The Missouri side of the St. Louis metro has four casinos, and they sit at the four points of the map. Horseshoe is downtown under the Gateway Arch. River City is ten miles south in Lemay. Hollywood is out west at Maryland Heights near the airport. Ameristar is north-west across the river in St. Charles. All four began life under Missouri's riverboat gaming rules, but they now play very different roles. Players must be 21.
Side by side
| Horseshoe St. Louis | River City | Hollywood St. Louis | Ameristar St. Charles | |
| Where | Downtown riverfront, by the Arch | Lemay, about 10 miles south | Maryland Heights, west, near the airport | St. Charles, north-west |
| Slots | 1,400 | About 2,000 | 2,000+ | About 1,500 |
| Table games | 55 | 55 | 60+ | Tables and two VIP rooms |
| Poker | 10-table WSOP room | Low-stakes room | 20 tables | Check schedule |
| Stay | Downtown hotel | Hotel | 502 rooms and suites, airport shuttle | Four Diamond hotel |
| Google rating | 3.9, 12,000+ reviews | 4.1, nearly 10,000 reviews | 3.9, 9,500+ reviews | 4.2, 14,800+ reviews |
Horseshoe St. Louis: downtown under the Arch
Horseshoe is the city's downtown casino. Caesars renamed it from Lumière Place in May 2022, and many directions still use the old name. It carries 1,400 slots and 55 table games, a strong count that reflects convention and hotel visitors who play tables more than a local machine crowd does. The WSOP poker room runs 10 tables with daily cash games and tournaments. Choose it if you are staying downtown and want to walk. Horseshoe review.
River City: the locals' favourite
River City in Lemay is the most-searched casino in Missouri, and its 4.1 rating sits just behind Ameristar St. Charles. About 90,000 square feet hold roughly 2,000 slots and 55 tables, and the pit tends to keep more games open on weeknights than its neighbours. Its poker room is deliberately low-stakes, with $1/$3 no-limit and $4/$8 limit Hold'em, which makes it the friendliest room for beginners. Parking is easy and there is no weekend crush. River City review.
Hollywood St. Louis: the airport resort
Hollywood at Maryland Heights is the St. Louis casino built to stay in. It has 455 rooms and 47 suites less than eight miles from Lambert International, with a free airport shuttle. The floor carries more than 2,000 slots and over 60 tables, and two features stand out: the 20-table poker room, the main room on the Missouri side, and a dedicated Asian gaming room for baccarat and pai gow, unusual for the Midwest. Hollywood review.
Ameristar St. Charles: the space and the rating
Ameristar is the largest casino property in the metro and, at 4.2, the best-rated casino in Missouri. Its 130,000 square feet of gaming hold about 1,500 machines, so the floor is far less crowded than most Midwest casinos and noticeably easier to move around. It adds two VIP rooms and a AAA Four Diamond hotel. The table and poker schedule varies by shift, so check before driving out for a specific game. Ameristar St. Charles review.
Which one to choose
- Walkable from downtown hotels: Horseshoe.
- Low-stakes poker or a weeknight table: River City.
- The biggest poker room, or a flight to catch: Hollywood.
- Space, comfort and the best rating: Ameristar St. Charles.
Frequently asked questions
How many casinos are in St. Louis?
Four on the Missouri side of the metro: Horseshoe St. Louis, River City, Hollywood St. Louis and Ameristar St. Charles.
What is the best casino in St. Louis?
Ameristar St. Charles is the best-rated casino in Missouri at 4.2. River City rates 4.1 and is the most-searched.
Is Lumière Place still open?
It is now Horseshoe St. Louis. Caesars renamed it in May 2022.
How old do you have to be to gamble in St. Louis casinos?
For sweepstakes options you can play from home in Missouri, see our best sweepstakes casinos in Missouri guide.
