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Las Vegas > Casinos

Gambling was legalized in Las Vegas in 1931, but large-scale construction of casinos did not begin until after World War 2, and for many years they were dominated by individual property holders, often with Mafia connections. In recent times, the businesses have been taken over by big conglomerates, many of the older places have been knocked down to make way for huge showy entertainment complexes aimed at attracting the whole family, and rate of development shows no signs of decreasing.

Recent demolitions include Boardwalk in 2006, Stardust in March 2007 and New Frontier in November 2007. There are four massive construction projects underway, not counting the many extensions to existing properties - largest of the new builds is the CityCenter Resort between Bellagio and Monte Carlo, a collection of hotels, residences, shops and convention space that has an incredible budget of $11 billion; most opened December 2009, and the project will be completed in 2010. The others are the 2,200 room Cosmopolitan Resort (next to the CityCenter), 5,000 room Echelon (behind Circus Circus, though the project is currently on hold) and 3,800 room Fontainebleau - set to contain one of the tallest buildings in town, at 63 storeys, however this too is stalled, due to unfavorable economic conditions.

A summary of the major casinos along Las Vegas Boulevard is given below.

For a selection of more traditional accommodation away from The Strip, see the Las Vegas hotels listings and hotels map.


Las Vegas Casino Map
Las Vegas Casino Map - The Strip
Click each casino for more details

Wynn Las Vegas Wynn Encore Riviera Circus Circus The Palazzo TI - Treasure Island The Mirage The Venetian Harrah's Flamingo Caesars Palace Bellagio Bally's Paris Las Vegas Planet Hollywood Monte Carlo MGM Grand New York-New York Excalibur Tropicana Luxor Mandalay Bay Sahara Stratosphere Las Vegas Strip Hotel Listings
The casinos are arranged by AAA hotel rating, and hence also in order of average room rates.
Click on each casino for more details, photographs and hotel reservations.


Year
Open
Rooms Floors
AAA Five Diamond
Bellagio 1998 3,993 36 Luxurious, upmarket resort with an Italian theme. An extravagant display of moving water fountains takes place in a 9 acre lake outside, while the interior, set far back from the street, is lavishly decorated and includes sculptures, plants and trees, and extensive use of natural light illumination
The Palazzo 2007 3,068 53 Companion to The Venetian next door, The Palazzo is an all-suite, high class hotel with modern European style and decor
The Venetian 1999 4,049 40 Constructed on land that used to be home to The Sands, The Venetian offers a truly luxurious experience, with top quality accommodation, dining, shopping, gaming, nightlife and entertainment. Familiar landmarks of Venice are recreated including St. Marks Tower and Rialto Bridge; inside, gondolas cruise along a system of canals past the shops and restaurants
Wynn Encore 2009 2,034 54 Sister hotel to Wynn Las Vegas, Encore offers similarly high-end accommodation in over 2,000 modern suites
Wynn Las Vegas 2005 2,716 50 The huge, curving, glass-fronted tower of Wynn Las Vegas dominates the north end of the Strip, catering to the top end of the market. The many facilities include an 18 hole golf course
AAA Four Diamond
Caesars Palace 1966 3,348 35 One of the most well-known Las Vegas casinos, Caesars features a lavish recreation of Roman life and decor although the exterior is quite restrained and elegant, and covers a large distance along the Strip
Mandalay Bay 1999 4,332 39 The southernmost casino on the Strip, close to Las Vegas International Airport, is a huge resort with a South Sea Island theme, and it offers every conceivable facility including 1.7 million sq ft of event space
MGM Grand 1993 5,044 30 Long considered the largest hotel in the world (until overtaken by the Venetian/Palazzo), MGM Grand is one of the landmarks of Las Vegas; attractively clad in emerald green glass, the hotel is part of a massive complex offering many high quality facilities
The Mirage 1989 3,044 30 A well-known Las Vegas landmark, The Mirage is built in a distinctive Y-shape and features a frequently erupting volcano outside, with waterfalls and tropical island scenery
Monte Carlo 1996 3,002 32 Monte Carlo provides European style and service at mid range prices; the main building is a large, elegant white tower
Paris Las Vegas 1999 2,915 34 This attractive, medium-sized (for Las Vegas), Parisian-themed complex greets guests with a colorful replica of the Montgolfier balloon, close to the Arc de Triomphe, while the Eiffel Tower looms overhead
Planet Hollywood 2007 2,600 38 Formerly the Aladdin casino, the new Planet Hollywood hotel has a lively, hip, modern atmosphere, with themes of film stars and celebrity
Treasure Island 1993 2,885 36 'TI' is a mid range, family-oriented hotel, notable for the free Sirens of TI show staged each evening on a pirate set in front of the hotel, featuring a duel between a pirate ship and a group of attractive maidens
AAA Three Diamond
Bally's 1973 2,814 26 Bally's provides a traditional Las Vegas experience, offering good quality lodging, gambling, dining and live entertainment
Excalibur 1990 3,991 28 A vast, castle-like complex with an Arthurian knight theme, Excalibur is centered on several eye-catching towers which are colorfully lit up at night
Flamingo 1946 3,626 28 Flamingo is the oldest surviving casino on the Strip, offering guests and gamblers a south Floridian experience with a good range of facilities including a 15 acre tropical garden
Harrah's 1973 2,677 35 This popular, mid range, mid price property has a party-carnival motif, and offers all the expected facilities
Luxor 1993 4,408 30 Luxor, the fourth largest hotel in the world, features a large black pyramid topped by a searchlight beaming several miles into the sky; entrance is through a replica of the Sphinx
New York-New York 1997 2,023 47 This modern, vibrant hotel features a replica of the Manhattan skyline including the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge and Grand Central Station, with a 67 mph rollercoaster snaking around the outside
Riviera 1955 2,100 23 Occupying a relatively small site near the north end of the Strip, 'The Riv' appeals more to traditional gamblers, reflecting its long history as one of the select group of casinos frequented by the Rat Pack
AAA Two Diamond
Circus Circus 1968 3,773 35 Circus Circus is an older hotel, though still popular; family entertainment centers on an indoor amusement park with a rollercoaster, plus traditional circus acts performing each night in a large amphitheater.
Sahara 1952 1,720 27 Unlike most of the famous old casinos that have been blown up to make room for more modern resorts, Sahara is still open for business, and a recent ownership change looks set to safeguard its future by funding a major renovation
Stratosphere 1996 2,444 24 At the north end of the Strip, this casino is most famous for its 1,149 foot tower - the highest point in Las Vegas, with a revolving restaurant, a marriage chapel and three open air rollercoasters at the very top
Tropicana 1957 1,878 22 Near the south end of the Strip, Tropicana Resort has been open for business for over 60 years, and is a good choice for traditional Las Vegas entertainment



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