5 Casinos Where You’ll Want to Ring in the New Year

New Year’s Eve is celebrated across the globe. It doesn’t matter what has happened in the past, because this day is all about saying goodbye to the old and bringing in the new.

And gamblers are looking to celebrate in their own special way. How great would it be hit that big jackpot as the clock strikes midnights? There’s nothing better than a few extra bucks in your pocket as a new year begins. Maybe that new beginning is just the luck you need for a fortuitous rest of the year.

With that said, here are five casinos where you’ll want to ring in the new year as the world celebrates another revolution around the sun.

1 – SkyCity Auckland

If you are the type of personality that constantly has to stay one step ahead of popular culture or stand in line for hours to get the latest Apple product, this one is for you.

The SkyCity Casino in Auckland, New Zealand, is the first casino to usher in the new year. As a matter of fact, revelers in Auckland will celebrate the countdown with a champagne toast a full 21 hours before party animals in Las Vegas, NV.

The New Year’s Eve bash in Auckland includes several live bands performing in a massive block party. At midnight, the city puts on a remarkable fireworks display.

Inside the casino, there’s even more action. SkyCity has over 2,200 video poker and slot machines for you to sit and play. The casino even offers special free playtimes to members of the casino’s loyalty program.

You’ll also find a huge selection of table games at the casino. You can play your usual games like roulette or blackjack, but you can also mix it up and try your luck at Lunar Poker or Tai Sai.

Tai Sai is a dice game that definitely takes some getting used to; think roulette with dice.

Poker players crowd SkyCity’s poker room on New Year’s Eve every year. If you don’t get there early, you should expect at least some wait until a slot opens.

SkyCity also has a 24-hour baccarat room with over 20 different tables of action. There’s no dress code either.

So, you can go straight from the pristine beaches to the casino floor without a shower and wardrobe change slowing you down.

2 – WinStar World Casino

Thackerville, Oklahoma, may not be on your list of places to ring in the new year. However, the largest casino in the world definitely deserves a spot on your shortlist.

This casino does everything bigger, maybe because of its close proximity to Texas. That’s a conversation for another time and place.

Past New Year’s Eve performers at WinStar include the Steve Miller Band, comedian Ron White, and the legendary Lynyrd Skynyrd. Every New Year’s Eve, WinStar pulls out all the stops for its guests, and the casino is packed with excited gamblers.

The rooms at the casino’s massive hotel will fill up fast, so try to book your accommodations early. Luckily, there are several smaller hotels within walking distance of the casino.

You’d expect a ton of casino games at the largest casino in the world; WinStar doesn’t disappoint. There are over 8,500 electronic gaming machines for players to pick from and over 100 table games.

The casino also has an expansive poker room with an exclusive high rollers section that looks over the rest of the poker room.

If you wake up early on the first day of the new year and the rest of the crew is still dragging from the night before, I suggest sneaking out for a quick round of golf at the resorts championship-caliber golf course.

It may be January 1st, but this is basically North Texas. The weather could just as easily be 65 or 35; nobody knows!

3 – Mohegan Sun

Mohegan Sun is a favorite spot for gamblers in Boston looking to break out of the city. Fortunately for them, this Connecticut casino is less than a two-hour drive.

New Year’s Eve at Mohegan Sun is consistently headlined by some of the biggest names in entertainment. 

You won’t have any trouble finding a party if that’s your scene. Multiple New Year’s Eve parties take place at the giant resort, and partygoers seem to take on a “the more, the merrier” approach.

Game On is a 23,000-square-foot entertainment station at Mohegan Sun. And on New Year’s Eve, it fills up with patrons playing friendly games of bowling under blacklights.

Those who are waiting for midnight crowd around the enormous bar where they have dozens of craft beer choices or play arcade games to pass the time.

I once spent 35 minutes and over $20 on a claw machine at Game On to win a $0.18 stuffed turtle for a young lady—only to find that when I returned to the bar, she had left with her friends. 

I got picked on mercilessly for that one, but it was worth the $20 for the memories.

Clay Pipe Cigar Bar is another brilliant success at Mohegan Sun. It’s the perfect place to pre-game with your buddies or gal pals over a whiskey.

Obviously, gaming is the real star of the show, and the casino is second only to WinStar in North America. The casino has over 300 table games to choose from and 5,000 different slot machine games for guests to enjoy.

Your most difficult decision of the trip to Mohegan Sun won’t be who to kiss at midnight, but rather where to spend your time until he or she comes along.

4 – ARIA

The ARIA Resort and Casino is the perfect place to ring in the New Year. It delicately mixes the Las Vegas party vibe with a touch of refinement and sophistication.

I don’t conceal the fact that ARIA is my favorite casino on the planet. Although it would be nice, they don’t pay me one cent to have that opinion.

The Aria New Year’s Eve Gala is exquisite. You’ll enjoy live entertainment, delicious dining options, and a river of champagne. Well, it seems like a river.

If you prefer to keep things more low-key, Aria can easily accommodate that, too. 

Try relaxing with a nice massage or a spa treatment in the world-class spa before the ball drops in Times Square. Follow up the rub-down with an immaculate meal from Jean-Georges Steakhouse.

The eight-ounce Wagyu Ribeye Cap pairs perfectly with a glass of the Faust Cabernet Sauvignon. You may want to eat early because this meal has been known to leave some diners in need of a serious nap.

Have you ever had a meal so good it made you take a nap?

The casino floor at the Aria is perfectly suited for a variety of game preferences and bankrolls. So, you’ll never feel out of place as you stroll among the slot machines and table games.

I’m convinced that one trip to Aria is all you’ll need to fall in love when traveling to Las Vegas.

5 – Caesars Atlantic City

Caesars Las Vegas gets a ton of love, but you shouldn’t sleep on Caesars Atlantic City. This casino has a tremendous amount of positive aspects and knows how to host a stellar New Year’s Eve shindig.

First-time guests and hardened veterans alike make their way to Playground Pier for a massive New Year’s Eve celebration.

The event has various pricing options and all three come with an open bar. If you’re trying to save some cash for the casino, you can get all the drinks and snacks you want from 9 PM to 2 AM for around $60.

I like to call that a bargain. For those ballers in the crowd, you can add bottle service for a couple of hundred dollars.

Suppose you aren’t into the open-air environment of New Jersey on December 31st, no worries. Ditch the parka and the mittens! Throw on a sports-coat before you head downstairs to the casino.

You have a tough decision to make about dinner, though. Nero’s Italian Steakhouse and Morton’s The Steakhouse are both excellent choices. 

It’s probably best to flip a coin; I guarantee that you will not be disappointed with either result.

2100 Bar and Lounge is a center of activity on just about any night. For New Year’s Eve, it becomes a hub of single people mingling and groups having a craft cocktail before hitting the blackjack tables and slot machines.

Speaking of slot machines, Caesars Atlantic City has over 2,000 slot machines to help you kill time as you watch the clock slowly creep to midnight.

The casino also has dozens of table games at the ready. Most table games are attached to a progressive jackpot that can climb to over $800,000.

Before the clock strikes 12, make your way towards the Jersey Shore and watch brilliant fireworks show flash and boom over the ocean.

A trip to Atlantic City for New Year’s Eve is a trip you’ll remember all your days.

Conclusion

Wherever you decide to conduct your New Year festivities, remember to enjoy the moments among your friends and family.

These five casinos where you’ll want to ring in the New Year may not be accessible to you, but don’t let that bring the room down. Host your own casino night, and let the party come to you!