Find Your Favourite Las Vegas Casino Resorts 2024

Las Vegas is the gambling and casino capital of the world and that is not likely to ever change. Over the years it has evolved from a desert outpost to the home of world-famous mega-resorts and incredible entertainment. 

It's a glistening neon-lit haven for gamblers, with more than two dozen casinos on the Las Vegas Strip alone, a dozen Downtown, and that's just the start.  

Las Vegas Land Based Casino Operators

To prevent a monopoly, Nevada restricts the number of casinos any one operator can own in Las Vegas. That played out as recently as 2022 when MGM wanted to acquire The Cosmopolitan but was forced to sell The Mirage to make it happen. 

The bigger casino operators in Las Vegas include:

• MGM: One of two twin gaming giants who own most of the Las Vegas Strip, MGM controls Mandalay Bay, Luxor, New York-New York, MGM Grand, Park MGM, Aria, Bellagio and The Cosmopolitan. 
• Caesars Entertainment: The other dominant force in Las Vegas. Caesars operate Caesars Palace, Paris, Planet Hollywood, The Linq, The Flamingo, Harrah's, The Cromwell, and Horseshoe. 
• Derek and Greg Stevens: The brothers have become major players in Las Vegas, especially Downtown where they own three casino resorts - Circa, The D, and The Golden Gate. 
• Boyd Gaming: In total, Boyd Gaming own ten casinos in Las Vegas. The California, The Fremont, and Main Street Station are their Downtown properties, and they also run popular off-Strip casinos such as The Orleans, Sam's Town Gold Coast and Suncoast.

Las Vegas Casino Resorts

There are far too many to mention them all, but Las Vegas has some of the most famous, biggest and best casinos in the world, not to mention the most historic. They include: 

• MGM Grand - An emeral green icon at the south end of the Las Vegas Strip. The mammoth casino resort boast an incredible pool complex, 170k square feet of gaming space and loads of live entertainment. It's a must for any Vegas visit. 
• Aria - One of the newer resorts in Las Vegas, Aria is an impressive presence at the very heart of the Strip. Its glass exterior and high-technology rooms make a vist to its sprawling casino a must.
• Mandalay Bay - It's the closest casino resort to the Fabulous Las Vegas sign and a picturebook Polynesian-themes paradise. The incredible Mandalay Bay Beach pool complex, complete with real sand and a wave machine, is worth a visit just by itself. 
• Bellagio - Is there any more Las Vegas sight than the Bellagio Fountains? Probably not, other than the sign of course. The Bellagio is the centrepiece of the Las Vegas Strip and no visit to Sin City is complete without checking it out. 
• The Venetian - Las Vegas is famed for, among other things, themed hotels and The Venetian is right up there with the best of them. The casino is huge and if you need a break you can be ferried down the Grand Canal on a gondola whilst being serenaded in classic Italian. 
• Mirage - The Mirage was the first Las Vegas mega-resort and the one that inspired dozens of others. As of April 2024 it is transitioning into a Hard Rock property, but it's still one of the best casinos in Vegas to play. 
• Wynn - Anyone who thinks that Las Vegas is tacky can't possibly have visited the Wynn. It's the most luxurious resort in Las Vegas with a brilliant casino. It's not themed, unless pure decadance can be classed as one. 
• Caesars Palace - There is probably no individual casino resort name more synonymous with Las Vegas than Caesars Palace. It has been a colossal presence on the Strip for more than 50 years and is more popular today than ever before. 
• The Cosmopolitan - Not all icons in Las Vegas are long-established themed resorts. The Cosmopolitan is a relative newcomer to the Strip but it sits in the perfect location, offers balcony to guests, and has a casino so popular doorstaff sometimes have to limit access on a weekend.
• Circus Circus - If you're looking for old school on the Las Vegas Strip, you won't find anywhere that satisfies that craving more than Circus Circus. The casino is brilliantly bonkers with circus acts going on above your head, and it's one of the few truly family-friendly resorts in Las Vegas too. 
• Horseshoe - A storied Las Vegas resort in a great location that is the home venue for the annual World Seies of Poker.
• Paris - A beautifully themed casino resort set right at the heart of the Las Vegas Strip.

More Than Gambling

Las Vegas is known best for gambling, but there is so much more to it than that. It's a vacation destination in itself and many people visit without so much as doing a single spin on a slot machine. 

Here are some other things Las Vegas is great for:

• Luxury accommodations: Las Vegas has some of the most incredible hotels in the world, many of which are beautifully themed and have attractions such as rollercoasters, aquariums and wildlife habitats. 
• Entertainment: Las Vegas residencies are the stuff of legend, with acts like Bruno Mars, Tiesto, David Copperfield and U2 just some of those in residency in 2024. 
• Culinary Delights: If you love your food, then Vegas is the place for you. Michelin-starred restaurants are common on the Las Vegas Strip, as are eateries from celebrity chefs such as Gordon Ramsay. All palates and budgets are catered to. 
• Family-Friendly Activities: It's probably fair to say that children and families are not the primary clientele that Vegas seeks to attract, but it's still a good place to visit with a family. There are theme parks, arcades, and child-friendly shows to keep the youngsters entertained.
• Cultural Immersions: You will struggle to find a place in the US with a richer history, and Las Vegas is a place that celebrates its roots. They can be seen all over at places like the Mob Museum and the Neon Boneyard.
• Pool Paradises: If you need to cool off beneath the baking Nevada sun, Las Vegas is the place to do it. Most of the hotels have sprawling pool complexes, some with lazy rivers, cascading waterfalls, and wave machines.

Important Considerations

Las Vegas is family-friendly (for the most part), but if you want to do any actual gambling or drinking you need to be 21 or older. That means that for older teenagers it is probably not the most ideal place in the world. In fact it might be one of the most frustrating! 

Visitors should also remember that resort fees are commonplace in Las Vegas hotels. That means there will be an additional daily charge per room for your stay, so factor that into your costs. Of course, it can be waived with enough gambling...