From casinos located right along the waterfront to resort oases in the middle of the desert, gambling destinations in the United States span the gamut. If you want to cash in at one of the best casinos in the country — and have an unforgettable vacation to boot — gamble at one of these top ten gaming hotspots. We have selected some of the best online casino games for US players and you can read comprehensive reviews of these games at Casinos Online. An Overview of Gambling in the United States. In spite of the absence of federal and state level regulation in the US, online casino. Online Casinos in United States of America – Best American Casinos Everything that was ever said about America has probably been said but we will say it again just because it feels so damn good. It’s a beautiful land that gave birth to Tony Robbins, Disney, Judge Judy, and NCIS amongst many other things. Best 6 Live Casinos in United States 2020 The United States is a country that is comprised of 50 states, with some of the major ones being New York and California. There is a population of 325.7 million inhabitants in America and the country is known for being innovative and is where many people go to seek fame and fortune. There are almost 900 casinos in the United States, with that number steadily growing as more states seek to legalize casinos. 38 states now have some form of casino gambling. Relatively small places such as Las Vegas are best known for gambling; larger cities such as Chicago are not defined by their casinos in spite of the large turnover.
The United States are home to over 1500 casinos—more than any other country in the world, in fact–and those gambling dens generate over $71 billion in revenue per year. The casino gambling business continues to grow throughout the country, too. Critics are quick to dismiss the casino industry as being harmful to consumers, but these businesses employ at least half a million people.
But the USA is also a patchwork quilt of gambling laws that vary from state to state. Most states have at least one casino now, but there are still some holdouts where there is no legal casino in which to gamble.
Even the states that are home to the most casinos—Nevada, Oklahoma, Colorado, and California—have dozens of sometimes strange laws on the books regulating the operation of these casinos. For example, Oklahoma is allowed to host casino games that use playing cards, but games with spinning wheels or dice are illegal. (That law is about to change, but you should see the contortions Oklahoma casinos go through to offer roulette and craps powered by decks of cards.)
In the state of Colorado, the most you’re allowed to bet in a casino is $100 at a time.
The rest of this posts looks at the various situations related to casinos by state. I think you’ll find these facts and statistics of interest.
This might seem obvious, as Nevada is home to Las Vegas, the former gambling capital of the world. It’s also home to Reno, which is also known as a casino destination. Nevada has 334 casinos operating within its borders.
But you’d be surprised as some of Nevada’s closest competitors. I live and work in Texas, which is right on the border of Oklahoma, a state which is fast becoming a gambling mecca in its own right. Oklahoma now has 134 casinos operating there, too. That’s about a third of the number of casinos as Nevada, but the latter has been opening casinos since 1931. Oklahoma just got into the business in 2004.
According to WorldAtlas.com, these are the 10 states with the most casinos, in order:
I’m not sure how long these numbers will remain accurate, of course. The industry continues to grow throughout the United States.
2- The Best Casino in the United States Is the Mohegan Sun
USA Today runs a website called “10 Best.” They rank various businesses and products by category, and their ranking of casinos in the USA might be definitive, as it’s based on a readers’ poll. The #1 casino in their poll is the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut.
Along with Foxwoods, the Mohegan Sun is one of just 2 casino resorts in the state. It’s made up of 3 casinos:
Between the 3 casinos, Mohegan Sun is host to over 5000 gambling machines and over 275 tables games. They also have a poker room with over 42 tables and a race book. If you enjoy Asian style gambling, they have a separate area for that which offers games like baccarat, pai gow poker, and sic bo.
The rest of 10Best’s list looks like this, in order:
Only 4 of the casinos in the top 10 are in Nevada, which sounds like a lot, until you consider how many casinos are in the state of Nevada compared to other states. 3- The Largest Casino in the United States in the Winstar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville, Oklahoma
For years, Foxwoods in Connecticut was the biggest casino in the United States. It has over 340,000 square feet of entertainment. It’s been open since 1986, and the resort itself has over 2200 rooms for guests.
But the Winstar World Casino in Oklahoma has been growing like a weed since it opened in 2004. It doesn’t compete with Foxwoods in terms of number of sleeping rooms, but it has over 500,000 square feet of gambling space. I can remember when it first opened, and it was little more than a big tent on the side of the road.
Those 2 casinos combined are bigger than the next 5 biggest casinos in the country, each of which has about 150,000 square feet for gaming.
According to TripInfo.com, the next biggest casinos in the United States include:
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Every state in the Union now has at least once casino, with only 5 exceptions:
You would think Alaska would be a prime state for casinos, as there’s a relatively large Native American population there compared to other states. But the Indian reservations in the state of Alaska don’t fit the legal definition of “Indian Lands.” This has to do with, among other things, the tribes’ authority to levy taxes.
Tennessee is possibly the most conservative state in the Union. As a result, even though there have been repeated attempts to legalize casinos, the state still can’t pass legislation to allow casinos there. Tennessee does have a state lottery, though, and fantasy sports for money is legal there, too.
Utah, like Tennessee, is extremely conservative, largely because of the large Mormon population and influence there. When my wife visited the state a few years ago, she had trouble finding a place that would sell her a real cup of coffee. (Mormons eschew caffeine.) I think she might have been exaggerating, though, but still—that’s the kind of attitude you’re dealing with there.
Vermont is one of the smallest states in the country, and they’re best-known for their maple syrup. All the states surrounding Vermont offer casino gambling, so it’s not much of a priority to legalize, regulate, and open casinos there in the state itself.
Virginia has been politically opposed to casinos for years, even though Maryland is nearby and offers casino gambling. Their situation is similar to that of Texas. Lots of money going across the border because the state can’t find a way to convince the religious conservatives running the government to legalize and regulate casino gambling. (Texas does have one casinos, though—it’s just so out of the way that it might as well not exist.)
5- Roughly a Third of the Casinos in the United States Are Native American Casinos
Unless you’re completely unaware of United States history, you already know that we weren’t the first people here. In fact, we took over the country from the natives who already lived here. What’s left of the indigenous tribes now have a certain amount of legal authority when it comes to governing themselves.
This is referred to as “tribal sovereignty.” These tribes are considered “domestic dependent nations,” and they’re recognized by the United States federal government. The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 is one of several laws that try to clarify the legal relationship between the federal government and these tribal governments. It’s specific to the operation of gambling businesses.
That law limits the ability of state governments to regulate gambling businesses run on tribal lands.
And that’s the reason we’ve seen so many Native American casinos springing to life over the last 30 years. There are close to 500 casinos run by over 200 different tribes. Since there are only 1500 or so casinos throughout the entire country, it’s easy to calculate the percentage of those that are run by Native American tribes.
Also, since Native American tribes aren’t required to report casino revenues, the actual dollar amount of revenue generated by these properties is unknown.
6- Not All United States Casinos Are the Same—They’re Categorized in Multiple Ways
You can probably guess based on what I’ve included in this post already that you can categorize U.S. casinos according to whether they’re run by a Native American tribe or not. That’s a good starting point, but you can make further categorizations, too.
One category of casinos is “pari-mutuel.” These are casinos located in horse racing or dog racing tracks. Pari-mutuel casinos are also often called “racinos.” They don’t usually differ much from other casinos, but some of them have specific laws allowing slot machines but not table games. And sometimes they offer slot machines where the results are determined by historical racing results, similar to how some casinos use bingo results to determine their slots results.
Another category of casinos is the “riverboat casino.” In many southern states, gambling was illegal, but only on dry land. These riverboat casinos used to have to go on a cruise every day, but the laws aren’t as strict now. Most riverboat casinos never leave the dock anymore.
In fact, many of these riverboat casinos aren’t even on rivers anymore. They’re now docked in lagoons. In Mississippi, the laws have relaxed so much that a riverboat casino can be built on land. It just has to be close to a river.
7- You Must Be at Least 21 Years Old to Gamble in a U.S. Casino, but There Are Some Exceptions
The laws related to the legal gambling age are state laws, so they vary by state. They’re remarkably consistent, though. In almost all states, you must be 21 to gamble. The only exceptions are:
In those states, the minimum age to gamble legally is 18.
Some states do allow limited gambling by 18 to 20-year-olds. Usually, the only kind of gambling you’re allowed to participate in if you’re under 21 is bingo and other kinds of pari-mutuel gambling. These states allow limited gambling by 18, 19, and 20-year-olds:
8- The First United States Casino Was Called Brown’s Saloon
Casino gambling as we know it dates back to 1822. Brown’s Saloon was the name of this proto-casino, and it was located near the border between Colorado and Wyoming. It was so named because it was located in a town called Brown’s Hole. The saloon catered mostly to trappers who were trading in furs, which was a popular industry at the time.
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Brown’s Saloon, aka Brown’s Hole Saloon, was open for 18 years, from 1822 to 1840.
9 – The Only 2 States with Legal, Regulated Online Casinos Are Delaware and New Jersey
Delaware was the first state to legalize online casinos in 2012. They didn’t launch their first sites until late 2013. It’s a relatively small market, although they posted gambling earnings in excess of $3 million in 2016
New Jersey legalized online casinos in 2013. Compared to Delaware, the online casino marketplace in New Jersey is huge—they posted revenues of $196 million in 2016. That number increased by over 25% in just a year, so the market is still growing there.
New Jersey is expected to start taking online sports bets, soon. This should show a dramatic increase in revenues again.
Pennsylvania has passed legislation allowing online casinos, but there are no companies in business yet. The legislation is still recent.
10- Sports Betting Will Soon Become Legal in a Lot of States
Until the recent Supreme Court decision on May 14, 2018, the only state where you could legally bet on sports was Nevada. The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was the law preventing states from legalizing, regulating, and offering sports betting.
In light of this Supreme Court decision, multiple states have started the ball rolling toward offering legal, regulated sports betting. Delaware, Mississippi , New Jersey, and West Virginia already had legal mechanisms in place for launching sports betting. They were just waiting for PASPA to be struck down. They’ll be the first states to offer sports betting in this new environment.
At least another dozen, and maybe as many as two dozen, other states are considering passing legislation to legalize and regulate sports betting. Most of them won’t have any action available until 2019, though, as they need time to get the legislation passed.
And there are 10 interesting facts and statistics about the state of casino gambling in various states. The United States has a rapidly changing casino and gambling environment, both legally and business-wise. It will be fascinating to watch the environment continue to grow over the next couple of decades.
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The gulf between your typical beachside vacation and a session spent gambling in the casino couldn’t be wider.
Some places offer sunny skies, splashing water, and pure relaxation versus a smoky room, sounding sirens, and the pressure of trying to beat the house. To be sure, these popular vacation destinations usually represent polar opposites on the recreation spectrum.
I say “usually” because a few casino resorts out there manage to bring guests the best of both worlds. These casinos are situated on or near pristine beaches, offering direct access to the outdoor amenities and summertime fun. And when the sun has set, a stroll back through the doors offers an evening of entertainment on the gaming floor.
This sort of dual vacation experience isn’t for everybody, but if you’ve never enjoyed the unique of scuba diving by day and doubling down by night, I’d highly recommend giving it a shot.
Check out the list below for five of the best beach and casino vacations in the United States:
1 – Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida
Miami Beach might just be the best of its kind in the continental United States, boasting pristine white sands, the brightest blue water, and perpetual sunshine.
The home of Spring Break revelry, surfing, and Tequila Sunrises, South Florida is truly a sight to behold. If you’re looking for an abundance of beautiful beaches for your next vacation, you simply can’t beat the nexus between Miami and Fort Lauderdale.
And nestled right between both cities is Hollywood, Florida – sight of the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. This AAA Four Diamond rated resort wouldn’t be out of place in The Bahamas, with its 469 suites towering above palm trees and the 4.5-acre tropical lagoon swimming area.
Owned and operated by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, this venue opened in 2004 to rave reviews, and in over a decade since, it’s become the most popular gambling hotspot in the state. The massive, Las Vegas style gaming floor spans 145,000 square feet and offers 135 table games, covering everything from basic blackjack to baccarat, Three Card Poker, Let It Ride, and Pai Gow Poker.
Slot and video poker enthusiasts will find 2,500 machines spread throughout the premises, with the latest games by Aristocrat, International Game Technology (IGT), and the rest of the industry’s big boys.
The Seminole Hard Rock Casino has also fashioned itself into a major player in the poker world, thanks to an expansive 40-table poker room. This place is also known for being one of the most well-run poker rooms anywhere outside of Sin City, offering a nonstop schedule of cash games and tournaments.
And if you visit during the summer months, you can take part in one of poker’s most popular tournament series, the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open (SHRPO). Every year the SHRPO runs a full-fledged tournament schedule covering all the variants, from Texas hold’em to Omaha Hi Lo Eight or Better, and everything in between.
When the SHRPO Main Event arrives, players have a shot to win more than a million bucks in a few days’ work, so why not try a qualifier or two and see if Lady Luck is on your side?
Beachgoers are in luck no matter how the cards fall during any visit to the Seminole Hard Rock Casino. Whether you head 30 minutes south to Miami Beach, 15 minutes north to Fort Lauderdale, or just a few minutes east to Hollywood Beach – you’re never far from the sand and sun.
I recommend the Hollywood Beach Boardwalk, home to a thriving outdoor market with 30 shops, 50 restaurants spanning the culinary spectrum, and activities like rollerblading, biking, tanning, and swimming just steps away.
2 – Sycuan Casino in El Cajon, California
These are just a few of the iconic beaches that make up the San Diego coastline. Blending rugged cliffs and sandy beaches, San Diego’s natural beauty attracts millions of visitors every year. Offering world class surfing and scuba diving opportunities over 300 days of sunshine, San Diego is a must-see city for every American.
But on the more expensive side, it doesn’t have to be a must-stay city, what with nearby El Cajon providing an affordable alternative. Starting at El Cajon’s signature Sycuan Casino, it’s a scenic 40-minute drive to San Diego’s pristine beaches.
The Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation has operated the gorgeous Sycuan Casino since 1983, but a recent $220 million renovation spruced the place up with modern resort amenities. Today, a 12-story tower houses 300 guest rooms and 50 suites, with further accommodations at the attached Sycuan Golf Resort.
The casino itself is enormous, with 218,000 square feet of floor space for gamblers to enjoy.
Table games players will find blackjack, Three Card Poker, Four Card poker, Spanish 21, EZ Baccarat, Fortune Pai Gow Poker, and Double Hand Baccarat across 48 table placements.
If bingo is more your thing, you’re in luck, because Sycuan Casino began as a bingo hall over 30 years ago. This is a modern bingo establishment, complete with personal TV screens displaying the numbers called, five daily sessions, and Bingo After Dark.
Sycuan Casino runs 2,025 slot and video poker machines too, so you’ll never lack for progressive jackpots and hand pays.
And for the poker players out there, a 17-table room spreading Texas hold’em, Seven Card Stud, and Omaha Hi/Lo in a smoke-free environment should have all the action you need.
You’ll have the nights for casino excursions, but when the sun comes up at Sycuan Casino, hit the road and head west to explore scenic San Diego. This city prides itself on its beachfront beauty, so try a “beach crawling” approach where you start in the south at Imperial Beach, before heading up the coastline to Silver Strand State Beach, North Beach, Coronado Beach, Ocean Beach, and La Jolla Cove.
Along the way you’ll enjoy everything from wakeboarding and wave runners to scuba diving and snorkeling. If you brought your canine companion along for the trip, try the Ocean Beach Dog Beach, where furry friends can enjoy digging sand and chasing seagulls in an off-leash setting.
The famous Children’s Pool at La Jolla isn’t a kiddy cove, but rather the home of a resident troop of sea lions. Visitors can get an up-close glimpse at these gentle giants, making the Children’s Pool one of the most popular places for beachgoers in San Diego.
3 – Ocean’s Eleven Casino in Oceanside, California
The city of Oceanside lives up to its name, with 3.5 miles of exquisite white sand beaches just a short walk away.
Harbor Beach is the area’s longest, but you’ll find as many as a dozen smaller beaches in Oceanside – from the secluded Cassidy Street Beach to Breakwater Bay and Pier View North. But no matter which of Oceanside’s beaches you decide on, expect to find activities like swimming, surfing, body boarding, sun tanning, volleyball, nightly bonfires, and everything else you’d expect from a classic California beachfront setting.
If hanging ten is your thing, check out the California Surf Museum, home to the state’s largest collection of surfing history and heritage. The Oceanside Harbor district combines the city’s marina with a quaint seaside locale, where lighthouses and sailing vessels lend the locale a historical vibe. And for shopping and dining options, the Oceanside Pier is the spot to be.
Oceanside is also home to Ocean’s Eleven Casino, a relatively small venue that admittedly lacks the resort stylings of some other properties on the list. The nondescript building may not look like much, but inside you’ll find one of Southern California’s most popular card rooms.
Traditional poker is the name of the game at Ocean’s Eleven Casino, and indeed, you won’t find any slot or video poker machines in the house. Instead, the bulk of the gaming floor is devoted to the Ocean’s Eleven poker room, which spreads every variant and limit across 38 tables. Tournaments and cash games make up the daily schedule, and at any given time, this place will be jam packed with poker players trying to grind out a winning session.
Ocean’s Eleven Casino also spreads 12 table games, including the unique California No Bust Blackjack variant – which lets the player tie if they go bust along with the dealer, rather than lose. Three Card Poker, Pai Gow Poker, and Ultimate Texas Hold’em round out the table game menu.
I didn’t include Ocean’s Eleven Casino on this list for the gambling, however, as its Oceanside’s immaculate beachfront amenities – and year-round sunshine – that provide the real draw. But when you’re looking to get a little poker action in on your next beach vacation, look no further than Oceanside and its name sake casino to combine the best of both worlds.
4 – Montbleu Resort Casino & Spa in Stateline, Nevada (Lake Tahoe)
The beachside lifestyle doesn’t have to be limited to oceans, and once you experience the wonders of Lake Tahoe in the summer, you’ll see why.
Crystal clear waters await, and while those waters might be a bit cooler than the other entries on this list, visiting Lake Tahoe in July or August promises 80-degree weather and clear skies.
But people don’t typically come to Lake Tahoe’s beaches for the usual sun tanning escapades. No, this jewel nestled on the state line between California and Nevada offers an abundance of outdoor recreational activities – from canoeing and kayaking, to paddleboards and wave runners, and even hot air balloon rides that depart right from the beach.
And you’ll have more than one beach to choose from when you visit Montbleu Resort Casino & Spa, which, like all Lake Tahoe casinos, is found on the Nevada side of the waterway.
Among the many beaches located within a short drive of Montbleu Resort Casino are the Nevada Beach day use area, the Tahoe Beach Club, Lakeside Beach, Keys Beach, Pope Beach, and Zephyr Cove. Each of these beaches is cozy and secluded, and most include onsite picnic benches, gazebos, and other facilities to lend the area a few creature comforts.
There’s nothing quite like dipping your toes in the water while gazing up at the towering, snow-capped peaks that surround much of Lake Tahoe. And if the weather isn’t quite cooperating during the day, why not take the world-famous gondola ride from nearby Heavenly Resort?
This popular attraction carries visitors 2.4 miles through the clouds to a ski resort, but in the summer months, you’ll be treated to panoramic views of the entire area.
And once back on flat ground, head back to the Montbleu Resort Casino to get your gamble on.
This facility is one of the largest and most modern casinos in the Lake Tahoe area, with 45,000 square feet of gaming floor housing a Las Vegas style casino.
With 28 table games on the premises, you can try your hand at blackjack, roulette, craps, or Three Card Poker. Machine players who prefer slots and video poker have 542 options to choose from, and you’ll find everything from the old three-reel slot games to high powered video slots.
If you prefer betting on the night’s sporting schedule, check out The Zone Sports Bar & Sportsbook and its attached Party Pit. Here you’ll find more than 40 high definition big screen TVs broadcasting all of the action, complete with table games right there in the sportsbook.
And on the weekends, the Party Pit lives up to its name, with go-go dancers doing their thing to the latest hits while gamblers enjoy the lively atmosphere.
Montbleu Resort Casino also has quite the history, opening back in 1978 as Park Tahoe, before becoming Caesars Tahoe between 1979 and 2006. It became the Montbleu after that, and in 2015 an ambitious $25 million renovation project created the luxurious 438 room casino resort of today.
Whether you’re out exploring the natural wonders of Lake Tahoe’s beachfront scenery, or scoring a natural blackjack at the tables, Montbleu Resort Casino has you covered.
5 – Golden Nugget Lake Charles in Louisiana
A relative newcomer to the casino scene, Golden Nugget Lake Charles opened to the public in December of 2014.
The venue is located on the banks of the Contraband Bayou, a snaking waterway which feeds into Lake Charles. The city of Lake Charles isn’t some bayou outpost though, as it’s the fifth largest city in Louisiana.
The circular Lake Charles is home to several beaches, but North Beach is the main attraction, as it’s the only white sand inland beach anywhere between Texas and Florida. Visitors from all over the Gulf Coast region call North Beach home for a few days every summer, as it offers boating, fishing, shelling and other outdoor recreation opportunities.
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You can even spot alligators and more adventurous forms of local flora and fauna, but only in the nearby swamps and bayous, not within Lake Charles itself.
The area is actually home to two casino resorts, but I chose the Golden Nugget Lake Charles over nearby Isle of Capri Casino for one simple reason: size.
The Golden Nugget lives up to its Las Vegas and Atlantic City namesakes, packing 72 table games and 1,600 slot and video poker machines into 40,000 square feet of gaming floor. The result is an intimate experience that reminds me of the Downtown Vegas location that gave the Golden Nugget its name.
But this venue is only a few years old, after all, so expect to find modern amenities throughout.
The hotel tower houses 738 smoke free rooms, while eight restaurants and five bars await downstairs. You’ll also find a full-service spa, an outdoor swimming pool, an attached golf course, and the 18,000-square foot Grand Ballroom and Event Center – where headlining musical and comedy acts appear nightly. A video arcade, tennis court, and barber shop are also onsite, turning the Golden Nugget into an all-inclusive resort for all ages.
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Head outside and you’ll enter the Golden Nugget Casino’s private marina and beach area. Here, you can rent a boat or yacht before heading out to explore Contraband Bayou, heading northbound to hit Lake Charles proper. If you’re not up for a trip, however, don’t worry at all, because the private beach is designed to offer everything you need without ever leaving the property.
Deck chairs and gazebos are set up for sun gazing, fire pits are at the ready for when the sunset starts, and a short walk in either direction opens the river ways up to perfect fishing holes. If you get hungry, Bill’s Bar & Burger of New York is conveniently located right there on the beachfront.
When you’ve caught your fill, hit the casino floor for a few rounds of baccarat, blackjack (6 deck shoe, double deck and 6:5 single deck games), roulette, craps and Crapless Craps with 20x odds, Three Card Poker, Mississippi Stud, Pai Gow Poker, Let It Ride, or Ultimate Texas Hold’em.
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The Golden Nugget Lake Charles also has a cozy little six-table poker room where the sharks swim.
Between the private beach area, North Beach and its undeniable beauty, and the world class gaming of the Golden Nugget Casino brand, this Lake Charles mainstay has it all.
Conclusion
Plan your next vacation to one of these great destinations. These 5 beach and casino vacations in the United States offer a combination of sun, sand, and casino gaming.
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