These Casinos Deliver the Unexpected!
What takes a casino getaway for your group from the everyday to extraordinary? Amenities, amenities, amenities. Today’s travelers are looking for experiences beyond just their primary focus, and the casino resorts featured here deliver—whether it’s upscale cuisine, posh guest rooms, relaxing spa treatments, or live entertainment!
Oaklawn, a fixture in Hot Springs, Arkansas for 100 years, is known not only for its exciting Thoroughbred horse racing, but also its Forbes®-rated restaurants and hotel-spa. Astral Spa is ranked among the top in the country, and perfectly complements its historic hot springs resort town surroundings. It offers unparalleled luxury, with signature treatments, pools, saunas, needle showers, and more. The hotel’s chic guest rooms are always raved about, with half overlooking the city and the other half facing the horse track.
Photo courtesy of Oaklawn Hot Springs
There are a number of bars and restaurants on site, with The Bugler and The OAK room & bar receiving Forbes nods. The Bugler is known for its stylish interior and casual elegance, as well as creative cocktails crafted by an expert mixologist, while The OAK room & bar features a vintage, gangster-era vibe. There’s an expansive event center for meetings and entertainment, too. And, of course, horse racing, a state-of-the-art casino, and sportsbook betting.
Gun Lake Casino Resort in Wayland, Michigan, balances electrifying gaming with rejuvenating spa indulgences and an all-new, extravagant pool experience. It has a new 252-room hotel, too. The casino boasts 2,300 state-of-the-art slot machines, a live poker room, keno, a modern sportsbook, and more than 50 table games.
After a day of play, groups could soak, swim, and unwind under the 32,000-square-foot glass atrium that’s home to Wawyé Oasis. In this tropical paradise, there’s a 21+ VIP pool, private cabana rentals, and a swim-up bar. And, in the evening, it becomes a nightclub and concert venue. At MnoYé Spa, delight in a signature massage, facial, body treatment, or salon manicure. There’s also exceptional dining at Shkodé Chophouse, CBK (Craft·Bar·Kitchen), and 131 Sportsbar & Lounge.
Photo courtesy of Gun Lake Casino
Located in Battle Creek, Michigan, and operated by the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, FireKeepers Casino Hotel is a premier Midwest resort and gaming destination with dozens of accolades from notable entities, such as USA Today, Wine Spectator, and Casino Player Magazine. The award-winning, 440-plus-room hotel has received a AAA Four Diamond rating for 11 consecutive years for its blend of comfort, style, and lavishness. In addition to five distinct types of suites, there’s a multi-level indoor pool, sauna, steam room, whirlpool, and fitness center.
Standouts in dining are Nibi, the only AAA Four Diamond restaurant in Southwest Michigan, and Dacey’s Sportsbook & Taphouse, with live sports betting in a casual atmosphere. The newly opened The Embers Bar is situated in the main hotel lobby, and serves as a gathering space with vibrant, game-floor energy, premium cocktails and spirits, and local fare. The casino itself has 2,700 slot machines, a 21-table live poker room, 63 table games, and exclusive VIP options.
Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City’s Marina District blends high-stakes gaming with world-class accommodations, spectacular dining and entertainment, and a serene spa escape. The hotel has 2,000 rooms and suites, with 700 of those located in the freshly remodeled, 43-story MGM Tower. Cuisine ranges from elevated American to Old-World Italian to classic steakhouse to pan-Asian, and there are several bars serving craft beverages as well.
Whether seeing top-name live entertainment at the Event Center or The Music Box or taking in a relaxing treatment at Spa Toccare, there’s plenty to enjoy at Borgata. There is also an outdoor pool open in the summer months with cabanas, lounge chairs, a bar, and food and beverages, as well as a year-round indoor pool. And, let’s not forget poker and table games, slots, a sportsbook, and horse racing betting!
Photo courtesy of Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa
One of the largest resort/casinos in the United States, Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, California offers 152 table games and 5,500 slot machines in its 200,000 square foot space. And, that’s just the beginning! There are also two concert venues at Pechanga, bringing in big names in music, comedy, and more, as well as Journey at Pechanga golf course with stunning views of Temecula wine country.
The recently renovated Grand Ballroom wows guests, with new lighting, sound, wall treatments, and cultural displays. And, The Cove tropical oasis (open in spring, summer, and fall) allows for the ultimate in play—with pools, whirlpools, waterslides, and a swim-up bar, plus cabanas and daybeds. Fine dining includes The Great Oak Steakhouse, recognized by Wine Spectator and also winner of the AAA Four Diamond Award, as well as its intimate Chef’s Table wine room, ideal for small groups desiring the royal treatment.
Photo courtesy of Pechanga Resort Casino/Zack Benson
Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut shines as a destination catering to a variety of interests. With nearly 4,000 slot machines and 300-plus table games, it appeals to thrill-seeking gamers, while also providing culinary delights, exciting entertainment, and a tranquil spa. Four distinct restaurants delight tastebuds, from the rustic dishes at The Farm Italy, to playful fare at Beauty & Essex speakeasy-style supper club, laid-back comfort food at The Shed, and rich pastries and bespoke cocktails at SIFT Bake Shop & A.T.Y Bar & Bonbons.
GAME ON takes recreation to the next level with bowling, arcade games, and karaoke, and Comix Roadhouse features top-tier comedy acts and country-rock performances (as well as a mechanical bull!). Both are available for private buyouts. There’s also The Sun Patio outdoor venue, which hosts live music, festivals, and other events primarily in spring and fall. On the more peaceful side, there’s Mandara Spa, offering therapeutic massages, soothing facials, and a host of other pampering treatments.
Photo courtesy of Mohegan Sun
Yet another space that’s undergone upgrades to stay relevant in a competitive landscape is Delaware Park Casino, in Wilmington, Delaware. It opened in 1937 as a racetrack, making several additions over the years, and, more recently, undergoing a $10 million renovation of the first-floor casino. On top of seasonal, live Thoroughbred horse racing and year-round simulcasting, they offer slot machines, table games, a poker room, and full college and pro sports betting. There are also high-limit table and slot rooms, as well as a new, nearly 10,000 square foot outdoor slot patio with 250-plus slot machines.
Restaurant options include the updated and renamed High Steaks Brewery, the remodeled Del Cap bar and grill, and the creation of RBar—an upscale bar adjacent to high-limit slots.
Written by Allison Kay Bannister, Contributing Writer for Groups Today.
This article originally appeared in the Jan/Feb ‘26 issue of Groups Today.
Main photo courtesy of Firekeepers Casino Hotel
