Casinos are more than just a place to spend time and money. Many famous casinos are architectural marvels in their own right. People come to gamble, enjoy the entertainment, and admire the opulence. It’s all part of the casino experience.

Some famous casinos date back to the Belle Epoque period, where design was everything. The Ritz Club in London is a good example, with its beautiful trompe l’oeil walls featuring panoramic scenes. The Casino de Monte Carlo is another classic. Constructed by Prince Florestan to attract the fabulously wealthy from England and Europe, Monte Carlo’s iconic casino is both glamorous and grand, and today, Europe’s rich and famous still flock there to rub shoulders with curious tourists. The Venetian Macau is also wonderfully opulent, with beautiful ceiling frescoes and three canals, and it is twice as large as its sister casino in Las Vegas.

Online casinos have become increasingly popular, and they do offer a lot of advantages. You can take a look at the OnlineCasinos site for a list of the best online casinos, as well as the bonuses available. But if your primary interest is art rather than poker, read on to learn more about casino art.

Casino Art Gallery – The Bellagio
Who would have thought that a casino could be an art gallery too? Well, prepare to be amazed!

The Bellagio Casino in Las Vegas is home to the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art. When it opened its doors in 1998, it was the first of its kind. The gallery showcases some exceptional fine art by a range of famous artists, including David Hockney and Monet. Exhibitions hosted at the gallery have featured works by Andy Warhol and Lichtenstein, Picasso, and even a collection of fabulous Faberge eggs.

The gallery space is small and intimate, which is part of the appeal. It is the perfect place to enjoy some downtime between intense games of Blackjack or Poker.

Of course, art doesn’t have to be conventional in the sense of paintings and sculpture. Some would argue that flora and fauna are just as much art as paint on canvas. If you agree, you will be delighted to learn the Bellagio is also home to a wonderful Botanical Garden in the Conservatory. Here, impressive flowers, plants, and trees from all over the world have been cultivated. Guests can explore the garden and enjoy a carefully curated collection of sculptures and artwork displayed among the flora and fauna. It is simply breathtaking.

The Palms Casino
The Palms Casino in Las Vegas is another example of how well it can work when art and casinos are combined. Unlike the Bellagio, which has its very own art gallery inside the casino, the Palms Casino has transformed the entire venue into a space for art.

If you visit the Palms Casino, you will spot many artworks by famous artists decorating the walls. Some of them are priceless! Look out for paintings by Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat, Timothy Curtis, Robert Munday, Scott Hove.

The artwork on display is largely modernist, with a mixture of paintings, installations, photography, and neon art. One of the most famous artists to feature in the Palms Casino was Damien Hurst. Back in 1999, a controversial sculpture of a dissected shark was exhibited above the main bar. Since then, Hurst and the casino have collaborated on several projects, including the design of a suite.

The $200k-a-night Empathy suite features various artworks designed by Hurst, and his influence even extends to the furnishings and décor, with a pill cabinet decorated with diamonds. This isn’t a suite anyone can afford, but if you have the money, it’s definitely unique.

A 60-foot sculpture of a Demon by Damien Hurst, first exhibited at an exhibition in Venice, was later acquired by the Palms’ billionaire owners for a reported $14 million and installed next to the casino’s swimming pool. The collaboration between Damien Hurst and the Palms Casino will likely continue for many years to come.

If you have a passion for art, a stay at the Palms Casino in Las Vegas should be on your to-do list this year.

The Hippodrome Casino
The Hippodrome Casino in London’s Leicester Square has been transformed in recent years, from a slightly dingy nightspot into a modern, vibrant casino. In 2014, a digital artist was given the creative freedom to transform the casino and turn it into a super casino for the modern age. £50 million was spent on combining gambling and aesthetics, which involved restoring the Edwardian building to its former glory.

There is now a 57-panel digital artwork created by artist Thomas D Gray on display in the main interior. The artwork is an ambitious melding of different iconic images related to London and casinos. Several ideas were presented before the final panels were accepted, and they were put together in five months by a time of filmmakers and editors.

Images appear in frames at various locations within the building, from the stairwells and basement gaming area to the ladies’ toilets. It was an ambitious project but one that turned out to be remarkably successful in its inception.

The venue’s owners say the Casino is not just a gambling venue – it is a piece of art in its own right, one that should be enjoyed by everyone. Why not pay a visit to decide for yourself?

The Venetian Casino Resort
Last on our list is the world-famous Venetian Resort and Casino in Macau. Here, luxury and art go hand in hand, and everywhere you look you will see wonderful paintings. The opulent domed ceilings are works of art in themselves, and the art deco-themed casino is extraordinary.

It’s no wonder that this amazing casino attracts the fabulously wealthy Asian gamblers, who come to spend their money and soak up the luxurious atmosphere. Who can blame them?

Art and casinos may not be an obvious pairing at first glance, but hopefully, after reading this article, you will be inspired to visit some of these famous casinos to check out the art on display.