If you want to add some high-stakes excitement to your tropical escape, head to one of the Caribbean islands known for gambling. Casinos can be found on such islands as Aruba, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Maarten, Curacao and Bonaire, and are often in large, beachside resorts that offer excellent package deals and luxurious extras such as spas.
Curacao is home to 12 casinos; of these, nine are in the capital, Willenstad. One of the most popular is the Curacao Marriott Beach Resort & Emerald Casino.
Aruba has 11 casinos located at some of its largest resorts. A few, like the Crystal Casino, are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but in general opening hours are 11 a.m. for slots and 1 p.m. for table games. The currency is the U.S. dollar. Two of the most spectacular casinos include the island’s largest, Stellaris Casino at the Aruba Marriott, and the sophisticated Crystal Casino at the Renaissance Aruba Resort. Both have live music nightly. Other options include the Excelsior Casino at the Holiday Inn Sunspree, the Alhambra Casino in Oranjestad and the Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort & Casino.
You can find casinos galore in the major resort complexes of Santo Domingo, Punta Cana and Playa Dorada, and the nation's biggest gaming facility, Casino Dominicus, in La Romana. You can bet in either pesos or U.S. dollars, and the odds are the same as in Las Vegas. Most casinos are open until the wee hours of the morning — 4 a.m. or 5 a.m. One good bet is the Playa Dorada Casino in the Allegro Playa Dorada. This hotel has 500 rooms and is near an 18-hole golf course. The Renaissance Jaragua Hotel and Casino in Santo Domingo is the largest casino on the island, but if you are traveling with kids, you may prefer the family-friendly Amhsa Paradise Beach Club & Casino.
All of Puerto Rico’s 20-odd casinos are located in major hotels, and it’s easy to find a money-saving package deal that combines a room at one of these with airfare. Most casinos stay open until 4 a.m. or 6 a.m., but a few are open 24 hours. The currency is the U.S. dollar. One of the most elegant options is the Ritz-Carlton on the Isla Verde beachfront. The casino is open 24 hours. Also, check out the San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino and El Conquistador Resort, whose Golden Door Spa is justifiably renowned. This property has a casino with a casual Spanish vibe.
The three large casinos in the Bahamas are in hotels or resorts and cater exclusively to tourists; Bahamians are not allowed to gamble. These are the Atlantis Paradise Island, the Crystal Palace Casino on Cable Beach and the Isle of Capri Casino on Grand Bahama Island. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 a.m. during the week, but the Crystal Palace is open 24 hours on the weekend. U.S. and Bahamian dollars are accepted interchangeably. The enormous Atlantis offers a staggering array of rooms and activities in addition to the 50,000-square-foot casino.
