If you want an authentic Vegas experience, you have to deal with massive crowds, never-ending lines at the best , and skyrocketing hotel prices.
The good news is that several new casinos around the country can give you a first-class gaming experience without all the negatives of Sin City. Some of these properties are brand new in 2023, while others have been around for a few years but fly under the radar.
I’ll also include some soon-to-open casinos that will be must-visit destinations once they formally launch. You can still beat the crowds by visiting before they open the doors to the general public.
If you’re ready to escape the masses, here’s a closer look at the top new casinos away from Las Vegas.
1. Argosy Casino – Council Bluffs, IA
- Year Opened: 2023
- Notable Gaming Options: 2,500 slot machines, 80 table games, 40 poker tables, high-limit room
There’s a brand-new casino in town, and it’s not on the Strip. Boyd Gaming cut the ribbon on Argosy Casino in January 2023, replacing the old Harrah’s Council Bluffs.
This $175-million property features a spectacular glass façade and offers plenty of entertainment inside. You can find 2,500 slot machines from leading suppliers like AGS, Konami, and Scientific Games.
They also have all the popular table games, including blackjack, craps, roulette, and baccarat. Poker players will find 40 tables dedicated to , as well as a VIP area for cash game action.
online casino bonus codeHigh rollers can visit The Bunker, where you’ll find Betty’s Bonanza, the world’s largest electronic Keno board. This $1-million game features a massive 96-inch display and 23,600 square inches of viewing area.
You can also enjoy sports betting at BetJack’s Sportsbook & Bar or place your wagers at over 80 self-betting kiosks.
Argosy Casino should definitely be on your list if you’re looking for new casinos near Las Vegas. It is only a 20-minute drive from Downtown KC and easily accessible from I-29 and I-74.
Of course, you can always visit the company’s other properties, such as Main Street Station, California, Sam’s Town, and The Golden Gate in Vegas; Jokers Wild and The Cal in LA; and Diamond Jo in Dubuque, IA.
2. Hard Rock Casino Cripple Creek – Colorado
- Year Opened: 2018
- Notable Gaming Options: 500 slot machines, 14 table games, 50-seat sportsbook
Colorado boasts many great mountain towns within driving distance of Denver, and Cripple Creek is one of my favorites. This historic mining town is home to numerous casinos, with Hard Rock Casino Cripple Creek among the top attractions.
This stylish property opened its doors in June 2018 and features the latest rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia from Bruce Springsteen, Elvis, Madonna, and more. You’ll also find quality gaming machines and table games, along with a full bingo hall.
Best Ways to Get Free Caesars Slots Coins 2023 (Updated)Hard Rock Casino Cripple Creek has 500 slot machines from top designers, such as IGT, AGS, and Scientific Games. You can spin from one cent to $250 per spin, with exciting themes covering classic fruit machines, video poker, and multi-game titles.
They also have 14 table games spreading three-card poker, mini-baccarat, blackjack, Caribbean Stud, and craps. If you’re looking to try some unique Hard Rock casino games, head up to the second level and find the interactive games.
You can play virtual roulette, craps, blackjack, and baccarat while enjoying food and beverage service at your seat.
If you prefer traditional table games, stick to the main gaming floor. You’ll find friendly dealers and plenty of room to spread out and enjoy the action.
Hard Rock Casino Cripple Creek also features a 50-seat sportsbook powered by SG Digital and Inspired Gaming. You can make wagers at five betting windows or 12 kiosks if you prefer.
This casino is just a two-hour drive from Colorado Springs and well worth the trip. Even if you’re not a big gambler, you’ll enjoy touring the memorabilia rooms, listening to live music, and enjoying all the fantastic dining options.
Updates on US States Where Online Poker is LegalSpeaking of which, don’t miss the excellent steaks at Council Hall Buffet, where you can enjoy “choose your own adventure” dining.
3. Little River Casino Resort – Manitowoc, WI
- Year Opened: 2009
- Notable Gaming Options: 1,000 slot machines, eight table games, high-stakes bingo
Some of the best new casinos aren’t even called casinos. That’s the case with Little River Casino Resort, which offers exciting gambling options in southeastern Wisconsin.
This facility opened its doors in September 2009 and expanded significantly in 2017–2018. They now feature 1,000 slot machines, eight table games, high-stakes bingo, a full bingo palace, and a luxurious hotel tower with 200 rooms.
Little River Casino’s slot machine selection includes proven winners like Wheel of Fortune, Dragon Spin, China Shores, and Chinese Guardian. They also have linked progressive jackpots, such as Cash Blitz, which climbed over $226,000 in April 2023.
If you get hungry while gaming, consider stopping at Eagle’s Nest Restaurant. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days weekly, featuring made-from-scratch recipes and stunning views of Lake Michigan.
You can also try their weekend seafood buffet or grab a quick bite at one of four other eateries.
Manitowoc is located about halfway between Milwaukee and Green Bay, Wis., so stop by Little River Casino when you’re in the area. Their bingo palace features sessions every day, with regular, vlt, and super hokeypelly bingo games.
You can also book a room and spend the night in this lovely lakefront community.
4. MGM NorthField – Near Minneapolis, MN
- Year Opened: 2022
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- Notable Gaming Options: 2500 slot machines, 60 table games, 25 poker tables, 100,000-square-foot sports betting area
MGM NorthField is the newest addition to the Twin Cities gaming market, opening its doors in May 2022. This $300-million property is located in the Shakopee Mdewakanton Siwan reservation, just 20 minutes from downtown Minneapolis.
You can find 2,500 slot machines from top designers, such as AGS Vault, Konami, IGT, and Scientific Games. These games feature appealing themes, such as Western empires, Egyptian fortune, wolf peaks, and dragon temples.
Table games cover all the classics, including blackjack, craps, roulette, and baccarat. They also offer several poker variants, including Three-Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, and pai gow.
Sports bettors will love the 100,000-square-foot Center Bar area dedicated to wagering on sporting events. You can visit the Levy restaurant for made-to-order items or catch a game on one of 120 TVs while enjoying your favorite beverage.
PayPal Casinos That Accept US Players in December, 2023Center Bar will eventually expand to include numerous restaurants, bars, lounges, and entertainment venues. MGM NorthField will also build a 25-story hotel tower in the future, so stay tuned for further developments.
In the meantime, you can visit the nearby Mystic Lake Center and little six casinos for even more gaming excitement.
5. Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort – Hot Springs, AR
- Year Opened: 2019
- Notable Gaming Options: 2,400 slot machines, 50 table games, 360-degree racing bar, sports betting lounge
Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort tops the list of best new casinos near Memphis, offering exciting gambling options just 90 miles to the south. This property dates back to 1904, when it began life as a racetrack.
It closed its doors in November 2019 for a significant expansion and reopened in March 2019 as Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort. Today’s facility features 2,400 slot machines, 50 table games, a variety of dining options, a full arcade, live thoroughbred racing (December through April), spa services, and 810 guest rooms and suites.
You’ll find plenty of local and wide-area progressives in the slot machine area, including Red White & Blue, Fire Light, and Hot Drop Jackpots.
I recommend trying Hot Drops Jackpots Wolf Peak, which delivered a $723,000 payoff in February 2023.
The table games feature traditional titles, such as blackjack, Mississippi stud, four-card poker, and minibaccarat. They also spread Crazy 4 Poker, a fun game that combines elements of craziness, omaha, and poker.
Sports bettors will feel right at home in the Oaklawn sportsbook powered by SBTech. You can visit one of 25 betting windows or use one of 40 self-service kiosks to place your wagers.
6. Purple – Near Philadelphia, PA
- Year Opened: 2023
- Notable Gaming Options: 2,200 slot machines, 150 table games, 40 poker tables, 150,000-square-foot sports betting area
Live! Casino Pittsburgh opened its doors in 2021, and Purple is the company’s second Pennsylvania casino. This $250-million integrated resort is located near the Philadelphia International Airport and promises to be “the ultimate entertainment destination.”
Purple features 2,200 slot machines, 150 table games, 40 poker tables, a 38-lane bowling alley, numerous dining options, and much more. Their gaming floor covers 105,000 square feet, and a 300-room Live! Hotel will open later in 023.
You can enjoy the latest slot machines from manufacturers, such as AGS, Aristocrat, Konami, and Scientific Games. Purple’s table games cover blackjack, roulette, baccarat, Spanish 21, mini-craps, pai gow, and more.
Poker players will find numerous games running around the clock, including no-limit hold’em, pot-limit Omaha, and seven-card stud. Purple also features daily tournaments and a series of major events, starting with the SummerKESSEL Tournament Series running from June 9-August 6, 2023.
Of course, you can’t miss the enormous sportsbook powered by William Hill. It covers 15,000 square feet of wall-to-wall screens showing all the biggest games. In fact, you’ll need to see it to believe it - Purple's sportsbook is one of the largest in the country!
You can also visit over 40 self-service betting stations or use the convenient mobile app to place your wagers.
All this action will work up an appetite or thirst, so you’ll be glad to know that Purple has numerous dining and drinking options. Choices range from Big D Craft House and Lucky 8 Noodle Bar to Bobby Flay Steak and Guy Fieri’s American Kitchen + Bar.
Don’t miss the huge yearly events, such as the Hops for Vets craft beer festival on March 31, 2024.
7. Rivers Casino & Resort – Schenectady, NY
- Year Opened: 2022
- Notable Gaming Options: 1,150 slot machines, 40 table games, 30-table live poker room, 146-room hotel
Rivers Casino & Resort isn’t exactly a new casino - it originally opened in 2017. However, the property completed a major expansion and reopened in August 2022, earning it a spot on my list of the top new casinos away from Vegas.
This $32 million project added 74 new slot machines, 20 extra table games, a high-limit room, a 146-room hotel, and numerous new dining options. You can also visit the 30-table live poker room, which ranks as one of the biggest in the state.
As for those dining options, Rivers Casino features nine restaurants serving everything from burgers and tacos to filet mignon and fresh seafood. I suggest starting your day with a delicious breakfast at Overflow Bagels & Coffee. Andy’s Frozen Custard is another must-visit eatery, offering hand-dipped custard concretes, sundaes, shakes, and more.
Of course, you can’t miss the enormous yearly events, such as the Hops for Vets craft beer festival on March 31, 2024.
8. Snoqualmie Casino – Snoqualmie, WA
- Year Opened: 2022
- Notable Gaming Options: 1,500 slot machines, 40 table games, 12-table semi-private poker room
Some of the best new casinos outside of Las Vegas open in the Pacific Northwest - and Snoqualmie Casino is one of the finest examples. This gorgeous facility welcomed visitors in December 2022, cost over $150 million, and replaced the old Snoqualmie Card Room.
Although the new property is larger than the old card room, it wasn’t large enough to house all the staff members. As a result, Snoqualmie Casino employs over 500 people—an increase of nearly 300 workers compared to the previous establishment.
Snoqualmie Casino features 1,500 slot machines, 40 table games, a 12-table semi-private poker room, a high-limit room, four restaurants, and much more. They offer the latest slots from manufacturers, such as AGS, Aristocrat, Konami, and Scientific Games.
You can spin from one penny to $100 per pull, pursuing thrilling themes, such as ancient Egypt, Asian dragons, King Arthur, and Buffalo Gold. Table game players will find all the classics, including blackjack, pai gow, roulette, mini-baccarat, and Spanish 21.
If you’re looking to try something different, ask your dealer about Super Face-Off Poker, a new version of three-card poker with extra side bets and features.
You can enjoy delightful dining options at Tapastilla, Cypress & Juniper, The Bakery, and The Oasis Buffet. I highly recommend trying the roasted prime rib at The Oasis, which is available every day except Wednesday.
Best No Deposit Bonus Casinos in NZ for 2023 [New Update]Snoqualmie Casino is owned by the Snoqualmie Tribe and located about 20 minutes from Bellevue and 30 minutes from downtown Seattle.
9. Sycuan Casino Resort – El Cajon, CA
- Year Opened: 2022
- Notable Gaming Options: 2,500 slot machines, 80 table games, 30-table live poker room, bingo room, high limit salon
Sycuan Casino Resort entered 2022 as one of the top Native American casinos in America, and things got even better in October 2022. That’s when the company opened a $250 million expansion project that adds 350 hotel rooms, new restaurants, meeting space, and a beautiful outdoor pool.
The gaming area also grew substantially, making Sycuan one of the best new casinos in southern California. You can enjoy 2,500 slot machines, 80 table games, a 30-table live poker room, a bingo room, and a high-limit salon.
Sycuan’s slot collection includes hot drop jackpots from Konami, IGT, and other leading designers. For example, Fire Link Titans delivers random prizes every 15 minutes, starting at 100x your bet and climbing as high as a $1 million jackpot.
best online real slotsYou can also find plenty of traditional machines, such as Wheel of Fortune, Buffalo, and Chinese guardians.
Blackjack aficionados will discover numerous table games spread at Sycuan, along with let it ride, pai gow, roulette, craps, and baccarat. I recommend trying novel variants, such as Ultimate Texas Hold’em, which lets you play the role of the dealer and compete against other players.
Maybe you’ll even become a dealer yourself at the Sycuan Casino Poker Room, which hosts daily tournaments and cash games in all limits and formats.
Whether you’re staying in one of the old rooms or the new Tower 294, you’ll appreciate a comfortable night’s sleep. When you wake up in the morning, you’ll have lots of dining options, such as the new Farmhouse Grill buffet.
10. Wildwood Casino – Emmetsburg, IA
- Year Opened: 2021
- Notatable Gaming Options: 550 slot machines, 16 table games, high-limit room, keno, bingo, sports betting
Wildwood Casino may have opened its doors in July 2021, but they celebrated in style with a three-day grand opening extravaganza. This $30-million facility is owned by the Sac & Fox Tribes of Missouri/Iowa and offers exciting gambling options in northcentral Iowa.
Wildwood Casino features 550 slot machines from top designers, such as AGS, IGT, and Konami. They also have all the popular table games, including blackjack, craps, roulette, and baccarat. Rise early on Saturday for low-stakes mini-baccarat, which gets underway at 10:00 am.
Best Casino Apps that Pay Real Money in 2023-24One of Wildwood’s most interesting games is All In On 0, an adaptation of mini-baccarat that uses zeros instead of lames. No ten-point rules here - zero zero means zero, and a winning banker wager pays 8 to 1!
Perhaps you’ll hit a wild jackpot while testing these games. Wildwood Casino offers linked progressive jackpots, such as Hot Drop Jackpots, Wild Wood Great Jones, and Golden Moon.
The Golden Moon jackpot climbed above $1.37 million in January 2023 before a lucky player hit it. Maybe the next big payout will happen on your watch!
If you prefer spinning traditional slot machines, check out Wheel of Fortune, Buffalo, Game King Poker, and James Dean.
All 16 table games spread at Wildwood Casino are dealt by friendly and efficient dealers, but you can try electronic Roulette 21 if you prefer speedy play. This novel game allows you to bet on the outcome of up to 12 roulette numbers plus hardways, evens, odds, red/black, and other options.
Wildwood Casino is building a reputation as one of the best new casinos in Iowa, and bigger things are on the way. The Sac & Fox Tribes plan to add a 150-room hotel in 2024, along with more exciting changes we’ve yet to learn about.
Best Slots with a Caesars Theme You Can Play Online11. Wind Creek Atmore - Atmore, AL
- Year Opened: 2022
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- Notable Gaming Options: 2,700 slot machines, 100 table games, 30-table live poker room, high-limit salon
Wind Creek Atmore is the flagship property for the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, cost over $1.3 billion, and opened its doors in May 2022. It exceeds
