American gambling reached another revenue record in 2024. Las Vegas drew 7.5% fewer visitors in 2025, and its hotels earned less per room. Seven regional casinos received national recognition during the same period, offering full resorts within driving distance of major population centers.
Their competitive case rests on proximity, repeated awards, resort investment and the cost of avoiding a flight to Nevada.
A growing market beyond Nevada
U.S. commercial gaming revenue reached $71.92 billion in 2024, a 7.5% increase from the previous year and the industry's 4th consecutive annual record. Nevada remained the largest commercial gaming state, with $15.6 billion in revenue, while land-based casinos nationwide generated $49.89 billion.
The United States had 492 commercial casinos in 2024. American Gaming Association President and CEO Bill Miller said much of that year's national growth came from online gaming and sports betting, so the record total cannot be attributed entirely to destination casinos.
Las Vegas visitation moved in the opposite direction during 2025. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority reported 38.5 million visitors, down 7.5% from the previous year. Hotel occupancy fell 3.3%, the average daily room rate declined 5%, and revenue per available room dropped 8.8%. Las Vegas convention attendance remained stable during the tourism decline.
California and Connecticut
USA Today 10Best uses a mixed expert and public process. A panel of industry specialists and editors selects nominees, then readers vote for the winners. In 2025, Yaamava' Resort & Casino at San Manuel in Highland, California, placed 1st in the categories for Best Casino Outside of Las Vegas, Best Casino Hotel and Best Casino Restaurant. Its 290,000-square-foot gaming floor is about 60 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. Yaamava' also won the outside-Las Vegas category in 2023 and 2024.
The Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation operates Yaamava' and owns Palms Casino Resort, which was named Best Las Vegas Casino in the same 2025 awards cycle.
Connecticut placed 2 resorts among the first 3. Mohegan Sun in Uncasville ranked 2nd overall, 2nd for casino hotels and 1st for slots. President and General Manager Jeff Hamilton said the resort invested $15 million in its slot floor over 2 years. Mohegan Sun also held the top casino hotel position for 7 consecutive award cycles from 2018 through 2024.
Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket ranked 3rd outside Las Vegas. Owned and operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, it is about 2 hours from Boston and 2.5 hours from New York City.
Graton, Pechanga, Ocean and FireKeepers
Graton Resort & Casino in Rohnert Park placed 4th outside Las Vegas and 3rd among casino hotels in 2025. It had also placed 4th in 2024. The property, owned by the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, is about 45 miles north of San Francisco.
Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula ranked 5th overall and 3rd for slots. The Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians owns the resort, which is 60 miles north of San Diego and 90 miles southeast of Los Angeles. Pechanga appeared in the outside-Las Vegas rankings every year from 2018 through 2025.
Ocean Casino Resort placed 6th overall, 4th for casino hotels and 4th for slots. It opened in Atlantic City in 2018 on the site of the former Revel Casino, which had gone bankrupt twice and remained empty for years.
FireKeepers Casino Hotel in Battle Creek, Michigan, ranked 7th and described itself as the only Midwest casino on the 2025 list. It is 3 hours from Chicago, 2 hours from Detroit and 1 hour from Grand Rapids. The property promoted the phrase "Get Your Vegas On" to guests who could remain in Michigan.
How the regional model works
Of the 7 casinos, 6 are tribally owned. The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 established the federal framework for tribal gaming, while individual properties operate under compacts with their states and oversight from the National Indian Gaming Commission. Tribal gaming now produces more than $40 billion in annual revenue.
The tax structure differs from the system applied to commercial operators such as MGM Resorts, Caesars Entertainment and Wynn Resorts. Tribal properties are exempt from state commercial gaming taxes, which can leave more revenue to reinvest in the resort.
Geography is another part of the model. Yaamava', Graton and Pechanga are accessible to large California populations, while Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods cover the New York and Boston markets. FireKeepers extends the same proposition into the Midwest, and Ocean gives Atlantic City a nationally ranked oceanfront resort.
Las Vegas retains advantages in scale and gaming revenue. Regional casinos compete trip by trip, especially when driving replaces airfare and visitors can find highly rated rooms and casino floors closer to home.
The timeline
- 1988The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act created the federal framework governing tribal casino operations.
- 2018Ocean Casino Resort opened on the former Revel Casino site in Atlantic City.
- 2023Yaamava' began its 3-year run at No. 1 in the Best Casino Outside of Las Vegas category.
- February 18, 2025Industry results reported U.S. commercial gaming revenue of $71.92 billion for 2024.
- September 3, 2025Mohegan Sun announced its 2025 awards and disclosed a $15 million slot-floor investment over 2 years.
- January 29, 2026Las Vegas tourism figures for 2025 showed visitation down 7.5% to 38.5 million people.
What the video leaves out
USA Today 10Best is a mixed expert and public process. A panel of industry specialists and editors selects nominees, then readers vote for the winners. The awards measure voter preference and recognition, while revenue and visitation figures come from separate industry and tourism reports.
The United States had 492 commercial casinos in 2024. American Gaming Association President and CEO Bill Miller said much of that year's national growth came from online gaming and sports betting, so the record total cannot be attributed entirely to destination casinos. Las Vegas convention attendance also remained stable during the 2025 tourism decline.
