America’s Best Casinos: A Look at What the Finest in the US Have to Offer (part 1)

America’s Best Casinos look as facilities for gambling throughout the US

America’s Best Casinos aren’t always located in Las Vegas or Atlantic City anymore. Now changes in US gambling laws have allowed certain states to offer casino gambling. And according to today’s standards set by casino moguls like Steve Wynn, the ambitions are endless. They all usually follow the rule of “where there’s a casino there’s usually a resort.” Currently there are 1,500 casinos throughout the 49 contiguous United States. We will explore these various locations.

• Thunder Valley Casino is the largest in Northern California.
• The French Lick Resort is a national historic landmark
• The Borgata hotel casino has the largest poker room in Atlantic City

Surprisingly, Connecticut proved to be formidable having the second and third best casinos in their state. The inclusion of casinos from Louisiana and Mississippi proved that river gambling isn’t dead yet. California, which has a strong history of casino gambling dating back nearly 200 years, has two casinos that made the list. Surprisingly enough, Las Vegas and Atlantic City each have only one casino that was included.

America’s best casinos begin in California and Indiana

Among America’s best casinos is Thunder Valley Casino, the largest one is in Northern California. The 144,500 square-foot casino is near San Francisco, once the largest gambling centers in the United States. The casino, owned by the United Auburn Indian Community, features many table games, 2,500 slot machines, a 24-hour poker room and a 500-seat Bingo hall that’s smoke free. High limit salons have their own dealers. Tables and slots honor bets which range from USD 100 to USD 5,000.

The 17-story luxury hotel on the premises of Thunder Valley has 297 rooms and 40 suites. Features includ meeting rooms, bars, a gift shop, a large banquet hall and entertainment hall capable of accommodating 1,000 guests. The spa offers a range of services such as facials, massages, pedicures, manicures, Lomi Lomi, hot stone massages and their signature “24-karat gold leaf facial.” Those who wish for additional wellness can use the sauna, whirlpool, steam room and health club.

The French Lick Resort is more than a casino, but also a national historic landmark. The resort which consists of French Lick Springs and West Baden Springs are in the Hoosier National Forest in the south of Indiana. Although the casino was built in 2006, the two hotels were originally built in the late 1800’s for its proximity to the relaxing effect of the sulfur springs.

The resort features a 51,000 square-foot Vegas style casino equipped with 1,000 slots, 37 table games and a high-limit area. The 9,500 square-foot gaming room is smoke free and includes table games and slots. Besides gambling, the French Lick resort offers, hiking trails, horseback riding and bowling. The resort was meant to be a vacation getaway for families long before its ascent into brick and mortar or online casinos in the US.

America’s best casinos continues with the only entry from Vegas

As the only Las Vegas Casino to make the list of America’s best casinos, the Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa is actually outside of the city. Positioned near the Red Rock Mountains in Summerlin on 70 acres of land, the resort is 10 miles west of the Vegas strip. The resort casino features 3,000 slot and video poker machines, 60 game tables, a race and sports book with a 96-foot video wall. A 20 table smoke free poker room, 600-seat bingo hall and 20-seat keno lounge are added amenities.

Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa features 800 rooms using desert style architecture and decorations such as crystals, exotic woods, red sandstone and water-laden landscapes. The Sandbar Pool is on a four acre deck with fountains and eight smaller pools with “poolside” gaming of course. Next to the nearby food court stands a 16-screen multiplex cinema with an IMAX screen. More relaxing alternatives include a health spa and various customized outdoor recreation programs.

Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa rests at Renaissance Pointe in the Marina District of Atlantic City offering easy access to other nearby casinos such as Ballys, Caesars Palace and Trump Plaza. The USD 1.1 billion facility which features world class spas, restaurants and entertainment is a perfect retreat for those gamblers who have won money legally through US gambling laws.

The hotel has 2,000 luxury guest rooms and suites each featuring floor-to-ceiling windows. The marbled bathrooms, oversized glass showers and oversized Sealy Plush mattresses are dedicated to provide guests with further comfort. The number of games available rivals the Chinese casinos in Macau. The casino floor has 4,100 slots and 200 table games offering poker, blackjack, roultette, Baccarat, novelty games, Racebook, Pai Gow and Sic Bo. With the largest poker room in Atlantic City, Borgata works in conjunction with the World Poker Tour.