The Borgata in Atlantic City, New Jersey, is one of the top casino resort destinations in the U.S. Image source: Borgata.
Americans love to gamble. In fact, the .
online slots games freeWhile Las Vegas may be the first city that comes to mind when thinking about gambling meccas in the United States, there are many other destinations worth visiting. I recently discussed some of my favorite off-the-beaten-path gambling towns, but the truth is even the most ardent casino destinations have their less-than-stellar moments.
The good news is there are plenty of great places to gamble and relax in America -- 24 of them, to be exact. Here are some of the very best casino resort destinations in the country.
24. Biloxi, Mississippi
Located on the Gulf of Mexico, Biloxi boasts 44 miles of white sandy beaches. Image source: Thinkstock.
Beach and casino lovers can find an abundance of both in Biloxi, which boasts more than 21,000 hotel rooms and 37 casinos. Harrah's Gulf Coast, Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, and IP Casino Resort Spa are three of the most popular properties in town.
Harrah's Gulf Coast features more than 850 slots and 60 table games, while Beau Rivage Resort & Casino and IP Casino Resort Spa boast more than 2,000 and 1,200 rooms, respectively. All three offer guests access to numerous restaurants, shops, entertainment, and breathtaking views of the Gulf of Mexico, since they're all located on or near the beach.
23. Council Bluffs, Iowa
Council Bluffs might be small, but it's home to three major casino resorts: Harrah's Council Bluffs, Ameristar Council Bluffs, and Horseshoe Council Bluffs. Combined, these properties feature nearly 4,000 rooms, dozens of restaurants, a plethora of gaming options ranging from penny slots to tables stakes as high as $10,000, and endless entertainment options like live music and comedy acts.
Best of all? These casinos are situated just west of Interstate 80, meaning Omaha (home of legendary investor Warren Buffett) and Des Moines are within a 30-minute and hour drive, respectively.
22. Cripple Creek, Colorado
Colorado's Cripple Creek might be small, but its scenery is breathtaking. Image source: Visit Colorado Springs Facebook page.
PA Online Casinos (2023) - Tips, Top 5 & ListTiny Cripple Creek, Colorado -- population 1,191 -- boasts no fewer than 12 casino-hotels, making it a surprisingly large gambling destination relative to its size. Wildwood Casino has more than 460 guest rooms and suites, while Brass Ass Casino has 150 rooms and suites.
Greeley Exchange Company, which owns and operates several of Cripple Creek's casinos including Brass Ass and Midnight Rose Casino, notes on its website that "there's never been a better time to visit Cripple Creek." That's because combined with other nearby cities including Colorado Springs -- which is only 35 miles away -- boasts nearly 3,000 hotel rooms, more than 20 restaurants, and even an Olympic Training Center where hopeful athletes can train.
21. Riverwalk Gambling Gretna, Louisiana
Gamblers who want easy access to New Orleans -- but also want to avoid that city's higher costs and rowdy crowds -- need look no further than Riverwalk Gambling Gretna. This collection of five riverboat casinos located across from New Orleans in Gretna, Louisiana, includes Harrah's Casino New Orleans, Fair Grounds Race Course Slots, Crescent City Connection Riverboat Casino, French Quarter Casino, and Treasure Chest Casino.
Each offers slot machines, table games, and daily promotions and events, ensuring you'll never run out of things to do. And if you want to sample the Big Easy's nightlife, dining, and other attractions, it's mere minutes away across the Mississippi River.
20. Spokane, Washington
Spokane is home to two of Northern Washington and North Idaho's largest casinos: Spokane Tribe Casino and Coeur d'Alene Casino Resort. Together, these casinos offer thousands of slot machines, table games, and unique dining experiences from fresh seafood to delicious baked goods.
Guests staying at the Coeur d'Alene Casino Resort will even enjoy breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and lake, in addition to easy access to nearby attractions like Silverwood Theme Park.
19. Fort Lauderdale, Florida
The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, Florida. Image source: Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
Most people think of Miami when they consider visiting Florida, but nearby Fort Lauderdale has plenty to offer as well. To be sure, the city itself is home to the Gulfstream Park Racing and Casino, which offers live thoroughbred racing and nearly 850 FanDuel Racebook off-track betting terminals. But it's the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in nearby Hollywood where most travelers head, thanks to its more than 60 table games, 2,000 slot machines, and high-stakes poker room.
This property also boasts more than 600 rooms and suites, multiple bars and lounges, 11 restaurant options, three pools and a spa, live entertainment, and an on-site Guitar Center for musicians to practice and perform using the latest equipment. In other words, Fort Lauderdale might not be a traditional casino destination, but it's definitely worth considering for your next vacation.
18. Deadwood, South Dakota
If you thought South Dakota was devoid of excitement, think again. More than 10 casinos now call the quirky town of Deadwood home, including Cadillac Jack's Gaming Resort, Buffalo Bodega Gaming Resort, and Deadwood Mountain Grand.
Incidentally, Cadillac Jack's isn't related to the automobile company of the same name, though it does boast 235 deluxe guest rooms and suites, more than 400 slot machines, table games, live keno, and even a full-service Nail Spa & Salon. In other words, you can take a break from losing money at the blackjack table to get a shellac manicure. Who says our forefathers fought the War of 1812 over taxation without representation?
17. Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Straddling the California-Nevada border in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Lake Tahoe provides stunning vistas during every season. It's no wonder, then,Harrah's Lake Tahoe, Harveys Lake Tahoe, Horizon Casino Hotel, Inn by the Lake, Lakeridge Inn, MontBleu Casino Resort, Stateline Casino Campground, Stillwater Creek Lodge, Tribeton, and Zephyr Cove Resort are just a few of the many properties luring visitors year round.
of the Best Legal Online Casinos in the US (2023)To be sure, each offers ample opportunities to gamble until you drop, whether that means spinning the reels of the latest slot machines, taking your chances at the roulette wheel, or testing your skill against fellow players at Texas hold 'em. But you'll also find abundant outdoor activities like skiing, snowboarding, hiking, fishing, boating, and paddle boarding depending on the season, ensuring non-gamblers also have plenty to do.
16. Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun, Connecticut
Connecticut might be known as the Constitution State, but it's really the Arrowhead State given its symbol is the arrow-shaped head plant. Regardless, this state is home to two of the biggest casino resort destinations in America: Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun.
Foxwoods Resort Casino comprises five interconnected hotels , six casinos, 45 retail shops (excluding lobby kiosks), 40 restaurants and bars, a legion of entertainers, two world-class spas, several premium golf courses, and Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center. Meanwhile, Mohegan Sun -- operated by the Mohegan Tribe of Indians -- boasts three large casinos, two small casinos, more than 350,00 square feet of meeting and function space, amazing restaurants, and more than 1,000 high-definition flat-screen TVs.
Secret Casino Bonuses Only Insiders Know AboutCombine Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun with other nearby attractions, and you'll find yourself running short of time long before you exhaust all the available options.
15. Reno, Nevada
Reno, Nevada, is often called "The Biggest Little City in the World". Image source: VisitRenoTahoe.com.
No list of casino resort destinations would be complete without Reno, Nevada -- "The Biggest Little City in the World." More than 20 casinos litter Virginia Street alone, including Atlantis Casino Resort Spa, Grand Sierra Resort, Eldorado Resort Casino, Silver Legacy Casino, Grandsdale Casino, and Peppermill Casino Resort.
El Dorado Resort, Circus Circus Casino, and Silver Legacy Casino are three more popular properties clustered around the Truckee River in downtown Reno. Of course, Reno also serves as a gateway to nearby Lake Tahoe, so you can gamble to your heart's content before escaping into the mountains -- or vice versa.
14. Ak-Chin Indian Community, Arizona
Arizona might seem like an unusual location for Native American casinos, but the Ak-Chin Indian Community is home to both the Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club -- named the best new public up by Golf Digest in 2008 -- and the brand-new Ya-Ya's Antique Mall, in addition to the Harrah's Ak-Chin Resort Casino.
To be sure, Harrah's Ak-Chin features more than 500 rooms and suites, as well as 500 slot machines, 20 table games, a full bingo hall, and high-stakes bingo in a separate 24-hour bingo room. If that isn't enough, the Casino Azul Maricopa is also just a short drive south.
13. Tunica County, Mississippi
Technically, Tunica County, Mississippi, includes 10 independent municipalities spread throughout the county. But for practical purposes, we can consider them all part of this Delta region casino hub located roughly halfway between Memphis and St. Louis on the Mississippi River.
There are more than two dozen casinos in Tunica County according to TripAdvisor, including Harrah's Casino Tunica, Horseshoe Casinos Tunica, Fitz Casino & Hotel, Sam's Town Hotel and Gambling Hall, and Holly Blues Casino. Whether you prefer smoky roadhouses or upscale accommodations, slot machines or poker, there should be no shortage of fun for adults of all stripes.
12. New Hampshire
New Hampshire doesn't have any big casino resorts per se, but it does have several smaller venues offering everything from greyhound racing and charitable gaming to laser tag and arcade games. For example, Plainridge Park Casino in Maryland features more than 1,000 Las Vegas-style slot machines, as well as more than 30 table games including blackjack, craps, roulette, and Spanish 21.
Rival Powered Casinos That Accept Bitcoins (2023 List)Meanwhile, Rockingham Park in Salem, New Hampshire, added 500 historical horse racing machines in late 2015. These electronic devices allow patrons to bet on digital versions of past horse races, with payouts based on the odds of those finished results.
Finally, Lincoln Motels and Concord’s Downtown Terrace Mobile Home and RV Court provide legal mobile home and RV parks within city limits, whereas Weirs Beach allows mobile homes and recreational vehicles as year-round, permanent residences. There are even arcades sprinkled across the state, so there's certainly no shortage of ways to gamble in the Granite State.
11. Council Bluffs, Iowa (again!)
We already discussed how impressive Council Bluffs, Iowa, is, what with having three massive casinos essentially right on top of each other. But if all that gambling gets to be too much, you could always hop in the car and drive 20 minutes to Omaha -- home to famed value investor Warren Buffett and his Berkshire Hathaway conglomerate -- for some shopping, dining, and other forms of entertainment.
10. Biloxi, Mississippi (again!)
Remember Biloxi, Mississippi, with its three-mile stretch of white, sandy beaches on the Gulf of Mexico? It also happens to boast numerous casinos, so if you don't mind the extra driving time you might consider combining a trip to Biloxi with another casino destination farther inland.
Harrah's Gulf Coast, Boomtown Casino Hotel, Golden Nugget Biloxi, and Lipsmans Beach Bar are four excellent choices closer to the shoreline, in case you don't fancy the drive inland.
US Online Poker Sites to Play Poker Games Online in 20239. Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek, Colorado
Three of Colorado's smallest cities -- Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek -- collectively boast more than two dozen casinos. Among them are some familiar names -- includinglder Brother Jackpot Poker Room at Century Casino & Hotel, Double Down Saloon at Lodysey Friendship Casino, and Midnight Rose Casino & Brewery in Cripple Creek; and Ameristar Casino Hotel Black Hawk, Golden Gates Casino, Lady Luck Casino Black Hawk in Black Hawk; and Gilpin Casino in Central City -- interspersed with numerous lesser-known gambling establishments.
Of course, these cities are tiny: Black Hawk's population was only 124 as of 2010, according toCity Data, whereas Central City had only 698 residents during that same year. Cripple Creek fared somewhat better, with a populace of 1,191. Still, all three cities should see higher census counts starting with 2020, given their collective proliferation of casinos.
8. Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, Arizona
Wealand Creek Sno Park in the Tonto National Forest, Arizona. Image source: Visit Phoenix Facebook page.
bet365 nj casino promo codeYou might think the high Sonoran Desert wouldn't be an ideal location for bustling casinos teeming with life. On the other hand, the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation encompasses not only the Fort McDowell Casino but also We-Ko-Pa Golf Club and its two championship courses, as well as the We-Ko-Pa Resort & Conference Center.
To be sure, the Fort McDowell Casino -- Arizona's first Indian casino, by the way -- features loose slots and great customer service, per its website. The facility also hosts concerts from well-known musical artists, while its restaurant serves everything from made-from-scratch comfort food to sushi prepared while you wait. Finally, the casino is located just 20 minutes from Mesa, Scottsdale, Tempe, and Phoenix, and only 30 minutes from the East Valley Phillip Johnson Ballpark -- spring training home to the Major League Baseball San Diego Padres -- and Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
7. Council Bluffs, Iowa (yet again!)
If you can tear yourself away from Council Bluffs, Iowa, perhaps you could make the drive to Omaha to tour iconic investor Warren Buffett's favorite haunts.
For instance, Berkshire Hathaway shareholders might take the annual shareholder meeting presented by AllianceBernstein -- scheduled for April 29, 2017 -- as a prime excuse to visit town. Even if you can't make it to Omaha for the big event, however, there's still plenty to see including Buffett's favorite ice cream shop (Drewery's), steakhouse (The Drover), and restaurant (Leon's Frozen Custard), among other things.
6. New York City, New York
New York City's casino scene exploded last year following the formal opening of the $825 million Resorts World New York City complex across from Manhattan in Queens. This 1.5 million-square-foot, two-level luxury casino and entertainment venue boasts 160,000 square feet of gaming space hosting more than 10,000 slot machines and electronic table games, in addition to more than 400 live action table games.
Even better, Resorts World New York City also offers more than 10 varied dining concepts ranging from fine cuisine to quick bites, a Best Western hotel with 206 rooms just across the street, and easy access via car, bus, subway, ferry, or even helicopter. In fact, there are literally hundreds of nearby hotels ranging from budget to insanely expensive, promising something for everyone in the Big Apple.
Of course, if all the concrete jungle gets to be too much, the Hamptons, Fire Island, and Jones Beach are all within relatively easy driving distance if you need to escape the city that never sleeps.
casino games how to win5. Laughlin, Nevada
Don't let Laughlin, Nevada's population of 10,272 fool you -- this town sits at the bottom of the Grand Canyon and boasts nine casinos along a single road lining the Colorado River.
Among its many attractions are the Aquarius Casino Resort (boasting the world's largest polished stone chandelier), Edvard Hvammen's whimsical sculptures, the Laughlin Factory Outlets, and abundant outdoor recreation ranging from boating and jet skis to hiking and hot air balloons. To be sure, Laughlin is worth considering for your next casino resort vacation.
4. Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is making a comeback thanks to recent additions like the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Image source: Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.
Who says beach and casino vacations are dead? Hardly, if the renewed interest in Atlantic City is any indication.
True, the Trump Taj Mahal closed its doors last October after workers went unpaid during contract negotiations. But the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino opened last June, bringing with it the promise of live music and rock star service. Meanwhile, the former Trump Plaza is being renovated into a pair of towers called Ocean Tower and Beach Tower, with expected completion in early 2017. And the upcoming opening of the $500 million Hard Rock Atlantic City -- which will incorporate the former Trump Plaza, Beach Tower, and Ocean Tower into its scope -- should close out the first phase of Atlantic City's revitalization in 2018.
Of course, you can also take a dip in the Atlantic Ocean proper anytime you wish, as Atlantic City actually lies on an island at the southern end of Absecon Island and along the Atlantic Coast.
3. Macao, China
Macao, China, is often called the "Las Vegas of Asia". Image source: Prommacao Facebook page.
Macao, China, is often called the "Las Vegas of Asia," what with 37 casinos attracting 47 million visitors in 2015 alone -- resulting in revenue of 21.8 billion patacas, or roughly $2.7 billion.
Top-Ranked Online Casino App Bonuses (2023) - Don't Miss These!To be fair, Macao's casinos aren't clumped together in one spot. Rather, you can find them scattered throughout eight parishes: Ave de Lisboa e Carmona, Costa de Ouro, Santo António, Taipa, Colina, Ilhas, San Taíxan, and Sé.
Some of Macao's more famous casinos include Sands Macao (operated by Las Vegas Sands boss Sheldon Adelson), Casino Ponte 16 (part-owned by Melco Crown Entertainment and Gary Loveman), MGM Grand Macau (part-owned by Wynn Resorts' Stephen Wynn), City of Dreams (probably the most distinctive building in terms of appearance), and StarWorld Hotel and Casino (supposedly the world's smallest five-star hotel).
2. Las Vegas, Nevada
The Las Vegas Strip includes many world-class casinos and resorts. Image source: The Venetian Las Vegas.
Sure, Las Vegas boasted a puny 601,800 inhabitants as of 2015 -- making it the 28th largest city in the United States. But Sin City is home to thousands of hotel rooms and an absolutely breathtaking assortment of casinos.
To be sure, The Vegas Strip is arguably the crown jewel of this desert oasis. Its marquee names include Bellagio, MGM Grand Las Vegas, The Mirage, Mandalyon, Wynn Las Vegas, and of course The Venetian Las Vegas -- one of the world's larger hotels with more than 7,000 suite-like rooms and nearly 2.6 million square feet of meeting and convention space. The Vegas Strip also features numerous other attractions such as the world's largest glass chandelier (also found at The Venetian), Guggenheim Hermitage Museum, Dolphalt Cay, and the only Monopoly hotel in the world, to name a few.
But Las Vegas is hardly a one-trick pony. Consider also that urban areas such as Downtown Las Vegas (anchored by Fremont Street Experience), Charleston, Summerlin South, and Lone Mountain also contain multitudes of casinos and hotels -- albeit on a somewhat smaller scale.
1. Atlantic City, New Jersey (again!)
Atlantic City Beach. Image source: Promatico.
You might be surprised to learn Atlantic City, New Jersey, is the top casino resort destination in America. After all, it lost a pair of casinos last year and is generally considered a shadow of its former self.
However, Atlantic City is poised to receive a much-needed boost from the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, the coming Hard Rock Atlantic City, and the potential rebirth of the old Trump Plaza as Ocean Tower and Beach Tower. Throw in oceanfront real estate few other casino destinations can match, and it's hard to deny Atlantic City its spot atop my list.
Steve Symington has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Berkshire Hathaway.(NYSE:BRK-A)(NYSE:BRK-B) and Walt Disney. The Motley Fool recommends Formula One Group and Mohelo. The Motley Fool has a disclaimer policy.
