The Basement Casino
What could be more unusual than heading underground into a basement to play casino games? Well that is exactly what is on offer at North Cadbury Court. The stunning Grade 1 16th century country house is located within the Somerset countryside close to Yeovil. Available for weddings, holidays and corporate events, the stately home features 21 luxury bedrooms, a dining room, ballroom, library and indoor swimming pool. Yet perhaps the quirkiest of its attractions is the basement casino.
The owners of the beautiful stately home, the Montgomery family decided to renovate the basement into a bespoke authentic casino, adding a unique edge to the country house venue. You can play roulette, blackjack or poker, hosted by professional local croupiers. With its low ceilings and a maximum capacity of 30 people, the gaming room has a truly exclusive ambience. The casino is only available when you book out the entire house for an event, underlining its exclusivity.
The Underground Casino
If the thought of heading down into a basement to play casino games struck you as odd, well how would you feel about venturing into a casino in an underground cave! That is exactly what you will find in the town of Coober Pedy in the Australian desert. The town was established in 1915 when miners discovered opal. Yet given the extreme temperatures, which often exceed 40 degrees Celsius in the shade, the new inhabitants created “dugouts”, where they would bore into the caves and build their homes underground.
Coober Pedy is today known as the opal capital of the world and around 60% of its inhabitants live underground. Visitors can experience dugout living at the Desert Cave hotel, where 19 of the 50 suits are below ground level. You can escape from the heat to play slot machines (or pokies as they are known down under) in the underground casino. You can also relax in the subterranean bar and pick up some of the opal the area is famed for in the underground shopping arcade.
The Haunted Casino
At first glance, Bally’s may seem like a typical Las Vegas casino, nothing unusual to be seen there. Yet it is the backstory of this casino that warrants its place on this list. The complex was previously known as the MGM Grand Hotel and in November 1980, the worst disaster in Nevada history occurred as the MGM Grand fire ravaged the building. Tragically, more than 80 people were killed. The property was later sold and renamed Bally’s and the hotel still includes part of the original tower where the fire happened.
Bally’s is reputed to be haunted. Numerous guests and staff have described spooky occurrences. There have been reports of ghosts appearing in the stairwells and hallways. Others have described hearing strange noises and noticing that furniture has inexplicably moved across rooms. Whether this is the ghosts of those who tragically perished in the fire, or merely over-imaginative minds, Bally’s has become known as one of the most haunted places in Las Vegas.
The Casino Built on a Puddle
When it comes to strange locations for a casino, the Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, Illinois may not be an obvious choice, given its convenient location, just minutes away from downtown Chicago and O’Hare International Airport. Yet what is unusual about this casino’s location is that it is built on a puddle, or more precisely, a shallow pit of water. Established in 2011, the water-based location was a creative way for the operator to get around state gambling laws, which only allow for riverboat casinos.
The casino is popular with local residents and also attracts visitors from the rest of the USA as well as internationally. It features an impressive selection of games, with 1000 slots, including Lucky 88, Wheel of Fortune and Buffalo Gold, with denominations ranging from as little as 1 cent up to $100. There are also over 50 tables games available. The Rivers Casino boasts 7 bars and restaurants, serving a diverse selection of cocktails, craft beers, and freshly prepared dishes.
The Casino in a Taxi
Whilst there are plenty of exclusive operators that vie for the title of the world’s smallest casino, you don’t get much smaller than a casino in a black cab. Yet Grosvenor Casino have done just that, with a quirky casino in a taxi. In the summer of 2016, Birmingham’s Grosvenor Casino launched the unusual travelling casino to promote their summer campaigns. The London cab was customised to include a gaming table and a dealer. It also featured TVs screening sporting events and internet gambling options as well as a bar.
Upon its launch, the sales and marketing director of the casino chain announced that the cab could be hailed, and passengers could be taken to the Hill Street branch of the casino free of charge. Alternatively, for an optional donation to the company’s nominated charity, you could travel to any location in the city. Following the launch of the casino cab in Birmingham, the vehicle went on to tour other major cities throughout the UK.
The Virtual Reality Casino
Online casinos have gone from strength to strength over the last decade. They make it incredibly easy and convenient to experience the thrill of playing real money casino games without even having to leave your house. However, some players miss the authentic real casino experience that you get from visiting a brick and mortar venue. Yet there is one operator that has developed an innovative and creative way to bridge the gap between online casinos and their land-based counterparts. SlotsMillion have launched the world’s first virtual reality casino.
By downloading the VR app and donning your Oculus goggles, you can step foot into a virtual casino world, where you can choose from more than 40 real money casino games. You will find popular slots including Gonzo’s Quest, Enchanted Meadow and Starburst. Multiple players can enter the room simultaneously, so you are likely to rub shoulders with other VR gamers as you work your way round the casino room. Even if you do not own VR goggle, you can opt for the 3D online casino application. The innovative VR/3D casino provides the most immersive and engaging online casino experience around.
