The Best Casinos in and around New York

New York may be one of the most exciting, vibrant and trend-setting cites in the world, but there's one area in which it lags behind many of its international rivals: its casinos - or lack of them. Unlike places like London, Macau and Paris where the tourist and residents alike can enjoy a few hours rest and relaxation playing the tables or the slots, there are no dedicated casinos within NYC. Fortunately, there are options within easy reach - but if you're hoping to play within the Big Apple itself you're going to draw a blank.

This is because the law, set by the State, decreed that up until 2013 the only gaming permitted was at race tracks and in casinos run by Native American tribes. Although an amendment was passed in 2013 potentially allowing the building of casino resorts within the city boundaries, Governor Cuomo soon quashed any plans developers may have been formulating. So you may be able to find everything from artisan bakeries to luxury hotels in the 28-acre Hudson Yards mega development, but you won't find a single roulette table or poker room here.

Just next door to New York, New Jersey are far more lenient on all forms gambling. There are 11 land-based casinos and online gambling is particularly popular in the state. The competition to attract players means online casinos must do all they can to attract players, and eye-catching web design is the best place to start. One particular online casino has gone for a vintage 1950's Vegas look, grabbing the attention of visitors to the site. As you'll see, each page reminds the visitor of the USA's illustrious history with gambling, while the brilliant games ensure 777 online casino are among the leaders of the industry.

Clearly the State of New York has little interest in becoming a gambling mecca like Las Vegas. A contributing factor to this is the fact that New York attracts enough tourists as it is, 65.2 million in 2018, the State doesn't need the extra income from travellers spending big in fancy casinos, which the economy of Vegas is now dependent on. Vegas is regarded as the gambling capital of the world. No city in the US can compete with Vegas when it comes to casinos, so why try? What you will find in New York's surrounding areas is a quieter gambling experience.

And, for visitors who might like to kick back and enjoy a change of pace from the city that never sleeps, a visit could make for a welcome break.

Resort World Catskills

Head out to the Catskills and you'll find one of New York State's most recently opened resorts which started to enjoy its latest lease of life in February 2018. Located on the shore of Kiamesha Lake and operated by Empire Resorts, it was built on the site of the former Concord Hotel.

There is a total gaming floor area of 65,000 square feet with over 120 table games. However, the casino gains most attention from tourists who spend their time playing one of the 2,150 slots games.

Afterwards, maybe you can spend some of your winnings at the neighbouring Entertainment Village, opened in December of last year.

The Yellow Brick Road

You'll find a real fusion of cultures at one of the many casinos owned and run by the Oneida Indian Nation. As the name suggests, the casino is in the style of that perennial film favourite, The Wizard of Oz, and was intended to be a homage to its creator the New Yorker L. Frank Baum.

The interior is heavily Oz themed. Not only will you find a replica of Dorothy's house, there's also a cyclone that's activated when a lucky winner scoops a jackpot and you're also likely to be surprised by some flying monkeys. Among all the Oz-related decor there is also a total of 67,000 square feet of gaming floor with 400 slots and over 50 gaming tables. So even if you go for the spectacle, there are plenty of gaming attractions too.

Borgota

For someone looking for major casino action, no trip to the eastern seaboard would be complete without a visit to Atlantic City. While it's never become the real competitor to Vegas that it was intended to be, there are still some major attractions to enjoy. Take Borgota, for example. Owned by MGM resorts and opened in 2003, it boasts a 160,000 square feet of gaming with 4,000 slots, 180 table games and 50 poker tables.

It's the latter game that it's most famous for and includes a number of events on the World Poker Tour. But this isn't what really has really put the place on the map. In 2009 a casual player, Patricia Demauro, had a run of luck on the craps table that lasted four hours and 18 minutes with 154 successive dice rolls which failed to score a seven.

Caesars

There are few bigger names in casino gaming that Caesars and the East Coast version of the Vegas institution is a worthy addition to the brand. It first opened way back in 1979 as Caesars Boardwalk Regency and in 2017 ownership was passed on to Vici Properties who then leased it back to Caesars Entertainment.

It's also one of the largest casinos in Atlantic City with 145,000 square feet of gaming floors divided into four separate areas. Palace East is a dedicated Asian gaming area while the second floor casino is given over to its 3,000 slot machines. There's also a poker room and over 120 table games if these are your preferred choice.

Tropicana

The last of our casinos is another titan of Atlantic City and which also, arguably, helped in the successful bid of New Jersey to push for the legalisation of sports betting which has seen more and more states making it legal.

But before we get on to that, how about the casino itself? It was first opened in 1981 and is operated by Eldorado Resorts. The interior styling tries to capture the spirit of Old Havana and at 126,000 square feet there's plenty of room for its 2,400 slots and 132 table games.

It also has a sports book for sports betting and the casinos owners was worked with both Virgin's Sir Richard Branson and Governor Chris Christie to get online gambling legalized in the State - a move which surely paved the way for making the Supreme Court rule in New Jersey's favour in overturning the sports betting ban that had been in force since 1992.

Summary

So, there you have them, a selection of casinos within relatively easy reach of New York. As to whether any will be likely to open in New York in the near future, it seems unlikely. With property prices in the city among the world's highest, and rising, opening a casino may be a gamble that even the most daring operator would be reluctant to make.