THE BEST OF RACINOS 2026

Editorial Staff | Posted on June 18, 2026 |

The Gold Standard in Racino Gaming and Hospitality

Harness racing takes center stage as trotters compete under the lights at Saratoga Casino Hotel, home to one of New York’s premier racing traditions.

Horse racing has experienced a bit of a renaissance over the last few years. Much of that is driven by legalized online horse racing, which is then trickling over to track attendance. The horse racing industry reached more than $127 billion in 2025 and is expected to top $182 billion by 2030, according to Horse Nation. More than 450,000 Americans work fulltime in the industry.

Beyond the action on the track, more properties also feature casino gaming. This can range from slots, VLTs and HHRs (historical horse race games) to even more options like table games, poker and sports betting. As an example of what’s possible, New York has seen a massive boost after Resorts World New York City unveiled 200 table games on April 28. The property is part of the Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens and was one of three downstate New York projects to receive a gaming license.

Resorts World has since become New York City’s ﬁrst full-scale casino after formerly oﬀering only slots. Unlike the other projects to receive licenses, Resorts World was ideally situated to quickly launch into a full-scale casino. Since opening up table games, the racino has become the state’s highest-grossing gaming property, and even more is in the works. The Resorts World table games opening is the ﬁrst of a several-phase expansion totaling $5.5 billion. Plans call for 6,000 slot machines and 800 table games to be in the gaming mix once the expansion is complete.

“Racinos” truly oﬀer the best of both worlds—racing and casino gaming all in one package. While many might not entail the size and scope of the Resorts World-Aqueduct combo, there are fantastic racino properties located all across the country. These facilities oﬀer gamblers a great experience, from top-notch dining and gaming to world-class racing, entertainment and hotels.

Where did this interesting mash-up of casino gambling and racing begin? That honor goes to the Hawkeye State. When Iowa’s Prairie Meadows racetrack added slots in 1996, a new segment of the gaming industry was unleashed and other states eventually followed suit. That Iowa eﬀort revived the struggling racetrack and moved the term “racino” into the gambling lexicon.

The racino trend has since spread across the country and not only enhanced the horse racing industry but also bolstered state tax revenue. There is now a wide spectrum of venues across the country—from small facilities only oﬀering a limited number of games to larger, full-scale resorts with hotels, numerous dining options, major entertainment and more.

The Best of Racinos Awards celebrates the top performers in the racino industry, from gaming and racing to dining and service. Here are the 2026 winners as voted by our readers. See how your favorite racino ranked—and discover a few new destinations worth a visit. Congratulations to all of this year’s winning properties, and thank you for voting!