Readers' Choice Awards Best Casino Hotels of 2026

Remarkable casino hotels are about far more than their gaming floors. You want to take in views from your guest room, eat a fantastic dinner without leaving the complex, and relax at a world-class spa, the pool, or maybe even a waiting stretch of beach when you cash out. Reviewed editors and our panel of hospitality industry experts pulled together a slate of standout casino hotels from across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, spanning glittering Las Vegas towers, oceanfront tribal resorts, and all-inclusive getaways.

Then we handed the decision to you. Readers voted, and these 10 casino hotels rose to the top. Check out all of Reviewed's Readers' Choice Awards winners.

Winner: L'Auberge Casino Hotel Baton Rouge

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

By the banks of the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge, L'Auberge is a Penn Entertainment property that our panel put on the list partly for regional variety, a Gulf South entry among coast-and-desert nominees. Reviewers pointed to comfortable rooms with generous space and big, luxurious bathrooms as the everyday strengths that make a stay memorable.

The resort pairs its casino floor and Red Stick poker room with a sportsbook and a solid spread of dining, including 18 STEAK, which has moved temporarily while construction proceeds on the planned Emeril's Chop House. Uniquely, an on-site RV resort rounds out the amenities.

Readers, who voted it the top casino hotel of the year, singled out the warm, accommodating staff and the range of high-quality dining right on property, along with a rooftop pool and patio deck that looks out over the Mississippi River.

Runner-up: The Venetian Resort Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada

The Venetian made its name on two things our panel called out: beautiful, oversized suites and a fully immersive, absolutely over-the-top recreation of Venice, complete with canals.

Every standard room is a suite, many with sunken living rooms and roughly double the space of a typical Strip room, while the resort's Venetian-style canals, gondola rides, and a replica of St. Mark's Square give it an atmosphere no other casino hotel quite matches. The Grand Canal Shoppes keep the theme going.

Experts also praised the Venetian's dining options, from celebrated restaurants to a standout pastry shop. Add a Canyon Ranch spa, multiple pools, and Broadway-caliber entertainment, and it's a resort built for guests who want room to escape the Strip for a while.

Readers championed it as the most complete all-in-one resort on the Strip—an elegant, non-smoky property where the suites, spa, shows, dining, shopping, and service all live under one roof.

#3: Agua Caliente Rancho Mirage Resort

Rancho Mirage, Cailfornia

The flagship of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians' three-property portfolio, this Rancho Mirage resort, sits at the upscale end of the Greater Palm Springs scene. Our experts noted its track record with prestigious rating bodies—a AAA Four Diamond designation and Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star recognition—as a signal of consistent, attentive service.

The casino's table games, poker room, and BetMGM Sportsbook are the big draw, but beyond that, find the Sunstone Spa, which has landed on national best-spa lists. On-site dining includes The Steakhouse and casual spots like Café One Eleven, while the resort's concert venue, The Show, features live music and comedy.

This is a strong fit for travelers who want desert-resort luxury with gaming attached rather than a gaming hall fit with rooms.

Readers described it as a place that makes you feel at home, praising its intimate, small-resort vibe that's ideal for a weekend getaway—right down to poolside touches like a free smoothie every 30 minutes.

#4: Encore Boston Harbor

Everett, Massachusetts

Just a few miles north of Boston in Everett, Wynn Resorts' Encore Boston Harbor brought five-star ambitions to the waterfront, and our panel even called it the best of the Wynn portfolio.

A full luxury package seems to be the general draw: the gaming is central and easy to reach, the place offers sweeping harbor views, fine dining is anchored by a Rare steakhouse, and there are plenty of the upscale retail options Wynn properties are known for. Our reviewers also pointed to the convenience of direct resort access from self-parking, a small thing that matters big time when you're a city-edge property. Set along a revitalized stretch of the Mystic River, it offers a resort experience distinct from that of a typical urban hotel. This is Wynn-level gloss in the Northeast, rather than the Southwest.

#5: Bellagio Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada

Perhaps its most notable feature, the Bellagio wraps around an 8.5-acre lake, where the choreographed Fountains of Bellagio spout to music several times a day. Rooms or restaurants with lake and fountain views make it one of the rare hotels where guests feel no urge to leave, and it has been a benchmark for Strip elegance since it opened.

Off the lobby, the free Conservatory & Botanical Gardens cycles more than 20,000 blooms with the seasons, and the property rounds out with 18 restaurants, the 55,000-square-foot Spa Bellagio (currently under renovation until November 2026), and a high-end shopping promenade. Our panel described the experience as classy, comfortable, and centered on top-notch dining, without feeling stuffy.

#6: Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino

Las Vegas, Nevada

At the south end of the Las Vegas Strip, Mandalay Bay is built around a resort idea our panel loved: an 11-acre sand-and-surf complex with a wave pool, a quarter-mile lazy river, and the property's signature "beach."

Reviewers called the rooms (some newly remodeled) strikingly beautiful, citing floor-to-ceiling windows, appealing color palettes, and "beach" or mountain views that make the most of the vantage.

Beyond the casino floor, the resort houses the Shark Reef Aquarium, a major events arena, a convention center, and close to 30 restaurants, with kitchens tied to names like Wolfgang Puck and Michael Mina. This is a Vegas stay that sometimes feels like a beach resort with a casino attached.

#7: ARIA Resort & Casino

Las Vegas, Nevada

When it opened, ARIA brought a sleek, modern sensibility to the center of the Las Vegas Strip, and it remains one of the city's most contemporary casino hotels. ARIA is a AAA Five Diamond resort, while ARIA Sky Suites and the 62-treatment-room Spa & Salon at ARIA have earned Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star recognition.

The hotel packs in roughly 4,000 rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows and one-touch controls for lighting and temperature, and a cluster of pools. Our panel wrote how the luxury hits you the moment you walk through the lobby and simply keeps going. The central casino on the ARIA/CityCenter campus features 15 restaurants, including Din Tai Fung and Jean-Georges Steakhouse.

Readers echoed that, calling the service impeccable and the property a home away from home.

#8: Caesars Palace

Las Vegas, Nevada

Caesars Palace has been an institution on the Vegas Strip since 1966, and remains, in our panel's words, a classic that still ranks among the best casino hotels anywhere.

A Roman theme runs from the towers to the Forum Shops, a 675,000-square-foot retail and dining destination that features 160 stores and restaurants, including Spago and The Palm. The Garden of the Gods Pool Oasis spreads seven pools across five acres, with swim-up gaming and dozens of cabanas.

At the same time, The Colosseum has hosted headline residencies from Celine Dion and Adele to Elton John. Dining runs deep, from Bacchanal Buffet to Gordon Ramsay Hell's Kitchen and Nobu.

#9: Gila River Resorts & Casinos

Chandler, Arizona

Gila River Resorts & Casinos is the gaming and hospitality enterprise of the Gila River Indian Community, with its flagship Wild Horse Pass anchoring the group near Chandler, Arizona. Our panel praised the quality of the rooms and the range of on-site restaurants, and Wild Horse Pass backs that up with a AAA Four Diamond hotel, a Prime steakhouse, and a 1,400-seat showroom, all alongside the casino and BetMGM Sportsbook.

Many activities also sit nearby, such as golf, horseback riding, an outlet mall, and spectacular desert sunsets, making it an easy base for a longer trip. One clarification from our experts: this nomination is for the casino property itself, not the separate (and adjacent) Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass. For an upscale Arizona desert stay with gaming at its core, it's a strong pick.

Readers praised it as a top resort without the hustle and expense of Vegas, calling out the excellent service, the non-smoking floors, and a loyalty program that keeps them coming back.

#10: We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort

Fort McDowell, Arizona

A property of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, We-Ko-Pa sits in the Sonoran Desert near Scottsdale. Our panel highlighted the desert views from every room as a defining feature, noting that the remodeled rooms give the stay a private retreat feel. Reviewers also described relaxing by the Desert Oasis pool with VIP cabanas as a highlight.

The resort rounds out gaming—slots, table games, bingo, and the WKP Sportsbook—with the Ember wood-fired steakhouse, the Amethyst Spa, and a conference center that hosts live concerts. The adjacent We-Ko-Pa Golf Club and Fort McDowell Adventures add outdoor options.

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Our Experts

BethEllen Clausen

Clausen is a freelance writer with a heavy emphasis on art and culture. She is a member of the International Food, Wine and Travel Writers Association and the LA Wine Writers, and she writes for Food, Wine and Travel Magazine, the Napa Valley Wine Academy, and Costco Connection. You can read more about Clausen's experiences at her website, Organic Wine Travel.

Marguerite "Peggy" Cleveland

As an Army veteran, military spouse, and adventure-seeker, Cleveland has lived across the United States and has turned a lifetime of moving, exploring, and discovering hidden gems into a successful writing career. The travel journalist and author loves sharing stories about destinations, food, wine, and wellness. Her work has appeared in major publications nationwide, and she is the author of 100 Things to Do in Tacoma Before You Die. When she’s not writing, Cleveland is often planning her next adventure—or enjoying one.

Susan Lanier-Graham

Lanier-Graham is an award-winning food, wine, and travel writer with more than three decades of experience exploring destinations around the world. She has visited luxury resorts, boutique properties, and hidden gems across six continents, bringing a discerning eye to every stay. As publisher of Wander With Wonder, she leads an award-winning digital publication that inspires readers to discover exceptional travel experiences. Her work blends firsthand insight with a passion for storytelling, offering trusted recommendations on where to stay, dine, and explore. Susan’s expertise helps travelers confidently choose destinations that transform trips into unforgettable, experience-rich journeys.

Reviewed Editors & Experts

Reviewed editors and experts have hard-earned insight from a broad range of backgrounds, and our nomination panel includes independent researchers, subject matter experts, and editorial team members. We provide unbiased, experiential editorial coverage on products, brands, and companies across the U.S.