Casino resorts offer gaming, entertainment and fine dining in one destination. Photo courtesy of Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood

When you think of choosing a gaming resort for a meeting or event, what comes to mind? Expansive meeting spaces? Indeed. Dining options aplenty? Certainly. And an array of entertainment amenities that appeal to all attendees? Absolutely. Today’s gaming resort gems offer the ideal setup for financial and insurance gatherings of all types. Cities like Las Vegas, Reno, Scottsdale and other locales offer not-to-be-missed new and renovated gaming resorts that make for a memorable meeting and event experience.

For Heidi Bianchi, CEO, founder and event leader at The Bridge Event Agency, hosting an event at a casino or gaming resort offers several unique advantages. For event planners, these venues are typically designed as self-contained destinations. They combine meeting space, diverse restaurants, entertainment and hotel accommodations all in one place. This makes logistics and planning a bit more streamlined. Everything a group needs is right on property.

“For attendees, casino resorts add a level of excitement and flexibility that helps boost engagement,” Bianchi says. “When employees have multiple dining options, entertainment and activities to choose from during their downtime, they feel more taken care of and more connected to each other. It’s easy to meet up with colleagues for a quick coffee, grab dinner in small groups or catch a show together that naturally builds camaraderie outside the formal agenda.”

Incentive and team-building programs especially benefit from this setup. As Bianchi points out, the vibrant atmosphere and built-in amenities keep energy levels high and encourage people to stay onsite and participate fully. A casino resort can deliver that “something for everyone” feel that keeps attendees happy and engaged from start to finish.

Bianchi and her team at The Bridge Event Agency have planned multiple events at gaming resorts over the years. One example that comes to mind was a multi-day sales kickoff for a financial services company for about 400 attendees.

“We used the resort’s ballroom for general sessions and breakouts, and leveraged their restaurants for dine-arounds and networking receptions each night,” Bianchi says. “One of the highlights was a themed closing night party in one of the resort’s private clubs – the atmosphere kept the energy high, and the built-in entertainment made it feel special without needing extensive décor or outside vendors.”

To create the most successful gathering at a casino resort certain factors need to be taken into consideration.

The excitement and energy of the space, can lead to distractions. “Attendees might be tempted to skip sessions if they’re too drawn to the casino floor, so thoughtful scheduling and engaging content are key,” says Bianchi.

Also, consider your group’s culture and demographics. For some audiences, a casino vibe might feel too casual or not align with corporate policies.

“Work closely with your venue partners to understand security, age restrictions and how to manage group flow through public gaming areas,” Bianchi says. “With careful planning, a casino resort can offer a vibrant and memorable experience for everyone.”

Western destinations

When it comes to locations for gaming resorts, Las Vegas is number one. Many financial and insurance-based meetings turn to Caesars Entertainment, thanks to its array of gaming resorts dotting the region.

Caesars Forum is one of the most prominent venues to consider, with its 550,000 sf of space. The venue’s two pillarless ballrooms can each accommodate up to 10,000 attendees. Attendees can also have an outdoor event in the 100,000 sf Forum Plaza. Directly connected to Caesars Forum is Harrah’s Las Vegas, with freshly redesigned and remodeled accommodations for attendees and over 25,000 sf of meeting space.

At Caesars Palace, attendees and planners can revel in a five-star experience at every turn. The property features a two-story conference center as well as two pillarless 51,000 sf ballrooms.

Another key casino gaming enterprise that meeting planners turn to is MGM Resorts, thanks to its vast array of resorts. And to entice meeting planners to explore their resort offerings, MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy recently introduced a new program featuring benefits for meeting planners and attendees. MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas is also celebrating its recently announced expansive room remodel. Set to be completed in December 2025, the $300 million project will encompass all of the 4,212 rooms and suites within its main tower.

Meeting planner Cara Richardson, vice president of sourcing and services at Gallagher, says that Gallagher hosts a global sales and leadership meeting biannually to celebrate the company’s sales winners, provide an update on results for each of the divisions, share information on global customer offerings, update on the company’s technology roadmap and, most importantly, celebrate their culture. They received high marks on their final evening event when they invited the attendees to meet on the floor of the casino. The MGM properties in Las Vegas allow them to house all of their attendees within walking distance of the convention space, promoting interaction.

When planning events at gaming resorts, Richardson advises other financial and insurance planners to set expectations with attendees on attendance at hosted events. “Focus attendees on ways the conference provides opportunities to spend quality time with colleagues outside of an office environment,” she says.

For meeting planners looking to enhance the entertainment options available to attendees at casino resorts, they should check out Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. The casino resort recently introduced the ever-popular Swingers Las Vegas – the adults-only crazy golf club and immersive entertainment experience. The venue boasts four crazy golf courses, an old-school games arcade and plenty of other entertainment options for attendees to enjoy.

If the idea of meeting in stunning Lake Tahoe fits the bill, Caesars Entertainment is in the midst of transforming the former Harveys Lake Tahoe into Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe Hotel & Casino. Expected to be completed in the summer of 2026, this new 1.6 million sf resort will feature memorable amenities that will make any meeting or event truly shine.

Those seeking mountain meetings might opt for Monarch Casino Resort Spa in Black Hawk, Colorado, one of the newest “favorite” gaming resorts among planners. From an award-winning spa to expansive meeting spaces, the resort offers the ideal setting for everything from leadership retreats to full-scale conferences. In addition, attendees can enjoy 60,000 sf of gaming space and several onsite fine dining options, as well as an ever-changing entertainment lineup that will keep attendees engaged and delighted throughout their meeting or convention experience.

East Coast options

In Atlantic City, there are plenty of options, including Caesars Atlantic City Hotel & Casino and Harrah’s Resort & Casino Atlantic City, both of which offer ample accommodations for meetings of all sizes.

Caesars Entertainment recently announced that Tropicana Atlantic City will experience a rejuvenation in its accommodation with its all-new Solana Tower, which will boast new rooms and suites in the resort’s west wing and is projected to be completed in early 2026.

Opened last year, Caesars Virginia offers 50,000 sf of meeting and convention space, as well as a full-service spa, pool and a wealth of entertainment options for attendees to enjoy after meetings and events wrap up for the day.

Central New York is the home of Turning Stone Resort Casino, which offers 200,000 sf of meeting and event space, including a series of flexible, contiguous rooms for everything from breakout sessions to general meetings. In addition to offering an expansive gaming experience, Turning Stone also features three golf courses, two luxury spas and live music aplenty.

Joe Culver, executive director, meeting planner and chief operating officer for NYS Mortgage Bankers Association, says last year he orchestrated the organization’s largest annual event at Turning Stone, a conference they hold each year in September that allows attendees to come together with a variety of national, regional and local presenters focused on the mortgage banking industry, the housing market and other key issues.

“We’re obviously trying to grow in terms of not only the number of attendees, but with the facility itself as well and have all of the different options and amenities that a destination like Turning Stone offers to all of us. So, it makes it easy for somebody like me who’s trying to pick the right location, not only in terms of travel for attendees, but also a destination that will work for all of the different needs of our attendees,” Culver says.

Culver originally chose Turning Stone for its range of amenities and its reputation. The resort’s location is also absolutely ideal, as most of the attendees are traveling from Albany, Rochester and Buffalo for this event.

“In the mortgage banking industry, the majority of conferences are held at resort destinations that offer a blend of event facilities and other amenities for our attendees. Everyone wants that combination because our members can have a richer experience than just driving in, attending sessions, one or two places where they can have dinner and driving home,” Culver says. “Our attendees want resort options for golf, spas, gaming, dining. Turning Stone meets all of these needs with world-class golf courses, award-winning spas, casino gaming and entertainment. Plus, many of our attendees are also looking to book dinners with other members or entertain their local clients during the conference, so having dozens of restaurants onsite at Turning Stone is ideal.”

As a planner, Culver also appreciates the one-stop shopping approach to hosting an event at a gaming resort like Turning Stone.

“I don’t have to find multiple locations off-site where attendees can go to have dinner or have a good time after sessions. Everyone is welcome to venture outside the resort, but most of our members pull into the parking garage, settle into their room and just enjoy the destination for the duration of the event,” Culver says. “There’s something to do every day and night.”

To further meet the needs of meeting and event attendees, Turning Stone is undergoing a significant expansion to be completed in 2027. This expansion will double its existing conference and meeting space and add a new AAA Four Diamond hotel. When complete, it will make Turning Stone the largest conference facility in Upstate New York, and just one of three venues in New York State of its size and caliber. The expansion will double the resort’s meeting space with its new 165,000-sf conference and events center, including a 30,000-sf grand ballroom.

Florida delights

Florida is another go-to location for planners. Jordan Starks, executive producer at Coterie Spark, recently orchestrated the South Florida Funders Forum conference for her client, the Revenue Based Finance Coalition at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, FL.

“We held this small business financing multi-day annual conference at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, and the attendees enjoyed having options after conference hours,” says Starks. “The resort allows for them to choose the entertainment they like best. As planners, we love that they don’t have to go off property for anything. It makes it convenient. Not only is the team at the Hard Rock great to work with, you can’t beat having various dining and entertainment options under one roof. It’s the perfect fit for our conference.”

The resort’s 7,000-capacity Hard Rock Live venue is memorable place for attendees to experience the musical offerings that have earned the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino its reputation for exceptional entertainment. Of course, the resort’s iconic Guitar Hotel has become a recognizable landmark for attendees. And while there are music and other entertainment options aplenty for attendees to enjoy, the team-building experiences in the resort’s large water lagoon make memorable impressions on all who participate. Attendees can go canoeing or paddleboarding, network poolside or relax in a cabana.

Southwest charm

Arizona offers options aplenty for meeting planners. In Tucson’s Sonoran Desert, the Casino Del Sol Conference Center features 26,000 sf of function space that can host up to 1,900 attendees. To enjoy all the Sonoran Desert has to offer, the casino resort also features 10,000 sf of indoor/outdoor spaces where attendees can enjoy the best of both worlds – the stunning vistas surrounding the resort, as well as the beautiful environs of the resort itself.

Tucked among the Sonoran Desert and Red Mountains in Scottsdale, We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort offers a world-class conference facility. It has 167,000 sf of event space, including a 25,000 sf conference center, perfect for planners looking for a space for up to 2,000 attendees. For attendees wanting to try their hand at the many gaming options available, they will enjoy a 750-seat bingo hall, over 900 multi-dimensional slot machines and a variety of table games. For more adventurous attendees, the resort offers on-and off-site excursions and activities that will surprise and delight attendees.

Tropical adventure

For those ready for an exotic locale for their next event, Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas is a perfect choice. The oceanside resort offers more than 500,000 sf of indoor and outdoor flexible meeting space for financial and insurance gatherings. The resort boasts state-of-the-art technology plus an array of interactive experiences customizable for groups across its more than 60 unique meeting spaces. From outdoor venues to ballrooms to boardrooms, Atlantis Paradise can accommodate nearly every type of group and their specific needs. In addition, the resort’s wealth of built-in entertainment offerings, gaming and dining experiences offer a convenient way for attendees to “get away from it all” while in one convenient location.

What’s more, Atlantis Paradise Island provides the ideal setting for team-building experiences, including games and events, as well as leadership and problem-solving exercises in a fun, dynamic environment. The resort’s gaming, waterpark, golf course, escape room and spa seamlessly transition attendees from business to pleasure during and after long days of meetings, keeping attendees occupied without ever leaving the resort grounds. I&FMM