Gambling Around The Globe Part 1 - Venetian

The extraordinary Venetian Casino resort is out of this world - and a world away from most other casinos.

Las Vegas has many weird and wonderful resorts, designed to take punters into another world where play and pleasure are the only things that matter. Ever more extravagantly themed, these hotels vie with each other to provide visitors with the most over-the-top, never-to-be forgotten Las Vegas experience.

There's Caesar's Palace, designed to make every visitor who experiences its marble bathtubs, pools and fountains feel like a Roman Emperor. The Luxor, with its ancient Egyptian ambience. And The Mirage, with its white tigers and amazing 54ft-high volcano that erupts at regular intervals every night for the edification of Strip habitués.

But it doesn't get much more over-the-top than The Venetian.

The resort, which opened in 1999, and is one of the most successful properties on the Strip, is located on the former site of the Sands Hotel. Like the Mirage volcano, it's a must-see experience even if you're not actually staying there.

Renaissance Replica

The real Venice has a strong claim for being the place where European casino gambling began. A public gambling house was legalised in 1616 in the Italian city, and soon these small gambling places or "casini" became widespread. Of course, there are still two casinos in Venice today.

To say that the Venetian resort models itself on the romantic Renaissance city is an understatement - it recreates it, indoor canals, Bridge of Sighs replica and all. This mini-city can mainly be found in the Grand Canal Shoppes. Not only will you find canals there, under a painted blue and white Italian sky, you can actually go for a ride in an authentic Italian gondola.

Street performers and carnival characters populate a replica St Marks Square, and there's a Doge's Palace at the resort that has to be seen to be believed. It goes without saying that there are an enormous amount of eating and shopping (or shoppe-ing) opportunities available here for visitors too.

High Culture And High Stakes

More serious aspects of Venetian culture are also emulated at the resort, which features the Guggenheim Hermitage, managed and operated by the Guggenheim Foundation. Visitors can see some impressive exhibitions here or listen to lectures on art history, should they wish to take a break from shopping, eating or gaming.

It hardly needs to be stated that the Venetian's gaming facilities are pretty fantastic, with high stakes slots and all the table games you would expect from a Vegas super-resort. S o all in all, it's pretty much a gamblers' paradise. Gamblers who like Venice, that is.

There's Always Paris…

If you don't, there's always Paris. That's the Paris Hotel and Casino on the Strip, where you'll find a faithful rendition of the City of Light, complete with a half-size Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe. Or there's the New York, where you'll find a recreation of the classic Manhattan skyline and a replica of the Statue of Liberty.

Really, it's possible to see the whole world without ever leaving Las Vegas. What on earth - literally - will they think of next?