Best Casinos Near Me - June 2024

While seven states currently support real money online casinos and the vast majority of states, social casinos, sometimes you want the traditional hustle and bustle that only a California, Florida or Nevada retail casino gaming can bring. Learn how to play the casino floor, poker and blackjack tables and insider tips to win money playing slots and more.

Gaming at an online casino offers more table games and slots than a retail casino. Gaming options like baccarat and roulette are also available 24/7, either through the web browser or via the official app. It's even more or just as convenient to play table games with the live dealer from the comfort of your home or on the go at the office. 

You don't have to be a professional to get caught up in the excitement and rewards of an online casino. Online versions also have a greater slot machine selection, especially for jackpot gaming. However, slot games are usually added with the most frequency and come with the most bonuses. Speaking of bonuses, iGaming sites like BetMGM have significantly more promotions for players to take advantage of their gaming library, which gets updated more frequently than a retail slot room.

But for those who want to feel the hustle and bustle of a traditional Atlantic City or California casino, the best casino is usually in the heart of downtown. While you will have to spend money and time traveling to a retail casino, they are usually open 24/7 as well. However, casino etiquette exists, such as a dress code and how to interact with and tip the dealers and croupiers. 

You don't have to join a land-based casino, unlike an online casino. You can rack up the comp points and synchronize them with online counterparts like BetRivers Casino through their land-based partner River Casino. 

It's also hard to top Saturdays, with a full house of other gamers gaming. Land-based casinos draw crowds with lavish restaurant options and bars, something you won't find online. Saturdays are the best days to mingle and hang out with crowds. Playing online can offer practice play, increasing your odds of winning at a retail casino. Also, your online comp points from powerhouses like Caesars Palace can lead to a free luxurious hotel stay at partnering casinos.

Best Regional Casinos

There was a time when only Nevada and Atlantic City had land-based casinos outside of tribal control. But with great success, especially the American interactive gaming boom that began with Delaware in 2012, most states, with some notable exceptions like Tennessee and Alabama, don't have retail casinos. 

Before rushing to play, do independent research on the casino's brand reputation and gaming lineup. If you plan on staying there for a while, what is the quality of their hotel rooms and their amenities? With a sense of a dress code, promotions and membership rewards, casino etiquette, and culinary options, you have the foundation for successful gaming. Depending on where you live or visit, discover some top-notch gaming opportunities in these regions.

Best Casinos in the Northeast

Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut. Getty Images

The American Northeast and New England region have some of the finest land-based casino gaming that money can buy. With states like New York planning on expanding casino gaming operations, it's clear that it's only a matter of time before more Northeast states besides Connecticut and New Jersey will support online casino gaming. Get to know the top Northeast retail casino options.

• Mohegan Sun: The Mohegan Sun Pocono is easily one of the biggest casinos in the Northeast. Located in Uncasville, CT, the tribally-owned casino features three gaming environments in one space where well over a thousand slot machines await, table games and a spa on the grounds. The Mohegan Sun Pocono also has a dedicated space for concerts.

• Borgata Hotel Casino: Part of the fabled MGM Resorts brand, the Borgata Hotel is located on the Beach Boardwalk in Atlantic City. Besides progressive slot gaming options and rooms for poker tournament play, Borgata has some of the largest in-house dining options. You can also sync reward points with Borgata Online. 

Best Casinos in the Southeast

Harrah's New Orleans. Getty Images

While the American Southeast might not immediately come to mind with casino options, riverboat and retail casinos on the Biloxi River in Mississippi remain major draws. Florida Casinos, especially tribal ones like the Hard Rock Cafe Casino, continue thriving through government compacts. 

• Harrah's New Orleans: Hands down, Harrah's New Orleans offers one of the most expansive and comprehensive gaming options in the city. From authentic steakhouses to Cajun buffets, it has the pulse of the French Quarter and live entertainment.

• Hard Rock Hotel & Casino: The Seminole tribe owns and controls the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, which features VIP suites and penthouses. The Hard Rock Hotel is a hub for nightlife with DJs and live venues on the scene to complement the state-of-the-art gaming options. 

Best Casinos in the Midwest

MGM Grand, Detroit. Getty Images

The American Midwest is putting a lot of emphasis and resources in casinos and nightlife, particularly in Detroit. Last month, Indiana welcomed a new casino. While in the Midwest, you can consider these options.

• MGM Grand Detroit: In the thick of downtown Detroit, the MGM Grand Detroit goes the extra mile in designing its lavish hotel rooms. It has a good share of video poker games and rooms devoted to poker.

• Hollywood Casino at Penn National: In addition to the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City features the Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Track, welcomes elite sports betting, including the NFL and Major League Baseball. Grab a bite to eat at the buffets while you bet on the horses and take a break from the traditional gaming options.

Best Casinos in the Southwest

The Bellagio, Las Vegas. Getty Images

No question that Las Vegas has the pulse of casinos in the Southwest. Besides Las Vegas, Reno and Lake Tahoe are tourist spots for casinos. However, California is home to one of the largest tribal casinos in the Southwest. 

• The Bellagio: As one of the most elegant casinos on the Strip, The Bellagio draws a crowd with its fountains, diverse games, and five-star restaurants to complement its expansive gaming options and high-roller gaming areas

• Pechanga: Located in Temecula, CA, the Pechanga Resort has a golf course and a span on the premises. Enjoy gaming rooms for card games and the latest slot machines. 

Best Casinos in the Northwest

Spirit Mountain Casino, Oregon. Getty Images

Despite not having legal online casinos, the American Northwest is a hidden gem for casino gaming, especially in Oregon, which generates over $2 billion in annual revenue from casino games. If you're in the great American Northwest, stop in one of these thrilling venues. 

• Suquamish Clearwater Casino Resort: Located in Suquamish, WA, the gaming lineup features the latest generation of slot games, but you can still enjoy table game favorites like craps. There is free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel and breathtaking natural views of the Agate Pass.

• Spirit Mountain Casino: Located in Grand Ronde, OR, this tribally owned casino features over 1,000 slot gaming options, plenty of bars, and fine-eating options. Take a break from the gaming to go golfing on the grounds. 

How to Find Casinos Near Me

Of course, you can keep it here for professional and insightful details about what a retail casino near you offers. Another suggestion is to check several highly-rated third-party sites, including this one, for the lowdown on the games, the true odds, and the house edge. For example, does the casino have a huge number of slots? Who are the developers, and how often do they add new titles? What is the history of winners?

Legal Gambling Age by State

For most, land-based casinos require members and visitors to be at least 21 to gamble on slot titles and card games like blackjack and baccarat. The same goes for sports betting. Usually, with horse racing and the state lottery, you only have to be 18. Most legal online casinos support the 21-age threshold, too.

New Jersey Casinos

The Garden State became one of the first to have non-tribal casinos out of Nevada in the late 70s with the opening of Atlantic City Casinos. The Ocean Resort was the first casino in New Jersey to open. The golden age came in the 1980s, especially with Trump's brand of casinos. But even during the tough times, Atlantic City Casinos still endure, mainly due to their positioning on the oceanfront, large spacious hotel rooms, first-class concerts, and championship boxing matches. 

NJ Online Casinos

In 2013, New Jersey became the second state in the country, after Delaware, to sanction online casino gaming thanks to the heroic efforts of former Gov. Christ Christie. On February 26, 2013, former Gov. Christie signed Measure 2578 into law, which legalized online slot options, online poker, roulette, bingo, and more. 

• 888casino

• Bet365

• BetMGM

• betPARX

• BetRivers

• Borgata

• Caesars Palace

• DraftKings

• Fanatics

• FanDuel

• Golden Nugget

• Mohegan Sun

• Ocean

• Pala

• Party Casino

• Tipico

• Tropicana

• Virgin

• Wheel of Fortune

Michigan Casinos

The Great Lakes opened their first casino, the Greektown Hotel Casino, in November 2000. Due to its great success, Michigan now has over two dozen casinos where locals and visitors can play their favorite casino games, experience world-class cuisine, and more.

Greektown Hotel Casino

Beginning on Fridays, the gaming hub is always full of gamers of all socioeconomic statuses enjoying games from three-reel slots to high-stakes poker games. For visitors, Greektown Hotel Casino has over 400 spacious and luxurious hotel rooms. Open 24/7, in between gaming rounds, visitors can enjoy authentic Italian, Greek, and American cuisine at Greektown Hotel Casino. 

MotorCity Casino Hotel

​For poker players, you can expect tables dedicated to Omaha and Texas Hold'em. Besides gaming, MotorCity Casino offers live comedy shows and concerts. Open 24/7, there's always something delicious to eat at MotorCity Casino, including steakhouses, Asian, and seafood.

MI Online Casinos

In December 2019, current Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed the Lawful Internet Gaming Act into law, making Michigan the sixth state in the nation to support online casino games. Through this measure, residents in the Great Lakes States enjoy 24/7 access to online poker rooms, innovative gaming variants, and live dealer play from anywhere inside the state. In 2019, Gov. Whitmer signed the Lawful Sports Betting Act to legalize sports betting for Great Lakes gamers, allowing them to win from prominent online sportsbooks like DraftKings and FanDuel.

• BetMGM

• BetRivers

• Caesars Palace

• DraftKings

• Fanatics

• FanDuel 

• Golden Nugget 

• Play Gun Lake

• PokerStars Casino

Pennsylvania Casinos

Pennsylvania's casino roots date to 2004, when former Gov. Ed Rendell signed the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development Act. The PRHDA Act also enacted the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, which oversees all of the Keystone State's casinos, including online casino gaming activity. In 2010, Rendell signed amendments to the PRHDA Act to allow poker and table games. The Independence State has dozens of tribal-owned and commercial casinos open 24/7. 

Rivers Casino Philadelphia

Rivers Casino in Philadelphia, like its Pittsburgh counterpart, is one of the oldest casinos in the Keystone State that continues to benefit greatly from its reputation. For this reason, its online sister site, BetRivers, continues to be a leading casino gaming and sports betting destination for those in the Independence State. 

Rivers Casino welcomes casual gamblers 24/7 inside its spacious gaming environment, which includes dedicated poker rooms and well over a thousand slot games. Poker is king at Rivers Casino Philadelphia, where poker tournaments are regularly scheduled.

Mohegan Sun Pocono

The Mohegan Sun Pocono is located in the suburban town, Wilkes Barre and offers thousands of slot gaming options. For those who want to spin the roulette wheel can find a crowd around the American Roulette table. The Mohegan Sun Pocono also has dedicated rooms for blackjack and poker. The Mohegan Sun Pocono also offers regular poker tournaments. Besides first-class gaming options, Mohegan Sun has a horse racing track.

PA Online Casinos

In October 2017, Gov. Wolf Signed HB 271, which allowed the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board to regulate and license online poker gaming and other casino games throughout the state, online or via apps. However, the first Pennsylvania poker apps wouldn't go live until 2019. In addition, in 2017, Wolf also signed legislation for sanctioned sports betting. 

• BetRivers

• BetMGM

• betPARX

• Borgata

• Caesars Palace

• DraftKings

• Fanatics

• FanDuel

• Golden Nugget

• PokerStars Casino

West Virginia Casinos

For one of the smallest populations in the nation, West Virginia is an underrated sports betting and casino gaming powerhouse. West Virginia has a surprisingly long casino gaming history, dating back to its legalization in 1994. Thanks to the passing of the Limited Video Lottery Act, West Virginia now has five casinos with cutting-edge slot games and card games, dedicated sports betting rooms, and card game tournaments. ​

Mardi Gras Casino

Located in Cross Lanes, Mardi Gras Casino offers more than its fair share of slot options and standard casino gaming like American Roulette and craps. But gamblers flock to Mardi Gras Casino because of its state-of-the-art Greyhound racing track, which features live events and the chance to make wagers. Mardi Gras Casino has a built-in fitness center and a gift shop. 

Wheeling Island Hotel

Located on Wheeling Island, the Wheeling Island Hotel and Casino Resort has gaming options for casual gamblers and more experienced ones. Beyond the standard gaming options, Wheeling Island Hotel also has a greyhound racing track where bettors can watch live events and place bets. Open around the clock, visitors can lounge in spacious rooms with free Wi-Fi and room service. 

WV Online Casinos

In 2019, the West Virginia governor signed the West Virginia Lottery Interactive Wagering Act, which legalized online casino gaming and sports betting. ​The West Virginia Lottery controls all the gambling rules and regulations, including online casino app options.  

• BetMGM

• BetRivers

• Caesars Palace

• DraftKings 

• Fanatics

• FanDuel

• Golden Nugget

Gambling Responsibly

With so many outstanding gaming options available anytime, getting caught up in the thrill of playing games like poker, so losing your perspective is easy. Gambling disorders are quite serious. Besides financial ruin, gambling disorders can have fatal consequences if left unchecked. So, please, it's not worth losing everything over the games, so spend only what you can afford to safely lose. Start with a plan for how long you plan to play the casino games and stick by it. Even on a winning streak, consider leaving the gaming table while the getting is good. However, if you need professional help, please contact these reputable sources. 

• National Council on Problem Gambling: Dial 1-800-522-4700

• Gamblers Anonymous: Get help by visiting their website