When the dazzling lights of slot machines dim and gamblers stop visiting, once-thriving casinos are forced to close their doors. These six casinos were vacant for many years, and their eventual fates were diverse. Some are still abandoned, while others have been transformed into new enterprises or razed. Here you can discover 6 deserted casinos around the world.
1. Haludovo Palace Hotel’s Penthouse Adriatic Club
The Haludovo Palace Hotel on the Croatian island of Krk housed the Penthouse Adriatic Club casino. It was the brainchild of Bob Guiccione, the creator of Penthouse magazine, who committed a record $45 million to the project.
In 1967, when Yugoslavia opened its borders and permitted tourists (but not citizens) to gamble, Guiccione thought that his new casino would draw international guests to his hotel.
When the hotel debuted in 1972, Penthouse “Pets” served as hostesses for guests.
It was reported that the Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and his family once vacationed at this luxurious complex. Unfortunately, the casino’s glitz did not endure long, and financial difficulties soon emerged.
Because residents were not permitted to gamble, there were insufficient finances to maintain the hotel and casino. It failed in 1973 and had its final guests in 2001.
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2. Constanta Casino is one of the popular deserted casinos
The casino in Constanta, Romania, resembles a palace more than a casino. It formerly was one of the most popular institutions of its kind and is situated on a cliff overlooking the Black Sea.
Although a wooden facility that was damaged by a storm in 1892 existed on the site, the contemporary casino was constructed in the early 1900s. People from all over the world, including the Russian Imperial family, came to visit.
The casino featured two game rooms, two reading rooms, a dance hall, a theater, a gallery, a restaurant, and a terrace with a breathtaking view of the ocean. But the casino’s exquisite appeal would not last forever.
When World War I broke out, the Red Cross converted the casino into a hospital, which was severely damaged by bombing.
The casino was restored after the war and repurposed as a hospital at the onset of World War II. During this conflict, it was again the target of airstrikes and was again severely destroyed.
It was transferred to the National Office of Tourism in 1960 and was identified as one of Europe’s seven most threatened locations in 2018. As of late 2020, construction had begun on the structure.
3. King’s Inn Casino
When the King’s Inn Casino debuted in 1974, Reno, Nevada was experiencing a period of rapid growth.
It was not the only casino to open in the 1970s, but it was among the least profitable. Before it ever opened its doors, employees went on strike. When it finally opened, there were not enough tourists willing to gamble away their money.
The casino had various owners but never avoided financial difficulties, and it was eventually abandoned when the hotel also collapsed.
The building was acquired in 2014 with the intention of renovating it and making it once again “fit for a king.” It is now a luxury residential building with retail rental opportunities on the ground floor.
4. Key Largo Hotel and Casino
A casino was built to the Ambassador Inn Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1978. The hotel was constructed in 1974. In 1997, a $7 million investment was made to remodel the hotel and casino into a South Florida-themed oasis, as the new attraction on Flamingo Road had been struggling for a long time.
It evolved into the Key Largo Hotel and Casino. The attraction was performing well upon its debut, and the owner had every intention of adding a hotel tower to the property.
The Key Largo Casino and Hotel was forced to close in 2005 because the cheap rooms, food, and gambling eventually lost their attractiveness to tourists visiting Las Vegas. It stood abandoned for years until 2008 when a small fire was lit inside.
This fire was sparked by an accident, but in 2013 a second fire caused more than $4.5 million in damages. Officials are almost certain that this fire was intentionally set. Given that it was already half-demolished, it did not take long to demolish the entire structure.
5. Asbury Park Gambling House
Asbury Park is renowned for its seaside boardwalk surrounded by stores and activities in New Jersey. One of these attractions was the casino, which, combined with an arcade, snack stands, and a variety of rides, comprised the entertainment section.
Asbury Park vied with Atlantic City for the title of New Jersey’s most popular casino resort after the casino was constructed in 1929.
Until the 1980s, the entertainment district experienced considerable foot traffic due to its abundance of activities. At that point, the entire district was officially declared to be deceased. The carousel, one of the most popular attractions, was relocated from Asbury Park to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and the remaining attractions are now abandoned.
Following years of disrepair, the casino was dismantled. However, the municipality is striving to restore the boardwalk to its former beauty.
6. Hotel and Casino Bokor Palace
This magnificent Cambodian hotel and casino were constructed in the 1920s atop a mountain. In this terrain, construction was incredibly tough, and many people perished while erecting the edifice.
The hotel and casino were converted into a hospital due to political instability and the First Indochina War, then it reopened in 1962 with its original purpose.
It only took two years for the casino to lock its doors again, as some gamblers leaped off the cliffs after losing their whole fortunes.
It was previously an abandoned mountaintop structure. Locals claim that the spirits of those who perished at the location still roam the hallways. However, this did not deter property developers.
The property was acquired and renovated to include an additional 30 upscale rooms and two restaurants.
Read more: Cisco Utah Ghost Town: A Woman Transformed an Abandoned Utah ghost Town into a Heaven with Arts
