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Time Magazine
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Magazine
The Top 10 Casinos in the World According to AI
This article is published by a partner of TIME. Casinos have long been synonymous with luxury, excitement, and the thrill of chance. Across the globe, these establishments offer not just a gaming experience but a gateway to a world of glamour, entertainment, and indulgence. Whether nestled in the dazzling lights of Las Vegas or perched amidst breathtaking natural settings, the world's top casinos are destinations in their own right, drawing millions of visitors annually. What sets the best casinos apart is their ability to offer more than just gambling. They combine architectural grandeur, world-class hospitality and dining options, diverse entertainment options, and cultural significance. From poker to slot machines, blackjack to baccarat, these casinos cater to seasoned players and casual tourists alike, ensuring an unforgettable experience. In this article, using research assistance from ChatGPT, we explore the top 10 casinos in the world. They were chosen for their remarkable offerings, cultural impact, and unique allure. Each of these establishments represents the pinnacle of casino culture, blending opulence with world-class gaming to deliver a lively and exciting experience. 1. The Venetian Macao The Venetian Macao is a masterpiece of luxury, often referred to as the crown jewel of Asia's gambling capital. Modeled after its Las Vegas counterpart, this sprawling resort features stunning replicas of Venice's canals, complete with gondola rides. With over 376,000 square feet of gaming space, it's the largest casino in the world and a symbol of grandeur. 2. Bellagio The Bellagio in Las Vegas is renowned for its elegance and iconic fountains. Inspired by Italy's Lake Como, the Bellagio combines sophistication with high-stakes gaming. It's also a cultural hub, hosting fine art exhibits and world-class shows such as Cirque du Soleil's 'O.' 3. Casino de Monte-Carlo The Casino de Monte-Carlo is a symbol of old-world luxury and sophistication. Nestled in the glamorous principality of Monaco, this casino is renowned for its opulent décor and high-stakes gaming. It has also served as a backdrop for several James Bond films, cementing its iconic luxury status. 4. Marina Bay Sands Marina Bay Sands is a modern architectural marvel in Singapore, featuring three iconic towers topped by the world-famous SkyPark. Its casino boasts a massive gaming floor, but the resort's other attractions, including luxury shopping and a rooftop infinity pool, make it a must-visit. 5. Wynn Palace Located in the Cotai Strip of Macao, Wynn Palace is synonymous with luxury. Known for its breathtaking floral displays and gondola rides around the property's Performance Lake, Wynn Palace offers an exceptional blend of gaming and high-end amenities. 6. Foxwoods Resort Casino Foxwoods, located on Native American land in Connecticut, is one of the largest casino resorts in North America. It combines traditional gaming with entertainment, golf, and retail shopping, offering something for everyone. Year Built: 1986 Location: Mashantucket, Connecticut, USA Reason for Inclusion: A pioneer in casino resorts with diverse entertainment options Principal Games Played: Bingo, craps, keno, slots Key Attraction: HighFlyer Zipline over the resort grounds Dining: Offers more than 30 restaurants and bars Key Fact: Operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation 7. Resorts World Sentosa Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore offers more than just gaming—it's a family-friendly destination with attractions such as Universal Studios Singapore, S.E.A. Aquarium, and luxury hotels. 8. Caesars Palace A mainstay on the Las Vegas Strip, Caesars Palace blends Roman-inspired architecture with world-class gaming and entertainment. Known for hosting legendary performances, it's a cultural and gaming hotspot. 9. Sun City Resort Sun City in South Africa is a unique blend of casino gaming and resort living. Surrounded by natural beauty, it offers luxury accommodations, world-class golf courses, and wildlife safaris. 10. The Venetian Resort Las Vegas The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas is a marvel of design, recreating the charm of Venice with canals, gondolas, and Italian architecture. Its expansive casino floor and luxurious amenities make it a standout destination on the Strip. Conclusion on Top 10 Casinos The world's top casinos are more than just gambling venues—they're cultural landmarks, architectural marvels, and centers of entertainment. Whether you're walking the luxurious halls of The Venetian Macao or enjoying the historic charm of Casino de Monte-Carlo, each of these destinations offers a unique experience that goes well beyond gambling and the casino floor. These establishments exemplify the glamour, excitement, and allure of casino culture. From high-stakes gaming to luxurious amenities, they continue to attract visitors seeking unforgettable moments. Whether you're an avid gambler or a curious traveler, these casinos represent the best of what the world has to offer. Related Articles: About the Authors: Richard D. Harroch is a Senior Advisor to CEOs, management teams, and Boards of Directors. He is an expert on M&A, venture capital, startups, and business contracts. He was the Managing Director and Global Head of M&A at VantagePoint Capital Partners, a venture capital fund in the San Francisco area. His focus is on internet, digital media, AI and technology companies. He was the founder of several Internet companies. His articles have appeared online in Forbes, Fortune, MSN, Yahoo, Fox Business and Richard is the author of several books on startups and entrepreneurship as well as the co-author of Poker for Dummies and a Wall Street Journal-bestselling book on small business. He is the co-author of a 1,500-page book published by Bloomberg on mergers and acquisitions of privately held companies. He was also a corporate and M&A partner at the international law firm of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe. He has been involved in over 200 M&A transactions and 250 startup financings. He can be reached through LinkedIn. Dominique Harroch is the Chief of Staff at She has acted as a Chief of Staff or Operations Leader for multiple companies where she leveraged her extensive experience in operations management, strategic planning, and team leadership to drive organizational success. With a background that spans over two decades in operations leadership, event planning at her own start-up and marketing at various financial and retail companies. Dominique is known for her ability to optimize processes, manage complex projects and lead high-performing teams. She holds a BA in English and Psychology from U.C. Berkeley and an MBA from the University of San Francisco. She can be reached via LinkedIn.
National Geographic
30-04-2025
- Science
- National Geographic
King cobra
Scientific Name: Ophiophagus hannah Average Life Span In The Wild: 20 years Size relative to a 6-ft man: The king cobra—one of the most venomous snakes on the planet—can literally "stand up" and look a full-grown person in the eye. When confronted, they can lift up to a third of its body off the ground and still move forward to attack. Fortunately, king cobras are shy and will avoid humans whenever possible. It will also flare out its iconic hood and emit a hiss that sounds almost like a growling dog. King cobras can reach 18 feet in length, making them the longest of all venomous snakes. Although zoologist Theodore Cantor first described the king cobra as one species in 1836, the snakes have recently undergone a rebranding. Differences in genetics and physical characteristics point to the snakes belonging to four separate species: the Northern king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah), the Sunda king cobra (Ophiophagus bungarus), the Western Ghats king cobra (Ophiophagus kaalinga), and the Luzon king cobra (Ophiophagus salvatana). Venom King cobra venom is not the most potent among venomous snakes, but the amount of neurotoxin they can deliver in a single bite—up to two-tenths of a fluid ounce—is enough to kill 20 people, or even an elephant. Their venom affects the respiratory centers in the brain, causing respiratory arrest and cardiac failure. Habitat and behavior King cobras live mainly in the rain forests and plains of India, southern China, and Southeast Asia, and their coloring can vary greatly from region to region. They are comfortable in a variety of habitats, including forests, bamboo thickets, mangrove swamps, high-altitude grasslands, and in rivers. According to the new taxonomic designations, the Northern king cobra (O. hannah) can be found in eastern Pakistan, northern and eastern India, the Andaman Islands, southern China, south to central Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. The Sunda king cobra (O. bungarus) inhabits Malaysia, Indonesia, and parts of the southern Philippines. The Western Ghats king cobra (O. kaalinga) lives in its namesake mountain range in southwestern India. Finally, the Luzon king cobra (O. salvatana) can only be found on the island of Luzon in northern Philippines. True to their genus name which means snake-eater in Greek, the serpents feed mainly on other snakes, venomous and nonvenomous. Some have even been documented eating other king cobras. They will also eat lizards, eggs, and small mammals. King cobras are known to fight other males to win the attention of females during breeding season. They are the only snakes in the world that build nests for their eggs, which they guard ferociously until the hatchlings emerge. Snake charmers King cobras may be best known as the snake of choice for the snake charmers of South Asia. Although cobras can hear, they are actually deaf to ambient noises, sensing ground vibrations instead. Snake charming is 'often a sad con game in which an exhausted cobra is put on the defensive, yet conditioned (with pain) not to strike the flutist,' Smithsonian's National Zoo says. Threats to survival The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists king cobras as vulnerable to extinction, but hasn't assessed the risk of the new individual species. These snakes face a variety of threats stemming from human activities. Heavy deforestation in Southeast Asia has destroyed the habitats of many king cobras, while they are also harvested in large numbers for skin, food, and medicinal purposes. They are also collected for the international pet trade. King cobras are also persecuted by humans who fear their menacing reputation. Conservation In Vietnam, the Northern king cobra is a protected species. Protected areas within this snake's geographic range likely provide some safeguards, and organizations like the King Cobra Conservancy work to better understand the behaviors of the species in order to educate the public and protect the snake's habitat. The Indian government implants microchips in captive king cobras to allow officials to identify any snakes that have newly been taken captive—which has been outlawed—in order to reduce the illegal wildlife trade.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sterling K. Brown reveals the touching reason he stopped going by his middle name
Sterling K. Brown uses his name as a tribute to his late grandfather. The 49-year-old actor went by his middle name of Kelby until he was in his late teens, but explained that because by that point, he had been without his grandfather for six years, he adopted the moniker he uses now to remember him by. Speaking on 'The Kelly Clarkson Show', he said: "I went by my middle name, I went by Kelby til i was 16 years old. My dad's Sterling Brown Jr. My grandfather Sterling Brown Sr. I'm Sterling Kelby Brown. "I wanted my own name, and it felt like Sterling was like an old man's name. "But because he passed away when I was 10, by the time I turned 16 and I hadn't heard his name for five-and-a-half years, I was like, I kind of just want to hear that name again, so I asked people to call me Sterling." The 'Behind These Hazel Eyes' hitmaker was left visibly moved by his revelation and was almost on the verge of tears. She said: "Okay, okay, that was so sweet and beautiful." Sterling has become a household name in recent years thanks to roles in 'This Is Us' and 'American Crime Story: The People v. O. J. Simpson' but in the early days of his career, he managed to avoid having to get another job by being "so frugal-minded" with the way he lived, including eating as cheaply as possible. His manager of 25 years, Jennifer Wiley-Moxley, told 'There are so many careers built on offers that Sterling had and wasn't available to do. 'Sterling just never had to work doing anything else. He was one of the rare actors who never had to have a side hustle because he was willing to live so frugal-minded that he rented a room in a Harlem townhouse, didn't have his own bathroom, couldn't afford a gym membership. "He would get a dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts and eat them in front of me at my desk like, 'Well, these are my calories for the day!' He was very fun and very quirky in that way. That grit of 'I'll do whatever I have to do to get it.''
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
A New Species of Sunflower Was Just Discovered in Texas
The thought of spring and the arrival of all those blooming flowers can brighten even the dreariest of winter days. And if you're desperately grasping for anything to bring a little sunshine into your life as the cold days still linger, you'll love this little nugget of news: A new species of sunflower was just discovered in Texas. That's right! According to the California Academy of Sciences, a park volunteer Deb Manley first observed the plant at Big Bend National Park back in March 2024. After uploading the unknown species to a community science app, an international team of botanists determined it was not only a new species of sunflower, but an entirely new genus a well. It's been nearly 50 years since a new genus was identified in a national park. The last time was 1976, so this is pretty exciting news! But before you get all excited to grow sunflowers in your garden this year, you might want to take a look at the new family member first. Meet the Ovicula biradiata, also known as the wooly devil. Eek! Far from the types of sunflowers that Ree Drummond and other fans call "so beautiful," this small, furry relative was confirmed to have genetic similarities after some DNA sequencing. "O. biradiata is a member of the sunflower family, although it does not resemble its sunburst-shaped relatives at first glance," explains Academy researcher Isaac Lichter Marck, PhD. Even if you find the fuzzy white foliage endearing (hey, all nature is beautiful, right?), the wooly devil would most likely not thrive in your plant hardiness zone, as Big Bend is located in the Chihuahuan Desert. It grows in harsh rocky terrains and it only blooms after rainfall. And unlike the towering stalks of other sunflowers, this new find is a "belly plant," which is best observed when lying on the ground. So while it may not make an ideal summer garden flower, the wooly devil does show promise elsewhere. "Under the microscope, we noticed specific glands that are known to possess compounds with anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties in other plants within the sunflower family," notes Academy co-author Keily Peralta. There's still so much to learn about this species given its new discovery. But researchers are hard at work and park visitors are encouraged to document their observations to the iNaturalist app to assist in the efforts. And while the world awaits updates, at least we can say: Welcome to the sunflower family, you little wooly devil. Every day, your garden's tiniest visitors are hard at work. The lovely little butterflies you see floating by and those always-busy bees are transferring pollen from flower to flower so plants can reproduce to make fruits and seeds. And though you may not have ever thought about it, without our pollinators, there's no food for any of us. These winged wonders are what keep your vegetable garden thriving! That's why you'll want to check out these plants that attract pollinators, including several spring flowers and more to bring life to your garden. Unfortunately, in some places, pollinator populations have been affected by misuse of chemicals or habitat destruction. So what's the best thing you can do to help? Plant flowers to make your garden a welcoming place for different kinds of pollinators including bees, moths, wasps, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Make sure to plant in clumps or swaths, rather than one flower here or there, so your visitors will find the wealth. And if you don't have a big backyard, you can plant them in containers and pots that will also add some variety to your landscaping ideas! Finally, if you're planting perennial flowers, which come back for many seasons, make sure they'll survive winters in your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone. Now that you know why you should add plants that attract pollinators, here are a few great varieties to add to your garden! You Might Also Like 15 Best Denim Jacket Outfit Ideas to Pull from Your Closet 10 Best Shampoos for Red Hair Like Ree Drummond's
