5 Best Family-Friendly Destination Casinos in the US

Gambling is for adults, and gambling is usually not a family-friendly activity. This is a problem my family and I have run into numerous times over the years.

Where can we go for a fun family vacation where they also have onsite gambling available?

I’m not just talking about a property that has both a casino and pool.


I’m talking about fantastic gambling, family-centered activities, great food, and something for everyone in your family.

Here, I’m going to share my top five family-friendly destination casinos. Think about booking one of these casino resorts for your next family vacation.

1 – Coushatta Casino Resort

Located in Kinder, Louisiana, Coushatta Casino Resort is a one-stop vacation destination for the entire family. The casino is excellent for gamblers. The kid’s entertainment is also some of the best you could hope for in a casino resort.

The massive 100,000-square-foot gaming floor offers over 2,400 slot and video poker machines. Most of the machines are also in the non-smoking and high stakes sections of the floor.

Are you more of a table game player like myself? Luckily for you, Coushatta


offers 70 live table games, ranging from the classics like poker and blackjack to the more obscure games like Pai Gow Poker. They also have a sportsbook for off-track betting and a bingo hall.

You’re a parent, right?

I’m sure that’s why you’re here.

I understand how hard it can be to find casino resorts that actually offer decent kid’s activities. And I’m happy to report that Coushatta hits the target when looking for a kid’s destination resort.

They have a stunning pool and a lazy river that will keep the littles exhausted. They also offer a state-of-the-art kid care center. I’m not talking about a room with a ball pit that you dump them off at.

Kid’s Quest offers an interactive, age-appropriate children’s entertainment center. It is fully-supervised, making it an excellent option for parents (or grandparents) that want to get in some time on the casino floor.

They offer activities like a construction zone, STEM-based projects, and a family-friendly arcade. They take children from six weeks to 12 years old.


Have a family member that isn’t a kid?

Coushatta Casino Resort also has a championship 18-hole, 72 par course on site. The Kosati Pines at Coushatta is a golfer’s dream.

Nestled in the native pines, this private course even has a “gamblers” hole and offers lessons. This casino resort really does have something for every member of your family.

2 – The Mirage Casino and Resort

You know I had to include one Las Vegas property on this list. In the latter half of the ‘90s, Vegas tried to rebrand itself as a family-friendly destination. They didn’t succeed completely with that one, but there are some options there.

It’s clear that adults don’t go to Vegas for a Disney World experience. I get it, you want to stay up late and not be responsible for the little ones in the morning. Let’s be honest here. Vegas’s official slogan is, “What happens here, stays here.”

This doesn’t scream family-friendly, does it?

But there are some real gems for a family vacation in Sin City.

The Mirage is one of those casino resort properties that manages to cater to both the adults and the children. They offer some fantastic attractions onsite as well as the obvious. After all, you’re in Vegas.

Go wander and see the sights at other casino properties. You can even ride the rollercoaster at New York-New York just down the Strip from the Mirage.

This would be an ideal family vacation for families with older children that can interact with exhibits and play around somewhat unsupervised. This wouldn’t be a place I would bring four toddlers. Vegas just isn’t set up for those who need a little more help.

The Mirage has a stunning interactive wildlife sanctuary and dolphin exhibit. The Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat were founded by the famous duo, Siegfried and Roy.

Your family can purchase tickets for a viewing of some of the world’s most exotic creatures and wildlife. If you have the budget, look into their VIP experiences that allow visitors to go behind the scenes.

The Mirage Casino is one of the flagship casinos on the Vegas Strip. The casino floor clocks in at just over 100,000 square feet of gaming space. They have over 2,300 slot and video poker machines.

Guests can enjoy over 135 live table games, including 20 poker tables. If you have an adult sports fanatic in your family, make sure they know about the BetMGM Sportsbook at the Mirage.

The sportsbook at the Mirage has a massive 85-foot HD projection screen. They offer VIP experiences as well for the private sports bettor in your group.

Looking for a show that the whole family will enjoy?

The Mirage has been home to The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil show as well as multiple America’s Got Talent Acts.

Their pool is fantastic as well. The pool sets itself apart from most on Strip in that its kid-friendly. There’s also a full-service spa.

What more could your family ask for?

Not much else, that’s what.

3 – Pechanga Resort Casino

Let’s go across the country to the West Coast. Pechanga Resort Casino is in Temecula, California. This awe-inspiring high desert destination will have fun for all ages.

The AAA Four-diamond rated resort is so much more than just a casino with a pool. The resort casino is the largest in California. It has been rated as one of the best in the country by USA Today.

The casino floor is 200,000 square feet. The casino has a whopping 5,000 slot and video poker machines. This is more than impressive.

164 gaming tables offer the classics as well as some more unique table games.

There is also a high roller room with private suites to give the gambler in your family a VIP experience.

Truth be told, the pool at the resort is worth the trip alone. The Cove features four pools, its own restaurant and swim-up bar, two water slides, and several private cabanas.

Want more than just pool time in Southern California?

The surrounding area offers everything from Jeep winery tours to zip line courses.

There are plenty of onsite dining options, as well as a golf course and spa. I can’t wait to take my multi-generational family there for our next big trip.

4 – Tropicana Atlantic City

I couldn’t include Vegas and not Atlantic City on the list of best family-friendly casino destinations. The location alone is enough to keep any family busy with vacation activities.

The Tropicana Atlantic City offers a full gambling experience and plenty of onsite and close activities for the younger members in your group.

The casino has a gaming floor of almost 125,000 square feet. The casino floor features over 2,300 slot and video poker machines and 170 live table games. This includes 18 poker tables.

Atlantic City is a vacation wonderland. Located on New Jersey’s famous beaches, the boardwalk at Atlantic City is full of old East Coast-style attractions and dining options.

The beach is beautiful to sunbathe and build sandcastles on. If traditional beach activities aren’t enough to keep your family entertained, consider the other options like kayaking, surfing, fishing, and windsurfing.

The casino’s resort offers lots of onsite entertainment for the whole family. The shows are national acts. There is an arcade and entertainment center for the kiddos.

5 – Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino

This casino resort is one of my family’s favorite vacation destinations. This property is slightly different from the other four of this list of best destination casinos for families.

The gambling is second to the resort. Located in Lake Tahoe, NV, the resort and casino are managed by the Hyatt Regency group. Lake Tahoe is so serene with its mountain views and pristine forests.

The town is a tourism hot spot most famous for its skiing. If you don’t like the cold, rest assured that it is just as enjoyable in the warm seasons as it is in the cold weather.

The casino is tiny but mighty. The gaming floor offers slot machines and table games to quench any gambler’s thirst. The casino floor is around 20,000 square feet that also includes a sportsbook.

My favorite thing about this casino resort is that they have cottages. We had a family reunion here because of the property’s ability to sleep our family in a homier setting than traditional hotel rooms.

The Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa, and Casino also has a sparkling pool that is temperature-regulated. So, when its dumping snow during ski season, you can hop in the pool just the same as you would in the middle of July.

There is a multitude of area attractions like hiking, skiing, water sport rentals, and guided snowshoe tours. This destination resort and casino will keep your family talking about the trip for years to come.

Conclusion

I hope you have some ideas for how to gamble at a casino and keep your kids and grandkids entertained. There are so many options out there than the traditional casino on the Strip, even if they’re located in casino towns.