 gaming and betting facilities. Over one-fifth of these are in Nevada, of course. Not for nothing have Las Vegas and Reno become world-renowned icons of the casino industry.

Surprisingly, California (182 casinos, tracks, etc.) and Florida (146) combine for almost as many gaming establishments. This stands to reason since the twin states are the premier vacation and overseas-tourist destinations in the country.

Standing as travel destinations does not explain, however, why Washington state (144 casinos, tracks, etc.) and obscure Montana (137) rank third and fourth, respectively, in offering the most venues for gaming enjoyment.

Across the Atlantic, the industry is just as vibrant. After all, casinos originated there in the 19th century as public buildings where delightful activities, including gambling and sports, took place. No fewer than 42 countries and principalities offer over 1,700 casinos and tracks. France (455) and the United Kingdom (246) are the most hospitable, accounting for nearly half the European gaming and betting facilities. Germany (127 casinos, tracks, etc), Estonia (127) and Russia (120) also offer appreciable variety. Everywhere on the continent, nonetheless, one is always bound to find some gaming action.

Flying Down Under, to Australia and the South Pacific, one finds the next biggest concentration of countries receptive to gaming activity. At last count, Australia has 417 casinos, tracks, etc., nearly as many as France but with only one-third the population and considerably less tourist arrivals. Aussies quite plainly love their casinos, pubs and other venues with poker machines, lotteries, horse racing and greyhound tracks.

The next most inviting destinations surround the United States. Canada, with 110 casinos and tracks, is the single most convivial country. South of the border, so to speak, Argentina leads the pack with 80 gaming establishments. And there are venues sprinkled all over Latin America and the Caribbean island resorts. Only Mexico and Cuba, it seems, are immune to the lure of casino or race track tax revenues.

Religious and political strictures may account for the fact that there are a total of just 181 gaming and betting venues in the Asian landmass, home to nearly 4 billion. Gaming establishments are sparse throughout the Middle East, the rare exceptions being Israel, Lebanon and the UAE. On the other hand, casinos and pari-mutuel action have gained ground in East Asia. Japan (31) has almost as many venues as fabled Macau (32). And the Philippines (20) is not far behind either.

Casinos, racetracks, bingo parlors, poker video pubs and lotteries have proliferated close to home for the well-off middle classes of Europe and North America. Nevertheless, the globetrotting gamer is liable to find a welcoming establishment almost anywhere that is a viable business or tourist destination.