Updated on: January 6th, 2025
If gambling is your main reason for visiting Las Vegas, Nevada, this presents you with a problem. Which casinos do you gamble at? There are so many in the city and the Vegas Strip, and some are simply better than others. All of them are trying to grab your attention, but which are worth your time?
The good news is that various members of the Casino US team have visited Las Vegas numerous times and gambled at many of the top casinos. We’ve come up with a helpful list of the best casinos you should visit if you’re ever in Sin City.
Caesars Palace Las Vegas
One of the best-known hotels and casinos in Las Vegas is Caesars Palace. Its popularity has no doubt been helped by hit movies, such as ‘The Hangover’. Construction started back in 1962, and it was eventually completed four years later in 1966. It has over 15 000 square meters of casino floor space and offers plenty of other entertainment facilities.
These include a massive theatre that can seat over 4000 people. It has hosted famous performers like Celine Dion, Elton John, Cher, and even Barack Obama, who did a one-night show back in 2009. This is definitely a casino that is worth visiting if you’re ever in Las Vegas.
The Stratosphere Casino Las Vegas
The Stratosphere Casino is definitely a hotel and casino that really stands out in the Las Vegas skyline. The Hotel and Casino is over 350+ meters tall and is the tallest free-standing tower in the USA. The casino and hotel are not actually part of the tower, but the building that houses them is still the tallest building in Las Vegas.
The tower was originally planned to be over 500 meters tall, but the Federal Aviation Administration blocked the plan, due to safety fears with the nearby McCarran International Airport. The tower did have a troubled start though, with a fire breaking out in 1993 while construction was still underway.
This delayed completion of the tower but in 1996, it was opened to the public. The tower has two observation decks at the top with thrill rides and a restaurant. As for the casino itself, it has 7400 square meters of gambling space with over 50 table games available and 1500+ slot machines, and video poker.
The Bellagio
The Bellagio is another world-famous casino, which has also featured in many films, such as Ocean’s Eleven. It is owned and operated by MGM Resorts International and is a very elegant hotel and casino. It opened its doors back in 1998 and has just under 11 000 square meters of casino floor space.
There are plenty of casino games to play, including numerous poker rooms and plenty of high-limit table games. The Bellagio has also hosted numerous tournaments for the World Poker Tour. Gambling is not the only reason to visit though, as it also has the Fountain of Bellagio, which is very impressive in its own right. Besides that, there are plenty of restaurants, bars, an art gallery, and botanical gardens.
The Mirage
The Mirage is definitely one of the most impressive looking buildings in Las Vegas. Opened back in 1989, it was the most expensive casino built at the time, costing $630 million. It was also the first casino resort that used money from Wall Street junk bonds. Part of what made it so expensive was the amount of gold used during construction, which was even used to tint the building’s windows.
As with many casino resorts, there is plenty to see and do besides gambling. This includes a secret garden, an artificial volcano, an aquarium and dolphin habitat, and a boxing arena. In many ways, the Mirage set the standard for what a Las Vegas casino should be.
New York-New York
The New York-New York hotel and casino is definitely one of the more impressive looking casinos in Las Vegas. It is styled to look like New York City, and some of its towers resemble landmark buildings in the Big Apple, such as the Empire State Building. Not to mention the 45-meter tall replica of the Statue of Liberty.
It has plenty of places to eat, as well as several areas to gamble. It cost nearly $500 million to build and opened its doors for the first time in 1997. New York-New York also features a roller coaster, which goes through the whole resort. This allows visitors to get a unique view of the property.
Hard Rock Las Vegas
The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino is definitely another place that should be on everyone’s list to visit when in Sin City. The entire property is nearly 7 hectares in size, with 2800 square meters of gambling floor space. Hard Rock isn’t just a casino though, with gambling only generating around 35% of its total income. There is plenty at the Hard Rock to ensure no one ever gets bored, including numerous nightclubs and cocktail lounges, restaurants, shops, a Tahiti-style beach, and music venues.
It was built in 1995 and has been regularly updated over the years. The hotel has seen some tragedy though, with a famous musician, John Entwistle, from ‘The Who’ passing away in one of the hotel’s rooms. The room is no longer available for people to stay in, but fans can visit to pay tribute.
Top Las Vegas Casinos Conclusion
These few casinos are just a taste of what Las Vegas has to offer. There are plenty more amazing casinos and hotels to visit, each with its own unique style and feel. As we said, even if gambling is not your thing, Las Vegas is such an amazing city with so much to offer members of the whole family. We cannot recommend visiting enough and we can’t wait to go back again!