Today’s best casinos in the Midwest offer more than gambling. Yes, you can still find plenty of excitement with slots, table games, poker rooms, and sportsbooks. But many also have world-class live music, restaurants, and nearby attractions.
With all these options, you can plan a complete adventure that goes far beyond the blackjack table. Las Vegas is known for its well-rounded casino resorts, but you’ll find plenty of options closer to home in the Midwest.
The only catch when planning a Midwest casino trip is that you have to plan carefully. Unlike Vegas or Atlantic City, where you find many different options within walking distance of one another, Mid-American casinos are more spread out. If you don’t like your chosen venue, you will have a long drive to reach an alternative.
Whether you define excitement as doubling down at the blackjack table, sitting down to a Michelin-worthy meal, or seeing an internationally famous music act, these are the best casinos in the Midwest that are sure to entertain.
Horseshoe Council Bluffs (Iowa)
Horseshoe Council Bluffs is in Council Bluffs, Iowa, right across the border from Omaha, Nebraska. The 60,000-sq-feet gaming space is operated by Caesars, giving you a Vegas-like gaming experience in the middle of America’s Heartland.
There are more than a thousand screens featuring slots and video poker, but classic table games like blackjack are highlights here.
Poker players seeking both high and modest stakes can visit the World Series of Poker Room inside the Horseshoe. This venue hosts tournaments, including a WSOP circuit event. Meanwhile, global sports betting brand William Hill operates the sportsbook at Council Bluffs.
The Horseshoe has three nearby hotels and three onsite restaurants, including the well-regarded Jack Binion’s Steakhouse.
Limitations: In Iowa, you must be 21 to gamble and spend time in the casinos.
Mystic Lake (Minnesota)
Mystic Lake is a resort-style casino in Prior Lake, a town in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Metro. With a 150,000-sq-foot gaming floor, it is the largest casino in Minnesota and one of the biggest in the Midwest.
Mystic Lake has a huge selection of electronic games and slots. Experienced gamblers will appreciate the blackjack tables, while novices typically get their thrills in the massive bingo hall.
Mystic Lake stands apart for its non-gaming attractions. The events center has a full calendar of well-known music and comedy acts. There is also a 766-room hotel, a full-service spa, and a 72-hole golf club called the Meadows and Mystic Lake.
You can also use Mystic Lake as a base to explore the Twin Cities. For example, the casino offers free shuttles to the Mall of America, one of the Midwest’s largest shopping centers.
Limitations: In Minnesota, you must be 18 to gamble at casinos.
Hollywood Casino – St. Louis (Missouri)
The Hollywood Casino – St. Louis is actually in the suburb of Maryland Heights. This 120,000-sq-foot venue brings something for every gambler. In addition to the expected menu of slots, video poker, and live blackjack, visitors can try their hands at pai gow poker, craps, and roulette.
Hollywood – St. Louis is also one of the best destinations for serious baccarat players, with table limits up to $10,000. Don’t worry; there are $25 tables for those who want to jump into this globally popular table game at a shallower depth.
Finally, gamblers can sit in on a hold-’em or Omaha game at the 20-table poker room.
The Hollywood has an onsite hotel, six restaurants, and two music venues. The Hollywood Casino Amphitheater hosts international touring acts as diverse as Shania Twain, Snoop Dog, and Matchbox 20. Meanwhile, EDM DJs take the stage at the Saint Louis Music Park.
Limitations: The legal age to gamble in Missouri is 21.
Potawatomi Casino (Wisconsin)
The Potawatomi Casino and Hotel is on the outskirts of downtown Milwaukee, making it one of the most centrally located casinos in the Midwest. It is also one of the largest, with 1.1 million sq feet of space.
This casino fits in the something-for-everyone category. It has classic table games, a poker room, and a massive bingo hall that itself is the size of many Midwestern casinos. Potawatomi is heaven for slots aficionados, with more than 3,000 machines. There is also a sportsbook and off-track betting facility.
Because of its location, the Potawatomi is an excellent option for people who want to make gambling one aspect of a weekend (or week-long) itinerary. The 500-room hotel, with three restaurants and two bars, is attractive, but you’ll find many more entertainment options in downtown Milwaukee and along the lakefront.
Limitations: Unfortunately, Wisconsin’s gambling laws are somewhat confusing. Though you can play bingo and bet on horses at 18, you must be 21 to play casino games.
Crosswinds Casino (Kansas)
Crosswinds Casino hits the jackpot for accessibility. It is just outside of Wichita in Park City, Kansas. It is modest in terms of size, coming in at 30,000 sq feet. However, if you like to play slot machines, this is one of the better destinations in the Midwest.
Crosswinds boasts hundreds of different machines, including many offering bonus spins. Players who are serious about calculating the odds will know that this feature provides the lowest possible house edge.
The property has a newly renovated hotel with complimentary breakfast, 24/7 concierge, and shuttle service.
If you are looking for a gaming destination that is a little bit more low-key than the others on our list, Crosswinds is a good option.
Limitations: In Kansas, you can gamble in casinos at the age of 18.
Dakota Magic (North Dakota)
Dakota Magic is in Hankinson, North Dakota, but it’s right on the state line with South Dakota.
This casino ranks among the region’s largest, with 160,000 sq feet of gaming space. Slot machines and video poker are available 24/7.
High-rollers and casual players alike gravitate to the blackjack tables, with limits from $5 to $250 per hand. Craps, three-card poker, and keno are also on the menu, as is sports betting.
This casino offers excitement beyond chasing triple 7s or trying to hit 21. If you base yourself at the 157-room hotel, you’ll have easy access to tee times at the 27-hole championship golf course and several restaurants, including an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Limitations: North Dakota requires casino gamblers to be 21 years old.
The Lodge at Deadwood (South Dakota)
Deadwood is not as large as Las Vegas, but the Old West-themed town does have 25 different casinos, so you do have multiple choices if you choose to stay in this western South Dakota town.
The Lodge bills itself as a “gaming resort.” It’s a great choice for people traveling with families and for groups with interests beyond the blackjack table or poker room. The hotel serves as a base for exploring the town and the natural attractions in the foothills outside of it. There is also a water park and restaurant onsite.
The Lodge has a poker room, a sportsbook, and a wide range of unique table games. In addition to blackjack (of course), options include three-card poker and Mississippi stud. For casino sharks, these games could be worth learning because they offer a low house edge and progressive jackpots.
Limitations: You must be 21 to gamble in South Dakota.
Treasure Island (Minnesota)
Treasure Island Resort and Casino is in southern Minnesota on the Wisconsin border. It claims to provide a Las Vegas-style casino experience. Though it’s on the Mississippi River, not the Strip, the list of attractions is impressive.
The 150,000 sq feet of gaming area has table games, slots, and bingo. You can stay at the 788-room hotel, play in the water park, and test your sports skills at the bowling alley or the nearby Mount Frontenac Golf Course.
There are plenty of amenities you might expect from a casino resort, such as a spa, concert venue, poker room, and assortment of table games. There are also some unique activities, such as cruises on a river yacht.
Limitations: The non-gambling areas of the resort are family-friendly, but you need to be 18 to gamble.
Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino (Iowa)
Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino is in Altoona, in the Des Moines area. The central location and diversity of gambling offerings make this a good choice for individuals and groups seeking a multiple-day casino adventure.
When it comes to gambling, Prairie Meadows has something for everyone. You will find hundreds of slot machines with progressive jackpots, craps, blackjack, roulette, and poker-based table games like three-card poker and Mississippi stud.
The main attraction here is the live horse racing, which takes place from May through September.
Prairie Meadows is near Adventureland (Iowa’s largest amusement park), which adds to its suitability as a weekend or week-long destination.
Limitations: Iowa requires that gamblers be 21 years old.
Experience the thrill of the games and the buzz of the nightlife at one of these amazing Midwestern casinos. You should choose the one that stands out when it comes to the games, entertainment, or activities you find most exciting. You can then use the diverse list of gambling and non-game-related options to fill out your itinerary.
