Strangest Casinos: The Most Unusual Places to Gamble
Gamble in a Taxi, a Mine, or Even a Prison—Yes, Really
Poker But… Peculiar
Look, we all love a classic Las Vegas casino moment—neon lights, a hint of cigarette smoke, and someone sobbing in a bathroom stall because they lost $600 playing blackjack for money with a guy named Steve from Tampa. But sometimes, the casino world takes a hard left turn and ends up in a cave. Or a taxi. Or—God help us all—a prison.
So, in the spirit of chaos and casino news you didn’t know you needed, here are five of the most gloriously unhinged places you can try your luck.
The Nevada State Prison Casino
What happens in prison stays in prison—unless you’re gambling for ramen packets in a literal inmate-run casino. From the 1930s to the ’60s, the Nevada State Prison had its own secret casino called “The Bullpen” where prisoners could play poker games, craps, and blackjack.
For years, there was a casino in Nevada State Prison! pic.twitter.com/OJSVa6WgKO
— FactBuffet (@FactBuffet) March 3, 2023
Apparently, it was supposed to reduce violence. Love that for them. But honestly, if you told me I had to play poker with a man who casually committed armed robbery and another who bit someone’s ear off, I’d fold real quick.
The Underground Casino – Coober Pedy, Australia
This one is giving dystopian spa vibes. Built underground to escape the scorching heat of the Outback, the Desert Cave Hotel lets you gamble in an actual opal mine.
Coober Pedy, South Australia
If you hate nuclear war but can’t afford a luxury bunker, head right over to the mining town of Coober Pedy where over half of its residents live and work underground. There is zero risk of wildfire as the town is surrounded by rocky desert. pic.twitter.com/A31dttlVGr
— Peter Goat (@ShuckMyBhauls) January 3, 2020
There’s an underground bar, an opal shop, and pokies. Imagine losing at slots, then going next door and buying a rock worth more than your rent. Healing.
Casino Jet Lounge – The Casino in the Sky
Ever wanted to play blackjack mid-turbulence? Same. French designers once proposed a flying casino in a Boeing 777 complete with poker tables and a lounge. Sadly, it never took off (pun intended), but Singapore Airlines did try slot machines in the ’80s. They were quickly removed. Shocking, I know—nothing screams “safe air travel” like a loose wheel of fortune flying down the aisle.
The Mobile Casino Taxi – London, UK
In 2016, Grosvenor Casinos created a functioning casino in the back of a black cab, complete with a red felt Blackjack for money table and a dealer just casually chilling in the passenger seat. Hail a cab, place your bets, and hopefully win enough to afford another ride.
The Virtual Reality Casino
If your idea of adventure is gambling in a digital penthouse while pantsless on your couch—congrats, you’re already there. There are actual sites where you can play poker games and pretend you’re in a high-rise when you’re actually in your mom’s basement.
From underground mining towns to flying poker dens, these casinos prove one thing: humans will gamble literally anywhere. But if all this sounds like too much jet-setting and cave-crawling, our online casinobrings the thrills to you. Skip the plane, the prison, and the taxi—log in and start playing today. Your weirdest casino story might just begin on your laptop.
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