The best casinos in Atlanta

Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort

Location: Cherokee, North Carolina

Distance from Atlanta: 2 hours 45 minutes

Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, at 150,000 square feet, is one of the biggest casinos near Atlanta and famously hosts the annual World Series of Poker event. It is nearly a 3 hour drive from Atlanta.

With over 160 table games and 3,000 slot machines of all denominations and types to pick from, there is something for everybody to enjoy at this casino. All of the usual favourites are available, from blackjack, real craps, and roulette, to Mississippi stud, pai gow poker, three card poker, ultimate Texas hold’em, and video poker machines.

Caesars Sportsbook has a vast range of sports for guests to bet on and Harrah’s Cherokee, which can be watched on a 90-foot screen that is mounted to the wall. This area has elevated viewing areas, panoramic views of the large screen, and HD and 4K TVs. Bets can be placed at self-serve kiosks or ticket windows. For a more private watching experience, there are three ‘Fan Caves’ that can be reserved with 85” HDTV and two 43” 4K TVs inside.

Away from the casino floor, there is Myst Bar. The bar features bar-top video games, a big screen to watch sports on, and live music and entertainment every Friday and Saturday.

The hotel attached to the casino is 21 stories high with 1100 rooms, a poolside bar, one outdoor pool, one indoor pool, golf course, 12 outdoor cabanas, and a variety of shops. There is also a 3,000-seat event center which has featured past performances from world-famous musicians and comedians Dolly Parton, Alicia Keys, and Chris Rock.

For dining, guests have 30 restaurants to choose from, including Gordon Ramsay’s Food Market and Guy Fieri’s Cherokee Kitchen and Bar.

Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino and Hotel

Location: Murphy, North Carolina

Distance from Atlanta: 2 hours 7 minutes

Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino opened in 2015 and is one of the top casinos for those in the Atlanta area. It is just over a 2 hour drive from the city.

Inside the enormous complex of Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River, which is around 60,000 square feet of gaming space, there are over 1,700 slot machines and video poker is available. Unfortunately, there is no poker room at this casino.

In the casino, there is a comfortable seated area with a 32-foot screen for the race and sportsbook. There is a large variety of sports for guests to bet on, as well as modern betting kiosks and bar-top gaming.

There are 70 table games, including roulette, three card poker, blackjack, Mississippi stud, and live craps. There is also the option to play electronic versions of these games.

The casino has a bar and food court with various options for guests to choose from. For quick bites there is Starbucks, Nathan’s Famous, and Moe’s Southwest Grill, while for casual dining there is The Landing Cafe, Panda Express, and Earl of Sandwich.

Attached to the casino, there is a hotel with over 300 luxury rooms for guests who have travelled from interstate can stay in. It should be noted that there is no spa or swimming pool at this hotel.

Wind Creek Montgomery Casino

Location: Montgomery, Alabama

Distance from Atlanta: 2 hours 17 minutes

Wind Creek Montgomery Casino is a large casino, with 65,000 square feet of space, which many Atlanta residents frequent. It is over a 2 hour drive from Atlanta.

The casino has over 2,200 state-of-the-art slot machines, all varying in types and ranging in denomination from 1¢ to $100. There is also a poker room and a sportsbook.

Wind Creek Montgomery includes a hotel on site that has 123 luxurious rooms and a rooftop swimming pool, fitness center, golf course, salon, barbershop, and gift shop. There are three restaurants for guests to choose from, including Lucille’s Eatery, Itta Bena, and B.B. King’s Blues Club.

Wind Creek Wetumpka

Location: Wind Creek, Alabama

Distance from Atlanta: 2 hours 34 minutes

Wind Creek Wetumpka is 85,000 square feet and located over a 2 hour drive from Atlanta.

In the intimate 'High Limits Room’, there are more than 2,000 slot games which are a mixture of progressive, multi-line and multi-coin. The games range from 1¢ to $50 in denomination, with a maximum bet of $150.

There are a range of restaurants including Grill to Go, Grill, Starbucks, Buffet, and Fire Steakhouse at the casino. If guests want to take a break from the excitement of the machines, there is a bar and entertainment centre which hosts live acts regularly.

The hotel at Wetumpka has 283 rooms, an oasis pool and bar, fitness centre, gift shop, and spa that includes a hot tub, sauna, and steam room.