A Guide To Local Casinos In St. Louis
St. Louis has one licensed casino within the city limits and several additional properties throughout the surrounding metropolitan area. Visitors can choose between a downtown casino near the Gateway Arch, larger suburban resorts, and a casino directly across the Mississippi River in Illinois.
Missouri’s licensed casinos offer conventional slot machines, video poker and table games such as blackjack, craps, roulette and baccarat. Some locations also provide poker rooms, hotel accommodations, restaurants, entertainment venues and retail sports betting.
This guide covers the principal casinos in the St. Louis area, including properties in St. Louis, Lemay, Maryland Heights, St. Charles and East St. Louis. Players looking beyond the city can also use our guide to local casinos in Missouri to compare gambling destinations throughout the state.
Casinos in and Near St. Louis
The Best St. Louis Casino for Every Type of Visit
Best Overall Casino Resort: Ameristar St. Charles
Ameristar is our strongest overall choice for visitors who want a complete casino getaway. It combines a large gaming floor with hotel accommodations, pools, a spa, dining, and entertainment.
The property is farther from downtown than Horseshoe or Casino Queen, but its resort amenities make the additional drive worthwhile for an overnight or weekend trip.
Best Downtown Casino: Horseshoe St. Louis
Horseshoe is the clear choice for visitors staying downtown. The property is close to the Gateway Arch, convention facilities, sports venues and several hotels.
It also offers a traditional selection of slots and table games without requiring a drive into St. Louis County or St. Charles.
Best for Slot Machines: River City Casino
River City advertises nearly 1,700 slot machines, giving players a substantial selection of themes, denominations and video-poker games. Its floor is large enough for an extended visit while remaining easier to reach from southern St. Louis County than the casinos farther west.
Best for Poker: Horseshoe St. Louis
Horseshoe stands out because of its dedicated WSOP Poker Room. Cash-game availability, limits and operating hours can change, so poker players should confirm the current schedule before arriving.
Best for a Casino Hotel: Ameristar St. Charles
Ameristar provides the most resort-oriented hotel experience in the area. Guests can combine gambling with pools, spa services, restaurants, and nearby attractions in historic St. Charles.
River City and Hollywood are also convenient hotel choices, especially for visitors who prefer different parts of the metropolitan area.
Best for Downtown Sightseeing: Horseshoe St. Louis
Horseshoe is the easiest property to combine with a visit to the Gateway Arch, Laclede’s Landing, Busch Stadium, City Museum or the downtown convention district.
Travelers can gamble without organizing a separate trip to the suburbs, and several attractions are accessible by walking or a short rideshare.
Best Illinois Alternative: DraftKings at Casino Queen
Casino Queen is the nearest Illinois casino to downtown St. Louis. It may appeal to visitors who want a different casino environment, an on-site sportsbook, or convenient access from the Illinois side of the metropolitan area.
Are St. Louis Casinos Riverboats?
Missouri legalized excursion gambling boats in the early 1990s. State law ties licensed casinos to the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, which is why the St. Louis-area properties are found beside waterways or in approved artificial basins connected to them.
Modern Missouri casinos do not normally cruise the river. Properties such as Horseshoe, River City, Hollywood and Ameristar are permanently located casino complexes that resemble conventional land-based resorts.
The riverboat designation mainly describes their legal and regulatory structure rather than the experience visitors should expect. Guests enter permanent buildings with large gaming floors, restaurants, hotels and entertainment facilities.
More information about the state’s regulated and internet gambling markets is available through OnlineMissouriCasinos.com.
What Is the Minimum Gambling Age in St. Louis?
Casino patrons must be at least 21 years old to gamble at Missouri’s licensed casinos. This requirement applies to slot machines, video poker, table games, poker and sports wagering.
Visitors should carry a valid government-issued photo ID. A casino may request identification at an entrance, gaming table, cashier, sportsbook or when a guest attempts to claim a jackpot.
Guests under 21 may be permitted in certain hotel, restaurant or entertainment areas, depending on the property. However, minors cannot remain on the casino floor or participate in gambling.
Illinois also sets the minimum casino-gambling age at 21, so the same basic age threshold applies at DraftKings at Casino Queen.
Additional information about permitted gambling activities, regulators and age requirements appears in our guide to Missouri casino laws.
What Games Can You Play at St. Louis Casinos?
St. Louis-area casinos provide the conventional Class III games associated with major commercial gambling properties.
Common options include:
- Slot machines
- Video poker
- Blackjack
- Craps
- Roulette
- Baccarat
- Three-card poker
- Ultimate Texas Hold’em
- Electronic table games
- Live poker at selected properties
- Sports betting at participating locations
Game selections are not identical at every casino. Horseshoe is the leading local destination for live poker, while larger properties such as River City, Hollywood and Ameristar may provide more extensive slot and table-game floors.
Minimum bets, table availability and poker schedules can change according to the day and customer demand. Visitors looking for a particular game should contact the casino before traveling.
Our guide to Missouri casino games explains how slots, table games, poker and other real-money games work.
Are Online Casinos Legal in St. Louis?
Missouri does not currently license real-money online casinos. St. Louis residents cannot use a Missouri-regulated casino app to play online slots, blackjack, roulette, baccarat, or live-dealer games for cash.
Online sports betting is treated differently. Missouri launched regulated mobile and retail sports wagering on December 1, 2025. Eligible customers who are at least 21 and physically located within Missouri can use licensed sportsbook platforms.
Casino rewards apps may also allow customers to view offers, reserve hotel rooms, check account balances, or manage benefits. These services do not necessarily include real-money online casino gambling.
Do St. Louis Casinos Have Sportsbooks?
Sports betting has been legal in Missouri since December 1, 2025. Licensed mobile sportsbooks can accept bets from eligible customers located anywhere within state lines, while approved casino partners may also offer retail wagering.
Sportsbook availability can vary by casino because each operator must receive the appropriate approval and complete its launch arrangements. Visitors should check a property’s current amenities before assuming that staffed betting windows or kiosks are operating.
DraftKings at Casino Queen has offered retail sports betting under Illinois law for longer than the Missouri market has been active.
Do St. Louis Casinos Have Hotels?
Horseshoe, River City, Hollywood, Ameristar and Casino Queen all provide hotel accommodations at or beside their casino properties.
- Horseshoe St. Louis: HoteLumière and access to the connected Four Seasons.
- River City: An upscale hotel directly attached to the casino.
- Hollywood Casino: A large hotel convenient to the airport and amphitheatre.
- Ameristar St. Charles: A resort hotel with pools and spa amenities.
- Casino Queen: On-site lodging overlooking the St. Louis riverfront.
Ameristar is the best fit for a complete resort stay, while Horseshoe is more convenient for downtown tourism. Hollywood works well for airport access, and River City is a practical choice for visitors staying in southern St. Louis County.
Can You Smoke in St. Louis Casinos?
Smoking policies vary by property and may change. Some casinos permit smoking in designated gaming areas while providing nonsmoking sections elsewhere on the floor.
Hotel rooms, poker rooms, restaurants, and entertainment spaces may follow different rules from the main casino. Guests who need a completely smoke-free environment should confirm the current policy directly with the property before visiting.
Casino smoke can travel beyond designated sections, so a nonsmoking gaming area may not always be fully separated from smoking areas.
Is Parking Free at St. Louis Casinos?
Most major St. Louis-area casinos provide free self-parking. River City advertises complimentary garage and surface parking, including electric-vehicle charging stations.
Horseshoe’s downtown location requires visitors to pay closer attention to event traffic, garage entrances and parking-validation rules. Conditions can be especially busy when the Cardinals, Blues or other downtown venues have scheduled events.
Valet service may be available at selected resorts, but hours and fees can change.
Are St. Louis Casinos Open 24 Hours?
Many Missouri casino floors traditionally operate 24 hours a day, but schedules should not be assumed. Individual properties can change their operating hours because of maintenance, special events, staffing, or other circumstances.
Even when the main gaming floor remains open around the clock, the following amenities may keep shorter hours:
- Poker rooms
- Sportsbook counters
- Table games
- Restaurants
- Bars
- Rewards desks
- Cashiers
- Spas and pools
Visitors planning a late-night or early-morning trip should check directly with the casino, particularly when traveling for poker, dining or sports betting.