The neon-lit casinos on The Strip, the gaming heart of Las Vegas, just keep getting more opulent as they replicate Euro landmarks, add thrill rides and celebrity chef-driven restaurants, and incorporate new Cirque du Soleil shows. Gamblers who prefer vintage Sin City head downtown to Fremont Street.

Aruba has a good hand to play, with fine powder sand beaches, amazing surfing and big-name casinos. High-rise hotels house such casinos as Allegro Aruba Beach, Aruba Concorde and the vast 8,000-square-foot Alhambra Bazaar, where Caribbean Stud Poker is the big draw.

Home to the imposing 1863 Monte Carlo Casino, a palace full of frescoes, sculptures and an astonishing gold and marble atrium, this tiny European principality is a glamorous gambling destination. Perched on the brim of the Mediterranean, the casino offers European, American and automatic games.

The chances of a good gambling trip to Puerto Rico are high, as elegant, atmospheric casinos abound. Considered the most enjoyable gaming destination in the Caribbean, Puerto Rico has hotel and resort casinos across the island, from old San Juan to Dorado and Mayaguez.

The Bahamas boasts an enticing array of gambling destinations. Grand Bahama's big draws include Freeport's Bahamia and Lucaya's Isle of Capri, while Paradise Island, adjacent to Nassau, boasts the thrilling, glittering Atlantis Resort, a fairy-tale destination with a 7-acre lagoon, towers, glass sculptures and fantastic gaming.

The action in Atlantic City is on the famous Boardwalk and at the tables of the fabulous array of this good-time city's casinos. Vegas-by-the-Sea is home to the reborn Steel Pier, Ripley's Believe it or Not and a plethora of places to play from Bally's Grand to Trump's Taj Mahal to gaudy Caesars.

A glittering constellation of casinos is scattered across the vibrant Dutch side of St. Maarten. Some are Vegas-style, themed casinos, such as underwater-themed Atlantis and the Ancient Rome-inspired Coliseum. There's no shortage of hot entertainment options to add to the excitement.

In addition to its banks of slot machines and abundant table games, Reno offers a kaleidoscopic array of nightlife options, from oldies revues and country-and-western to rock and comedy. Follow an evening of poker or baccarat with a headline show or nightclubbing in Reno or nearby Sparks.

Curacao is a good bet for those looking for that lucky combination of gambling, glorious beaches and an array of outdoors activities. Balance time on the tables with daytime delights such as scuba diving, befriending dolphins, golf and wandering the streets of Chrisoffelpark and Willemstad.

Now that casinos have spread in South Africa, Sun City is no longer the only gaming hotspot in the country, but it's still visually dramatic. Located two hours from Johannesburg, it's a sprawling complex of luxury hotels, restaurants and Vegas-style shows on the edge of Pilanesberg Game Reserve.

The former colony of Macau is famed for the frantic pace and constantly changing nature of its nightlife. Bars, shops, restaurants and casinos remain open 24 hours. Glittering "hungry tigers," as the slot machines are called locally, chatter all night, and table games star at 18 casinos.

Biloxi's floating fun palaces line the shoreline. Casino Magic Biloxi and the stunning 72,000-square-foot Beau Rivage are both due to be reopening. Beau Rivage offers banks upon banks of slots, a good mix of table games and friendly dealers.

Shreveport has been taking a gamble since the 1840s when paddle steamers resounded with the sounds of poker-provoked gun fights. Today the city's five atmospheric riverboat casinos are a far safer bet for those chancing their luck, and horse racing at Harrah's Louisiana Downs ups the stakes even further.

High rollers head to the Las Vegas-style gaming that has made Tunica the third-largest gambling destination in the nation. No gaming limits, big name entertainment and genuine Southern hospitality attract all to Tunica's 10 casinos, only a 30-minute drive from Memphis.

If you're heading to Connecticut with cash to splash, make for Mohegan Sun in Uncasville. The 300-table, 6200-slot towering hotel resort is a sure bet. Meanwhile, Ledyard's Foxwoods Resort, once the world's largest casino, operated by the Pequot tribe, has a staggering 7500 slots and is just short of 400 gaming tables.