10 Best Las Vegas Casinos, According to Travel Experts

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10 Best Las Vegas Casinos, According to Travel Experts
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Wynn Las Vegas

Spanning approximately 110,000 square feet, the casino at Wynn Las Vegas comes highly recommended by Mahdavi. “From high-limit salons to its variety of 1,800-plus slot machines, this casino has so much to offer players,” she says. Additionally, “Guests can enjoy a state-of-the-art race and sportsbook as well as poolside gaming.” The stylish decor is equally spectacular, with beautiful blooms and artwork setting the scene for an upscale gaming experience. Beyond the casino, this World’s Best Award-winning hotel offers world-class entertainment and nightlife, designer shops, an array of gourmet eats (including Wing Lei, the first Chinese restaurant in the U.S. to earn a Michelin star), and more than 2,700 luxury rooms and suites.

Encore Las Vegas

Adjacent to the Wynn Las Vegas, Encore Las Vegas has its own casino spanning more than 70,000 square feet. The elegant space features 95 table games and 860 slot machines. High rollers can head up to the Sky Casino for sweeping views of the Sin City skyline — keep in mind you’ll need at least $300,000 to bet here. Another World’s Best Award winner, this expansive property also houses 2,000-plus rooms and suites (each one more than 700 square feet). For the ultimate splurge, Bell recommends staying in a Tower Suite, which comes with “private entrances and dedicated concierges who deliver exceptional experiences.”

The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

With floor-to-ceiling glass walls and postcard-worthy Strip views, the 100,000-square-foot casino at this swanky World's Best Award-winning hotel is a favorite of Las Vegas local Stefanie Van Aken of RSMLVTravel, an independent affiliate of Montecito Village Travel. She describes the vibes here as “always good and exciting.” She adds, “You can walk through the casino floor and feel like you are a part of the action.” In addition to classic table games, there are more than 1,000 slot machines, including an exclusive High Limit Slot Lounge. The sleek BetMGM Sportsbook & Lounge, complete with its own sports bar, massive LED video walls, dozens of TVs, and 20-plus poker machines, is also noteworthy. Don’t leave without grabbing a drink at the always-buzzing, multistory Chandelier, a bar with prime people-watching. Before or after gambling, have a bite at one of the on-site restaurants. Per Van Atken, the hotel offers “a great dining program, with Zuma, STK, and the new La Petite Maison being the livelier of the group.”

Bellagio Las Vegas

According to Fora travel advisor Jane Henzerling, the Bellagio Las Vegas casino is "elegance personified." She notes, "There's usually a good range of table minimums, the craps table is almost always lively, and if you're near the Petrossian Bar, you can hear strains of the wonderful piano music there."

Meanwhile, Mahdavi says, "The casino has one of the most opulent baccarat areas that Las Vegas has to offer, and the Club Privé high-limit lounge offers guests a rich whiskey program and fine cigar selection for the ultimate experience." 

The World's Best Award-winning property is also renowned for its entertainment — including "O" by Cirque du Soleil, which Van Atken describes as "the grand dame of shows in Vegas" — and restaurant offerings. "One of my favorite things to share with my clients is dinner at Picasso or Prime Steakhouse and then a glass of wine or dessert on the patio overlooking the fountain," says the travel pro.

Fontainebleau Las Vegas

Located on the north end of the Strip, the ultra-luxe Fontainebleau Las Vegas finally opened its doors this past December after years of construction. The stunning casino, which offers 42-foot-high ceilings and lots of natural light — a welcome change from the city’s many dimly lit spaces — spans a whopping 150,000 square feet. In addition to table games and a swanky sportsbook (a.k.a. The Tavern), there are 105 high-limit slots and video poker machines. At the center of it all is a massive chandelier comprising 1,200 bowtie-shaped glass columns. This isn’t the only work of art that’s sure to wow: Van Atken is quick to highlight the resort’s “impressive and interesting” collection of works, including specially curated murals and sculptures.

The Venetian Resort Las Vegas

“The Venetian is home to one of my favorite casino bars — a shiny round confection in the center of the action with great video poker machines and some of the friendliest bartenders on the Strip,” says Henzerling. But that’s not all: The 200,000-plus-square-foot casino also houses a poker room, a 15,000-square-foot high-limits gaming lounge, 225 table games, and a sportsbook. And while you may be tempted to spend the majority of your time here trying your luck in the casino, don’t sleep on the resort’s other amenities, including three expansive pool decks, 40-plus restaurants, eight distinct nightlife venues, and the 134,000-square-foot Canyon Ranch spa, where treatments run the gamut from candle massages to reiki.

Ellis Island

“If you want to get off the Strip and find a place with cheap tables, Ellis Island is a fun choice,” says Henzerling of this casino-slash-hotel-slash brewery. Dating back to 1968, this family-owned haunt — one of the few casinos actually frequented by locals — is just a block away from the glimmering Strip, yet its intimate, old-school vibes make it feel worlds away. “There's always a hilarious scene at the $5 blackjack tables, and the 24-hour cafe serves up delicious breakfasts 24 hours a day,” says Henzerling. Take your pick of 250 slots; alternatively, try your luck at table games like blackjack, roulette, or craps.

Durango Casino & Resort

About 10 miles off the Strip, Durango Casino & Resort made its debut in December 2023. The $750 million property features 83,000 square feet of gaming space — with more than 2,300 slots and 60-plus table games — as well as a race and sportsbook. Durango also boasts a 25,000-square-foot food and drink hall, aptly called Eat Your Heart Out, which is home to an outpost of New York City’s beloved Prince Street Pizza. In addition to the 11 dining outlets here, there are seven bars, restaurants, and lounges, along with 209 contemporary rooms and suites that provide a calming reprieve from the bustling casino.

Aria Resort & Casino

The 150,000-square-foot casino at this World’s Best Award-winning resort features a 24-table poker room, approximately 2,000 slots, and an abundance of table games ranging from roulette and baccarat to Ultimate Texas Hold 'Em. Go big or go home at the High Limit Lounge, where you can sip cocktails while playing. Afterward, retreat to the 80,000-square-foot spa for some pampering, soak up the sun by one of the sparkling swimming pools, or sit down for a celebratory meal at one of several popular eateries like Carbone or Catch. For the ultimate splurge, reserve one of the highly coveted Sky Suites, which offer VIP perks like a private concierge plus exclusive access to a private lounge and pool.

Caesars Palace

With 185 table games, 1,324 slots, a sportsbook, and a 4,500-square-foot poker room, the casino at Caesars Palace clocks in at 124,000 square feet. Much like the rest of the property, it features striking Roman-inspired design elements, including a domed ceiling with a jaw-dropping crystal chandelier and a 15-foot-tall statue of Augustus Caesar at the front entrance. Additional resort highlights include 10 bars and lounges, 22 restaurants, seven pools, a 50,000-square-foot spa complete with three Roman baths, dozens of shops, the massive Colosseum theater, and more than 3,500 rooms and suites.