Casino Camping for Non-Gamblers
When we first started fulltiming, about 5 years ago, I was surprised to learn that some people who camp or park at casinos never gamble. Gambling had been a hobby of ours for many years so it seemed odd to us, but since then we’ve met many RVers who do this. Why do they visit casinos? They tell me it’s all about the free parking, and free or low cost camping.
Not all casino camping is free or low cost, but much of it is. Here are a few examples, from some locations that I’ve recently updated or added to our list:
- Isle of Capri, Lake Charles, LA has both free overnight parking without hookups and $10/night with electric
- Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino, Sunland Park, NM offers RV sites with water and electric for $10/night and has a dump station on site.
- Win-River Casino, Redding, CA gives you 3 nights free dry parking.
Sometimes casinos require play to receive discounts in their RV parks, and rates change too, so if you see a low price advertised it’s good to inquire before you start your trip. We’ve also seen the opposite, where a casino gives you “free play” or a cash rebate in return for staying in their campground. This is often as much as 50% off the price of camping. Their intention of course is to get you into the casino.
Free play has to be run through a machine before you can cash it out. If they give you $10 free play pick a machine, then figure how many hands you have to play to equal $10. Play exactly that many hands and cash out whatever you have in winnings. You might lose the whole $10, or hit a jackpot, but on average you’ll cash out a little less than $5.
Cash rebates are easier. Normally they require you to sign up for a player’s card and then visit the cashier’s cage to receive your rebate.
Whatever the deal is, be sure to ask questions and fully understand the “fine print”.
Happy travels, and good luck in the casinos.
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Whom needs to gamble?? The government is taking enough already——I don’t need any help!
Yes, I know, some people do it for sport, fun, etc. Some make a living that way, too! However, like I first stated————————–. 
Nice article. I have bookmarked your site. I always wondered how the casino camping worked. I’m not a gambler but I’ll do what it takes to stay for free or at a reduced rate.
We just camped at BorderTown Casino in Seneca, MO for $9.00 for 3 nights, full hookups. You read it right! You pay $9.00 for one, two or thee nights of camping plus they give you a 2 for 1 meal in their restaurant worth up to $10.00 and if you sign up for their card in the casino, you get $5.00 in promotional play. The RV park is basically on a parking lot but you have water, electric and sewer. The staff was very courteous. They had a Cushman shuttle going all the time and the casino itself was very clean. We were impressed.
My wife and I are not particularly big gamblers, but at the Indian casinos in Oklahoma the available camping is not cheap by any means. We looked at casino camping in both Durant OK and Ardmore OK – both were more than staying at near by Lake Murray or Chickasaw NRA.
We do not gamble, but on the road we make overnight stops at Casinos because the food is good! We shuttle regularly between Fresno, CA and Florence, OR and a routine dining stop is at the Seven Feathers Casino in Canyonville, Oregon. They have a very nice campground for those who want to spend some time sightseeing or gambling, and a free RV parking lot for overnighters.
Good info…thanks…though we like to play the slots within our limits, we usually don’t because the cigarette smoke is not only unhealthy but makes our clothes stink…so if anyone knows of any non-smoking casinos post a list in response, but there probably aren’t any (in Iowa they have no-smoking sections, sandwiched inbetween the smoking areas, not at all effective!
Grand Sierra Resort and Casino doesn’t mind RV’s parking in their lot, even if you aren’t gambling. You have to boondock if you want to park though. I spent 4 nights there last year. No problems, No hassles.
I forgot to mention for those who might not know, Grand Sierra Resort is in Reno, Nevada near the Hwy. 80/Hwy. 395 split.
Cathy, wow $3 a night for FHU that’s awesome!
Robert, you have a point. The RV park at Durant (if I’m not mistaken) is a KOA vs. being operated by the casino. That can make a difference.
Ruth, we like 7 feathers too and the truck stop has good prices on RV tires.
Happy travels all, and good luck in the casinos,
Mac
I think that you are correct. Non-gamblers chose casinos because they are conducive to RV travel/boondocking. Same is true for Walmart. But, in both cases, good etiquette would tell you to patronize both businesses.
“Pat on November 7th, 2009 9:58 pm
Good info…thanks…though we like to play the slots within our limits, we usually don’t because the cigarette smoke is not only unhealthy but makes our clothes stink…so if anyone knows of any non-smoking casinos post a list in response, but there probably aren’t any (in Iowa they have no-smoking sections, sandwiched inbetween the smoking areas, not at all effective!”
Reply to Pat’s post – As meandering fulltimers , we casino camp all over the country and know exactly what you mean. Some casino are better than others. High ceilings and good ventilation helps a lot but the smoke still manages to drift everywhere. However we have found one that’s really good. It’s the Muckleshoot Casino in Auburn Washington. The nonsmoking section is large and is almost a separate building. I think that it may have been the original building and when they added to the casino this area became nonsmoking. The two sections are connected by a wide corridor with a few bends and we’ve never noticed any smoke smell in the nonsmoking section. There’s a fairly large section of the parking lot where RVers park. It’s not specifically marked but there are usually a few RVs parked there. We have stayed for three days in a row but I don’t know the official policy for overnight parking is.
Hi Karen,
I think all the casinos in Illinois are non-smoking. They have outdoor smoking areas like those rooms at airports, but open so that the smoke goes out vs. all drifting back inside the building. There are others too, but I’m drawing a blank.
I might start identifying Smoke Free casinos in some way on my website, maybe with an icon.
We seldom gamble, but we have stayed overnight in many casino parking lots. We always hit the buffets, and enjoy people watching.