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For Georgia residents with an interest in casino games, the options within the state are limited. This reality has made the casino road trip a popular pastime, offering a change of scenery and access to entertainment not available at home. These trips lead to destinations with bustling casino floors, providing a distinct atmosphere of sights and sounds.
This physical experience differs significantly from the convenience of online casinos, which travelers might explore once they are in a state where they are legal. Instead of being tied to a casino building, a visitor could use an app from their hotel room, often looking for a specific bet365 casino bonus code or other introductory offers unique to the digital space. This guide outlines the best road trip destinations for Atlanta gamers and explains how to play legally once you get there.
Understanding how to play legally
The concept of “playing legally” for a Georgia resident involves two distinct scenarios. The first and most straightforward is traveling to a physical, brick-and-mortar casino in a neighboring state. Once you are on the property, you can participate in any of their available games. The second scenario involves online casinos. It is important to understand that you cannot play on real-money sites from Georgia.
However, if you travel to a state where online casinos are legal, such as New Jersey or Pennsylvania, you can then legally play on their licensed apps and websites. These platforms use sophisticated geolocation technology, which uses GPS, Wi-Fi, and other data to confirm your device is physically inside the state’s borders. If you are not within the legal jurisdiction, the service will not work.
Destination: the North Carolina mountains
A popular and relatively short drive from Atlanta, the mountains of North Carolina offer a significant gaming destination. The trip is straightforward and takes you through scenic parts of the Southern Appalachians, making the journey part of the experience.
Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort is the primary destination in this region. The drive from Atlanta typically takes under three hours, making it an ideal choice for a weekend trip. The resort offers a comprehensive experience, featuring a large casino floor, a hotel, diverse dining options, and entertainment venues. The atmosphere is reminiscent of a mountain lodge, with the added energy of a casino.
The casino floor itself offers a wide selection of gaming options for visitors. You can expect to find:
- Thousands of slot machines, including video poker.
- Live table games, including Blackjack, Craps, and Roulette.
- A dedicated World Series of Poker room.
- Electronic table games for a modern approach.
This destination is well-suited for those who want a focused resort experience in a unique, non-urban setting.
Destination: the Mississippi Blues & Gulf Coast
For those willing to drive a bit further, the state of Mississippi presents two major casino hubs, each with a different character. The drive to either the Tunica area or the Gulf Coast city of Biloxi is around five and a half to six hours from Atlanta, making it a longer but rewarding road trip.
Biloxi and the Gulf Coast offer a stretch of multiple casino resorts right on the water. This provides a Vegas-style experience with numerous properties to choose from, including the Beau Rivage, Hard Rock, and Harrah’s Gulf Coast. You can easily move between different casinos, each with its own theme and selection of games. This area combines casino gaming with the attractions of a coastal town.
Tunica, located south of Memphis, was once one of the largest casino destinations in the country. While some properties have closed, major resorts like the Gold Strike remain. Tunica offers a more concentrated casino experience, with a primary focus on gaming. This destination is for the serious gamer who wants to explore large casino floors with a wide variety of table games and slots.
The online option, and where it’s available
While North Carolina and Mississippi offer physical casinos, they do not currently have legal online casinos that provide real-money gaming. The online option becomes available only when your travels take you to states like Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or Michigan. If you find yourself in one of these states, you can use your phone or laptop to access the digital gaming world.
The primary benefit of this is convenience. After a long day of sightseeing or other activities, you can play from your hotel room without needing to go back to a crowded casino floor. The game selection online can also be immense, with hundreds of digital slots and table games available at your fingertips. It is a different way to enjoy the same type of entertainment, but only within the legal boundaries of a state that permits it.
