The lack of casino gambling options in Georgia has left many bettors without a place to scratch the gambling itch. With a divided General Assembly and a plethora of other issues to address before expanded gaming is seriously considered, Georgians must look out of state to find traditional slot machines and table games.
Which casinos are closest to Georgia’s largest city and capital, Atlanta? And what games are available? Some bettors prefer slots, while others would rather throw the craps dice or take on the house in blackjack.
Unfortunately, Georgia online gambling is limited, to say the least. Bettors can purchase Georgia Lottery tickets and play daily fantasy sports online … that’s about it. Georgia sports betting, like casino gambling, remains illegal — although there are some sweepstakes Georgia online casinos to consider.
So, if you have to make the drive to play your favorite games, you should end up at a casino that best fits your needs, right? Don’t worry. PlayGeorgia has you covered.
Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino and Hotel, NC
Distance from Atlanta: 122 miles
The closest casino to Atlanta is Harrah’s Cherokee Valley, which features both a massive casino and a nice hotel. That makes it an ideal destination resort option for those in and around Atlanta looking for a weekend getaway.
The casino boasts more than 60 table games on its 50,000-square-foot floor. Games include blackjack, roulette, craps, Mississippi Stud and three-card poker. There are more than 1,000 different slot machine games, ranging from penny slots to $100 machines. The cherry on top is the video poker options, which range from a quarter to $5.
To top things off, there is a Caesar’s Sportsbook with betting kiosks, staffed windows and a large 32-foot TV screen.
Where Harrah’s thrives is as a destination casino with its seven-story hotel that looks out over the North Carolina mountains. It sports over 300 rooms and features free parking, internet access and a 24-hour front desk. The resort mimics Las Vegas with several restaurant offerings, such as The Landing Cafè, and a full food market with many different options. Harrah’s is also close to several golf courses, including Brasstown Valley Golf Course, Mountain Harbour Golf Club and Chatuge Shores Golf Course.
Harrah’s is 122 miles from Atlanta, about a two-hour drive. If you would rather leave the driving to someone else, there is a motorcoach that picks up Georgians in four different locations, including Atlanta.
For more information on Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino and Hotel, at 777 Casino Parkway in Murphy, NC, check out its website.
Wind Creek Montgomery, AL
Distance from Atlanta: 154 miles
In the same vein as Harrah’s Cherokee River Valley, Wind Creek Montgomery is another destination casino with a massive gaming floor and hotel for guests to stay at.
The casino at Wind Creek boasts over 70,000 square feet of gaming space. Within that area, there’s more than 2,200 slot machines. Wind Creek touts itself as giving the highest payouts in the Southeast. Its stated payback percentage is 97.5%. That means every $100 wagered brings back $97.50 on average.
Of course, there are also table games available to play. More than 60 table games feature blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat, poker and more.
Guests can also stay at the AAA Four-Diamond hotel which has 123 hotel rooms and suites. There are also three B.B. King-inspired restaurants that serve Southern food. King’s Blues Club features food and music. Lucille’s Eatery serves classic American food. For a more upscale dining experience, Itta Bena is available. There are in-room dining options as well. There is also the Golden Shears Salon, where guests can get “the best from your head to your toes,” as well as a barbershop.
Wind Creek Montgomery, 1801 Eddie L Tullis Road in Montgomery, AL, is the second-closest casino to Atlanta at 154 miles, just over two hours away by car.
For more information, check out its website.
Harrah’s Cherokee Hotel and Casino, NC
Distance from Atlanta: 161 miles
Harrah’s second appearance on this list also hails from the state of North Carolina. This time it is Harrah’s Cherokee Hotel and Casino, which features a large gaming space and a hotel.
The big difference between the two Harrah’s destination resorts in North Carolina are the size of the casinos. Harrah’s Cherokee has three times the size of a gaming floor at 150,000 square feet. That massive space features 3,000 slot machines, over 160 table games and a 90-foot sportsbook screen. The table games feature blackjack, roulette and craps, along with poker offerings like high card flush, Texas Hold ’em and three-card poker. The Caesars Sportsbook offers a Las Vegas-style experience.
The hotel sports four towers that house 1,800 hotel rooms and features two separate pools. There are also suites, along with a fitness center, business center, a full spa and salon and free parking. The hotel also allows pets. There are shows available at Harrah’s Cherokee Event Center, which seats 3,000 people. There’s the Myst Bar for a club experience and The Comedy Zone for comedy shows. Shopping options include everything from fashion to soap to golf. All of this is in addition to the food options, which begins with the Gordon Ramsay Food Market and 10 other dining establishments.
Harrah’s Cherokee Hotel and Casino, 777 Casino Drive in Cherokee, NC, is 161 miles from Atlanta, about a two-and-a-half-hour drive. This is the closest to a true Las Vegas experience between the shopping, gaming floor, food options and entertainment offerings.
For more information, look on its website.
Wind Creek Wetumpka, AL
Distance from Atlanta: 168 miles
The bigger of the two Wind Creek locations is in Wetumpka, AL. The location is bigger in its gaming space and hotel offerings and amenities.
The casino’s 45,000 square foot gaming floor features 1,700 slot machines and 68 table games. Table games include blackjack, craps, roulette three-card poker, Let It Ride and Mississippi Stud. Additionally, there is a poker room with 20 tables and a horse track. Wind Creek does not have a sportsbook.
The hotel sports 283 rooms, free internet access and large, flat-screen TVs. There is also a full fitness center, spa and pool for guests to enjoy. In-room dining is available, in addition to Fire Steakhouse & Grill, which serves American classics, and there’s a Starbucks. The gems are the Wetumpka Entertainment Center and Center Bar.
Wind Creek Wetumpka, 100 River Oaks Drive in Wetumpka, AL, is the fourth-furthest casino resort from Atlanta at 168 miles, which takes about two and a half hours to drive.
For more information, check out its website.
Catawba Two Kings Casino, NC
Distance from Atlanta: 210 miles
The last casino on this list is Catawba Two Kings Casino in North Carolina. This casino, however, comes up short in two ways. Not only is it the furthest of the five casinos on this list, it is also the only one without a hotel, as construction on its permanent facility continues.
In its temporary facility, Two Kings features 1,000 slot machines, which range from penny slots to $25 plays, but there’s no traditional table games. Instead, there are 34 electronic table games that feature blackjack, multi-hand blackjack, craps, roulette and baccarat. There are another 12 electronic dual roulette machines as well. There is a sportsbook available.
Two Kings has partnered with multiple local area hotels, but none are closer than just under 4 miles away. The closest is Holiday Inn Express and Suites, which is a five-minute drive and 3.8 miles away. Other options are the Holiday Inn Express, Comfort Inn, Fairfield Inn and Suites Charlotte Belmont, Fairfield Inn and Suites, and the Hampton Inn and Suites.
Catawba Two Kings Casino, 538 Kings Mountain Blvd. in Kings Mountain, NC, is the furthest away from Atlanta at 210 miles, about a three-and-a-half drive. For more information, go to its website.
