Welcome to Golfweek’s Best Casino Courses in the United States.

One of the finest riverboat casinos can be found at the Isle of Capri Casino Lake Charles. The wide selection of rooms to stay in overnight include the Tower King, Tower Queen, Parlor Suite,. Best Casino Lake Charles La the moment players can pick and choose from a wide array of sites. When things got fascinating in Canada was in 2010, when several of the individual provinces altered the language of their gaming regulations to allow for regulated online real money offerings.

This list focuses on courses owned and/or operated by casinos, with data pulled from Golfweek‘s massive database of course rankings. (Pictured atop this story is No. 5 We-Ko-Pa’s Saguaro Course, with the photo courtesy of We-Ko-Pa/Lonna Tucker.)

There was only one change in the top 10 of this list from 2019, with The Preserve in Vancleave, Mississippi, moving to No. 10 on the list, replacing Spirit Hollow in Burlington, Iowa, which slid down a spot to No. 11. There were several shuffles in the next 40 courses, including several courses new or returning to the list.

The hundreds of members of Golfweek‘s course-ratings panel continually evaluate courses and rate them based on our 10 criteria. They also file a single, overall rating on each course. Those overall ratings on each course are averaged to produce a final rating for each that is then used to compile the Golfweek’s Best course rankings.

Each course is listed with its 2019 ranking in parenthesis, an average ranking from all the Golfweek Raters who reviewed it, its location, architect(s) and the year it opened.

For more of our rankings in different categories, click below:

Golfweek’s Best Classic CoursesGolfweek’s Best Modern CoursesGolfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play, state by stateGolfweek’s Best Campus CoursesGolfweek’s Best Private Courses, state by stateGolfweek’s Best Classic Courses in Great Britain and IrelandGolfweek’s Best Modern Courses in Great Britain and Ireland

Casino Courses 1-10

Kyoung-Hoon Lee plays the 18th hole at Shadow Creek during the PGA Tour’s CJ Cup in October in North Las Vegas, Nevada. (Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

1. (1. in 2019) Shadow Creek, 8.09

North Las Vegas, Nev.; Tom Fazio; 1990

2. (2.) Fallen Oak, 7.24

Saucier, Miss.; Tom Fazio; 2006

3. (3.) Greenbrier (Old White), 6.86

White Sulphur Springs, W.Va.; Charles Blair Macdonald, Seth Raynor, Lester George; 1914

4. (4.) French Lick Resort (Pete Dye Course), 6.74

French Lick, Ind.; Pete Dye; 2009

5. (5.) We-Ko-Pa (Saguaro), 6.68

Fort McDowell, Ariz.; Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw; 2006

T-6. (6.) Salish Cliffs, 6.54

Shelton, Wash.; Gene Bates; 2011

T-6. (7.) The Wilderness at Fortune Bay, 6.54

Tower, Minn; Jeff Brauer; 2004

8. (8.) Barona Creek, 6.50

Lakeside, Calif.; Gary Roger Baird, Todd Eckenrode; 2001

9. (9.) Nemacolin Woodlands (Mystic Rock), 6.44

Farmington, Pa.; Pete Dye; 1995

10. (11.) The Preserve, 6.41

Vancleave, Miss.; Jerry Pate; 2005

Casino Courses 11-20

Ak-Chin Southern Dunes in Maricopa, Arizona (Courtesy of Ak-Chin Southern Dunes)

11. (10.) Spirit Hollow, 6.30

Burlington, Iowa; Rick Jacobson; 2000

12. (14.) Ak-Chin Southern Dunes, 6.27

Maricopa, Ariz.; Brian Curley, Lee Schmidt; 2002

13. (12.) Turning Stone Resort (Atunyote), 6.26

Verona, N.Y.; Tom Fazio; 2004

14. (15.) Edgewood Tahoe, 6.24

Tahoe, Nev.; George Fazio; 1968

15. (17.) Firekeeper, 6.22

Mayetta, Kan.; Jeff Brauer, Notah Begay; 2011

16. (13.) French Lick Resort (Donald Ross), 6.21

French Lick, Ind.; Donald Ross; 1917

17. (16.) We-Ko-Pa (Cholla), 6.18

Fort McDowell, Ariz.; Scott Miller; 2001

18. (19.) Yocha Dehe at Cache Creek Casino, 6.16

Brooks, Calif.; Brad Bell; 2008

19. (21.) Circling Raven, 6.06

Worley, Idaho; Gene Bates; 2003

T-20. (20.) Island Resort and Casino (Sweetgrass), 6.03

Harris, Mich.; Paul Albanese; 1976

T-20. (18.) Meadows at Mystic Lake, 6.03

Prior Lake, Minn.; Garrett Gill, Paul Miller; 2005

Casino Courses 21-30

Sandia Golf Club in Albuquerque, N.M. (Courtesy of Sandia)

22. (22.) Sandia, 6.02

Albuquerque, N.M.; Scott Miller; 2005

23. (23.) Tatanka, 5.94

Niobrara, Neb.; Paul Albanese; 2015

24. (24.) Lake of Isles (North), 5.93

North Stonington, Conn.; Rees Jones; 2005

T-25. (25.) The Greenbrier (Greenbrier), 5.88

White Sulphur Springs, W.Va.; Seth Raynor, Jack Nicklaus; 1924

T-25. (26.) Sewailo 5.88

Tucson, Ariz.; Ty Butler, Notah Begay; 2013

T-27. (29.) Turning Stone Resort (Shenendoah), 5.81

Verona, N.Y.; Rick Smith; 2000

T-27. (32.) Blue Top Ridge, 5.81

Riverside, Iowa; Rees Jones; 2007

T-29. (28.) Journey at Pechanga, 5.79

Temecula, Calif.; Arthur Hills, Steve Forrest; 2008

T-29. (37.) Eagle Falls 5.79

Indio, Calif.; Clive Clark; 2008

Casino Courses 31-40

Kalispel Golf and Country Club in Spokane, Wash. (Courtesy of Kalispel)

31. (30.) Kalispel, 5.77

Spokane, Wash.; Jim Barnes, Robert Johnstone; 1910

32. (35.) Dancing Rabbit (Oaks), 5.75

Philadelphia, Miss.; Tom Fazio, Jerry Pate; 1999

33. (27.) Belterra 5.74

Florence, Ind.; Tom Fazio; 2001

34. (36.) Apache Stronghold, 5.73

San Carlos, Ariz.; Tom Doak; 1999

T-35. (38.) Turning Stone Resort (Kaluhyat), 5.72

Verona, N.Y.; Robert Trent Jones Jr. 2003

T-35. (34.) Talking Stick (O’odham, formerly North), 5.72

Scottsdale, Ariz.; Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw; 1998

37. (33.) Dancing Rabbit (Azaleas), 5.71

Philadelphia, Miss.; Tom Fazio, Jerry Pate; 1997

38. (39.) Sequoyah National, 5.67

Whittier, N.C.; Robert Trent Jones Jr. 2009

39. (40.) Thornberry Creek at Oneida, 5.66

Oneida, Wis.; Rick Jacobson; 2004

40. (41.) Inn of the Mountain Gods, 5.57

Mescalero, N.M.; Ted Robinson; 1976

Casino Courses 41-50

Bali Hai Golf Club in Las Vegas (Courtesy of Bali Hai)

41. (42.) The Links at Rolling Hills (formerly Sevillano Links), 5.53

Lake Charles Hotels And Casinos

Corning, Calif.; Mike Stark; 2007

42. (43.) Shell Landing, 5.52

Gautier, Miss.; Davis Love III; 2002

43. (45.) Whirlwind (Cattail), 5.48

Chandler, Ariz.; Gary Panks; 2002

44. (46.) Talking Stick (Piipaash, formerly South), 5.47

Scottsdale, Ariz.; Bill Coore, Ben Crenshaw; 1998

45. (47.) Whirlwind (Devil’s Claw), 5.46

Chandler, Ariz.; Gary Panks; 2000

46. (48.) Mohegan Sun, 5.32

Baltic, Conn.; Geoffrey S.; Cornish, Stephen Kay, Robert McNeil; 1960

47.* Contraband Bayou GC at L’Auberge, 5.30

Lake Charles, La.; Tom Fazio; 2003

48. (49.) Cherokee Hills, 5.16

Tulsa; Perry Maxwell, Tripp Davis; 1924

49.* Bali Hai, 5.14

Las Vegas; Brian Curley, Lee E. Schmidt; 2000

T-50. (50.) Windance, 5.11

Gulfport, Miss.; Mark McCumber; 1986

T-50.* The Bridges GC at Hollywood Casino, 5.11

Bay St. Louis, Miss.; Arnold Palmer, Ed Seay; 2006

*New to or rejoins the list

Many people will be visiting a casino this summer, whether on a trip to Vegas, on a cruise ship, or just at a local casino during a 'staycation.'

But before you go, you may want to know which games give you the best chance of winning.

So we went behind the scene at two casinos, and spoke with the game managers, to find out which games give you an edge.

Table Games Your Best Bet

Jay Bean, a Caesar's floor manager, agreed to sit down with us and talk about the games with the best odds.

He said many people don't realize that table games have much better odds than slots. They are intimidated by thoughts of card sharks taking their money, with images of an intense Texas Hold 'Em tournament in their minds, and so they stick with the safe games: the slots.

But they are doing themselves a disservice, he said.

Bean's advice? After you've spent some time on the slot machines, move on to the Blackjack table, and start by just observing.

1. Blackjack

Blackjack has the best odds of winning, with a house edge of just 1 percent in most casinos, Bean said.

Plus, you are playing against only the dealer, not hooded poker champions.

'Blackjack is one of our easiest games to play,' Bean said. 'You're just looking for a number that beats the dealer's number without going over 21.'

If you're a novice, Bean said to sit down during a less busy time, such as the afternoon, and the dealer will walk you through the game.

But the same is not true with poker: You should practice the game with your friends first, at home, Bean said, until you are comfortable with it. Bean said novices are best off passing on the poker tables, where yes, the competition can be tough.

You can find out more information about the game of blackjack at the following link:
http://wizardofodds.com/games/blackjack/

Lake Charles Casinos Map

2. Craps

So from the Blackjack table, he suggests moving on to the dice game Craps, the game with the second best odds, also nearly 50-50.

The Craps table can be a bit intimidating for the beginner with all the boxes on the table, Bean admitted. But it's really not tough, and it has one of your best chances of winning. In the end, all you are really doing is betting on a dice roll.

For more information on craps, visit:
http://wizardofodds.com/games/craps/

3. Roulette

Bean said your next stop should be the Roulette wheel. It's simple, and pays fairly well.

'So you bet on your favorite numbers,' Bean said. 'The dealer spins, and if your number comes in you win.'

If you stick to betting on just Reds or Blacks, you have nearly a 50-50 chance of walking away a winner. If it lands on red when you choose red, you will double your bet, Bean explained.

While it may seem you have an even chance of winning by simply choosing a color, there is one catch that gives the house its edge: the extra green 0 and 00 position on the wheel. It's on all American roulette wheels.

Or, if you feel lucky, play just one number. It's hard to win, but if you do it pays out 36 to 1.

For more information on roulette, visit:
http://wizardofodds.com/games/roulette/

Worst Odds

Your worst odds? The casinos, understandably, did not want to talk about games with poor odds.

So we turned to Forbes Magazine, which in a report about Best Bets at the Casino, said two popular games -- the Wheel of Fortune and the ever-popular slot machines -- have the lowest odds of winning, with a house edge of 10 percent or more.

The Experts Agree

Professor of Analytics Michael Magazine has crunched the numbers, and agreed that blackjack is the best way to go home with money in your pockets. He said if you take a little time to learn the game, you have the best odds of winning.

'You are somewhere between 44 percent to 48 percent in every single hand of winning,' he said, noting that no other casino game gives you odds that good.

But Magazine cautioned that he's not promoting gambling, because he said even games with the best odds still favor the house.

'Play it long enough and you will lose. In the long term the house doesn't lose,' Magazine said.

If You Love The Slots....

Finally, if you really enjoy playing the slots, here is some good information to know, from state casino reports we examined.

With slots, the more money you put in per bet, the higher your chance of winning. If you put the max in a penny machine, which is usually around 50 cents, you have much better odds than if you put in 2 cents.

In addition, penny slots have the lowest odds, with $1 and $5 slots paying much better.

Always gamble responsibly, and don't waste your money.
__________________________

You can learn more about specific odds of slots machines in each state that has casino gambling by visiting the American Casino Guide.

Don't Waste Your Money is a registered trademark of the EW Scripps Co.

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