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Best Casino Outside Las Vegas 2026

By Readers' Choice On 11/5/25 at 12:00 PM EST

From Atlantic City's boardwalks to California's wine country, these destinations prove you don't need the Strip to find first-class gaming, dining and entertainment. This year's nominees combine world-class casinos with resort amenities, acclaimed restaurants, live shows and luxury accommodations. Whether it's a beachfront escape, a mountain retreat or an urban hotspot, these properties redefine what it means to play big, unwind beautifully and experience the best in gaming beyond Las Vegas.

Newsweek is proud to recognize this year's 10 standout casinos outside of Las Vegas—selected by our expert panelists and contributors and voted on by readers for their exceptional quality and distinctive excellence. Each has been officially recognized by Newsweek as one of the Best Casinos Outside of Las Vegas of 2026.

1. Yaamava' Resort & Casino at San Manuel | Highland, CA

Yaamava submitted

Photo courtesy of Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel Photo courtesy of Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel

Nestled in the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains in Highland, California, Yaamava' Resort & Casino at San Manuel is a highly acclaimed property, featuring a luxe resort, award-winning dining, five-star spa and a state-of-the art theater with some of the biggest names in entertainment. Yaamava' is the largest casino in the West with more than 7,400 slots, five high-limit areas and 150 table games. Guests can indulge at The Pines Modern Steakhouse and 12+ bars and lounges including the new fast-casual dining and immersive entertainment venue, bEATS. Yaamava' is owned and operated by the San Manuel Entertainment Authority.

2. Foxwoods Resort Casino | Mashantucket, CT

Foxwoods

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A Northeast icon made up of multiple casino spaces under one umbrella, Foxwoods blends slots, tables, poker, retail, dining and entertainment into a true mega-resort. The property adds non-gaming thrills like indoor karting, zip-line and outlets to keep groups busy between sessions. It's a choose-your-own-adventure layout: break it up by casino, by mood or by restaurant, then reconvene for shows or late-night lounges across the complex.

3. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sacramento at Fire Mountain | Wheatland, CA

Hard Rock Sacramento

Photo courtesy of Hard Rock Sacramento Photo courtesy of Hard Rock Sacramento

North of Sacramento, Hard Rock Fire Mountain combines a high-ceilinged casino, 50-plus table games and more than 1,400 slots with music-first bars, memorabilia and regular headliners. The resort emphasizes "authentic experiences that rock," supported by competitive benefits and career pathways for team members. Since opening in 2019, the property has donated more than $4.5 million to local charities. With new dining, a sports bar and future expansion plans, it continues to grow as a NorCal destination.

4. Pechanga Resort Casino | Temecula, CA

Pechanga Resort Casino

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One of the nation's largest casino resorts, Pechanga features approximately 200,000 square feet of gaming, about 5,500 slots and 152 table games, plus a luxury hotel, spa, golf and an expansive pool complex. Dining ranges from steakhouse to sushi, with entertainment on site. The scale is unmistakable, but so is the organization. Pechanga feels purpose-built to let you roam, play and then retreat to full-service resort comforts.

5. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City | Atlantic City, NJ

Hard Rock Atlantic City

Photo courtesy of Hard Rock Atlantic City Photo courtesy of Hard Rock Atlantic City

Set on 17 acres along the Atlantic City Boardwalk, Hard Rock pairs a busy casino with big-room entertainment and one of the country's largest collections of music memorabilia. Expect a broad mix of slots and tables, a deep restaurant lineup and frequent touring acts, all steps from the beach. The vibe is equal parts spectacle and shore-town energy, anchored by Hard Rock's museum-worthy artifacts and live-music DNA.

6. Atlantis Casino Resort Spa | Reno, NV

Atlantis Casino Resort Spa

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A Reno favorite known for a spotless floor, strong poker scene and a broad restaurant lineup, Atlantis connects directly to the convention center via sky bridge. Inside, you'll find a modern spa, an inviting sportsbook and a mix of slots and tables that keeps regulars loyal. It's a polished, everything-in-one-place alternative to downtown bustle, with easy access, ample parking and a reputation for attentive service.

7. WinStar World Casino & Resort | Thackerville, OK

WinStar

Photo courtesy of WinStar World Casino and Resort Photo courtesy of WinStar World Casino and Resort

Sprawling and themed by international "city" zones, WinStar delivers sheer scale—rows upon rows of electronic games, table pits, poker, a large sportsbook and frequent arena-level entertainment. Multiple hotel towers, a golf club and a generous restaurant mix make it feel like a self-contained destination on the Texas-Oklahoma line. It's built for breadth: big floor, big shows, big weekend energy, an easy group getaway with something for everyone.

8. Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa | Atlantic City, NJ

Borgata Casino

Photo courtesy of Borgata Hotel and Casino & Spa Photo courtesy of Borgata Hotel and Casino & Spa

Atlantic City's modern classic pairs a high-energy casino with an A-list entertainment calendar, a renowned poker room and a deep bench of restaurants and lounges. Guest rooms are sleek, spa days are a draw and nightlife still crackles. The casino floor mixes it up—plenty of slots, busy table pits and regular tournaments—making Borgata a reliable choice for players who want AC's most complete resort vibe.

9. Beau Rivage Resort & Casino | Biloxi, MS

Beau Rivage

Photo courtesy of Beau Rivage Photo courtesy of Beau Rivage

Biloxi's head-turner rises over the waterfront with a Vegas-style casino, a showroom that punches above its size and a shopping arcade built for browsing. Dining is varied and reliable, the sportsbook draws game-day crowds and rooms bring coastal views into the mix. It's the Mississippi Gulf Coast's most glamorous play, classic MGM resort energy with Southern hospitality and easy beach-town diversions nearby.

10. Encore Boston Harbor | Everett, MA

Encore Boston Harbor

Photo courtesy of Encore Boston Harbor Photo courtesy of Encore Boston Harbor

Wynn's New England flagship brings Vegas polish to Boston Harbor: more than 200,000 square feet of gaming, signature restaurants, a high-touch sportsbook and luxury across the hotel and spa. Design flourishes, curated art and immaculate maintenance set the tone, while the casino blends table action with deep slot variety. For a five-star urban resort feel, with quick downtown access, Encore is the Northeast's glam option.

FINALISTS Golden Nugget Lake Charles | Lake Charles, LA Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia | Philadelphia, PA Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort | Hot Springs, AR Rivers Casino Des Plaines | Des Plaines, IL Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort | Mt. Pleasant, MI

About Newsweek Readers' Choice™ Awards

Our nominees are editorially driven with contributions from a panel of travel experts. The final list is determined by Newsweek editors. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions, please see our FAQs or email us at readers.choice@newsweek.com.

Our Featured Panelists

Julie Bielenberg

Julie Bielenberg is a Colorado-based writer producing over 75 pieces a year for outlets such as AAA, Family Vacationist, Rachel Ray in Season, Spoke + Blossom, USA Today, Vail Daily and numerous others. She has been the State's #1 agritourism for ten consecutive years and is always in search of field, farm, forest and forage. Julie has three children and two pandemic pooches and is married to an avid outdoorsman. Follow her on Instagram.

Gavin Booth

Gavin Booth of coupleinthekitchen.com specializes in recipe development, all things grilling, food- and wine-based travel and romantic destinations of the world. He has extensive travel experience, visiting all 50 U.S. states and over 40 countries. He's a full-time recipe developer, photographer, videographer and writer.

Marla Cimini

Marla Cimini is an award-winning writer and content creator who is passionate about travel, music, surfing and culinary adventures. An avid globetrotter and guidebook writer, she has covered topics such as the Hawaiian islands (including food trends and luxury beachfront resorts), European getaways and incredible domestic and global destinations. Her articles have appeared in many publications worldwide, including USA Today. Residing in New Jersey (Philadelphia area), Marla is a frequent visitor to Hawaii and Southern California and covers those destinations often. Follow her adventures at marlacimini.com.

Catherine Parker headshot

Catherine Parker

Catherine Parker has a passion for travel that's driven her across North America, visiting all 50 states, seven Canadian provinces and seven Mexican states as well as top destinations in the Caribbean, Europe and Asia. After graduating from the University of Houston, Catherine started her career in travel and tourism as a flight attendant. A writer for over 10 years, she maintains an active roster of national publications. Catherine also publishes a travel website, CarfulOfKids.com. Her favorite places are national parks, museums and sidewalk cafés. She's torn between a weekend in the mountains or the beach.

Jacky Runice

When Jacky took her first flight at age 17 to Spain, she hadn't stepped a foot outside of Chicago. As a broadcast journalist for 20 years, she always managed to bring her travels back to her Chicago audience with radio documentaries about the culture and characters of places she visited. She transitioned to print journalism (syndicated travel column via Tribune Media Services and Travel Columnist for the Daily Herald Chicago) and then to the web where she has written for numerous outlets such as CBS, LuxuryHotels.com, Examiner.com, AOL, USA Today and others. Follow her on Facebook.

Aly Walansky

Aly Walansky writes regularly about food news and trends. She has been a food journalist for over twenty years and has covered everything from budget shopping to recipes to culinary travel content for national publications that include the Food Network, Southern Living, Food & Wine, Travel & Leisure, The Kitchn and more. She was ranked among top 10 journalists of 2023 and top 10 freelance journalists in 2024, as well as #1 food journalist of 2022, by Muck Rack. Follow her at alywalansky.substack.com.