Casinos in Central America
Casinos in Central America are starting to have a positive effect on tourism levels in the region's several countries. What this means is that now, more than ever, Central America offers a great travel experience for the discerning traveller.
All seven countries that make up the Central American sub-continent (this excludes the numerous islands found just offshore on both the eastern and western stretches of coastline) have legal casino facilities, although illegal casinos are active throughout Central America, while horseracing and dog racing enjoy a great deal of popularity.
The country with the most casinos in Central America is Costa Rica, which welcomes about 1.5 million tourists every year. Costa Rica boasts 40 casinos with a total of 1 269 slot machines. The two premier casinos in the country are without doubt Radisson Hotel and Casino Europa and the casino at Melia Cariari Hotel and Country Club.
Despite this, though, Central America’s largest casino is Casino Majestic, which is part of the bustling casino industry in Panama's capital, Panama City.
Casino Majestic is home to almost 1 000 slot machines and video games, as well as 36 game tables, but it is certainly not the sole gambling destination in Panama, which offers over 30 more casinos – the second largest number of casinos in Central America.
Included in this total is the luxurious Five-star Veneto Hotel and Casino Resort, which opened in 2005 and has garnered a deal of international interest ever since.
Other top gambling establishments in Panama City include Alberto Btesh and Moises Hasky, which are both designed along the lines of the famous Las Vegas-style hotel and casino resorts, while in the rest of Panama the best casinos are probably the Casino Los Pueblos and Casino Dorado.
Of the other Central American countries, Nicaragua boasts the most facilities, with 10 casinos on offer for both locals and tourists. Belize and Honduras are each home to 2 hotel and casino resorts, while there is just one casino in El Salvador at present.
Central America also benefits from the thriving casino cruise industry in the Caribbean, thanks to the close proximity of a number of these island resorts, adding to the revenue generated by the casinos in Central America.
