Tilman Benecke
Google
"Montecasino is Johannesburg's answer to Las Vegas," I was told. From the outside, it's an impressive papier-mâché temple that looks like someone commissioned Caesar's Palace from Temu. Inside, there's this artificial heaven that pretends to be in Venice, but looks more like the ambitious ceiling project of a 90s tanning salon owner. Still, somehow charming. The arcade was a brightly flashing children's paradise where my daughter was allowed to throw anything that wasn't nailed down: basketballs, throwing games—jackpot! The rest: empty boutiques, a food court that was just as empty, and at the end, Debonairs Pizza, because you have to eat something. You can also go bowling there or go to the casino if you feel your money deserves a night out. Conclusion: trash with heart. And if the kid's happy, the parents are too.