Thanks to Brazil's longtime love affair with horse racing, there are also plenty of racetracks that are great destinations for those who love to gamble. And for not having casinos enabled since the middle of the last century, Brazilians tend to be regular customers of gambling venues in neighboring countries to be able to enjoy betting in casinos.
So, we're going to take a look at some of the options that Brazilians have when it comes to betting, and even alternatives that could arise from new regulations for the local market.
The Grand Casino Iguazu & Resort Spa
Our first pick for a truly luxury destination is The Grand Casino Iguazu. Located in the Argentine city of Iguazu in the province of Misiones, on the border with the Brazilian Foz do Iguazu, this great gambling venue is part of a huge hotel resort that offers not just a stunning casino, but also restaurants and a spa for its guests to relax in.
The casino offers 40 gaming tables with options like blackjack, roulette, two different types of poker, and baccarat too. Those that like to play casino slots online are probably the most spoiled for choice though. The Grand Casino Iguazu offers 220 slot machines, so there's endless opportunity for gaming on a variety of different machines. Once you're finished at the tables, or you've watched those reels spin for long enough, the rest of the resort is a great place to relax. Grab a cocktail from the bar and relax by the swimming pool or treat yourself to a snack in one of the lounges or the restaurant.
The Grand Casino Iguazu really prides itself on making sure that its visitors are always being completely looked after, so whatever request you have, they will do their very best to satisfy it.
Casino Enjoy Punta del Este
Another favorite destination for Brazilians is Casino Enjoy in Punta del Este. Located in a highly attractive coastal city of international standing, the Brazilian public is one of the most important for this Uruguayan resort.
Situated in the heart of this exclusive resort, known for the beauty of its natural surroundings, crystal-clear ocean waters, endless fine sandy beaches and exciting nightlife, the Enjoy Punta del Este Resort & Casino is the largest and most luxurious hotel in the area. It offers 294 hotel guest rooms, including 41 beautifully appointed suites, all with unforgettable ocean views and open terraces. As well as the indoor and outdoor swimming pools, the hotel's facilities also include one of the largest convention centres in Punta del Este, with state-of-the-art technology and a Business Centre. The hotel also offers a full Health Club with spa, and two outdoor tennis courts.
The casino has more than 500 slots and 75 table games, a Poker Room with 12 game tables and an exclusive VIP Tables and Slots rooms.
Hippodrome da Gavea
It only makes sense to look at a horse racing track next and Hippodrome da Gavea is one of Brazil's finest. Built all the way back in 1926 in the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro, this track has a capacity of 30,000 people but manages to feel equally special whether you're watching from the winning post, the grandstand, or a private box. Entry to the standard areas of the course is completely free of charge, which means there's more money for you to enjoy having a flutter on the horses. Plus, there's an exceptional catering section with an excellent cocktail bar and a food court set in a grand plaza.
Thanks to the unique climate in Brazil, you can find horse racing at the Hippodrome da Gavea all year round. Races run on four nights a week, every single week, meaning that whether you're doing a fly-by visit to Rio, or you're pretty local, you'll certainly be able to catch a race or two.
Maracana stadium (an others)
Our next pick could be one that is famous all over the world: the Maracana Stadium. Of course it is not a gambling venue. But with sports betting authorized and in the process of being regulated, physical betting shops are a possibility. And as it happens in several countries of the world, especially in Europe, it is not ruled out that they could be in football stadiums.
The Maracana was originally built in 1950 to host the World Cup and originally had a capacity of 180,000. This made it the largest capacity stadium in the world at the time, and though its capacity has been dramatically reduced since, its original capacity still holds the record to this day. It's seen plenty of monumental moments in its time, including Pelé's thousandth goal in 1969, as well as the visits of Pope João Paulo II in 1980 and 1997.
Nowadays you can still enjoy watching football from the stadium and if the government allows it in the future, betting shops could reach stadiums and Brazil has many with potential for this market, such as the Maracana, the Morumbi in Sao Paulo or several of those used in the 2014 World Cup.
Hippodrome de Cidade Jardim
Another beautiful Brazilian racecourse is Hippodrome de Cidade Jardim. This course is one of the largest in the country and prides itself on helping local trainers to exercise their horses. In fact, it has two tracks that are available for horses that are training and two that are available for those that are racing. Unlike Hippodrome da Gavea, you'll have to plan a bit more carefully if you're planning on visiting this course. Racing takes place exclusively on Saturdays and Mondays, but it's more than worth juggling around your schedule to fit in a visit. The course itself is beautiful and the standard of racing is arguably the best in Brazil.
Loterias Caixa, the legal form most used by Brazilians
Caixa's lotteries are the most popular in the country, the federal games have different dynamics, serving all types of audiences and tastes. With prizes that can range from one hundred thousand to more than 500 million reales (local currency), Caixa lotteries are an excellent alternative for those who dream of changing their lives overnight. For this, it is essential to know the lottery games, the odds of winning in each one of them and choose the alternative that best fits your tastes, expectations and game strategies.
The first CEF lottery draws took place in 1962, in September. The contest took place at Caixa's drawing room, located in Rio de Janeiro. The lottery in question is Federal, which still exists today and still has many assiduous players on a weekly basis. Over time, new lottery games and game dynamics were implemented and today we have 11 Caixa lotteries at physical and online points.
