Viva Las Vegas, or Sin City? Whether you love it or hate it, this neon-lit fever dream in the Nevada desert has been painstakingly designed for you to lose track of time, money, and possibly your dignity. Not even the best online casinos can offer an experience comparable to Las Vegas: The bright lights can feel disorienting, and it all seems so big – but how many casinos are there, actually?

The short answer: a lot.

The slightly longer answer: it depends on what you count as a casino – technically, a tiny pub with a handful of pokie machines counts, but it’s probably not what you’d think of when you picture a Vegas casino. In terms of more established casinos, as of June 2025, there are around 137 licensed casinos in Clark County, which covers the Las Vegas area. Narrow that down, and you’ll find about 60 casinos in Las Vegas proper, with 28 big-name players lined up along the Strip. If you walked into a different casino every night, you’d still be at it months later – and your liver would file for early retirement.

The casinos that line the Strip are dazzling and, if those walls could talk, you’d be listening for years (and you’d probably need a lawyer). Let’s have a look at the iconic casinos that make up the heart of Las Vegas.

Old money and new investments

Vegas is often thought of as a shiny, brand-new playground, but some of its biggest stars have been around longer than your parents’ record collection. The Flamingo, which opened in 1946, was the mob-funded project that turned Las Vegas from a dusty stopover into the global casino capital. It was brash, glamorous and scandalous, and somehow it’s still standing nearly 80 years later.

Not far behind is the Sahara, which first opened its doors in 1952. Back in the Rat Pack era, Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. treated it like their personal clubhouse. Sure, it’s been remodelled and rebranded more times than Sinatra walked down the aisle, but it’s still a living piece of Vegas history.

Sahara Vegas
Courtesy of SAHARA Las Vegas

On the other end of the timeline are the brand-new giants. Resorts World, which finally opened in 2021, isn’t just shiny and modern – it’s also the most expensive resort ever built in Las Vegas, coming in at an eye-watering $4.3 billion. With more than 3,500 rooms and a massive LED façade that lights up the Strip like a futuristic billboard, it was designed to scream luxury from every angle.

Resorts World
Courtesy of Resorts World Las Vegas

Just a couple of years later came the long-awaited Fontainebleau, a towering 67-story blue-glass skyscraper that sat unfinished for nearly two decades before finally throwing open its doors in 2023. It’s shiny, it’s sleek, and it has the kind of dramatic backstory that only Las Vegas could pull off.

And the story doesn’t stop there. The Dream Las Vegas is set to arrive in 2025 with boutique-style luxury and a nightlife-first vibe (after also lying unfinished for quite a while), while the legendary Mirage is being transformed into a guitar-shaped Hard Rock Hotel, expected to open in 2027. Farewell volcano, hello oversized Fender Stratocaster.

Fun facts about the top Vegas casinos

Here’s one you can whip out at the bar:

The Las Vegas Strip isn’t technically in Las Vegas at all. It’s in Paradise, Nevada. (Marketing departments will say anything, right?)

Some other fun facts? Pokies, not poker or blackjack, are the real money-makers in this town – so yes, those penny machines are bankrolling the neon lights. Mega-resorts like Bellagio even have “casinos within casinos” for their high-roller clientele. And if you’re hoping to catch the Mirage volcano erupting one last time, get moving – it’ll soon be replaced by the giant guitar tower of Hard Rock.

So… Still want to visit every casino in Las Vegas?

It’s a lofty goal, and one that we wouldn’t recommend in one trip – even if you’re just looking at the 28 true Vegas icons. Remember, the Strip is about 4 miles long, and you should never underestimate the sheer size of these places. Seriously. They’re insane.

But at least, the next time someone asks, “how many casinos are there in Vegas?”, you’ll not only have the answer, you’ll have stories to go with it. The only thing we can’t help you with is your bankroll – that’s between you, the pokies, and whatever deity you start praying to at 2 AM.

Got a favourite casino we haven’t mentioned here? Let us know at [email protected]!

Matthew Vanzetti

Pokie Professor & Casino Expert

Matthew Vanzetti is the go-to expert on pokies at Sun Vegas Casino, bringing years of firsthand experience from Melbourne’s casino floors to his engaging articles. His expertise covers everything from traditional pokie to modern jackpots, providing readers with practical insights and tips to enhance their gaming experience.

Matthew’s passion and detailed knowledge make his writings essential for anyone interested in the thrilling world of pokies.

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