Got money to burn? According to the American Gambling Association the US gambling industry is worth 240 billion USD. And while Americans lost 119 billion USD gambling in 2019, the industry shows no signs of recession.
On average Americans gamble once per year, but then there are of course those who take it much more seriously.
The following are the best casino cities in the US . A few of them are already a famous city in America, meaning that they offer other attractions besides gaming and gambling, yet others are don't have much to offer to tourists seeking a complete travel experience.
You can also check travel deals provided by major travel websites to each of the destinations departing from your city using the widget below. It's convenient and can give you an idea of how much you'll be spending.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Perhaps the world's most famous gambling city: Las Vegas
For generations of Americans and gamblers around the world, casino gambling meant Las Vegas — and the name evoked either glamour or tacky glitz, depending on the listener.
Since the late 1990s Las Vegas has attempted to shift the tourism it has been having for decades to make it more family friendly, and this has had a serious impact on the city’s earnings- in fact Macau (which I visited a number of years ago) now moves 7 times more money than Las Vegas.
Nevertheless the allure will always be there and it is safe to say that it is one of the biggest gambling cities in the world and is also home to some of the best casinos in US mainland.
Atlantic City, New Jersey
You may not know this but Atlantic City actually struggled economically in the mid-20th century. However, in 1976, when the state passed a referendum legalizing gambling in the city, “America’s Playground” surged to life with ferocity, becoming one of the top gambling cities in the US.
Atlantic City is by far the gaming and gambling capital of the East Coast, with 13 world-class casinos and thousands of high-end games and machines.
Plus, you can also make it a great family trip as there are quite a few things to do in Atlantic City with kids.
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans now only has great gambling, but a unique heritage and cuisine too.
New Orleans became the center of American gambling in the early 19th century.
The Mississippi River allowed access to more American towns and cities than any other, so it was natural that the city at the mouth of the river would become home to the most gamblers.
Today, riverboat casino gambling is the most popular of all, although initially these boats were meant for river tours only.
Of course New Orleans also has a lot of non-gambling tourism, and a walking tour may be just what you need.
Reno, Nevada
Reno was initially known as a railroad town, with the city’s main rail line connecting Salt Lake City and Sacramento. Besides this Reno was once also the capital of gambling in the United States after the entry into force of the law of gambling in 1931.
In fact, during the fifties, Reno had actually become the gambling capital of the central region of the USA, and today remains one of the best gambling cities in the country.
Foxwoods Casino Resort, Connecticut
Foxwoods Casino Resort is a huge gaming and gambling complex set a few hundred yards off of I-95 in Connecticut. It has become one of the largest gambling resorts in the world and is owned by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe of Native Americans.
The Pequot’s status as a recognized Native American tribe affords them the right to run a gambling establishment where otherwise it would be illegal.
Biloxi, Mississippi
Casinos blanket Biloxi and offer everything from Vegas-type shows to a variety of slot machines. The facilities not only offer gambling experiences but the larger ones incorporate other services like spas, restaurants and hotels (check rates here).
Palm Springs, California
With seven casinos valley-wide you can definitely find the one that’s right for you, including Morongo, The Spa, Agua Caliente, Fantasy Springs, Spotlight, Augustine, and Red Earth.
It is not one of the most famous gambling cities, but it is known for many other reasons that make it attractive to tourists.
Many if not all of the local casinos offer a club rewards program, point compensation for hotel stays or dining, spa services, and a lot more.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Sure, Fort Lauderdale is perhaps more famous for its sun and surf…or is it? This area in South Florida has had a dramatic increase in visitors willing to be come rich gaming. Not only can you win money inland but there are casino cruises that will take you to Bahamas or for a day trip, allowing some sun worshiping along the way.
Chicagoland, Illinois and Indiana
Gary, Indiana, on the southern tip of Lake Michigan, is on the eastern edge of the Chicago metropolitan area and is also known as Chicagoland. The region is the third-largest gambling area in the United States, behind Las Vegas and Atlantic City, as measured by casino revenue (check hotel rates).
Detroit, Michigan
Truth is Detroit only has three casinos, but they are an interesting trio and surprisingly slick. The oldest casino in the city, the Greektown, is Native American-owned and dedicated to helping the economy- from time to time they even offer slot play credit to anyone who has purchased a new American made automobile.
Nearby, the MGM Grand Detroit and the Motor City Casino both have more than 400 hotel rooms with all the expected comforts.
Hopefully this list has given you an idea about what direction to look, but if you want more info on what casinos to find in each state you can check the map in this page.
Currently it seems like Movable Type is the preferred blogging platform out there right now.
(from what I’ve read) Is that what you are using on your blog?
Just FYI your picture of Atlantic City is actually a picture of Boston…..
I don’t think any of these other cities can compare to Las Vegas. The number of casinos, buffets, bars, and extravagant shows is unmatched in the US.
This would make an awesome tour of the US. However, with my gambling luck I might not make it out of Vegas.
Love the blog, kind regards, Si
hahaha…I wouldn´t go for it either, gambling doesn´t like me either. Thanks for stopping by Si 🙂
Thanks for the information you have shared here…Lovely ideas!!
I wonder if Biloxi has recovered from Katrina – I heard that a lot of the casino boats were destroyed and were thrown far inland from their moorings. Last time I went there was in 2001!
And Las Vegas! Just posted an article on my website – doing Las Vegas on under £50/$75 a day, if anybody is interested.
I´m sure somebody will 🙂
Thanks for the tip!
Biloxi is amazing, the casinos are beautiful and plentiful.They were the first things to be rebuilt after Katrina.
Need to get back over there to see the new Golden Nugget.
I love to hear more of this post…very interesting shared thoughts!!
I really love the ideas you have included in this post and I am sure a lot of people are interested with this as well…
I think this kind of post is not good because a lot of gamblers where going this place..
I am not into gambling because all I want is just fun…
I am really disappointed by this post. My husband is a big gambler and squanders money on these cheap thrills. Gambling to a limit is okay, but excessive is terrible. These places may be great, I do not doubt that, but you could have avoided writing such an anti-social post. If gambling lovers read this they will surely go over drive and visit it spending a lot of valuable money in the process. I would suggest you consider the effects your articles can have before writing them and posting them.
This blog also speaks about diving, surfing and other activities that have resulted in fatal accidents. Should I stop speaking about these topics too? Gambling can be a problem, but so are many other things. Sorry it disturbed you.
For starters, in the future you should keep a log book of where you play, the dates, and the daily totals how much you have won or lost. The receipts you have now you can use to create a log for those time periods and use as proof of wins and losses. Another thing to know for tax time is you can use any losing lottery tickets, including scratch-offs to offset your winnings.
Verry good tips I did not know about, thanks for stopping by Tracey.
My friend is getting married soon and we will be having a bachelor’s party, hoping to make it as crazy as “Hangover” the movie. Las Vegas has been done to death and we have all visited it a number of times after all it is the Mecca for gambling. Marriage too is a gamble so might try your luck on the money front before it. We are thinking of Biloxi, Mississippi to be our destination. Thank you for giving us your valuable advice. Keep posting great travel knowledge.
Gambling, i think is not a good idea for fun..That is just my opinion, anyway..
To each his own! I don’t either, but many do 🙂
Want to travel to UK and gamble there, weas wondering if you had any leads to some good spots to gamble there. The US casinos we are all aware of but the Euro and UK Pound are stronger than the Dollar and we can get huge profits from it by gambling at their rate. I want to visit England in particular and was looking out for a good option of a casino to visit in March around the England and Scotland areas. I would be really happy if you do a travel peice on the UK and mention the pubs and casinos there in it. Looking forward to that. Will be making trips to some other European countries later on in the year, would like some coverage of that too. Cheers.
Hi George
The best spot is probably the Casino at the Empire. It’s in Leicester Square. There are various private ones in Mayfair (W1) like Aspinal and the Colony Club. Pubs? Great one in Bruton Mews called The Guinea Grill. And Hix has a great bar in the basement, in Soho.
A great deal of info yet again… thanks
Travel is cool and gambling is what me and my friends love to do on the week-end. You have actually suggested some great spots all around the country for all of us to visit and gamble at. I am being frank about it, life is short and you need to live it to the fullest. Las Vegas is known to be the place of casinos, but the other places were dicoveries to me and my friends. Thank you and Happy New Year 2012.
I have never tried gambling and I think it may be fun but addicting..
Wanted to experience gambling in my life. Thanks for your post! Now I have got my destination for my first gambling experience – Las Vegas. Heard of its been the city of casinos. After reading your post I have been more excited to visit this place and have planned my visit later in this month. Will surely reply to you after my visit. Thank you!
Gambling on New Years has been a great tradition in many US family and friend circles. This list was very helpful to many who have a tradition of going to their hometowns and celebrating the holidays. Thanks for this list. New Years luck is very vital and it is a way of predicting what will happen in the New Year and the months to come. One good thing is that gambling spots have gaming provisions as well. The kids can have fun gaming and the adults can try their hands at gambling. The important thing is not over doing it, the fear of gambling too much always exists. The main thing is knowing when to stop gambling, the fact that it is an addiction has to always be at the side of ones mind. My policy play five games, make as much money as you can and then quit. The minimum win or loss is not a big problem, the family and friends will also be happy and not feel that by not playing you acted like a bore.