Best Overall Hotel Casino

Las Vegas

Steve Wynn’s billion-dollar baby is not only the crowning achievement in one of the most dynamic, influential lives ever to have looked at desert sand and seen gold, it was voted the top resort in Las Vegas, and is arguably one of the finest resorts in the world. Following on the heels of The Mirage and Treasure Island, Bellagio is Wynn’s masterpiece, a romantic fantasy of art and architecture, food and flowers, opulence and elegance. What Wynn sought to accomplish with Bellagio was the creation of a place where guests would be able to experience the best of everything. From the Gallery of Fine Art and the extraordinary Botanical Gardens to the staggering shopping and magnificently detailed beaux arts pool, Bellagio never fails to impress or inspire. And the dining! Bellagio is home to a stellar ensemble of celebrity chefs from around the country, from New York’s Sirio Maccioni and John-Georges Vongerichten to San Francisco’s Julian Serrano and Michael Mina to Boston’s Todd English. Truly a food lover’s paradise.

More than 3,000 rooms employ warm Italian fabrics and swirling marble bathrooms. They stand in delicate contrast to the subtle play of color throughout the casino, the expansive lobby, and in the myriad of mosaic tiles imbedded in the marble floors. Contrasts like these are key to Bellagio’s appeal, from its cannonading fountains in the central lake to the delicate gemstones in the windows of Tiffany’s and Fred Leighton to the harrowing, watery O, the most astonishing show yet from Cirque du Soleil. This is truly a remarkable resort, and quite worthy of its definitive position in the “new” Las Vegas.

Second Place: Rio
Third Place: Caesars Palace

Atlantic City

Innovative, consistent, and deeply committed to providing excellent service, Harrah’s Atlantic City continues to be the number one hotel casino in Atlantic City, at least as far as Casino Player readers are concerned. Harrah’s has a unique place in Atlantic City’s history. Besides being the first gaming resort to open in the city’s Marina District—away from the Boardwalk, instead of jostling for position on it—Harrah’s was also the second Atlantic City casino to be built from the ground up. Today, the resort features three 16-story hotel towers and a multi-level complex housing the casino, restaurants, theater, meeting rooms and retail outlets. Parking is available in the 2,400-space garage, which is connected to the casino by a convenient glass walkway. In addition, two separate valet parking areas service the hotel and the casino. In keeping with the expected growth in the Marina District, plans were recently announced for a new $110 million, 450-room tower, which will bring the property’s total room count to 1,600, and make it the largest hotel in Atlantic City.

Second Place: Taj Mahal
Third Place: Bally’s

Gulf Coast

With its stately magnolias and gently-lapping marina, the $650 million Beau Rivage represents the largest singular investment in the history of the state of Mississippi. It is, quite simply, one of the most beautiful resorts ever built. So flawless is its design and execution that it is compared to Bellagio, with which it has much in common. Like Bellagio, Beau Rivage is a resort in the truest sense of the word. It is a place that creates a separate world for its guests, one where they may feel alternatively removed, excited, relaxed or inspired. It features 1,780 elegantly designed rooms and suites, each with a view of the surrounding Gulf or back bays. The resort’s 72,000 sq. ft. casino features all the latest, state-of-the-art slot and video poker machines, as well as plenty of table game action. Twelve different restaurants offer a vast variety of dining, from the stunning Coral to the partying Coast Brewery. It has a lovely retail promenade of shops, and a Palm Springs-style spa. And Cirque du Soleil has found yet another permanent home here, with its eclectic Alegría. Stunning.

Second Place: Grand Casino Biloxi
Third Place: Grand Casino Gulfport

Reno

Downtown Reno’s modern megaresort is a winner in all respects, from its 1,700 Victorian-themed rooms to its consistently attractive design and thoroughly up-to-date 85,000 sq. ft. casino (the largest on Reno’s famed Virginia Street). Silver Legacy is actually a joint project between Circus Circus and the Eldorado, sandwiched as it is between the two, with access to each from the property’s central promenade. The three properties form something of a gaming mall, with 4,000 hotel rooms, 20 restaurants and 230,000 sq. ft. of gaming space between them, all under one roof. The centerpiece of the Silver Legacy is the 120-ft. dome that houses an automated mining machine, constructed of steel with brass accents. The dome provides a unique environment created through lighting, sound and special effects, and hosts a laser and music show every two hours from dusk until dawn.

Second Place: Atlantis
Third Place: Eldorado

Lake Tahoe

Long considered the preeminent place to stay and play in Northern Nevada, Harrah’s Lake Tahoe has a distinctly different feel than any other Harrah’s resort. Perhaps it’s the sapphire lake, or the decidedly upscale feel of the place. All 532 deluxe-sized guest rooms have two complete bathrooms and spectacular views. Amenities include a health club and indoor swimming pool, seven restaurants and a Warner Bros. Studio Store. The 57,000 sq. ft. casino was recently renovated, bringing it to scale with the rest of Harrah’s casinos.

Second Place: Harveys
Third Place: Caesars

Riverboats

Voted the top riverboat gaming resort in the country, the Horseshoe in Bossier City, Louisiana (just across the Red River from Shreveport), is one of gaming’s biggest surprises. The all-suite hotel tower is reminiscent of the best of Las Vegas, with acres of white marble, brass trim and crystal chandeliers. The restaurants are absolutely wonderful, and its small but well-designed shopping promenade is a joy to wander through. Even the casino is large and comfortable—far larger than any other in Louisiana—with escalators to connect the decks and bars tucked discreetly in among the slots and tables. It may be somewhat out of the way, but it’s well worth the trip.

Second Place: Harrah's Joliet
Third Place: Isle of Capri Bossier City