But Italian people, choosing a destination, also search for a place where they can play? In lack of official estimates, we asked to an insider, Alfredo Vassalluzzo, director of Travelbuy Italian Network, founded in 2008 and that includes about 90 travel agencies in Italy.
"We can not affirm that Italian people choose places where they can also play for their holidays; this kind of tourism it is not yet entered in our culture, this is tipical of countries like United Kingdom or United States, although in recent times, in small towns buses for bingo halls or casinos are organized, but everything is limited to an excursion of a day from morning to night".
But we must make a distinction: "One thing is the traveler who moves to amusements parks, and in this case , there are many Italians who choose to include in their holiday an amusement park and the most famous one is Disneyland Paris, and another thing are people who move for play, that we can not define tourists. People who move with the intention of play, mainly towards casinos as horse racing in Italy is suffering an inexorable and intentional decline, not even remotely think of visiting the city or the surrounding area but only think to achieve the purpose of their movement, that is to say gaming. So it is impossible to give to this persons the name of travelers. Moreover their mood and their inclination for fun depend on the outcome of the day or night spent at the gaming table".
Vassalluzzo makes the identikit of the traveler for gaming reasons: "People who move to play have good financial means, often they have no family ties and they are also quite demanding persons, as long as the gaming day does not completely go wrong; in this case they would be so focused on how to win that they would not pay attention to the rest! People who do not have a lot of finanxcial means, seek the thrill of gaming at their own town or at their own house using technology and then playing at the authorized betting places or on online accounts in internet. The taste of Italians is changing over the years but we still record requirements a little bit higher than travelers from other countries".
Cruises are between the particularly desired holiday, where gaming is really always present...
"The casinos on the ships are well-groomed as bigger sources of income for shipping companies, considering the fact that now there are thousands and not hundreds guests on the ships. Moreover the biggest part of ships are an American property and in this aspect too they reflect the importance of money for the American people. For example Royal caribbean, in the first two years of sailing in the Mediterranean sea, did not allow cash payments on the ship. The only place where cash can circulate was inside casinos".
Back on the mainland, what are the more “popular” gaming places at the Italian and European level?
"The most characteristic places are undoubtedly Venice for Italy and Montecarlo for Europe for different reasons. Venice is a magical city that floats on water, without cars, a chaotic city in the day but a quiet one at night, very identified with its historical Carnival and its traditions; the casino itself is an “anomaly” because formerly it had a summer and a winter house, and now it has two houses. In this environment everything is softer, even losses, perhaps, hurt less. Montecarlo is the dream of everyone; in everyone's mind the native in Monaco is full of money that leads an easy life, almost subject to a sort of live and let live that rules his days; then the casino is the place where people dream of win and then become part of that jet set, as if they can have more chances of winning or they could not lose".
THE VOTES OF TRIP ADVISOR - But how Italian people (and not only) judge the destinations where they go to play? One sign comes from the reviews posted on TripAdvisor, where they talk about the good points and the bad points of the chosen location, which ultimately is promoted, or rejected, by a judgment. For example, the Casino of Ca' Vendramin in Venice, is reviewed (at the time of going to press) by 50 travelers, who mainly defined it a “very good” casino or “on average”, praising (is the case of Lorenzo G) the fact that it is a "beautiful place" and complaining that "three people have never won for seven hours", as Jo B., one of them (perhaps), reports. The Casino Campione, with its 54 reviews, appears to be an “excellent” casino even if, according to Michael A, "the problem is that they never buy you a drink", while Srci65 praises the "very courteous and professional" staff. The Casino Sanremo has 131 reviews and it is “on average”, a score almost equal to those who consider it a “very good” casino. "In a little retro style... few young people", Francesco M. observes, and Stinco_2012 remembers "a different and entertaining night, playing with restraint". Visitors of the Casino of Saint Vincent perhaps know a little TripAdvisor, as the site has only 13 reviews, but they receive the kind answer of the Casino. The judgment is “on average”: Stephen C. notices that "people who love gaming can find in the location all that they can need", while Luca T. warns: "Be careful that you can ruin a lot in these places, play sparingly".
Let's watch abroad, with the Casino of Lugano reviewed by 64 travelers and judged a “very good” casino. Manumato07 focuses on gastronomy stating that “You can divinely eat", as well as BolognaVacanziera: "In Lugano restaurants are not cheap, so I found convenient going to dinner at the casino". Last stop in Slovenia, at the Hotel Casino Perla in Nova Gorica, which obtains 127 reviews, resulting a “very good” casino, but a step away from the excellence. "Highly recommended for those who play", is the suggestion of Pr0feta, and also Abramsic praises "the free spa and the super casino, always ready to profitable offers".
POKER ALL OVER THE WORLD - Poker tournaments are already a holiday. Ok, you will hear the greatest champions talking about going to Prague, Berlin, Madrid, Sanremo or Las Vegas for work. But, of course, the holiday and “Ballas” side is a huge percentage on the economy of a poker player's trip.
However, given that in Europe now we can really play in all the major cities and capitals, let's see at least what are the most exotic locations, excluded the legendary and now classic ones: Macau and Las Vegas.
KENYA POKER TOUR AND CARIBBEAN POKER TOUR - "Poker in Africa, and more specifically in Kenya, is certainly far behind compared to us, but there is a big market, a huge potential and above all there is a beautiful atmosphere as well as those preceding big events". Christian Scalzi, tournament director of the World Poker Tour and of Kenya Poker Tour too, tell us how African poker is.
A game that is expanding more and more around the world: "I've been many times at the tournament at the Casino of Malindi which is always expected as a great event – Scalzi continues – I perceive a crazy enthusiasm, and this is very nice.
In Malindi the casino is managed by the Cellini family, an Italian family of course, and it is a wonderful resort in a wonderful place and therefore a holiday not to be missed". How is poker in the “third world”? "At the moment it seems to live again the early days of the Italian market of five years ago and so there is a lot of work to do. They are fascinated by poker programms on TV, especially from Wpt given that these American and international events are broadcasted. But all the casinos are starting to have their own poker room, in Nairobi where the Flavio Briatore's casino is and in other places".
Scalzi and Danilo De Berardinis, together with a lot of other Italians, became part of the staff of the prestigious Caribbean Poker Tour. They will fly from here to the end of the year and for some stops in 2014 between Punta Cana and Saint Maarten, two beautiful locations where every year in January the PokerStars Caribbean Poker Adventure will take place. Great places for the combination hold'em and holiday.
TOURIST TURN FOR THE EPT - The European Poker Tour has announced a quite important change of plan in recent weeks, giving a really important tourist turn. Vienna, the Austrian capital, took the place of Berlin in the sixth stop which will be held 19 to 29, March 2014.
The EPT Vienna will be held in the beautiful imperial residence of Hofburg Palace which is located right in the city center at a walking distance to hotels, shops and restaurants and is a big affair, according to the organization. In fact, for the players will be a real comfort especially from the tourist point of view.