Area casinos

While St. Louis is nothing like Las Vegas, you don’t have to leave the Midwest to find a high-quality casino.

In fact, Missouri has a strange gambling law stating that casinos must be on or near a body of water. Since St. Louis is right on the Mississippi, the metro area is home to a decent amount of top-notch casinos!

After consulting with some of my more experienced gambling friends and thinking about my past trips to local casinos, I’ve compiled this comprehensive list of the best casinos near St. Louis, Missouri.

Map of St. Louis Casinos

The 5 Main St. Louis Casinos

There are five casinos located within the St. Louis metro area, and luckily, none of these are longer than a minute drive.

Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles

Distance from St. Louis: 30 minutes

With a , square foot casino, a room luxury hotel, seven restaurants, and twelve bars, it’s no surprise that the Ameristar is the second-largest casino in Missouri (second only to its sister property, the Ameristar in Kansas City). This resort also features an impressive full-service day spa and a 20, square-foot conference center.

The casino offers slots, video poker, table games, a baccarat pit, and one of the last live poker rooms in the industry.

River City Casino & Hotel

Distance from St. Louis: 15 minutes from downtown

Located on the banks of the Mississippi River, the River City Casino has a 90, square foot gaming floor, nearly 2, slot machines, over 50 table games, and a hour baccarat room.

The hotel on-site is just as impressive; it was named one of the city&#;s best hotels by the U.S. News and World Travel Report this year. While you’re here, you can dine in one of the five top-notch restaurants on-site.

Lumiere Place Casino Hotel

Distance from St. Louis: Located downtown

Right in the heart of downtown, Lumiere Place is home to 1, slot machines, 58 table games, and a table poker room, spanning across a 75, square foot gaming floor. Situated next to The Arch, this casino is connected by a tunnel to many downtown spots, like the Edward Jones Dome, America’s Center, and the Central Business District.

There is not one, but two hotels on-site, all of which offer river, city, or monument views. The Lumiere also has four restaurants, including a sports bar and contemporary Asian restaurant, along with amenities like indoor and outdoor rooftop pools and a luxury spa.

• Address: N 2nd St, St. Louis, MO
• Website:Lumiere Place

Hollywood Casino St. Louis

Distance from St. Louis: 20 minutes

From , square feet of gaming space to over 80 table games, Hollywood Casino is massive. This casino also includes over 2, slots, a poker room, and an Asian gaming experience.

The Hollywood Casino Hotel recently renovated all of its rooms. While you’re here, you can eat at one of the several restaurants on-site, including a local Italian favorite: Charlie Gitto’s. If you plan on going to a concert at the nearby Hollywood Casino Amphitheater, a shuttle between the theater and casino is provided.

Casino Queen

Distance from St. Louis: 5 minutes

In East St. Louis, just across the river, is Casino Queen’s 38, square foot gaming floor, complete with slots, 29 table games, and sports betting. The on-site hotel features stunning views of the St. Louis skyline. The grounds also include an RV park, a heated pool, and dining options.

Casinos Within a Short Day Trip of St. Louis

If you are willing to go for a longer drive, four other casinos are located within hours of St. Louis. You can turn these casino visits into a day trip while also experiencing the more rural side of Missouri and Illinois.

Century Casino Cape Girardeau

Distance from St. Louis: 2 hours

South of St. Louis, Century Casino Cape Girardeau offers a full range of table games, slots, and a poker room. Located right on the Mississippi, two restaurants are on the premises: an upscale riverfront bar and a traditional grill.

There are several fantastic wineries on the scenic drive down from St. Louis to Cape Girardeau. I particularly enjoy visiting St. Genevieve, right around the halfway point of this 2-hour drive. From boutiques to wineries, you could easily turn your casino visit into a weekend getaway!

Isle of Capri Casino Hotel Boonville

Distance from St. Louis: hours

In central Missouri, just west of St. Louis on I, you’ll find Isle of Capri in Boonville. Right on the banks of the Missouri River, this laid-back casino offers table games, slots, and video poker.

Isle of Capri&#;s hotel features modern rooms, a fitness center, and two on-site restaurants. The grounds also hold over 12, square feet of event space.

Mark Twain Casino LaGrange

Distance from St. Louis: hours

Just a minute drive north from my hometown of Quincy, Illinois is the Mark Twain Casino in LaGrange, Missouri. This casino offers slots, video poker, and table games. It also has a small event space with a specialty menu, perfect for small parties.

Harrah’s Metropolis

Distance from St. Louis: hours

The last and farthest casino on this list is Harrah’s, located right on the southernmost point of Illinois, in the small town of Metropolis. The casino features slots, video poker, and table games.

Harrah’s hotel rooms overlook the Ohio River. The on-site restaurant serves brunch, lunch, and dinner on the weekends.