Top 5 United States Casinos

The top 5

For those of us living in this great nation who call ourselves gamblers either by profession, or simply enthusiasm, it has never been easier to declare a strong sense of pride in being an American. This is a golden age of gambling, one which has never been equaled in our history nor is likely to be surpassed in future generations. Perhaps that last comment will prove to be wildly off the mark, because the safest projection we can make at this point is that the upward trend the gaming industry is currently enjoying will only continued to climb in coming years. And, there can be little doubt that the United States stands tall above most other nations in leading the development of this global pastime.

There are so many superlative casinos located right here in the good old US of A, that putting together a short list of the top contenders is a daunting challenge indeed. In fact, even trying to name the top five casinos in Vegas would be something of a challenge, given the many solid additions on Strip which keep cropping up on such a regular basis.

When formulating a top five list of American casinos, quite a few criteria should be brought to bear. The average poker analyst has a different approach, but I generally like to mix in a sense of history and societal significance with a more basic assessment of what features a casino may offer to a gambler in 2006. It was with that general frame of reference I went about putting together this top five list.

Naturally, it is inevitable that many people who read this will feel I've chosen poorly, and that their personal favorite casino has been deeply wronged by being excluded from the list. For these concerned individuals, I can only offer a disclaimer that this is one man's opinion, and furthermore, should you disagree with my choices there is an open invitation for you to go suck an egg. Lastly, I'll point out that these five world-class casinos are listed in random order.

1. Foxwoods. When I think about this jewel of Conneticutt, the first thing that comes to mind is size. Foxwoods is absolutely colossal, with more poker action going on than the human mind can grasp at one given moment. Featured on the brand-new Professional Poker Tour, Foxwoods is getting a lot of air time these days, which it deserves.

2. Bellagio. A masterpiece on the Las Vegas Strip. Classy, elegant and sophisticated in every way, this is truly a gambler's paradise. A place everyone has to visit at least once.

3. Commerce Casino. Los Angeles is not generally associated with gambling, since entertainment is such a dominant force in this town. Nonetheless, Commerce Casino has a tremendous amount of prestige and features a mind-boggling nonstop flow of poker action for pros and amateurs alike.

4. Bay 101. Whether or not you know the way to San Jose, if you find yourself in this outstanding West Coast casino you'll run into of celebrities and poker legends alike. Truly one of a kind.

5. The Mirage. Another titan on the Strip, this Vegas landmark is no longer the flashiest casino in Sin City, but is a timeless classic nonetheless