What constitutes a great vacation? Some might say it’s many hours spent vegetating on a beach. Others might say it is the experience of new and exciting activities. Then there are those who insist on the old-fashioned good times of drinking, dancing, and public merriment. Well, for some – not that we recommend it, nothing complements the fun of engaging in vices like gambling.
Entering a casino gives one the sense of adventure and risk. After a day in the sun, the best way to spend an evening might be in the cool yet stimulating atmosphere of a grand casino.
Consider booking a villa on a Caribbean island that is centrally located to other attractive destinations. If your budget allows, the ideal arrangement would also include a yacht charter, enabling flexibility in location without being limited to casinos around one resort or island. This requires doing some homework, not only regarding the locale of your home base (and condo/villa rental) but also finding the right yacht and crew. Really get the party started with side trips to some of the best casinos in the islands.
BAHAMAS
Though Bahamians aren’t allowed to gamble, you’ll still find plenty of action at the tables in the Bahamas. The Crystal Palace Casino on Cable Beach is open 24 hours on the weekends. The Isle of Capri Casino on Grand Bahama is a fun stop if you’re in the Freeport area. And the casino at Atlantis Resort is truly an island paradise. It’s the largest in the Caribbean with 50,000 square feet of slots, baccarat, blackjack, craps, poker, and roulette.
ANTIGUA
Antigua has several casinos so you’ll never be far from a hot pair of dice. Antigua is a yachtsmen’s port, but the year-round popularity of the island means that there’s always a party- regardless of your sailing skills. Try your hand at the Grand Princess Casino, which has a sports book. There are also slot machines, tables, restaurants, and a nightclub.
ARUBA
Aruba is home to a few casinos that many would enjoy. The Crystal Casino is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week; good thing there’s no curfew on your charter yacht!  The Stellaris Casino is also worth a visit for its posh interior. And then there’s the Alhambra Bazaar, which allows you to shop away your winnings without leaving the property.
OTHER ISLANDS
There are many other places to pick up a card game or drop coins in a slot down in the Caribbean. There are over 100 casinos to choose from so if gambling is going to be part of your yacht charter itinerary, you will definitely have options. St. Maarten alone has 13 casinos (all on the Dutch side), and several are theme-styled like those in Las Vegas. Martinique has a couple casinos as well as a Hippodrome where you can bet on live horse races. Or perhaps you’d rather spend your money on the American island St. Croix at its Divi Carina Bay Beach Resort and Casino. Playing in the sun and surf that surrounds these casinos, you’ll always feel like a winner.
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[Katie Harper is a guest blogger and travel enthusiast who enjoys spending as much time as possible at the casinos, especially in the Caribbean.]