Land-based casinos were, at a time in the not-so-distant past, limited to Nevada, New Jersey, and just a handful of other states.
In the modern era, however, many U.S. states have approved casino gaming. In fact, most U.S. states offer land-based casinos.
In some states, physical casinos are only allowed on tribal lands and are operated solely by tribal gaming entities. In other states, you might find both tribal casinos and privately owned properties.
The current landscape of land-based casinos in the U.S.
With a few exceptions, land-based casinos in the U.S. fall into one of three categories:
- Privately-owned casinos
- Tribal casinos
- Riverboat casinos
Within these categories, you’ll find everything from full-fledged, five-star resorts to tiny properties with just a few games, as well as everything in between.
While Las Vegas, Nevada is still the casino capital of the United States, you can find top-tier land-based casinos throughout the U.S.
The list of U.S. states where you’ll find land-based casinos includes:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georiga
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Other venues with casino games
Some states are home to venues that don’t quite qualify as full-scale casinos but offer some of the same games you would find at a casino nonetheless.
In California, for example, “cardrooms” are situated throughout the state. California cardrooms can offer poker and other casino card games like Pai Gow Poker and California Blackjack, but can’t offer slots, traditional blackjack, and many other games by law.
In Texas, you’ll find “poker clubs” throughout the state. These venues offer peer-to-peer poker only, and the poker club economy is thriving in the Lone Star State.