Dropping down from a helicopter ride directly from Cote D’Azur International Airport would be one of the grander ways you could make your entrance to the excessive extravagance of Monte Carlo Casino. Pressed against the back of the Opera de Monte Carlo, the casino resembles its more refined cousin rather closely in architecture, wreathed by a landscaped garden and adorned by lifelike angels and goddesses of myth.

Walking down the plush crimson carpets into the columned atrium, you would be flooded by a pool of light from the liquid gold fountains of luminescence of the Bohemian chandeliers. Feathered embellishments carved in marble and gilded gold turn the ceiling into a living tapestry of art, the frescoes and portraits hung up adding texture and character to the interior. Though it has served to feed the appetite for risk in the rich for over 150 years, it remains the prime choice of the wealthy worldwide. Opulence and luxury are condensed beneath this singular roof, splurged on the myriad of offerings such as Trente et Quarante, Blackjack and Poker across two key rooms, Salle Renaissance and Salle des Ameriques. Curling, floral balustrades mark the boundaries of Salle Blanche and Terrasse where you can throw in a few cards and sip at the sharp burn of vodka, all while gazing at the misty horizons of the Riviera melding into the sky.

For most, even the smallest bet placed is a shot in the dark but it is well worth to gain just a glimpse of the shadowy life led by the 1%.