Casinos have never been known for their restraint. Showplaces of over-the top excess, casinos are all about the wow factor, from dancing fountains and eye-catching light displays to priceless artwork collections and lavish decor. Here are some of the most noteworthy casinos across the country (not all of them in Las Vegas), places worth exploring even if gambling is not on your to-do list.
Related: 22 Must-See Vegas Attractions That Aren't on the Strip
Uncasville, Connecticut
Mohegan Sun features three unique casinos in one location. Yes, three. Highlights include a state-of-the-art poker room, more than 300 table games, and a staggering 5,000 slot machines. The property also includes a 34-story, 1,200-room luxury hotel, two spas, a golf course, and three entertainment venues. There's also a VIP hotel experience, Aspire, which includes an exclusive restaurant, butler service, and more.
Don't miss the casino's towering glass sculpture by world-renowned artist Dale Chihuly titled "River Blue." A 10,000-pound masterpiece, the sculpture is made up of thousands of richly colored glass components (2,500 in all) that were hand-blown by a team of artisans. The distinctive cobalt blue, silver, and clear glass sculpture, measuring 14 feet wide, soars 25 feet above visitors.
Las Vegas
It should go without saying that a casino created to give guests a taste of what life was like during the Roman Empire is going to be over-the-top. Caesars is a sprawling complex of Roman-themed buildings filled with marble reproductions of classical statuary. There's also a massive spa that includes Roman baths, a pool area surrounded by mosaics and classical architecture, and a 4,500-square-foot, 24-hour poker room.
The Fall of Atlantis show inside the Forum Shops at Caesars is an animatronic display of fire, water, and 9-foot-tall talking statues. The free show includes heat and sound waves and takes place every hour on the hour. There's also a 50,000-gallon aquarium nearby featuring more than 300 saltwater fish.
Temecula, California
Located in Southern California's wine country, Pechanga has the largest casino floor on the West Coast, with 200,000 square feet of space featuring more than 4,500 slot machines, 154 table games, a non-smoking poker room, and an off-track betting parlor. There's also a 700-seat bingo hall. The resort property also includes 1,090 guest rooms and suites, a two-level spa with a fitness center, and 20 restaurants and bars.
One of the standout features of Pechanga is the pool complex The Cove, which includes four main pools, three hot tubs, two twisty water slides, a splash pad, and 27 cabanas. The main pool covers 7,500 square feet and features 18 underwater chairs at the swim-up bar. The complex is temporarily closed due to COVID-19, so check the website before making any firm plans.
Related: Amazing Hotel Pools Across America
Foxwoods, Connecticut
Billed as the largest resort casino in North America, Foxwoods is far more than a mere casino (although there are seven of them onsite). It also encompasses hotels, restaurants, spas, an award-winning golf course, state-of-the-art theaters, and shopping.
During spring and summer, adventure seekers can "freefall" from 10 stories up on the Thrill Tower or glide along the HighFlyer Zipline at 350 feet in the air, reaching speeds up to 60-mile per hour. The zipline launches guests from the top of the 33-story Fox Tower hotel and connects them to the Mashantucket Pequot & Research Center nearly a mile away.
Las Vegas
Famous for the Fountains of Bellagio water show in front of the hotel, the Bellagio is one of Sin City's legendary casino properties. The resort is known for the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Garden, a 14,000-square-foot space decorated by horticulturalists and designers each season. The casino is equally noteworthy, with plenty of table games, slots, and private gaming rooms.
The Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art is easily one of the property's must-see stops. The space features work from the world's top artists in partnership with various museums and foundations. Past exhibits have included "Picasso: Creatures and Creativity," "Fabergé Revealed," and "Warhol Out West."
Las Vegas
The casino at the Wynn is just one of the reasons to visit this Las Vegas attraction. Yes, there are plenty of slots here and poker for high-rollers, but it's the amenities and decor at the Wynn that have defined this sprawling casino resort. There are two Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star spas onsite, luxury shopping, and multiple stunning pools.
With a 40-foot waterfall, a pine-topped mountain, and nightly shows involving more than 4,000 lights and puppetry, the Lake of Dreams is easily one of the top sights at Wynn Las Vegas. The show can be taken in from the Parasol Down bar or the show terrace, where there's a water's-edge view. It's also visible from two of the casino's restaurants: Lakeside and SW Steakhouse.
Las Vegas
The Venetian wows visitors with hand-painted frescoes, all-suite accommodations, an indoor canal, and luxury shopping. For the gamblers, there are more than 225 games on the casino floor and a high-limit salon. The resort also offers award-winning restaurants and Canyon Ranch Spa, arguably one of Las Vegas' best spas.
While there are many jaw-dropping sights in The Venetian, don't miss taking in the Grand Colonnade Lobby. The centerpiece of the space is the Armillary Sphere, designed to be a reminder of the Renaissance spirit. Be sure to look up and take in the frescoed ceiling, as well.
San Diego
A seven-year renovation and expansion, including a new 1,900-square foot center bar and a 15,415-square-foot high limit gaming area, helped Viejas secure its place as one of California's top resort casinos. Viejas Casino also has the adults-only Willows Hotel & Spa. The Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star property also offers thousands of slot machines, table games, a bingo room, and an off-track betting facility.
Viejas' 360-degree center bar includes 50 seats with gaming machines at each seat and more than a dozen 65-inch TVs wrapping around the entire space, plus a 24-hour food menu. The geometric shapes and bright colors of the space are designed to make the bar the centerpiece of Viejas.
Las Vegas
Named one of the top off-strip casinos by CNN, Red Rock is the first billion-dollar resort in the region. The property offers a spa, pool, bars, a bowling alley, a bingo hall, and a movie theater. The state-of-the art casino floor features more than 2,700 slot machines and video poker machines, too.
Red Rock's Sandbar Pool is one of its most visually stunning spaces. Spread over more than three acres, the pool area includes 19 private cabanas, a poolside café, and even poolside gaming tables including blackjack.
Las Vegas
Mandalay Bay has been featured in the movie "Ocean's Thirteen" and TV series "CSI." The luxe property, best known for its golden exterior, features a casino offering more than 1,200 slot and video poker machines, including high-limit slots and progressive slots. The Shark Reef Aquarium, home to more than 2,000 animals, is another one of Mandalay Bay's over-the-top features.
Named one of the best pools in the country by TripAdvisor, the famed beach at Mandalay Bay includes 2,700 tons of real sand and a 1.6 million-gallon wave pool, 100 cabanas, day beds, bungalows, and personalized villas.