Casinos are a huge part of the nightlife experience in the USA, and while Vegas is a popular hub for most travelers, you don’t have to go to Vegas to enjoy them.

Here are five quick picks for soaking up the culture of American casinos, with plenty of options beyond the obvious choices in Las Vegas.

 Quick Picks: Travelers’ 5 Favorite American Casinos

Wynn Las Vegas

The Wynn is our choice in Vegas, named by Condé Nast Traveller as one of the “Top Hotels in the World”, a 5-star casino resort that spans 100,000 square feet.

If you’re a fan of online casino games, there are a ton of interesting slots available, otherwise, 1165 table games and 2,716 rooms for accommodation.

The rooms are exceptionally clean and stylistic, whilst the casino itself is renowned all around the world for its size, Michelin star restaurants and facilities.

Image credit: Wolfgang Staudt (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr

Mohegan Sun, Connecticut

The Mohegan Sun casino is the second largest in America, at approximately 364,000 square feet. Built in 1996, the casino has over 6,500 slot machines, has two professional sports teams, and offers helicopter transportation.

This is a great hotel for those who like design, as there is a dome made up of 12,000 pieces of onyx. The casino is overwhelming in every sense of the world.

Harrah’s, New Orleans

Harrah’s casino in New Orleans, as you would expect, is a lot of fun. This may be the most vibrant of all the major casinos, though it still boasts 105 table games if you enjoy gambling.

Harrah’s has some great parties, music and plans to invest several hundred million into a large hotel. The current hotel is reasonably priced, and has fantastic facilities. All the better, you’re surrounded by great music venues too.

Image: morebyless (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr

Beau Rivage Resort, Mississippi

If you’re heading through the deep south, then the Beau Rivage is likely going to be your best stop. The Beau Rivage has five star reviews, with over 1,800 gaming machines and 110 table games.

Prices for a room at the 4-star hotel are generally under $100, which is great value, where you can enjoy a spa and outdoor pool. There’s also a golf course and an arcade, making this a great option for families who have mixed opinions on casino games.

WinStar World Casino, Oklahoma

Winstar in Oklahoma opened in 2004, and it remains the largest casino in America. In fact, this is also the largest casino in the world, sitting at a humongous 400,000 square feet.

Winstar had temporarily closed due to lockdown measures, but it’s looking like things may be slightly closer to “normal” by summer 2021.

It boasts over 8,500 games, though only has 395 hotel rooms. This is a great choice if you’re into a slot, but staying overnight can be pricey given that it’s not the most spectacular hotel space.

Whether you’re a fan of casino games or not, casinos can offer cheap hotel rooms, a grand experience, and a party atmosphere. Whilst it can be an overload on the senses, if you’ve never been to a casino, going to one of the above can be a huge deal.