Everything is bigger in the USA, and casinos are no exception. Some of the most famous casinos in the world are located in America, and not only are they famous, but they’re also massive.
Imagine entering a casino to find thousands of slot machines and hundreds of poker, baccarat, blackjack and roulette tables! The largest casinos in America also boast hundreds or even thousands of hotel rooms where you can stay the night after you have fun playing casino games.
Usually, the size of the gaming floor is taken as a reference of the casino’s size, but we’ll take a look at some other parameters as well. Keep reading as we open the doors to the top 10 biggest casinos in the US.
Origin of Casinos and Casino Resorts in the US
People living in the US aren’t foreign to the idea of gambling, which took place in the early stages of statehood. The sale of lottery tickets existed in the Jamestown colony, and it was the sale of lottery tickets that partially financed the 1776 Revolutionary War.
Gambling has also been a major part of the hospitality industry, expanding through the years. Gambling houses have existed in different parts of the US. The establishments were illegal, but they were located in towns, only to be pushed away to suburbs to prevent the WWI service members from spending their money in such places.
Nevada was the first state that made an active effort to legalise gambling, and the storefronts served as gambling parlours. Raymond Smith and William Harrah opened the first large gambling clubs in Reno in 1937, while Benjamin Siegel built the first casino in Las Vegas just three years later, combining gambling, recreation, and entertainment.
Illegal gambling houses existed in colonial times, while the first legal casinos opened in Nevada in the 1930s.
Although gambling has been a big part of the US and gambling houses existed across the country, it only became legal in 1931 in Nevada and in 1976 in New Jersey. Several other states allowed some form of gambling. For example, gambling is only allowed in three mining towns in Colorado: Central City, Black Hawk, and Cripple Creek, whereas Iowa, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Missouri experimented with riverboat casinos.
Lastly, more than half the Native American tribes in the US either own or plan to build a casino. In 1988, Congress passed the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, allowing Native Americans to open and run casinos. Additionally, the tribes are considered to be sovereign nations in the eyes of the state, exempting them from state-imposed betting limits or taxation (but, they pay “gaming exclusivity fees”). However, that doesn’t mean all US casinos are on Indian reservations.
#1 WinStar World Casino & Resort
Located in Thackerville, Oklahoma, WinStar World Casino & Resort is one of the biggest casinos in the world. The casino has more than 7,500 slot machines (there were close to 10,000 at some point) and a gaming floor of 519,000 sqare feet with several different themes based on renowned cities – London, Paris, New York and Cairo.
The casino was established in 2003, and other than a massive gambling hall, the resort has 1,499 rooms you can book. The establishment doesn’t attract gambling fans only – there’s a concert venue, a golf course, bars and restaurants, and several swimming pools.
#2 Mohegan Sun
The second casino on our list is located in Uncasville, Connecticut. Compared to WinStar World Casino & Resort, it is significantly smaller but still a behemoth of a casino. It has a gaming floor spanning over 350,000+ square feet, more than 4,000 slot machines and over 300 tables.
With 1653 hotel rooms, there’s plenty of space for everyone coming to have fun at the casino. Considering that Mohegan Sun was established in 1996, its size is really impressive. Other than the casino, the resort contains outdoor pools, a bowling alley, and a play centre for kids, making it much more family-friendly than the largest casino in America.
#3 Foxwoods Resort Casino
Foxwoods Resort Casino is owned by the Pequot Tribal Nation, and the two most impressive facts about this one is that it has a museum onsite and most poker tables, making it one of the most popular casinos in the country.
The casino floor is 344,000 square feet, containing over 3,500 slots and 250 tables. With 2270 hotel rooms, the Foxwoods Resort Casino has ample space. If you decide to visit this casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut, besides gambling, you can watch movies in the theatre, bowl, play arcade games, or use the ice-skating rink available during the winter months.
#4 Yaamava Resort and Casino
Yaamava Resort & Casino is located in San Bernardino, California, a one-hour drive from Los Angeles. The casino and resort was first opened in 1986 as a bingo hall but quickly diversified into slots and casino names. It was named San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino in the 1990s.
In 2017, the casino closed its bingo operation, and in 2021, it changed the name to Yaamava Resort & Casino as it added another hotel to its complex. It’s one of the biggest casinos on the West Coast, with 7,200 slot machines. Nowadays, the casino is known as an all-around entertainment centre, but despite its size, there aren’t any poker tables.
#5 Thunder Valley Casino Resort
As we go through the list of the biggest online casinos in the US, we stay in California. This time around, we’re headed to Lincoln to visit Thunder Valley Casino Resort. The casino packs 3,400 slot machines and 110 tables, which is more than enough to enjoy your favourite casino games.
The gaming floor stretches to 250,000 square feet, while there are 410 rooms you can stay in. The Beach Boys and Santana are only some of the names that performed at the resort, which includes a mini-golf course, go-karting and laser tag.
#6 Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa
The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is one of the largest casinos in North America, with a gambling floor of 245,000 square feet, 500 slot machines, and 180 table games. The casino can host 800 people in its hotel who can choose between smoking and non-smoking gaming lounges.
Tampa's casino is bigger than the one in Hollywood, Florida, which is more popular due to the unique guitar shape of one of the buildings.
#7 Choctaw Casino Resort
Let’s introduce Choctaw Casino Resort, the second-biggest casino in Oklahoma. Even though it’s smaller than WinStar, with “only” 219,000 square feet, there’s still plenty to do. The casino packs 7,400 slot machines and has 100 table games.
Also, the hotel is admirable, with 1,600 units. The resort is family-friendly, and people can go bowling and swimming or decide to watch movies and play arcade games. When Choctaw Casino Resort opened in 2006, it was named Choctaw Bingo Palace, but it quickly added other casino games.
#8 RiverWind Casino
We’re not leaving Oklahoma anytime soon, just moving to Norman, where RiverWind Casino stands tall. The casino has nearly 3,000 slot machines, dozens of tables, and 100 hotel rooms for its guests.
The gaming floor is an impressive 219,000 square feet, and you’ll definitely feel comfortable playing slots, blackjack, poker or roulette. The casino also boasts an off-track betting office for horse racing fans. Besides all the usual, the casino is home to Showpiece Theatre, seating 1,500 people!
#9 River Spirit Casino Resort
Oklahoma is home to some of the biggest and most profitable casinos in the USA, so we’re staying in The Sooner State. River Spirit Casino Resort has over 3,100 slot machines spread around 212,000 square feet. Additionally, the casino provides table games.
If you wish to spend a few days at the resort, you can book one of 480 rooms. The casino has a lot of entertainment offerings – you can take a break from gambling at The Cove Theatre, which has 2,500 seats, watch boxing and MMA matches, and enjoy live music shows.
#10 Encore Boston Harbor
The last casino on our list is Encore Boston Harbor, which has a similar layout to Wynn-Encore, one of the biggest casinos in Las Vegas. The casino has 210,000 square feet, more than enough to place 2,700 slot machines and close to 200 tables.
The view from some of the rooms is spectacular, overlooking Boston. If you plan to visit this casino, prepare to pay a bit more, but what you get in return is class. The establishment has various restaurants and bars to enjoy yourself after gambling.
Most Profitable US Casinos
In this blog, we listed the biggest casinos in the United States, but are they also the most profitable? Not necessarily. Obviously, some of these land-based casinos are making serious cash, but maintaining resorts so large comes at a cost.
In the US, MGM Resorts has been the top-ranking company in terms of revenue. In 2023, it generated $16.16 billion, followed by Caesars Entertainment with $11.53 billion.
Land-Based vs. Online Casinos
Visiting any of the casino resorts on the list is an experience, and it’s more than just gambling. Every establishment offers multiple facilities to relax with friends or family and simply have a few days to remember.
When comparing online and land-based casinos, it is this experience that can’t be replicated, especially if you visit the biggest of all. However, online casinos offer thousands of slots and table games.
With the expansion of live casino games, you can emulate the experience of spending time in a real casino. The majority of online casinos allow you to download apps, select your preferred payment methods and enjoy top casino games from your home.
There are plenty of online casinos in the US where you can register quickly and start playing – something to keep you occupied until you visit some of the architectural marvels across the US.
