Airports as Entertainment Hubs

Airports are often places of emotional turbulence. Loved ones departing and reuniting, travelers fearful of flying or excited by the very prospect of their trip, and children rolling around on their luggage.

Gambling at Airports: Where to Find Fun

The rollercoaster of emotions can also be added to by those passengers that choose to partake in gambling before or after a flight. Let’s look at the best airports to have some gambling fun at.

McCarran International Airport, Nevada, US

The first airport on this list is undoubtedly the most obvious being located in Las Vegas. You only need to read this news story from back in August of this year that covers a woman winning $1.6 million on the slots there to understand why. McCarran International Airport has an estimated 1,300 slot machines for players to try when they are either arriving at or departing from Las Vegas.

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam is a very important inclusion on this list. Not only is the Netherlands one of the most liberal countries in the world, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is also used as a major transfer point for connecting flights to a wide range of destinations across the globe. What better way to wind the clock down during a layover or transfer than playing on a few slots in the Holland Casino that is located within the airport. Other games on offer at the airport casino include poker, roulette, bingo, and Punto Banco.

Reno-Tahoe International Airport, Nevada, US

It’s back to the good old US of A for this next airport. Reno-Tahoe shows exactly why Nevada leads the way when it comes to gambling. The casino at this airport covers 4,100 square feet of space and boasts more than 230 slot machines. Titles to play include slots like Wheel of Fortune, Elvis, and Jeopardy. IGT are the main developer supplying the slots so if you are a fan of their machines then you’ll be right at home.

Heathrow, London, UK

The UK has a very relaxed approach to gambling. Land-based and online gambling are both legal across the country. Winnings aren’t even subject to any tax laws either. This means travelers can get playing on the slot machines that are available to play at airports up and down the country without the worry of paying the tax man a percentage of their winnings.

Elko Regional Airport, Nevada, US

Yes, you’ve guessed it, we’re back in Nevada. Stockmen’s Casino at The Ramada Elko Hotel and Casino is a quick shuttle journey from the airport terminal. It is only a regional airport so it doesn’t have the level of traffic that the other airports on this list endure but it is still a worthy addition to this list. Stockmen’s Casino is easy to get to if you’re arriving in or departing from Elko Regional Airport. It is situated roughly 1km from the runway so if you need to kill some time at the tables then get involved. The downside is that the table games are only open to play between 6pm and 2am every Monday to Saturday.

Pittsburgh International Airport, Pennsylvania, US

Pittsburgh International Airport completes this list as a wild card addition. Back in June of this year, the Pennsylvania House gave the go-ahead for state legislation to change so that casino-style gambling laws could be expanded to cover airports, bars, and off-track betting parlors. This decision means that plans are already afoot for Pittsburgh International Airport to begin offering gambling facilities to passengers arriving and departing at the airport in the coming years. It is a huge positive move for gambling within the state of Pennsylvania and is certain to be welcomed by flyers that love to have a gamble before or after they travel by air.