Stateline NV Casinos

Nestled in the vast desert landscapes of the American West, Nevada is famed for its glittering cities, vibrant nightlife, and the allure of gambling. While Las Vegas and Reno often steal the limelight, Nevada’s smaller gambling towns offer an equally captivating and intimate experience, blending history, entertainment, and the thrill of the game.

For those seeking a quieter, close-knit gambling experience, these charming towns provide an alternative to the bustling energy of larger cities. Surrounded by stunning natural beauty, they offer a relaxed pace and unique adventures. Here we explore 10 of these towns that offer a little more than casinos.

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Emerald Island Casino-Henderson

Four within 100 miles of Las Vegas

Henderson

Just 15 miles from Las Vegas, Henderson spans 80 square miles and boasts over 40 casinos, from cozy local spots like Emerald Island to resort-style venues like Sunset Station and Green Valley Ranch Resort. There are too many to talk about them all but there are a few worth mentioning. There are three in downtown Henderson that are small but have a great neighborhood feel and are lots of fun. These are Emerald Island, Rainbow Club and The Pass. One of favorites is Club Fortune, another small casino but with a great selection of slot machines. Stations Casinos have quite a few casinos in here and the resorts not only offer gambling but bowling, movie theaters and other fun things. The best thing about the casinos in Henderson, in my opinion, is that all of them feel very welcoming and treat locals (Nevadans) well with discounts and free slot play. Beyond gambling, Henderson offers great dining, a shopping mall, Cowabunga Bay Water Park, and attractions like Ethel M’s Chocolate Factory. If you don’t want to stay in Las Vegas on your vacation, consider Henderson, where it is a quick drive to the strip.

Don Laughlin’s Riverside Resort Laughlin

Laughlin

Located 96 miles from Las Vegas, Laughlin is a favorite for both gambling and water sports enthusiasts. With eight casinos you have quite a few options when you’re ready to gamble. Caesar’s Entertainment has two casinos here, Harrah’s and Tropicana. Aquarius and Edgewater are both owned by Golden Entertainment. There is the Golden Nugget, Lodge on the River and The New Pioneer which all offer various amenities and have player’s cards available. The first casino to open is Don Laughlin’s Riverside Casino Resort and has been family owned since it opened. This is one of our favorites here. All of the casinos offer great amenities and offer discounts with their player’s card. 21 miles out of Laughlin is the Avi Casino Resort with a golf course and other amenities. Visitors can enjoy the scenic beauty of the Colorado River, Davis Dam, and various outdoor activities like hiking and jet skiing. Laughlin is a great place to enjoy outdoors and enjoy great casinos. It may not have the glitz of Las Vegas or Reno, but it is a great little getaway if you don’t want to go to a larger city.

Pahrump Casinos

Pahrump

A short 64-mile drive from Las Vegas towards Death Valley, Pahrump features four casinos. Pahrump Nugget not only has a hotel and small casino ( about 300 slot machines) but it has a lake on the property with an RV park. Gold Town Casino offers the only table games in town and also has a bingo hall besides the slot machines. Terrible’s Roadhouse Casino is a small casino with slot machines and one restaurant but if you enjoy playing slots, it’s worth stopping here. Saddle West Hotel Casino resort also offers an RV park along with their hotel and casino. Enjoy your time away from gambling playing golf, visiting the wineries, and unique experiences like balloon rides and a rum distillery. It’s an ideal stop for those heading to California or looking for a day trip from Las Vegas. We’ve only been to Pahrump once, but we had a fun time there and would like to get back soon to visit more of the casinos and the wineries.

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Mesquite

Mesquite

About 81 miles from Las Vegas, Mesquite offers three casino resorts. Casablanca is a really pretty oasis themed casino. It has over 800 slot machines and numerous table games. For fun away from gambling there is a golf course and spa to keep you entertained. Virgin River Casino Resort offers over 800 slot machines, table games and bingo. Eureka Casino Resort has over 1100 slot machines and table games. Although all of these offer dining options, I recommend the Town Square Buffet if you are there on a Sunday morning for the Champagne buffet. They are only open Sundays 9 AM to 1 PM, but the price is right, and the food is good. There are a variety of activities here, including golf, museums, and even a camel safari. It’s a great getaway for those heading towards Utah or seeking a relaxed gambling experience. Mesquite is only about an hour from one of the most beautiful parks in Nevada, Valley of Fire. I recommend if you’re in the area at least take a drive through this park. For more on this park see our blog.

Five-Town Road Trip Adventure

For a scenic road trip, consider visiting these five towns:

Fandango Casino Carson City

Carson City

As Nevada’s capital, Carson City offers 13 casinos and a rich history. Having said that, you may need to spend a couple days there just visiting all the casinos. We haven’t made it to Carson City yet, so I can’t speak to the casinos, however from researching this area, I would say that like other towns with multiple casinos, there is a nice range of establishments, from the larger casinos that also have restaurants, entertainment, lodging and other activities on site, to the old-school gaming halls that harken back to the historical roots of the city and even a few casinos that are smaller, located in out-of-town spots. Visitors can explore by walking the Kit Carson Trail, enjoying the many murals while you do some shopping or visit the many museums. Explore the mountains by hiking a trail, mountain biking or skiing. Play a round of golf at one of the 3 golf courses or enjoy water activities on the alpine lakes or fish in the river. Carson City is a great place to stop as you explore Nevada.

Stateline Casinos

Stateline

Located on the Nevada-California border near Lake Tahoe, this is about a half hour from Carson City. Stateline features five casinos and numerous outdoor activities around the stunning lake. Casinos in Stateline include; Harrah’s Lake Tahoe is owned by Caesar’s Entertainment. It has 700 slot machines and 500 video poker tables. There are 7 restaurants, a spa and fitness center, pool and a few stores. Harvey’s Lake Tahoe also a Caesar’s property has 600 slots and 100 table games. There are 7 restaurants here including Gordon Ramsey’s Hell’s Kitchen. If you are staying here, you have access to the pool at Harrah’s. Bally’s Lake Tahoe offers plenty of slots and table games. There are 4 restaurants and a spa, pool, and fitness center at the hotel. Tahoe Nugget Casino is a slots-only establishment owned by Nugget franchise. There are 150 machines and William Hill sportsbook. Golden Nugget Lake Tahoe is also a Nugget franchise. The 25,000 square foot casino has many table game varieties and 500 slot machines. All of these are resort casinos with many amenities. There are 4 restaurants and 2 bars here. You will find a pool and fitness center at the hotel. You could probably spend a whole vacation here just exploring Lake Tahoe and gambling but if you’re looking for a nice road trip this fits right in with this trip.

Motel T Casino Winnemucca

Winnemucca

This fun town is the next on this trip and is three hours from Stateline. One thing you can’t miss as you come into Winnemucca is Humboldt National Forest. From hiking to rafting this forest offers something for all outdoor enthusiasts. If you’ve never been under a sand dune then an underground tour at the Winnemucca Sand Dunes is something to experience. You can take a ghost tour, visit the museum or enjoy a stroll through town. But what about casinos? There are 8 casinos in Winnemucca for your enjoyment. The Model T casino has a wide variety of slot machines, a hotel, restaurant and RV park. Winners Inn and Casino offers over 200 slot machines, restaurants and a hotel. Sundance Casino is a small casino but has a great atmosphere with 99 slot machines and a restaurant. Winnemucca Inn & Casino offers a fairly large casino, sports bar, restaurant and hotel. Pete’s Gambling Hall isn’t just a casino but a sports bar with 11 screens to watch your favorite sports while playing the 70 plus slot machines. Pilot Casino offers 70 slot machines and a restaurant. Winnemucca Roadhouse is a very small place with just over 40 slots. Dotty’s Casino offers over 130 slot machines and a bar & grill. Even though some of these are small casinos they all offer slot machines, so if you like slots you should at least check them out.

Commercial Casino Elko

Elko

Just under two hours from Winnemucca, Elko is mostly known as the gateway to the beautiful Ruby Mountains, Elko has plenty in town to keep you busy. There are 6 casinos in Elko with the Commercial Casino probably being the most infamous. Not only does it have a 10 ft. stuffed Polar Bear inside, but a huge statue on the inside, but it said to be haunted. The offer slot machines here along with a martini bar. Stockman’s casino has an old west feel to it. There are 150 slot machines and some table games. The hotel is partnered with Ramada and offers a coffee shop and show room with bands on the weekends. The Red Lion Hotel and Casino is the largest and probably nicest in Elko. It has 350 slot machines and table games. In addition, they have roulette and craps tables, a William Hill digital sports book, and a small poker room. There is a coffee shop in the casino and the hotel has a Starbucks, two restaurants, arcade, and gift shop. Gold Country Inn and Casino is a modest hotel with 150 rooms and restaurant. The small casino has 130 slot machines and no table games. Gold Dust West Casino is a plain casino near the airport. No hotel here; just 350 slot machines, along with table games. There’s also a William Hill sports book, a moderately-priced restaurant, and a lounge. Dotty’s 35 casino is a very small place with 50 slot machine/video poker machines, along with a bar which also serves a small menu of hamburgers and appetizers. Tour the town, visit the museums and enjoy some great food in between visiting the six casinos. If you want to spend some time in the Ruby Mountains, Elko is a perfect place to stay.

Wendover Will

West Wendover

This is the last town on this road trip adventure and is about an hour and a half from Elko. For a small-town West Wendover has 6 casinos. The Rainbow Hotel and Casino here you’ll find plenty of slots, video poker machines, table games, and a sports book on the largest gaming floor in town. The hotel has 429 Rooms, with an indoor swimming pool and Jacuzzi. In addition to a convention center, the Rainbow has the 2nd Street Deli, a steakhouse, coffee bar, a 24 hour a day coffee shop type restaurant, along with the popular Bimini Buffet. Montego Bay Casino & Resort offers 552 rooms with three restaurants, including an upscale Italian restaurant, the Paradise Grill, a coffee bar, and the Oceano Buffet. The hotel offers an outdoor pool, a fitness center and day spa/salon. The casino has the second largest gaming floor in town with sports book, slots, video poker machines, and table games. Peppermill Hotel & Casino has 382 rooms with the Cafe Milano restaurant, a Mexican restaurant, and coffee bar. It also operates the Peppermill Concert Hall. The casino has slot machines, video poker machines and table games. It also has one of only two poker rooms in West Wendover. Red Garter Hotel & Casino is a small property and has been recently renovated. The hotel only has 108 rooms with a small casino floor offering slots, table games and sportsbook. There is a restaurant and coffee shop/deli. Wendover Nugget has 500 rooms and a small convention/meeting area. A small RV park is attached to the resort grounds. As for food, there is a reasonably priced buffet, the Golden Harvest Cafe, Starbucks, and the requisite steakhouse. There is an outdoor pool and arcade for things to do when not gambling. The casino offers over 600 slot machines, table games and a Keno lounge. They also have a 9 table poker room, the second poker room in town. Pilot Travel Center and Casino is not a casino per say, but a travel center with 90 slot machines. It is listed as a casino though for the town, so I included it. West Wendover is on the Nevada/Utah border and is at the end of a popular 400-mile road trip named the Cowboy Corridor. Fittingly, you find Wendover Will a neon cowboy and the town’s official landmark. You can explore a cave or visit the wildlife area. Nearby is the Bonneville Salt Flats. Whatever you choose to do, West Wendover is a quirky little town that you should visit.

Off the Beaten Path

Jackpot Casinos

Jackpot

Located on the Idaho border, Jackpot is a small town with five casinos, including the historic Cactus Petes. Cactus Petes Resort & Casino offers a hotel with a pool, salon, gift shop, and entry to the Jackpot Golf Course. This resort is on by Penn Gaming and offers over 600 slot machines, 14 game tables and a sportsbook where you can use your Penn Play card to earn points. There are 3 restaurants and 2 entertainment venues. Barton’s Club 93 has over 350 slot machines and 15 table games and a steakhouse in the casino. The hotel offers modest rooms, swimming pool and hot tub. Horseshu Casino here you’ll get a real feel of the wild west here as the property is designed as a Hollywood western movie set. The Horseshu Casino offers 3,000 square feet of gaming space with 104 slots, video poker, and keno machines and two 21 tables. The hotel has 120 rooms and suites. Four Jacks Hotel & Casino offers budget hotel accommodations and the casino has over 90 slot machines. Dotty’s Casino is the fifth casino in jackpot which offers slot machines and sportsbook. This casino doesn’t have a hotel associated with it. Jackpot is a scenic spot for those heading north, offering outdoor adventures like hiking and mountain biking. You can take a drive through Snake River Canyon. Camp or picnic at the National Forest or enjoy the nearby hot springs. If you want to relax indoors, the community center has a number of art exhibits and a museum. For horseback riding enthusiasts, head to Cowboy Trail Rides where you can choose from a number of rides through a network of trails. You can also do some fishing while you are here or take part in a cattle drive. Jackpot has a many attractions for those visiting the area.

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Conclusion

Nevada is a treasure trove of diverse experiences, from national parks and ghost towns to historical sites and a wide array of casinos. Whether you prefer the hustle of a resort or the charm of a local casino, there’s a perfect spot for every gambler within an hour’s drive. This guide highlights some of the most exciting towns beyond Las Vegas, each with its unique blend of fun, history, and gaming. Explore these hidden gems and discover a different side of Nevada, where the thrill of the game meets the beauty of the American West.

We want to give you as much information as possible that we have learned and tips we’ve found to help you make the best decisions for your trips and vacations. We hope to inspire you to find your own adventure even if it’s discovery something new in your town, there’s always an adventure to be found. We hope you get out, have fun and make some of your own memories.

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By Greg and Peggy

We are two people who love to play slots and travel to casinos around the country. We hope to share our casino adventures with you in hopes that it will inspire you to go out and have some fun!

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