The Best of Gaming Awards 2025
Recognizing the Best in the American Casino Experience
Casino Player has now been recognizing the best of the casino industry for 30 years! For three decades, the pages of this magazine have shined a light on everything from the best craps, slots and blackjack to best hotels, spas, pools, hosts, comps and everything imaginable that players might experience at a casino. Readers have come up big each year to make their voices heard—and that continues this year.
A trip to a casino can bring some time away from the daily grind. That dip in the pool or massage at the spa can be the perfect escape. A fine steak or a visit to the buffet only adds to the experience. Or maybe just a coffee or relaxing in a lounge with a cocktail. You can take in a show, live music or a comedian, and then grab dinner and drinks with friends. Maybe you want to spend a couple hours at the poker table, spinning some reels on the slots, and rolling the dice at the craps table. These properties offer the best of all of this as well as some of the best hotel stays in the industry.
Some casino resort staff and management really go out of their way to make those experiences better than the rest. The annual Casino Player Best of Gaming awards recognizes these properties. These casinos have staff members that are always ready to help and are quick to flash a smile and welcome you to the property. Dealers at these casinos keep the action moving in a pleasant environment with a great attitude. Gaming areas at these resorts deliver excellent options that may not be available anywhere else. Beyond the gaming and amenities, these properties feature some fantastic extras, such as nice comps, promotions, hosts and more.
The Best of Gaming issue offers a deep look at some of these amazing properties and the people that make a stay at them special. The rankings recognize casinos all around the country in numerous categories as well as cruise lines and even mentions a few locations in the Caribbean and Canada. Casino Player receives thousands of votes each year, with readers noting their favorites and properties that really shine. The great thing about the rankings is that they come from real casino guests who have actually walked these casino floors, booked a room, paid for a meal, rolled the dice, took a few spins on a slot, worked with a casino host and engaged in some chit-chat with employees.
Beyond simply a list of rankings, these awards help gamblers map out some of their own upcoming casino getaways. The following pages offer plenty of insight on which properties might be worth checking out, either in their own region or perhaps another part of the country that you may be thinking of putting on your itinerary.
Additionally, these annual rankings give some insight to casinos—what they already are doing right and ways they could improve. Thumb through this issue and you’ll find numerous regions and categories of almost every possible casino amenity and game. Which casinos stand out and might be worth scheduling a trip to? Does a certain property really stand out? Did some of your favorite casinos make the cut? Dig into the Best of Gaming 2025 to find out!
Here’s a look at the winners and top performers for 2025. Congratulations to those properties that earned accolades and rose to the top! – Sean Chaffin, senior editor
And the winners are….
Atlantic City
Chicagoland
Colorado
Detroit
Florida
Gulf Coast
Iowa
Lake Tahoe
Las Vegas Downtown
Las Vegas Locals
Las Vegas Strip
Laughlin
Louisiana
Maryland
Missouri
Native Midwest
Native Northwest
Native South
Native Southwest
New England
New York
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
Racinos
Reno
Southern Indiana
Tunica
Vicksburg
Caribbean
Cruise Lines
