10 Best Casinos in Miami

When it comes to casinos, Florida is no Las Vegas. The Seminole Tribe, owner of six casinos across the state, and Disney, owner of, well, everything else, have been doing their darnedest to ensure it stays that way. Both have pumped millions into campaigns aimed at keeping competition at bay. But there are still plenty of good options for people looking to scratch their gambling itch. You simply need to stay abreast of the casinos' offerings so you — and your lungs — know what to expect.

Below, in alphabetical order, is New Times' list of the ten best casinos in Miami and across South Florida. Good luck!

The Big Easy Casino

831 N. Federal Hwy., Hallandale Beach
954-924-3200
thebigeasycasino.com

Hurricane Irma left the Mardi Gras Casino in shambles in 2017 after the storm tore the roof off the place. That's when Fontainebleau Miami Beach owner Jeffrey Soffer stepped in to purchase the facility. Under his ownership, the venue was remodeled and renamed the Big Easy Casino. Soffer has since sought permission to transfer the casino's gaming permit to the Fontainebleau, but for now, it remains at the Big Easy Casino, which offers more than 700 slot machines and electronic table games such as blackjack and roulette. Need to puff while you play? The smokers' patio, dubbed the Dog Pound, includes slot machines, flat-screen TVs, and luxury seating. Just don't expect to see any real dogs here or anywhere else in the casino. Live greyhound racing has been banned in Florida since 2020, though some casinos, such as the Big Easy, do simulcast races. Sunday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 a.m. and Saturday and Sunday 24 hours.

The Casino @ Dania Beach

301 E. Dania Beach Blvd., Dania Beach
954-920-1511
casinodaniabeach.com

There are very few places in the U.S. where you can still see jai alai in person, and this is one of them. You can bet on the games or soak in the world's fastest ball sport. (Picture a bunch of dudes whipping a ball at 200 mph.) The Casino — home of the country's last remaining full-court regulation fronton — initially got rid of the sport in 2021 after a nearly 70-year run in Dania Beach, only to bring it back a year later on a seasonal basis. If you prefer games of the slot or card variety, the smoke-free casino offers more than 750 slots and 20-plus live poker tables. And don't forget to stuff your face at Luxe Buffet. Pigging out at a casino buffet is a time-honored tradition. Monday through Wednesday 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. and Thursday through Sunday 24 hours.

Casino Miami

3500 NW 37th Ave., Miami
305-633-6400
playcasinomiami.com

This no-frills venue is located near Miami International Airport, which could come in handy if you have time to kill before that flight. Casino Miami offers live poker, more than 1,000 Las Vegas-style slots (make sure you take advantage of the $50 free play for new members), and live and in-person boxing. Don King himself promotes fights here. Jai alai, on the other hand, is no longer played at Casino Miami, but you can still watch and bet on the sport — and thoroughbred, harness, and greyhound racing — via the simulcast in the casino's William Hill Race Book. Daily 24 hours.

Gulfstream Park

901 S. Federal Hwy., Hallandale Beach
954-454-7000
gulfstreampark.com

Looking for a place to play the ponies live and up close? Gulfstream Park, home of the glitzy Pegasus World Cup every January, offers live racing on its charming track, complete with a pond in the center. The kiddies will love gawking at the horses in the paddock and then watching them haul ass around the one-and-one-eighth-mile oval. Adults and children alike will dig the 110-foot bronze Pegasus sculpture that towers over the entrance; it's said to be the second-tallest statue in the continental United States. (Lady Liberty is number one.) Parking and track admission are free, so there are two fewer costs to add up when counting your losses. Daily 10 a.m. to 4 a.m.

Harrah's Pompano Beach

777 Isle of Capri Cir., Pompano Beach
954-972-2000
caesars.com/harrahs-pompano-beach

The casino, formerly known as Isle Casino Pompano Park, was bought by Caesars Entertainment and rebranded as Harrah's in 2022. But the name change was just the start. The horse track was torn down in 2023 to make way for entertainment, including a Top Golf that is now open, two hotels, and residential and office units. Harrah's also added a 24-hour open-air gaming terrace with 200 slot machines, bringing the casino's slot total to over 1,500. One thing that didn't change is poker's strong presence. The second floor's official World Series of Poker room features 25 tables and weekday tournaments. Daily 24 hours.

Hialeah Park Racing & Casino

100 E. 32nd St., Hialeah
305-885-8000
hialeahparkcasino.com

One of South Florida's most storied gambling venues, Hialeah Park opened to the public in 1922, when it was known as the Miami Kennel Club. Back then, the spot was little more than a greyhound-racing track. Now, after a huge renovation, the venue offers 26 poker tables and more than 800 slot machines. A poker room on the second floor draws players from across the region to regularly scheduled tournaments. The live greyhound racing and subsequent horseracing are no longer, but races are simulcast at the Champions sports bar. Fun fact: Hialeah Park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and as an Audubon Bird Sanctuary, the latter thanks to the colony of flamingos living on the racetrack's infield. Oldheads might remember seeing the casino's flamingos in the opening credits of Miami Vice. Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 4 a.m. and Friday through Sunday 24 hours.

Magic City Casino

450 NW 37th Ave., Miami
305-649-3000
magiccitycasino.com

This place is for people tired of losing money on slot machines — so, in other words, most people. Magic City had one of the best payback percentages on slots in the entire country in 2023, according to Casino Player. The magazine tabulates the percentages every year for its Loosest Slots Awards. Magic City also has the distinction of being one of the last remaining homes for jai alai in the U.S., but the version taking place here has been modernized with a shorter fronton to make the game faster. Then, there is the new format borrowed from tennis to make it easier to understand. Sunday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 3 a.m. and Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 a.m.

Miccosukee Resort & Gaming

500 Krome Ave., Miami
305-222-4600
miccosukee.com

If you've never ventured farther west than Tamiami, you've probably never encountered Miccosukee Resort & Gaming. Also, you're definitely missing out. Here, players can take their pick of nearly 1,800 slot machines, ranging from new releases to classic slots. If you want to go really old-school, head to the Bingo Hall, a resort institution that dates to 1990. And, hey, if you win big or throw back a few too many at the martini bar, you can celebrate by crashing at the resort for the night. Daily 24 hours.

Seminole Casino Coconut Creek

5550 NW 40th St., Coconut Creek
954-977-6700
seminolecoconutcreekcasino.com

You no longer need to gamble on sporting events through a shady bookie or questionable websites. Like the Seminole Hard Rock (see below), Seminole Casino Coconut Creek is now one of only a handful of casinos in Florida legally allowed to offer sports betting, as well as live craps and roulette. The others, not coincidentally, are also Seminole properties. The tribe agreed to pay the state billions of dollars for the rights. But if you prefer man-versus-machine action, the smoke-heavy Coconut Creek, which offers a nonsmoking second floor, boasts nearly 2,300 slot machines. If lady luck is on your side, treat yourself at the New York Yankees-themed high-end steakhouse, NYY Steak. Daily 24 hours.

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

1 Seminole Way, Hollywood
866-502-7529
seminolehardrockhollywood.com

Look for the 450-foot-tall guitar-shaped hotel — not that you can miss it from the Turnpike or just about anywhere else within several miles. The gnarly gee-tar tower was part of the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino's $1.5 billion renovation in 2019. The complex offers the best music and comedy acts among all South Florida casinos, the fine-dining Japanese restaurant Kuro, and a 4.5-acre lagoon-style pool. And with the recent addition of sports gambling and live craps and roulette, the Seminole Hard Rock has possibly positioned itself to compete with the big boys in Las Vegas. Daily 24 hours.