Casinos Royale: North America’s 10 Best Gaming Destinations

Illustration by Marcin Kuligowski

Bachelor party? Vegas! The next level? Grab a crew and take a ten-stop tour of the greatest gambling destinations in North America. Well, actually there’s much more out there than just Vegas destinations. In our October/November issue we came up with our Top Ten Casinos list, and gave our breakdown of each spot in a way the usual brochures can’t. Whether you’re hoping to stack some paper in the apres ski environment, or are going on a balls-out gamble fest, there’s a little something for everyone. Keep reading to see how each venue stacks up against each other…

#10: ATLANTIS BAHAMAS
(Paradise Island, Bahamas | atlantis.com )
• The only reason you should be indoors in the Bahamas is if a crazy storm is rolling through, which, if you go between June and November (hurricane season), can happen quite frequently. If the sun don’t shine, get busy here, at one of the Caribbean’s largest and most luxurious resorts.
GAMBLING NOTES: Slots are for the elderly, so we’re not going to tell you about the thousands they have here, but if you’re having trouble sealing the deal late night, take your lady to one of 100 table games, including blackjack, mini- and regular Baccarat, craps, roulette and Caribbean Stud Poker (ayo!).
Crowd: 3.5/5
Gambling: 3/5
Extras: 5/5
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#9: CASINO DE MONTRÉAL
(Montréal, Canada | casinosduquebec.com )
• Maybe it’s the never-ending parties in Montreal (even when it’s brick-ass cold), the strip clubs, or simply the joy of taking in a Habs/Bruins game, but if you find yourself up here, leave the digi-cam at home. If you’re an American in Canada, you’re up to no good.
GAMBLING NOTES: The casino here is open 24 hours (awesome) doesn’t allow smoking (awesome) and you can play War for money (awesome). You can’t drink at the tables (not awesome), but what else are you gonna do at 6 a.m. on a Saturday? NOTE: Strip clubs are downtown and close between 2 and 4 a.m. Split your late-night accordingly.
Crowd: 3/5
Gambling: 3/5
Extras: 3.5/5
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#8: EL SAN JUAN HOTEL AND CASINO
(Carolina, Puerto Rico | elsanjuanhotel.com)
• Drink rum to drown out (or enhance) the Reggaeton and bear witness to Boriqua madness. The El San Juan is one of the fancier hotels, so while you might not be staying here, it’s definitely the spot to catcall enhanced Latinas and German tourists working on their tan lines.
GAMBLING NOTES: You can’t see the ocean from the casino floor, but it’s there. The El San Juan’s gaming deck is open until 4 a.m., and is non-smoking, so if you’re in P.R., stop here before you leave and give the roulette wheel a spin—you might just pay for your next trip.
Crowd: 3.5/5
Gambling: 3/5
Extras: 3.5/5
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#7: PLANET HOLLYWOOD
(Las Vegas, NV | planethollywoodresort.com)
• Instead of buying a new building, Planet Hollywood came in and re-did the Aladdin…and made it fucking awesome. Hit the tables before you party it up at Prive or the Koi Lounge, or watch the “Peepshow” for a view of Holly Madison’s boobage.
GAMBLING NOTES: A new smoke-free poker room houses 15 tables, and the resort’s “Pleasure Pit” features blackjack and roulette dealt by lingerie models and go-go dancers. Poker faces indeed.
Crowd: 4/5
Gambling: 4/5
Extras: 4/5
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#6: HARVEYS
(Lake Tahoe, NV | harveystahoe.com)
• Neon signs meet nature’s finest at Lake Tahoe with waterskiing, golf, and hiking in the summer and some of the greatest skiing in the world (Heavenly, Kirkwood, Northstar) when the snow begins to fall.
GAMBLING NOTES Harveys is the most fun of the South Lake Tahoe casinos, aimed at the action set—think flatscreens playing FuelTV while you waste the après-ski away at the blackjack table. If a smoke-filled basement is more your steez, check the Biltmore up on the North side of the lake.
Crowd: 3/5
Gambling: 2.5/5
Extras: 4/5
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#5: ENCORE LAS VEGAS
(Las Vegas, Nevada | encorelasvegas.com)
• Located at the North end of the strip, the Encore is the latest creation by legendary casino developer Steve Wynn. Connected to its larger sister resort The Wynn by a shopping mall, the Encore attracts a slightly older, more sophisticated crowd than some of the strip’s bigger names, thanks to the hotel’s opulent suites, thoughtful design and 5 high-roller restaurants. Don’t let that fool you though, when club XS is banging, there is nothing like it on the strip.
GAMBLING NOTES: Instead of the typical open casino floor, the Encore has sectioned off the gambling area with columns and drapes into a series of smaller, more intimate dens—great news for an experienced, laid-back gambler. But if you thrive on the excitement of a massive, bustling casino, the Encore might seem quiet.
Ratings:
Crowd: 3.5/5
Gambling: 4/5
Extras: 3.5/5
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#4: MANDALAY
(Las Vegas, NV | mandalaybay.com)
• It’s all about options—in addition to the House of Blues, Foundation Room, and a variety of smaller lounges, wander into the connected sister casino Luxor for parties at LAX or head up the elevator at the hotel for one of the greatest views of the strip at restaurant/lounge Mix. The spa is a must when you’re trying to get the brain cells/energy back up for night number two.
GAMBLING NOTES: People fly from all over the world to gamble at the Mandalay. More than anything though, this spot is about fight nights and sport books, so keep that in mind when you’re working on your testosterone fix this season.
Crowd: 3.5/5
Gambling: 4/5
Extras: 4/5
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#3: BORGATA
(Atlantic City, NJ | theborgata.com)
• Atlantic City was (and still kind of is?) best-known for its salt-water taffy and cracked-out hookers, but the people behind the MGM Mirage sank some serious bank to build the nicest (and youngest-skewing) casino resort in the area. Jersey!
GAMBLING NOTES: If you’re here for hold ’em, the casino has the best dedicated poker room (and competition) on the East Coast. The slots are notoriously tight, but this spot is great for the card games, with blackjack tables galore.
Crowd: 2.5/5
Gambling: 4.5/5
Extras: 3/5
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#2: THE PALMS
(Las Vegas, NV | palms.com)
• The Palms is off the strip, but what it lacks in location it more than makes up for with its younger crowd, stacked nightclubs, and fantasy suites—check the two-floor Hugh Hefner Sky Villa and the sports-themed Hardwood Suite with a full basketball court.
Gambling Notes: The exclusive Playboy Club on the 52nd floor features nine blackjack tables and a roulette wheel. Once you’ve lost your rent money to a bunny, head upstairs to the Moon nightclub and party the night away under the stars.
Crowd: 4.5/5
Gambling: 4/5
Extras: 4/5
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#1: HARD ROCK HOTEL AND CASINO
(Las Vegas, NV | hardrockhotel.com)
• New renovations are making the Hard Rock a multi-sin destination. Summertime here is about the pool, but this place rocks all year round with concerts at the Joint and a never-ending party around the Circle Bar.
Gambling Notes: The new poker lounge features massages while you play, bottle service, and go-go dancers for hire. Also, the Hells Bells pit has some of the sexiest in-casino entertainers in Vegas while you ante up.
Crowd: 5/5
Gambling: 5/5
Extras: 4.5/5