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Gambling…Top ten casinos in the USA…

worldwide-admin September 19, 2026 No Comments
From Travel+Leisure online magazine here.

“These Are the 10 Best U.S. States for a Casino Getaway—and No. 2 Might Surprise You

A new analysis looked at casino perks, gaming options, smoke-free properties, and more, with Nevada taking No. 1 and South Dakota delivering a surprise at No. 2. By Staff Author. Published on September 18, 2026

Nevada may be the first place that comes to mind when planning a casino getaway, and it’s for good reason. Home to Sin City—which has no shortage of dining, nightlife, and entertainment to pair with gambling—it’s no surprise that the state ranked No. 1 for best casino getaways in a new analysis from BetMGM Casino. However, the data showed it’s far from the only state offering that kind of fun.

For the ranking, BetMGM looked at 27 states with legal land-based commercial casinos, using data from the American Gaming Association’s State of the States 2026 report. It compared everything from complimentary drinks and smoke-free casinos to casino credit, federal tax withholding on winnings, the number of casinos and gaming machines, and the range of gambling options available.

Nevada didn’t land on top just because of Las Vegas, though. The city of Reno has its own lively casino scene, while Lake Tahoe pairs gaming with mountain views, hiking, and skiing. As a whole, the state is home to 227 commercial casinos and 125,791 gaming machines, according to the analysis, and also earned points for complimentary alcoholic beverages, casino credit, and its variety of gaming options.

This is a White-throated Swallow (Hirundo albigularis), a beautiful and fairly common swallow in southern Africa.

Perhaps more unexpectedly, South Dakota came in second place. The state earned points for its smoke-free casinos and complimentary alcoholic beverages, among other factors. For travelers, much of the casino action centers on historic Deadwood in the Black Hills, where gaming can be combined with its Old West history and easy access to some of South Dakota’s best-known outdoor attractions, including Mount Rushmore and the scenic drives and hiking trails of Custer State Park.

Pennsylvania came in at No. 3, followed by Louisiana and Michigan, offering travelers options ranging from big-city casino stays in Philadelphia and New Orleans to gaming getaways in Detroit. The second half of the top 10 includes Delaware, Massachusetts, West Virginia, Mississippi, and New Jersey. Though it came in last, New Jersey is home to Atlantic City, where travelers can combine a casino weekend with the beach and boardwalk, restaurants, nightlife, shopping, and live entertainment at its oceanfront resorts.

These are the top 10 states for a casino experience:

  1. Nevada
  2. South Dakota
  3. Pennsylvania
  4. Louisiana
  5. Michigan
  6. Delaware
  7. Massachusetts
  8. West Virginia
  9. Mississippi
  10. New Jersey”

No, Tom and I don’t gamble, not even on cruise ships or in Las Vegas when we return for a visit to see son Richard and take care of business in Nevada, our state of residence. Tom used to enjoy going to one of the casinos in Minnesota, but after losing more than he won, he finally gave it up sometime in the 1990s. That was probably a good decision, considering how quickly those dollars can disappear!

We’d much rather use our hard-earned money to travel the world, experience new places, stay in comfortable accommodations, enjoy a nice meal, or simply make the most of our lives. After all, once the money is gone at a casino, there’s not much to show for it.

That doesn’t mean we don’t understand why so many people enjoy gambling. For some, it’s part of the excitement of a vacation, while others simply enjoy the chance of winning. We’ve met plenty of people over the years who enjoy gambling, both while traveling and at home.

So, while gambling isn’t for us, we’ve included today’s article for those of you who enjoy it, wherever in the world you may be.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, September 19, 2016:

Family gatherings on the beach amidst the garbage that rolls in with the tide, left behind by locals and visitors. Bali has yet to adopt the idea of keeping its island and beaches less littered. However, much of the beach waste comes from what others leave at sea. For more photos, please click here.

About Jess & Tom

We are travel writers, photographers, and slow travelers exploring the world one meaningful experience at a time.

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