Aruba - Adventure Guide to Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao - page 136

Casinos
At one time, gambling was the main reason some tourists
came to Aruba. Now, there are many things to keep visitors
busy, but the casinos remain popular centers of entertain-
ment. Every one is a glitzy display of buzzing activity, hum-
ming conversations, and clanging bells.
The Crystal Casino , Renassance Resort (

297-583-6000) across from
the waterfront in Oranjestad, is open 24 hours a day, every day of the week.
It's lavishly decorated with marble, brass, and gold leaf, all lighted by drip-
ping-crystal chandeliers. Live entertainment is featured in the main room
each evening, and a long-running Latin dance-and-music show is featured
in the adjoining Crystal Theatre .

The only casino actually on the waterfront is the Seaport Casino ( 297-

583-6000), which is about half the size of the Crystal and located across
L.G. Smith Blvd at the Seaport Marketplace. It's a more casual place, with
the usual tables and slot machines, plus bingo games on Tuesdays and
Sundays. Live entertainment is featured Friday and Saturday nights.
The Alhambra Casino and Aladdin Theatre (

297-583-5000), on
Manchebo Beach in the low-rise resort area, is probably the most popular
entertainment center on the island. The doorman, dressed as a genie, will
shake your hand as you enter and welcome you to his world of Moorish fan-
tasy. Inside, you'll find several bars and a restaurant, as well as more than
300 slot machines and the usual gaming tables. The theater features vari-
ous acts, including singers, dancers, and impersonators. Shops out back
are open until midnight, but the casino doesn't close until about 3 am.
The largest casino on the island is Royal Cabana at La Cabana Beach
Resort ( 297-587-4665) in the low-rise hotel area. Its Tropicana Show-

room has 600 seats and features a popular female impersonator show.
The huge casino has the usual slots (more than 300) and gaming tables
(more than 30), plus jewelry, cigar, and souvenir shops.
In the high-rise hotel district, all the big resorts have a casino. The
Wyndham's Casablanca (

297-586-2283) has a bar and live music. Big-
buck gamblers gather in the back and the Cabaret Royal Showroom fea-
tures a review from Havana. Copacabana ( 297-586-1234) at the Hyatt

has an impressive Rio theme. Stop in just to look around and put a few
coins in the slots, even if you're not a gambler. A live band provides music
every evening. The Excelsior ( 297-586-7777) at the Holiday Inn

draws a crowd on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for 3:30 pm bingo
games.
Live music sets a jovial mood at Marriott's Stellaris ( 297-586-9000).

You can play the nickel slots or move up to high-rolling craps and black-
jack. The Royal Palm (

297-586-9039) at the Allegro hums with the
sounds of roulette, Caribbean stud poker, and baccarat, but the pulse
quickens nightly when the 10:30 bingo games begin. Many of the Allegro