One thing that tends to surprise first-time travelers to Las Vegas, particularly The Strip, is the sheer size of the hotel & casino resorts. Even when you’ve seen the pictures, it’s hard to get your head around the scale of the properties.
Obviously, the casinos are central to those resorts, basically the first thing that you see as you enter through the lobby. While we can play games like poker and blackjack online these days, there is always something special about entering a Vegas casino for the first time.
But which are the biggest? It’s not always easy to work out, not least because casinos are always extending or amending the facilities. Moreover, as you will see, there are sometimes debates over whether a casino is actually part of one property or two. Yet, we can make a good stab at listing the top ten below:
1. Wynn Las Vegas and Encore — 196,232 sq ft
Wynn tops the list by a fairly comfortable margin. However, it does win based on something of a technicality because the Wynn and its adjacent property, the Wynn Encore, are judged to be a single property by the Nevada Gaming Control Board, even though they are for all intents and purposes two distinct hotels.
2. The Venetian Resort — 166,194 sq ft
The Venetian Resort’s total includes gaming across The Venetian and The Palazzo, so it’s a bit like the Wynn in that they are distinct properties but connected. For us, the highlight is probably the huge sportsbook, which has a massive LED screen and private fan caves.
3. Green Valley Ranch — 156,579 sq ft
Not many casual tourists know about this one. The Green Valley Ranch is the highest-ranked casino located away from the Strip. It’s situated in Henderson, and it primarily serves Las Vegas residents, though some knowledgeable tourists do seek it out.
4. MGM Grand — 156,524 sq ft
One of the classic icons of the Strip, the MGM Grand was once promoted as the world’s largest hotel-casino. The casino offers a bit of everything, but it is probably best known for its poker rooms, which cater to all budgets.
5. Bellagio — 156,000 sq ft
The Bellagio is only fractionally smaller than MGM Grand by current gaming-floor measurements. However, it focuses a little more on high-end gaming tables than some of its peers. The building and design are among the most tasteful in Vegas.
6. ARIA Resort & Casino — 152,644 sq ft
ARIA has quietly become one of the best-loved resorts on the Strip, and its casino is one of the largest modern gaming floors in Las Vegas. Table games account for a lot of the floor, though it is all delivered in a more contemporary style than some of the older resorts.
7. Mandalay Bay — 151,910 sq ft
Mandalay Bay has one of the largest slot-machine areas in the Las Vegas Valley, accounting for most of its overall gaming space. It also has popular poker rooms. It is owned by MGM Resorts International, so a lot of the casino perks and branding come from its parent company.
8. Santa Fe Station — 151,001 sq ft
Santa Fe Station is another locals-focused casino that is much larger than many tourists realize. Located in northwest Las Vegas, it somewhat caters to more budget-conscious visitors – think bingo halls instead of high-stakes poker. The casino has been constantly enlarged over the years.
9. Sunset Station — 147,935 sq ft
Sunset Station, in Henderson, is owned by Station Casinos (the same owner as Santa Fe and Green Valley Ranch), so you can expect to see a similar vibe, though this one has a Spanish vibe. What we like about it is that it’s somewhat family-friendly (as much as a casino can be) with accompanying facilities like a bowling alley.
10. South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa — 146,002 sq ft
South Point sits several miles south of the main Strip tourist corridor. It’s a bit off the beaten track, yet it’s also something of a hidden gem. It’s aimed at casual players, with over 2,000 physical machines (mainly slots and video poker), as well as a sportsbook and dedicated horse racing pool. It has a decent poker room, too.
