Nevada Has the Most Casinos in the United States
Hands down, the state with the most casinos in the United States is Nevada. According to the Nevada Gaming Control Board, there were 1975 licensed casinos operating in the state as of 2023. To put it into perspective, the next highest state New Jersey has around 175 casinos – over 90% less than Nevada. The majority of Nevada‘s casinos are located in gambling hotspots Las Vegas and Reno.
Las Vegas: World Renowned Casino Destination
Las Vegas is known globally as the entertainment capital of the world, renowned for its extravagant hotels, nightlife, and boundless casino options. There are over 150 stunning casinos you can wander through along the Las Vegas Strip and downtown Vegas areas. On a recent trip, I was amazed by brand new casino complexes like Resorts World Las Vegas which just opened in 2021 with 117,000 square feet of gaming space.
Some statistics that showcase Las Vegas‘ casino gaming dominance:
- In 2022, Las Vegas strip casinos generated an incredible $7.3 billion in gambling revenue
- Combined with downtown Vegas, total gaming win was $12 billion in 2022
- Las Vegas welcomed over 42 million visitors in 2022 per the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
Having been to Vegas 10+ times myself, I never get tired of classic casino hotels like Bellagio with its stunning decor, Caesars Palace for its ancient Roman theming, and MGM Grand thanks to brands like Wolfgang Puck and David Copperfield making it an entertainment district of its own. There‘s always new casino openings and attractions in Vegas too – it seems like there‘s no slowing down America‘s top gambling destination!
Oklahoma & New Jersey Trailing Way Behind
The states with the next highest casino counts after Nevada are Oklahoma with around 175 casinos and New Jersey also with 175. These states have thriving tribal and commercial gambling markets, but come nowhere close to Nevada‘s dominance. Some key stats:
| State | # of Casinos | 2022 Casino Revenue |
|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 1975 | $12 billion |
| Oklahoma | 175 | $5.5 billion |
| New Jersey | 175 | $4.1 billion |
Other states like Pennsylvania, California, Florida have all expanded casino gambling in recent years and have 100-150 casinos. But these states join New Jersey and Oklahoma far behind Nevada in the race for most casinos due to Nevada‘s early adoption of legal gambling and places like Las Vegas becoming embedded in pop culture as gambling and entertainment capitals.
The Gambling Capital Everyone Aspires to Replicate
Simply put – Nevada set the standard for casino gambling nationwide decades ago and continues to lead the way today. Las Vegas is the gambling mecca that every other state tries to replicate in some way, but has never been matched in scale or glitz. For any gaming enthusiast like myself, Nevada remains the premier destination in the US to experience world class gaming and casino excitement!
So when looking for the definitive state with the claim to the most casinos – Nevada stands alone at the baccarat table‘s high limit area. No competitors in sight. I‘m already planning my next Vegas casino adventure!
