2024’s Vegas Dupes

Known as the ‘entertainment capital of the world’, Las Vegas is famous for its vast array of casinos, fine dining restaurants and shows.

However, it’s no secret that a trip to Vegas can be expensive. That said, which cities around the world can offer the most Vegas-like experience on a budget?

The team at Spin Genie UK has analysed various factors, such as the number of fine dining restaurants, concerts and shows, and casinos in different cities worldwide. Combining this with global searches, average hotel prices and temperatures, we’ve determined which cities can be considered the best Vegas dupes in 2024.

The best cities for a Las Vegas-like experience

1. Monte Carlo, Monaco - 7.35/10 

Topping the list is Monte Carlo, earning a dupe score of 7.35 out of ten. If you want a Vegas experience with a spectacular view, then Monte Carlo is a great choice, as it’s located at the base of the Maritime Alps along the French Riviera. Casino de Monte-Carlo, a gambling and entertainment complex, is world-famous and attracts many keen gamblers every year. Average temperatures in the area stand at 13.4 degrees Celsius.

As well as being well-known for its casinos, Monte Carlo is also famous for its connection to Formula One racing. The city has a variety of outdoor activities on offer (0.61 per 1,000 people), with one of the most popular being a walking tour around the race track. Monte Carlo also has over 100 restaurants, with almost 34% of these being perfect for fine dining, such as Amù, Cipriani and Buddha-Bar.

2. Atlantic City, United States - 6.97/10

Atlantic City follows closely behind with a dupe score of 6.97 out of ten. The city, located in New Jersey in the U.S., is well-known for its wide choice of casinos, nightclubs and fancy hotels, just like Vegas. There are 0.42 outdoor activities per 1,000 people in Atlantic City, from relaxing boat tours to adrenaline-fuelled activities like parasailing and windsurfing. 

Similar to Monte Carlo, Atlantic City's average temperature is around 13.3 degrees Celsius. A weekend break in the city will cost approximately £153 ($196 or €181) per night. There are also 0.41 sights and landmarks per 1,000 people, including the famous Atlantic City Boardwalk, the Absecon Lighthouse, the Korean War Memorial, and the Central Pier Arcade.

2.  Biloxi, United States - 6.97/10

Making another appearance for the United States is Biloxi, located in the state of Mississippi. The city is well-known for its casinos, of which there are 11 in total and 0.23 per 1,000 people. Being a coastal location, Biloxi is perfect for those who love the outdoors, with 0.91 activities per 1,000 people. It’s famous for its stunning beaches and many boat tours, including shrimping trips and fishing charters.

The city has almost 200 restaurants to choose from, equating to four restaurants per 1,000 people. Biloxi is particularly famous for its delicious seafood, with some of the top-rated seafood restaurants being Half Shell Oyster House, The Reef, and McElroy’s Harbor House. A weekend stay in the city costs just £95 ($122 or €112) per night on average, and temperatures tend to be around 20 degrees Celsius.

2. Lisbon, Portugal - 6.97/10

Also in second place is Lisbon, which is located in Portugal. Over the past year, there were over 28,200 searches for the phrase “holiday in Lisbon” and over 370,300 searches for “casinos in Lisbon”. On average, the temperature in Lisbon stands at around 16.7 degrees Celsius, ensuring a warm but comfortable climate.

There are almost 5,500 restaurants to enjoy a delicious meal in, equating to 10 restaurants per 1,000 people. Visitors can expect to pay around £179 ($229 or €212) per night for a weekend stay in Lisbon. 

Monte Carlo is the best Vegas dupe for avid gamblers

1. Monte Carlo, Monaco - 0.36 casinos per 1,000 people

One of the main reasons people choose to visit Las Vegas is its wide choice of casinos, with over 100 to choose from. Monte Carlo is well known for its eponymous main casino, simply named Casino de Monte-Carlo. The stunning building features Belle Époque architecture and has been featured in various films, including Never Say Never Again and Golden Eye from the James Bond franchise. 

Visitors can enter the building between 10 am and 1 pm, with the games room opening from 2 pm. But did you know that citizens of Monaco are forbidden to enter the casino’s gaming room? Princess Caroline introduced the rule, which involved banning all Monegasques from gambling and working at the casino, based on moral grounds.

Monte Carlo is the perfect Vegas dupe for keen concert and show-goers

1. Monte Carlo, Monaco - 0.48 concerts and shows per 1,000 people

Monte Carlo is also a great place to visit for those who enjoy attending theatres and operas. The city has four different shows available, equating to 0.48 per 1,000 people. As well as the Opera de Monte-Carlo, which is connected to the casino, tourists can also visit Salle des Étoiles. 

Many concerts, shows and events are held at Salle des Étoiles, including the annual Le Bal de la Rose, Monte-Carlo Sporting Summer Festival and the Monaco Red Cross Gala. Countless music legends have performed at Salle des Étoiles, such as Elton John, Whitney Houston and Stevie Wonder.

Monte Carlo and Benidorm are the best Vegas dupes to enjoy a delicious meal in

1. Monte Carlo, Monaco and Benidorm, Spain - 14 restaurants per 1,000 people

You certainly aren’t short of restaurant options when you visit Las Vegas, as there are over 4,700 venues to choose from, meaning there is something for everyone. But if you can’t visit Vegas, then Monte Carlo and Benidorm also have a very dense population of restaurants, with 14 restaurants per 1,000 people. 

As mentioned previously, the small city of Monte Carlo still has over 100 restaurants to choose from, including Caffè Milano, Avenue 31, Il Terrazzino, La Note Bleue, and Caposushi. If you want plenty of options, then Benidorm has just short of 1,000 restaurants, such as The Brunch Box, ReFuel, Paneil’s, The Vagabond, and Amigos.

Monte Carlo is the perfect Vegas dupe for a fine dining experience

1. Monte Carlo, Monaco - 33.61% of fine-dining restaurants

Las Vegas is home to over 180 fine-dining restaurants, such as Le Cirque, Ferraro’s and Raku. However, with over 4,700 restaurants in the city, less than 4% fall under the fine dining category. If you want to visit a city with a large density of fine-dining restaurants, then Monte Carlo is the place for you. 

With almost 120 restaurants in total, 40 of which are fine dining establishments, nearly 40% of Monte Carlo’s eateries can offer you a sophisticated and unique dining experience. The city has ten Michelin-starred restaurants, including Blue Bay Marcel Ravin, Song Qi and La Table d’Antonio Salvatore au Rampoldi.

Cancun is the ideal Vegas dupe for those who love being outdoors

1. Cancun, Mexico - 1.23 outdoor activities per 1,000 people

There are almost 1,100 outdoor activities available in Cancun, making it the perfect place to visit for nature lovers and thrill seekers. With 1.23 activities per 1,000 people, there are plenty of options for locals and tourists alike. 

Those who want to explore the city on land can take part in a wide variety of tours, including ATVs (all-terrain vehicles) and horseback riding. If you fancy catching a glimpse of Cancun’s sealife, many boat tours and snorkelling experiences are available. True adrenaline seekers are also well catered to, with both ziplining and parasailing available. 

Monte Carlo is the best Vegas dupe for those wanting to take in the sights and landmarks

1. Monte Carlo, Monaco - 2.30 sights and landmarks per 1,000 people

Monte Carlo is located along the French Riviera, meaning there are many beautiful sights to see. One of these is the city’s harbour, which provides visitors with breathtaking views of crystal clear waters and luxurious yachts. Casino Square is also very popular due to its stunning water fountain sculpture and exotic gardens.

One of the most famous landmarks in Monte Carlo is the Fairmont Hairpin Curve, which is the iconic turn used in Formula One racing. There is also a statue dedicated to the famous Argentinian racing driver Juan Manuel Fangio, who dominated the first decade of Formula One racing. 

Blackpool is the Vegas dupe offering the cheapest hotel stays

1. Blackpool, United Kingdom - £83 / $106 / €98 per night 

It’s no secret that a hotel stay in Vegas can come with a hefty price tag, costing around £200 ($256 or €237) per night on average. For those who want to experience Vegas on a budget, Blackpool is the perfect place to visit. On average, a weekend hotel stay in Blackpool costs just £83 ($106 or €98) per night, making it an affordable option. Some of the most popular hotels available include The Ruskin Hotel, The Big Blue Hotel and Doric Hotel.

Singapore is the Vegas dupe with the warmest weather

1. Singapore, Singapore - 26.7 degrees Celsius average temperature

Las Vegas is one of the hottest cities in the U.S., with temperatures reaching an all-time high of 47.2 degrees Celsius on multiple occasions. However, average temperatures in the city stand at around 20.3 degrees Celsius. If you can brave the hot weather and fancy visiting somewhere with even warmer temperatures, then Singapore is a great choice. The average temperature in the city is 26.7 degrees Celsius, with the coolest month being January and the hottest month being May.

Methodology:

We began by creating a seed list of cities around the world that are considered to be ‘Vegas dupes’, using sources such as The Travel, Map Quest,and CMW.

We then used Google Keyword Planner to collect the total number of searches for “holiday in CITY” and “casinos in CITY” for each location on the list. Searches were taken from July 2023 to June 2024.

Next, we used Tripadvisor to gather the following factors for each city: the number of casinos, the number of concerts/shows, the number of restaurants, the number of fine dining restaurants, the number of outdoor activities and the number of sights/landmarks. We then calculated the number of fine dining restaurants as a percentage of the total number of restaurants for each city. For the rest of the factors, we calculated these per 1,000 people. All population figures were taken from City Population.

We then used Kayak to gather the average price of a hotel stay for each city on a Friday and Saturday night. Data is based on the previous two weeks and is correct as of 10 July 2024. 

We used Climate Data to gather the average temperature for each city.

Finally, we gave a normalised score out of ten for each factor and then took an average across all factors to form our dupe score.

Discover Spin Genie

Your Magical Online Casino Destination

Spin Genie is a regulated online casino and the destination of choice for the most entertaining online slots, and table games.