Skycity Auckland

Auckland’s skyline has a gem to boast in the shape of Skycity, a top dollar entertainment complex that roused my interest with its state of the art casino. This doesn’t quite qualify as one of the world’s most remote casinos seeing as Auckland is such a buzzing town, but it’s a long way away if you happen to live in Europe!

If you’re going to travel the world for your gambling kicks then you could do worse than making a stop at this shiny casino destination.

Not satisfied with creating an amazing addition to the city centre’s look with a needle-shaped building poking into the sky, but it is also a destination packed with all the latest tech. If this complex was transported 9170 km (5698 miles) to the north west, it would definitely make our Top 10 Casinos in Macao list!

So would the good looks of this new addition have something to offer a roulette fan who isn’t easily impressed?

The casino boasts the usual roulette, baccarat and blackjack and what’s more they are a welcoming bunch! The staff are on site to help the less experienced gamblers get started, with dedicated deals for those novices who are keen to get up to speed using the casino’s professional dealers to get them off on the right foot. They have a big range of electronic games too- this is the kind of venue that we would expect to see the likes of Chinese Roulette plus a range of premium automatic variants.

For the higher rollers, there is also private gaming on offer should you want to make your game play more private and you might- there are lots of people watching games unfold at this casino.
There are 17 roulette tables here with betting limits starting at a slender $2 up to $200 per spin, and if you fancy trying out something new, there are also 30 blackjack and 6 baccarat tables on offer. There are a few more exotic games with a Tai Sai table too if dice is your thing.

The casino croupiers are professional with a smart feel throughout the complex and it’s pretty busy, which gives the casino a buzzy atmosphere and it’s clean (smokers have a designated area).

If you get your kicks on the slots or “pokies” as they are called over here, then you’ll literally be spoilt for choice with a serious number of machines (1,700!) on offer, which means that you won’t need to join a queue to get time on your favourite games.

If you need to seek sustenance you’ll be able to grab a bite at number of eateries, if you’re hoping to catch some of that amazing view from the tower then you can check out the seriously cool Orbit Restaurant, which can be very busy. It literally revolves as you eat- now that’s one way to cure any roulette butterflies you might have! There is also the Sugar Club and the Sky Café if making your way up the tower is on your “must do” list.

For those of you who want to eat and get back to the roulette tables there is a burger bar, a popular Japanese restaurant (with an envy-inducing saké bar) and a grill only a small step from the casino, which will serve you well as a break from the action, although, as always there were a few grumbles about service.

If you want to take a break outside the casino complex, there is even a Skycity yacht to let you try out the waves! This is a luxurious complex that feels top end and has all the facilities that you’d expect from a destination on this scale. It includes a theatre and pool if you need to cool down after all that playing.

Skycity is a smart casino with plenty of distractions to offer a gambler in terms of its casino facilities and the on-site distractions. If you’re on the North Island and fancy a flutter in cool surroundings with tip-top facilities, then this place should make it onto your “to do” list in the southern hemisphere.