Resort stays near water, desert and downtown

Top 10 Casino Hotels

xcasiino picks ten resort hotels where the bed, the dinner and the next morning's outing all deserve attention. The list suits road-trippers, couples and small groups who like straight facts before they reserve anything.

What we look at: the rooms, dining and leisure on site, what lies within reach, how you get there, and how clearly the hotel explains fees and age rules. Number one, Kewadin, is owned by the tribe that publishes xcasiino and sits on top for exactly that reason; the nine below it were ordered by xcasiino editors on their merits as stays.

Updated: October 2026

Region

Trip type

Showing all 10 hotels

The ten, in order

Publisher's own resort 01

Kewadin Casino Hotel

Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan · Great Lakes

Sleeping: Hotel rooms on site at the operator's Sault property; ask the front desk which room types and bed layouts are open for your dates.

Key facilities

Hotel on the same grounds as the venue
Restaurants for sit-down meals and quick bites
DreamMakers Theater for touring shows
Convention and event centre for meetings
Casino on site

Before you go

Resort fee: Nightly charges beyond the room rate, if any, are worth confirming with the desk.
Transfer: Chippewa County airport (CIU) is the closer US option; Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario (YAM) sits across the border.
Check-in age: The youngest age allowed for the lead guest is a question for reservations.

More details

Lake Superior shoreline drives lie to the west, and Tahquamenon Falls makes a full day out with a picnic. Crossing to the Canadian Sault requires the documents the border asks for, so check those before you go. Kewadin belongs to the tribe behind xcasiino, and that ownership, rather than any contest with the other nine, is why it opens the list.

Stand-out

A short drive to the Soo Locks, where lake freighters are raised and lowered between Lake Superior and the lower lakes.

Best for: Travellers who want the Soo Locks, the St. Marys River and a Tahquamenon Falls day trip from one base

Check availability

Keweenaw Bay 02

Ojibwa Casino Resort

Baraga, Michigan · Great Lakes

Sleeping: A compact hotel attached to the venue; ask whether lake-facing rooms can be requested.

Key facilities

Hotel rooms beside the venue
Restaurant and lounge
Gift shop
Parking for cars and larger vehicles
Casino on site

Before you go

Resort fee: Extras on the bill are something to raise when you call.
Transfer: Houghton County airport (CMX) is the nearest commercial field; most guests arrive by car.
Check-in age: Reservations can tell you the youngest age accepted.

More details

Baraga is a small town on the bay, and the drive north runs past copper-country heritage towns and long shoreline views. Winters here are snowy, so plan the drive around the forecast if you come in the cold months.

Stand-out

It sits at the foot of Keweenaw Bay, so sunrise over Lake Superior is part of the morning.

Best for: Road-trippers working their way up the Keweenaw Peninsula

Check availability

North Shore lodge 03

Grand Portage Lodge & Casino

Grand Portage, Minnesota · Great Lakes

Sleeping: Lodge rooms close to the water; ask which ones face the lake.

Key facilities

Lodge on the Lake Superior shore
Indoor pool
Restaurant with lake views
RV park and marina nearby
Casino on site

Before you go

Resort fee: Check whether the lodge adds anything to the nightly price.
Transfer: Thunder Bay (YQT) across the border or Duluth (DLH) to the south; both mean a drive.
Check-in age: The lodge sets its own age limit; ask before you reserve.

More details

The Canadian border is just up the highway, and Grand Portage State Park holds the highest waterfall in Minnesota. Isle Royale boat schedules are seasonal, so check them with the park service before building a trip around one.

Stand-out

Grand Portage National Monument and the summer boats to Isle Royale both start a few minutes from the lodge.

Best for: Travellers combining the North Shore drive with a national-park outing

Check availability

Mountain spa tower 04

Monarch Casino Resort Spa

Black Hawk, Colorado · Mountain West & Southwest

Sleeping: Accommodation fills a tall tower, and the upper floors overlook the canyon. Suites exist; ask what layouts are free.

Key facilities

Full-service spa
Pool on an upper level
Several restaurants, including a steakhouse
On-site parking garage
Casino on site

Before you go

Resort fee: Ask the resort if a daily fee sits on top of the rate.
Transfer: Denver International (DEN) is the main gateway; plan on a mountain drive from there.
Check-in age: The resort can confirm its lowest accepted age.

More details

Black Hawk shares a gulch with historic Central City, whose Victorian main street and opera house are a short ride away. Mountain weather turns quickly, so carry layers even in summer.

Stand-out

The spa is the reason many guests choose it: a proper treatment menu in a narrow mountain gulch.

Best for: Couples after a spa night in the foothills west of Denver

Check availability

Four Corners base 05

Ute Mountain Casino Hotel

Towaoc, Colorado · Mountain West & Southwest

Sleeping: A mid-size hotel by the venue, plus an RV park for those travelling with their own rig.

Key facilities

Hotel rooms
Restaurant
RV park
Travel centre for fuel and supplies
Casino on site

Before you go

Resort fee: Any surcharge is worth asking about up front.
Transfer: Cortez (CEZ) is the closest airfield; Durango (DRO) has more flights.
Check-in age: Raise the age limit when you call to reserve.

More details

Ute Mountain Tribal Park tours run with Ute guides and must be booked ahead. The Four Corners Monument is a longer drive to the southwest. High-desert sun is strong, so bring water and a hat.

Stand-out

Mesa Verde National Park and Ute Mountain Tribal Park are both within reach for cliff-dwelling tours.

Best for: Visitors touring ancestral Puebloan sites in the Four Corners

Check availability

Rio Grande valley 06

Ohkay Hotel Casino

Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico · Mountain West & Southwest

Sleeping: A straightforward hotel beside the venue; ask about rooms with two beds for families or friends.

Key facilities

Hotel rooms
Restaurant
Meeting and event space
Casino on site

Before you go

Resort fee: Ohkay can say whether a fee rides on the rate.
Transfer: Santa Fe (SAF) is closest; Albuquerque (ABQ) has the widest choice of flights.
Check-in age: Age requirements are best confirmed by phone.

More details

The High Road to Taos, the galleries of Santa Fe and the cliffs of Bandelier National Monument all make day outings. Pueblo feast days are special occasions; ask locally about visitor etiquette before attending one.

Stand-out

A quieter, lower-key base north of Santa Fe for exploring the Rio Grande valley and the road to Taos.

Best for: Travellers who want northern New Mexico without Santa Fe prices or crowds

Check availability

Gulf beachfront 07

Treasure Bay Casino & Hotel

Biloxi, Mississippi · Gulf & Atlantic side

Sleeping: Rooms look out to the Gulf or back over town; request the Gulf side when reserving if sunrise matters.

Key facilities

Hotel facing the Gulf beach
Outdoor pool
Restaurants and a bar
Casino on site

Before you go

Resort fee: Treasure Bay can tell you if a resort fee is added.
Transfer: Gulfport-Biloxi International (GPT) is a short drive.
Check-in age: Ask Treasure Bay how old the lead guest must be.

More details

The Biloxi lighthouse and the Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Art are along the same stretch of coast. Late summer and early autumn fall within hurricane season, so keep an eye on forecasts and booking terms.

Stand-out

Its pirate-ship frontage on Beach Boulevard makes it easy to spot, and the sand is across the road.

Best for: Beach weekends on the Mississippi Gulf Coast

Check availability

Downtown classic 08

El Cortez Hotel & Casino

Las Vegas, Nevada · Mountain West & Southwest

Sleeping: Rooms in the historic main building, plus the separate Cabana Suites across the street; ask which building your booking covers.

Key facilities

Historic downtown hotel building
Cabana Suites boutique wing
Dining rooms and a bar
Casino on site

Before you go

Resort fee: The quoted rate may exclude a nightly fee; ask what it comes to.
Transfer: From Harry Reid International (LAS), downtown is reachable by cab or app car.
Check-in age: El Cortez sets its own minimum age; check it.

More details

The Fremont Street canopy, the Mob Museum and the Neon Museum are all close. Desert summers are very hot, so plan walking for the evenings.

Stand-out

One of the oldest hotels downtown, with a vintage neon frontage on Fremont Street East.

Best for: City breakers who prefer old-Vegas character over megaresorts

Check availability

Concert-hall stay 09

Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland

Hanover, Maryland · Gulf & Atlantic side

Sleeping: Rooms and suites in a modern hotel tower; ask about suite layouts.

Key facilities

Modern hotel tower
Spa
Concert and event hall
Restaurants and lounges
Casino on site

Before you go

Resort fee: Ask Live! whether a daily charge is added.
Transfer: Baltimore/Washington International (BWI) is very close; ask about ground transport.
Check-in age: The front desk can state the youngest age it accepts.

More details

It sits beside Arundel Mills, a large shopping centre, and both Baltimore's Inner Harbor and Washington are a drive away.

Stand-out

The Hall hosts touring concerts and comedy nights, so the show and the room share one roof.

Best for: Event-night stays between Baltimore and Washington

Check availability

Manila Bay resort 10

Nobu Hotel Manila at City of Dreams

Entertainment City, Parañaque, Metro Manila · Asia

Sleeping: Rooms and suites in the Nobu-branded hotel within the City of Dreams complex.

Key facilities

Nobu restaurant on property
Pool deck
A spread of dining venues across the complex
Casino on site

Before you go

Resort fee: Find out if the quoted rate already folds in service charge and VAT.
Transfer: Ninoy Aquino International (MNL) is nearby; road traffic varies a lot, so allow spare time.
Check-in age: Nobu Hotel can confirm how old the lead guest must be.

More details

Manila Bay sunsets and the old walled district of Intramuros are within reach by car. The wet season brings heavy rain, so check weather before planning outdoor outings.

Stand-out

The Nobu name brings its Japanese-Peruvian kitchen and a calm, design-led room style.

Best for: Food-focused city breaks in Metro Manila

Check availability

Side by side

Main characteristics of the ten hotels. Confirm details with each hotel before booking.
Hotel	Setting	Region	Airport	Families	Signature
1. Kewadin Casino Hotel	Riverside border town	Great Lakes	CIU or YAM	Ask	Soo Locks nearby
2. Ojibwa Casino Resort	Bayside small town	Great Lakes	CMX	Ask	Keweenaw Bay views
3. Grand Portage Lodge & Casino	Lakeside lodge	Great Lakes	YQT or DLH	Yes, ask about pool hours	Isle Royale boats
4. Monarch Casino Resort Spa	Mountain gulch	Mountain West & Southwest	DEN	Ask	Full-service spa
5. Ute Mountain Casino Hotel	High desert	Mountain West & Southwest	CEZ or DRO	Ask	Mesa Verde within reach
6. Ohkay Hotel Casino	River valley	Mountain West & Southwest	SAF or ABQ	Ask	Road to Taos
7. Treasure Bay Casino & Hotel	Beachfront	Gulf & Atlantic side	GPT	Ask	Ship-shaped frontage
8. El Cortez Hotel & Casino	Downtown city	Mountain West & Southwest	LAS	Adults lean	Vintage neon frontage
9. Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland	Suburban hub	Gulf & Atlantic side	BWI	Ask	Concert hall
10. Nobu Hotel Manila at City of Dreams	Bayside complex	Asia	MNL	Ask	Nobu restaurant

Questions travellers ask

When should I go?

Each place has its own calendar. Around Lake Superior, roads, ferries and waterfalls are easiest to reach between late May and the first autumn colours, while winter buries the region in snow. Desert and mountain stops are kindest in spring and autumn. Biloxi sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt from June into November, and Manila has a rainy monsoon. Look at the forecast for your actual dates.

Which airport, and then what?

Every row names the closest airport. A few properties are a short cab hop away; the northern ones nearly always need a hire car. A shuttle may or may not run, so put that question to the front desk.

Will a 19-year-old be handed the room key?

Yes, usually, and it is not the same everywhere: some properties want the lead guest to be 21. Check the figure with reservations, particularly when the person whose name is on the booking is a young adult.

What gets added to the nightly price?

Depending on the hotel: a resort fee, parking, a service charge, local taxes. These figures shift, so get the full total from the hotel before you commit.

Is it a good idea with kids?

Some of the ten welcome families, though access to certain public areas is age-limited. Ask about pool times, extra beds and where younger guests may go.

Do you take bookings?

No. xcasiino is a publisher, not an agency. Each button leads to the property's official site; reserving happens there, directly with the hotel.

Why is Kewadin at number one?

The tribe that owns Kewadin also publishes xcasiino. We state that on the row itself, in this answer and in the method notes. Places two to ten are an editorial call.

How the list was made

Ownership first. Kewadin Casino Hotel in Sault Ste. Marie belongs to Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, the publisher of xcasiino.com. It holds the top spot because of that ownership. We do not present it as an independent pick, and a booking made there benefits the owner directly.

Places two to ten. We chose them for the stay itself: the room, food on site, leisure such as a spa or a pool, the landscape or city around the hotel, and how easy the journey is. We used each hotel's own website and public tourism sources. No hotel paid to be listed or to move up.

Money. A share of outbound hotel links carry referral tracking. A booking made after clicking one can earn xcasiino a commission while your rate stays put. That income never sets the order of places two to ten.

Limits. Prices and room totals are absent because they move faster than we could verify them. Fees, age rules and transfers are listed as things to ask about. Spot an error? Write to contact@xcasiino.com.