Toll Free: 877-624-6889
Intl: (407) 917-8432
Toll Free: 877-624-6889
Intl: (407) 917-8432
Posted on April 28, 2022
Las Vegas has long been the world leader when it comes to casino gambling, with incredible resorts sprouting up in the Vegas desert to accommodate vacationers looking to try their luck. But have you wondered where some of the places are in the U.S. with timeshares other than Las Vegas where you can enjoy a casino vacation?
With the explosion of online gambling, you may think that trips to the casino have waned over the years. But there are an estimated 1,500 casinos in America so casinos are very much in play for the major timeshare destinations that rely on them to help bring in the visitors.
Notwithstanding the last two, COVID-impacted years which significantly skewed travel plans, over 42.5 million visitors traveled to Las Vegas in 2019 which was up 1% over the previous year. That’s slightly lower than the record 42.9 million people who enjoyed the Vegas neon in 2016, but still a substantial number of people.
Even with the fits and starts last year as tourism chugged its way out of the pandemic, over 32 million visitors went to Vegas in 2021 – a number that would blow away most destinations.
The other most well-known spot for casinos, and one with attractions that Vegas doesn’t have, is Atlantic City. The beach and boardwalk have been in Atlantic City long before the casinos, but there are several timeshare resorts in town that let you combine the sand, surf and arcades with casinos.
As you would probably expect, the Casino Association of New Jersey measures its statistics in terms of revenue rather than visitor numbers, reporting a small decline for Atlantic City of five percent in 2021 compared to 2019.
Considering revenue numbers are back to 95 percent of 2019 numbers, that’s still impressive and put nearly $422 million in total state tax revenue from gaming operations into state coffers in 2021.
Other places on the rebound such as Reno, New Orleans, Biloxi, Temecula and even the Tampa area with the Seminole Hard Rock Casino offer up great places to visit, with casinos located near excellent timeshare resorts.
And for those who would rather take a quick trip outside the U.S. for your gaming needs, Paradise Island in the Bahamas is an obvious choice with over four million visitors going to Nassau/Paradise Island by land or sea in 2019. Timeshares at Harborside Resort at Atlantis are the preferred choice.
Leaving Las Vegas out of the equation for this list, we’ve had a look at our popular timeshare resorts in places known for casinos, based on buyer offers and inquiries, and some places that you may not even realize have casinos. The list below will give you a few ideas.
As we mentioned above, Atlantic City is known for its beach and boardwalk as well as casinos, and unlike the first two, the casinos keep people coming back throughout the year. The beach is about a quarter mile from the resort, the Boardwalk a little further away, but the closest casino is the Hard Rock about a block away.
Ocean City has been a popular getaway destination for the Washington D.C. metro area for decades and Boardwalk One is a great Capital Vacations’ vacation option. Right on the boardwalk overlooking the beach and just down from the Jolly Roger, you’re only a 10 minute ride back across the bridge to the area’s top casino, Ocean Downs Casino.
St Pete Beach and the Gulf Coast beaches of the Tampa-St Petersburg area are consistently rated as some of the best beaches in America. But the area is also home to the Seminole Hard Rock Casino with nearly 5,000 slot machines, 179 table games and a Poker Room with 46 tables among 245,000 square-feet of gaming space. So great fishing isn’t the only game of chance in the area.
On the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Biloxi is well known for its casinos dating back nearly 30 years with names such as Harrah’s, Palace, Golden Nugget and Hard Rock just to name a few. Ocean View Vacation Villas is Capital Vacations’ entry for Biloxi timeshare visitors, close to the beach and just a couple blocks over from Treasure Bay Casino.
New Orleans may be known for a few things other than casinos, but the Big Easy definitely offers some quality gaming options. Wyndham La Belle Maison is about a block off Canal Street and the edge of the French Quarter, but only a six minute walk to Harrah’s Casino. In all, there are 47 casinos in the greater New Orleans area, but the vast majority are outside the downtown area.
This unique town on the Colorado River hugs the Arizona/California border and features the actual London Bridge, relocated from England and reassembled in 1971. With watersports on Lake Havasu as the main draw, the Havasu Landing Casino on the California side and Bluewater Resort and Casino in nearby Parker, Arizona are great ways to scratch your blackjack itch.
You may be surprised to know that Arizona has quite a number of casinos – 36 across the state but several in the Phoenix metro area. For vacationers to this upscale resort, you are close to one of the best casinos in the state, Talking Stick Resort & Casino, which is only about 20 minutes from the resort. Apart from the gaming, be sure to enjoy the world-class golf, great restaurants, history and outdoor adventures in this region.
Across the street from the beach and the famous Oceanside Pier, this southern California beauty is just over 30 miles from Temecula and the famed Pechanga Resort Casino. With the largest casino floor in California, Pechanga was rated the best casino in southern California in 2021 by the Los Angeles Times.
Sometimes thought of as the little brother to Las Vegas, this town billed as the “Biggest Little City in the World” has 20 casinos along with live entertainment, 20 breweries and more. Plus, its proximity to Lake Tahoe makes it an excellent visitor destination. The Sands Regency is the closest casino to WorldMark Reno, about a block away, but the impressive Eldorado is only about four blocks away and worth it.
Fortunately for vacationers to South Lake Tahoe, you’re a stone’s throw from the Nevada state line. Top names in gambling such as Bally’s, Harrah’s and Hard Rock are all about a five-minute drive away from the resort. After you hit the jackpot and are on your way back to the resort, stop at the Heavenly Village for a bite or take the gondola up to the Heavenly Mountain Resort.
These destinations provide terrific casino-based vacations, and the timeshare resorts offer the perfect home base for trying your luck. There are even more options, so if you have a destination or resort in mind, then give us a call on 877-624-6889 or click here to leave us a message and we’ll contact you as soon as possible. You can bet on it.
Steve manages the public relations and content creation efforts of the company. Previously the Chief Operating Officer for Perspective Magazine, he provided oversight and contributed articles for the five regional vacation ownership trade magazines under the Perspective Magazine banner.
A contributor for industry publications such as Resort Trades and Developments Magazine, Steve Luba has 35 years’ experience in various roles in radio and television, sales and marketing, public relations, media and government liaison initiatives.
Follow Steve on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook for his latest articles, or sign up to subscribe to our blog and have it delivered straight to your inbox.