From Poker to Roulette to Slots: Where to Gamble when You're Traveling

Las Vegas and Atlantic City are not the only places to find gambling action these days. The savvy traveler can hit the jackpot of fun and excitement across the United States and beyond.

In the South, even those casinos that were hard hit by Katrina are beginning to reopen, with Beau Rivage and the Grand Casino Biloxi to open next month in Mississippi.In New Orleans, Harrah's has recently reopened, signaling its return by hosting the World Poker championship. Or, inject a little romance into your game by trying your hand at being a New Orleans riverboat gambler. the 30,000 foot Boomstown riverboat casino is open 24 hours a day, with 1,500 slot machines, a low-stakes poker room and the Pinnacle Room for those who want the thrill of higher stakes. Other states also provide riverboat gambling, including Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

You can also take your gambling chances in the South on the Cherokee Indian Reservation in the beautiful North Carolina mountains. Here, Harrah's provides the action. Only video gaming is allowed, but with 3,500 machines, the action may be virtual but the excitement is very real. And you have the added satisfaction that your gambling money provides much-needed employment and such facilities as a dialysis clinic and a health and fitness center for the Cherokee nation.

In addition to the Cherokee, Native American tribes operate casinos in 28 states, and are a good bet for any gambler on the go. From high-stakes Bingo in Alabama to casinos in many states not normally noted for their gambling activity, such as Connecticut, Michigan, Maine, and Minnesota, the reservations offer a wide variety of gaming activity. The laws vary from state to state, so you might want to do a little research so you know what to expect.

Want another way to travel and gamble outside the usual casino loop? Book a gambling cruise.
These cruises include newly popular "Cruises to Nowhere" which take passengers out past the mandatory three-mile limit from shore for a day or a weekend of gaming. But they also include most of the popular cruise ships for extended journeys, such as Crystal Cruises', which feature "Caesar's At Sea," ocean-going versions of the Las Vegas favorite. On these ships, you can get your fill of blackjack, baccarat, roulette, craps, and all the usual gambling choices. If you prefer to spend more money at the tables or the slots than on the cruise itself, the mainstream lines, such as Carnival, Holland, and Princess, also have onboard casinos. A lot of the players on cruise ships tend to be novices, and the playing is more focused on fun and more relaxed as a rule than at many of the onland casinos.

Between the traditional casinos in places like Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and Biloxi, the reservation gaming, and the riverboats, gaming is now legal in over half the 50 states. So, for the traveling gambler, that means you're probably never too far from the next game, no matter where you are.