Pulau Pinang, or colloquially known as Penang, is northern cosmopolitan state located on the Malaysian peninsula. Broken into two locations, Penang Island – where its capital city George Town is located – and Seberang Perai, this tropical island is well known internationally for some of the world’s best street food, culture and beaches. So, does Penang have casinos?
Outside of the country’s administrative city of Kuala Lumpur and the state of Selangor, Penang ranks among the top on the nation’s Human Development Index, tourist destinations and cultural significance. In recent years, Penang has also emerged as one of the nation’s manufacturing powerhouses, accounting for more than 44% of the state’s GDP, through its free trade zone located at the southeastern corner of Penang Island.
Outside of its manufacturing hub, it is also known as one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, due to its rich heritage and architecture, vibrant multicultural society, beaches, and their world-famous street food. The state is known as the food capital of Malaysia, renowned for its street food that incorporates Malay, Chinese, Indian, Peranakan, Thai and European influences into their metaphorical – and quite literal – pot.
Don’t Miss Out These Attractions
Due to their past as one of the country’s colonial seat of powers and natural beauty, Penang Island has some of the best tourist attractions around. Visit some of these places and connect with the island’s culture, food and atmosphere.
Bet on the horses racing on the Penang Turf Club
One of the few horse racing tracks in the country, Penang Turf club is a place for horse racing fanatics to gather, watch and bet on the winning horse. Established in 1864, it is also the oldest of the three turf clubs in Malaysia; the Perak Turf Club and the Selangor Turf Club. Spend an afternoon watching prized thoroughbred horses race around the track and bet on the one most likely to win or spend the day golfing on their 9-hole golf course within the race track if there are no races that day.
Wander around the George Town heritage area
No visit to Penang is complete without a trip to the George Town heritage area. The George Town heritage area is a UNESCO Historic Site and is home to numerous temples, old time associations and museums. Highlights include the Fort Cornwallis, the Chew Jetty, Penang State Museum and many different murals painted by famous street painter Ernest Zacharevic.
Relax by the Batu Ferringhi beaches
Batu Ferringhi is known for its clean pristine beaches, upscale hotels and night markets. Swim in the crystal clear waters, sunbathe by the beaches and wander the night markets for the perfect deal at night.
Discover the many street foods around the island
As the street food capital of the world, Penang has some of the best food in the world. Sample local delights like Char Koay Teow, Mee Sotong, Nasi Kandar, Chendol, Curry Mee, Penang Hokkien Mee and many other local delights not found anywhere in the world.
Visit a Durian Plantation
Love it or hate it, there is no denying that durians are a must try whenever they are in season. For a unique trip, visit the birthplace of some of the most popular durian breeds in the world. Sample and feast on fresh durian fruit straight from the orchard and taste the difference.
However, despite their many different attractions and a horse racing track for international gamblers, one of the few things Penang does not have is a proper landed casino for their Malaysian and international players.
Anyone who wants the full casino experience to gamble and wager on a card game or spin the reels on a slot machine should go to the sole landed casino located in Genting Highlands, Pahang.
Genting Highlands: The Las Vegas of Malaysia
Up on the ridges of the Titiwangsa Mountains, Resorts World Genting is Malaysia’s only theme park & casino. A few hour’s drive from Penang, it is only place in Malaysia where a gambler can legally play any casino game in person, Resorts World Genting is also a world-renowned casino for anyone who wants to know what it’s like to gamble in style.
The resort is located above the Gohtong Jaya township area in Pahang. Built by the late Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong in 1965, the resort bills itself as “Malaysia’s premier integrated resort destination that also features wide-ranging leisure and entertainment facilities, including gaming, golf courses, theme park and amusement attractions, dining and shopping malls, as well as international shows and business convention facilities.”
The resort is also the sole legal landed casino for players around the South East Asian region to gamble before other countries granted licenses for companies to build their own legalised landed casinos.
The resort features many different casinos around their resort, though the defining and newest crown jewel of their casino selection is the the SkyCasino. SkyCasino is a new casino that features one of the biggest landed casino game selections in all of Asia, with many different and popular table card and dice games like blackjack, roulette, baccarat, poker and more.
Slot machine games from many different popular gaming providers line the large open floor space and rooms. The spacious design, wooden pillars and LED screens that cover the large ceilings bring to mind a fantasy of an enchanted European forest, blending the fantasy with reality for its visitors.
The multilevel casino also has different rooms and amenities for players explore. The different levels bring different games, amenities and more.
Related Post: Is Genting Casino Legal?
Where Else Can I Gamble?
If you don’t want to leave Penang for a day trip up to the casino resort, there is another place where players can gamble while still enjoying everything that Penang has to offer.
Players can play online in 96Ace, the best online casino Malaysia. The online casino not only offers everything that a landed casino would have, they even offer games that they don’t! A player can not only spin the reels on an online slot game or play a hand of live poker, they can also buy tickets for a state sanctioned lottery, play in an arcade game or even the ever popular fishing game.
It’s all available on 96aceonlinecasino.com.
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