Before you book your next trip to Las Vegas, you might want to consider a surprising alternative. A new ranking from gaming aggregator SlotMatrix reveals that Sin City isn’t even in the top three casino destinations in the U.S. In fact, Las Vegas came in fourth place, while the number one spot went to an unexpected winner: Chicago, Illinois.
The study analyzed several factors, including the number of casinos per 100,000 residents, casino amenities like hotels and restaurants, the number of slot machines, table games, poker tables, late-night bar options, and average hotel prices.
Chicago claimed the top spot thanks to its impressive casino offerings. The city boasts the highest number of table games and poker tables per casino (159 per casino on average) and the third highest number of slot machines, with around 2,100 per casino. Chicago is home to several casinos, including Bally’s Casino Chicago, currently operating in the Medinah Temple while a permanent location is under construction and expected to open in fall 2026.
In second place is Detroit, Michigan, which offers the most slot machines per casino and saw a significant spike in travel-related searches. Atlantic City, a well-known gambling hub, landed in third place with the highest number of casinos per 100,000 people.
Las Vegas? A surprising fourth. Although we don’t see its popularity slowing down any time soon.
The top 10 casino destinations in the United States
- Chicago, Illinois
- Detroit, Michigan
- Atlantic City, New Jersey
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Everett, Washington
- Prior Lake, Minnesota
- St. Louis, Missouri
- Biloxi, Mississippi
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
