Casino hotels & resorts, from casino floor to room key.
Goldvarra explains how casino hotels & resorts in the United States work: the types of casino hotels, what happens in the casino, and how to compare casino hotels before you book a casino stay.
What casino hotels & resorts are
A casino hotel is a hotel built around a casino. The casino floor, the casino hotel rooms, the casino restaurants and the bars share one property, so a casino trip does not need a car or a plan for getting home. The largest casino hotels are casino resorts, where the casino sits beside pools, a spa, theaters and shops. Together they are known as casino hotels & resorts.
Casino hotels & resorts in the USA are not all alike. A Las Vegas casino resort, a riverfront casino hotel in the Midwest and a tribal casino resort can feel like three different kinds of trip, even though each one is a casino with a hotel attached. Goldvarra sorts casino hotels & resorts into six types of casino hotels and gives you one casino handbook for all of them.
Use the casino hotel types to decide what kind of casino hotel you want, the casino stay timeline to plan the visit, and the casino hotel handbook for the details: casino hotel rooms, casino floor basics, casino etiquette, casino dining and responsible casino play.
Six types of casino hotels & resorts
Casino hotels & resorts in the United States fit roughly into six types of casino hotels and casino resorts. Compare all casino hotels & resorts.
Destination casino resort
Biggest casino floor and widest choice of casino games
Boutique casino hotel
Smaller casino, calmer casino hotel
Riverfront casino hotel
Regional casino hotel within driving distance
Tribal casino resort
Found in many states, often the closest casino hotel
Racetrack casino hotel
Casino plus live racing on some dates
Locals casino hotel
Lower casino hotel rates than the tourist casino district
Casino hotels & resorts in the USA
A short guide to casino hotels, casino resorts and the casino itself, for anyone planning a first casino stay.
Casino hotels
Casino hotels put the casino and the hotel under one roof. In casino hotels the casino floor is open long hours, casino restaurants and casino bars surround it, and casino hotel rooms are an elevator ride away. Casino hotels suit short casino trips, because everything a casino stay needs is inside the casino hotel.
Casino resorts
Casino resorts are the largest casino hotels. A casino resort adds pools, a casino spa, theaters, shops and many casino restaurants to the casino. At casino resorts the casino is one attraction among several, which is why casino resorts work for groups where not everyone wants to spend time in the casino.
The casino floor
Every casino floor mixes casino slot machines with casino table games such as blackjack, roulette and craps. Bigger casino hotels & resorts have a larger casino with more casino games and a wider range of casino limits, while a small casino is easier to learn. Check the casino before you choose the casino hotel.
Casino hotel rooms
Casino hotels sell standard casino hotel rooms, premium rooms and suites, often in several towers around the casino. Casino hotel rooms closer to the casino are convenient, and casino hotel rooms farther from the casino floor are quieter. Casino hotels & resorts price the same room differently by night.
Casino dining and shows
Casino dining ranges from casino cafes to casino steakhouses, and casino resorts book concerts, comedy and production shows. For many guests of casino hotels & resorts, casino dining and a show are as important as the casino itself.
Comparing casino hotels
Compare casino hotels on the same six points: the casino, casino hotel rooms, casino dining, spa and pool, shows and the total price. The free Goldvarra scorecard lists those points so you can rate casino hotels & resorts side by side and pick the casino hotel that fits your casino trip.
A casino hotel stay, stage by stage
Four moments in every stay at casino hotels & resorts, and the one casino hotel task to get right at each.
- Before you book
Compare casino hotels on the total price
Look up each casino hotel's full price for the stay, including the casino resort fee, taxes and parking. Check the casino's minimum age and that the casino offers the casino games you want.
- At check-in
Get your bearings in the casino hotel
Ask where the casino hotel room tower is in relation to the casino floor, join the casino players club before you play, and confirm casino hotel check-out time and pool or spa access.
- On the casino floor
Play the casino on your terms
Set a casino budget for the day and stick to it. Use your casino players card, check each casino table's minimum bet before you sit down, and take breaks away from the casino floor.
- Checking out
Close the casino hotel stay cleanly
Cash out casino chips and slot tickets at the casino cage before you leave, review the casino hotel bill for fees, and keep a simple record of your casino play.
The Casino Hotel Scorecard
Register on Goldvarra and get our printable casino hotel scorecard. Rate up to three casino hotels & resorts side by side on the casino floor, casino hotel rooms, casino dining, casino spa and total price, then book the casino hotel that scores best for you.
Free for registered readers. No payment details needed.
What to check at casino hotels & resorts
Six areas to compare at all casino hotels & resorts, whichever casino hotels or casino resorts you are looking at. They are the same six areas on the Casino Hotel Scorecard.
| Area | What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Casino floor | Size of the casino, casino games offered, typical table minimums, non-smoking casino areas | The casino is why you chose a casino hotel, so it should fit how you play. |
| Casino hotel rooms | Room size, bed type, view, distance from the casino floor | A quiet casino hotel room decides how well you rest after the casino. |
| Casino dining | Number of casino restaurants, price range, opening hours | Casino hotel restaurants set most of the food budget for a casino trip. |
| Spa and pool | Whether access is included for casino hotel guests, booking rules | Time away from the casino floor keeps a casino hotel stay balanced. |
| Shows | What is playing at the casino resort on your dates | Staying at the casino hotel where the show is saves time and transport. |
| Price | Casino hotel rate plus resort fee, taxes and parking | The total, not the headline rate, is how casino hotels should be compared. |
The casino hotels & resorts handbook
From casino hotel rooms to responsible casino play: six casino chapters on how casino hotels & resorts work, written to be read in ten minutes.
Casino hotels & resorts: questions, answered
What is a casino hotel?
A casino hotel is a hotel with a casino on the same property. Casino hotel guests can walk from their room to the casino floor, casino restaurants and other amenities without leaving the building.
What is the difference between a casino hotel and a casino resort?
A casino resort is a large casino hotel that adds resort amenities such as pools, a spa, shows and shopping. Every casino resort is a casino hotel, but not every casino hotel is a casino resort.
Are casino hotels & resorts only for casino players?
No. Casino hotels & resorts are built around a casino, but casino resorts also sell rooms, casino dining, spa days, pools and shows to guests who never visit the casino floor. Many travelers choose casino hotels for the amenities and treat the casino as one evening's entertainment.
When are casino hotels cheapest?
Casino hotels are usually cheapest midweek and outside holidays and big events. Casino hotels & resorts change casino hotel rates night by night, so compare a few arrival dates and always compare the total casino hotel price with fees.
How old do I have to be to stay at a casino hotel?
Most casinos in the United States require guests on the casino floor to be 21, and a small number set the casino age at 18. Casino hotels also set their own minimum age to check in, so confirm both with the casino hotel.
What do I get for registering on Goldvarra?
The Casino Hotel Scorecard: a printable sheet for rating up to three casino hotels on the casino floor, casino hotel rooms, casino dining, spa and price. It is free.
Can I book a casino hotel or gamble here?
No. Goldvarra is a casino hotel information guide. Casino hotel rooms are booked with the casino hotel, and no casino games, deposits or wagers are offered on this site.
How can I contact Goldvarra?
Email [email protected].
Compare casino hotels & resorts with the free Casino Hotel Scorecard
Create a free Goldvarra account and receive the printable scorecard for casino hotels, casino resorts and every casino stay.