Courtesy Visit Lake Charles
1.) L’auberge Casino Resort
Lake Charles, Louisiana
The Louisiana bayou forms the backdrop at this 1,000-room hotel rising 26 stories above Lake Charles. On the 70,000-square-foot casino floor, approximately 80 table games and 1,400 slot machines offer round-the-clock Vegas-style energy. The restaurant Sportsbook amplifies the excitement with 45 big screens, sports-betting kiosks, and a reservation-only VIP section. A shoreline boardwalk connects to the neighboring Golden Nugget resort and casino for even more gaming options.
2.) The Casino Club at the Greenbrier
White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
Sparkling crystal chandeliers, hand-painted murals, and Dorothy Draper’s iconic maximalist decor create an unforgettable atmosphere at the exclusive, guest-only gaming floor of this historic resort. Four boldly decorated restaurants and bars tempt patrons between hands, spins, and pulls, including a swanky cocktail bar with strong drinks and a black-and-white checkered dance floor. The casino’s dress code honors the Greenbrier’s refined heritage: Business casual is required in the evenings, complete with jackets for gentlemen.
Courtesy Visit Myrtle Beach
3.) The Big “M” Casino
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Two luxury yachts are home to South Carolina’s only offshore casino, with year-round departures six days a week. During the five-hour excursion, settle into live dealer table games or slot machine stools where water views frame an afternoon or evening of play. In true coastal spirit, the atmosphere is refreshingly unpretentious; think casual dress and straightforward dining with fare such as sub sandwiches and pizza. With an average weekly payout of $383,000 across both yachts, the Big “M” transforms the traditional casino floor into a floating escape.
4.) Wind Creek Atmore
Atmore, Alabama
What began in 1985 as a modest bingo hall for Alabama’s Poarch Creek Indians has grown into Wind Creek Atmore, the flagship of an international gaming operator with 10 additional properties. Beyond its 1,700 slot machines and table games, the complex features a movie theater, amphitheater, bowling alley, and arcade. Throughout town, find nods to the tribe’s presence, particularly at the 1950s-style Creek Travel Plaza diner, where the cult-favorite Indian taco—a fusion of classic taco toppings served on traditional Indian fry bread—gives visitors an authentic taste of the region’s indigenous culture.
Courtesy Visit Arkansas
5.) Oaklawn
Hot Springs, Arkansas
Thoroughbred racing has been hosted here since 1904, including the Arkansas Derby, where American Pharoah launched his historic Triple Crown run in 2015. Located in Hot Springs just steps from the national park, the casino resort has since expanded into a gaming destination with live table games and hundreds of slot machines. The eight-story hotel offers views of the surrounding Ouachita Mountains and houses 15 bars, lounges, and restaurants, as well as the Astral Spa, which incorporates the region’s famous thermal waters, salts, and gemstones into treatments. Book a trackside room to up the ante of race day excitement.
This article appears in the Spring 2026 issue of Southbound.
