Not a big gambler? Atlantic City and Pennsylvania casinos are chock-full of quality non-gaming options. Below are some of our faves. You can also download a printable PDF of our complete casino cheat sheet, covering Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland.
Eat …

Rather than breaking out the Zagat guide or combing through online reviews, pick a single casino that embraces just about every dining option out there—and does it well. Consider the four cuisines typical of many casino resorts: Asian, Italian, steaks and seafood. Caesars has you covered on these and then some. With eight fine-dining options, it comes out on top as a foodie paradise.
Stephen Starr’s Buddakan franchise has an outpost here. We can’t get enough of the wasabi-crusted filet and the lobster fried rice. And for Asian of a different sort, try Souzai Sushi & Sake, where you can linger over maki and cocktails in an intimate setting. In the casino, Georges Perrier’s Mia is Mediterranean at its most spohisticated. Romanesque columns and soaring ceilings complete the package.
Diners in search of a name-brand experience are in luck at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, as some of TV chefdom’s biggest names have secured spots there. Bobby Flay Steak offers a sleek, sophisticated interior and revamped American steakhouse classics like the Philadelphia-style strip steak with a Provolone cheese sauce and caramelized onions. The nearby Wolfgang Puck American Grille is another carnivore’s delight, though the subtle Asian and Italian influences are a bit unexpected (in a good way). On the lighter side, its Pink Lady apple salad comes flecked with spicy almonds, fuyu persimmons and pomegranate seeds.
A boon for Bethlehem, the Sands Casino Resort features Emeril’s Chop House, which dishes out the obvious selection of chops and seafood, along with delicious alternatives like jambalaya pasta and New Orleans-style barbecued shrimp. Emeril’s Italian Table is the newest addition to the Sands, offering antipasti, artisanal cheeses, wood-burning pizzas and other rustic Italian fare.
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Revive …
For those in search of a little personal renewal, the salon and spa treatments are endless at this trio of resorts. Trump Taj Mahal’s Salon at the Taj has everything from eyelash extensions to permanent makeup, but the penultimate indulgences are the French Yon-Ka skin-and-body treatments, rated among the best in the world by French Vogue.
At Trump Plaza, the Skin Care Center offers the anti-aging IP5 Illuminating Peel, a high-performance exfoliator that promises to rapidly brighten and resurface facial skin.
After a day in the sun, head to the Crimzen Health Spa at Trump Marina for its Crimzen Ice treatment. Its cool aloe and essential oils soothe the burn and replenish the skin.
Up in the Poconos, The SPA at Mount Airy Casino Resort offers a Wet Room Body Treatment performed under a rainfall shower. And its Blue Velvet Wrap combines a thermal gel and velvet exfoliator, hydrating lotion, and acupressure on the face, scalp and feet.
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Shop …
The Tropicana is home to The Quarter, a 200,000-square-foot indoor shopping, dining and entertainment destination designed to evoke 1940s Cuba. Its domed ceiling and subtle lighting combine to replicate a gorgeous chunk of horizon at different times of day. Fans of Ardmore’s Bluemercury apothecary and spa have plenty to keep them busy at this location, while Accents will satisfy your Fendi, Cole Haan and Dooney & Bourke cravings. Also in residence: Chico’s, Caché, White House | Black Market, Francesca’s Collections, Godiva, Swarovski and Zephyr Gallery. Not your typical Cuban village, to say the least.
Sink your toes in the sand, relax in an old-fashioned wooden beach chair, and take in dramatic views of the Atlantic Ocean from the third floor of the Pier Shops at Caesars, the casino’s $175 million shopping, dining and entertainment complex. In the off-season, deals can be had here that will rival anything you’ll find at the outlets across town.
Celebrate …
The newest addition to Southeastern Pennsylvania’s gaming scene, SugarHouse offers a stunning view of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge from its sprawling waterfront patio. It hosts a bevy of events year-round, including the city’s New Year’s Eve bash.