A popular yearly poll of the best casino destinations in Las Vegas has determined that Palms Casino Resort is the number one casino resort to visit.
USA Today this week published its 2024 edition of the poll. Two dozen Las Vegas casinos were picked by experts in the gambling, hospitality, and Las Vegas lifestyle sectors. Then the public voted for their favorites from that list.
Palms Casino Resort came out on top. The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians have owned it since 2021, making it the only currently operational tribally owned casino hotel in Las Vegas.
Palms opened in 2001, aiming for a throwback vintage Las Vegas look when most casino resorts of the time were embracing modern aesthetics.
“We are honored to be named ‘Best Casino in Las Vegas’ and proud to set the standard for quality gaming and exceptional service,” said Latisha Prieto, chairperson of the San Manuel Gaming & Hospitality Authority, said in a press release.
“We are grateful to our team members for embracing our Tribe’s culture of hospitality to deliver an extraordinary experience to every Palms guest.”
The Award
The yearly USA Today 10 best awards for casinos are generally dominated by tribal operators. But this is the first year that a tribally owned venue has won the best casino in Las Vegas.
The expert panel that selected the casinos for judging by the public included author Steve Bourie, who wrote the American Casino Guide Book, which has been continuously in print for 25 years, and gambling magazine editor Lisa Robertson-Dziedic.
The San Manuel Band also owns the Yaamava’ Resort & Casino in Highland, California. It also took the voters top spot nationally best for best casino. The massive casino resort has more than 7,000 slots, 150 table games, a Forbes five-star rated spa, and award winning restaurants.
“We are dedicated to providing exceptional service and unforgettable experiences to everyone who visits Yaamava’. It is a great honor to be recognized for our unwavering commitment to hospitality,” said Kenji Hall, GM of Yaamava’ Resort & Casino. “The tradition of excellence stems from the Tribe’s generous and welcoming nature that extends across various aspects and can be felt by our guests, team members, partners, and friends. It is rewarding to be a part of this culture.”
The Casino
However, the USA Today readers’ choice for the best casino in Las Vegas was the Palms. The casino opened in 2001, just to the west of the center of the Las Vegas Strip, near the Gold Coast Hotel and Casino and the Rio.
The resort is centered around a 95,000-square-foot casino space, featuring two hotel towers. It has half a dozen very highly rated restaurants, a theater and cinema, a concert venue, convention space, and various other high-end amenities.
For a long time, the venue was affiliated with men’s magazine and lifestyle brand Playboy. Red Rock Resorts purchased the Palms in 2016, which renovated the property completely after some years of financial difficulties. In 2021, it was bought by the San Manuel Band for $650 million.
Other casinos in Las Vegas that made the USA Today 10 best for 2024 included Red Rock Casino Resort, the newly-opened Durango Casino Resort, and the venerable Caesars Palace.
In another respected list of best U.S. casino resorts published in 2024, Travel + Tourism magazine rated Wynn Las Vegas as its top choice for the fifth year in a row.
David is an online casino expert who specializes in online slots and boasts over 10 years experience writing about iGaming. He has written for a wide range of notable publications, including eSports Insider and WordPlay Magazine.
David graduated Derby University with a BA Degree in English Literature and Creative Writing.
