Walk into some Vegas hotels and you immediately feel that thick, recycled air and the aggressive "ding-ding-ding" of a thousand slot machines fighting for your soul. Aria is different. It’s quieter. It smells like vanilla and luxury. Because of that sleek, glass-heavy architecture, people often wander in and wonder, does Aria have a casino, or is this just a really fancy LEED-certified office building?
Yes, it has one. A massive one.
But it’s tucked away in a way that feels intentional. Aria wasn’t built like the old-school joints where you have to walk through a maze of blackjack tables just to find the elevators. It’s part of the CityCenter complex, a $9 billion experiment in urban density that almost went bankrupt during the Great Recession. Today, it’s the crown jewel of the MGM Resorts portfolio, sitting right between the Cosmopolitan and Park MGM.
The Gaming Floor: More Than Just Slots
When you finally find the casino floor—which covers about 150,000 square feet—you realize it’s not just a gambling hall. It’s a tech marvel. The ceiling is high. The air filtration system is so good you barely notice the smoke, which is a huge win if you aren’t a fan of smelling like an ashtray for three days.
They have everything. We’re talking over 1,600 slot machines. They’ve got the classics like Wheel of Fortune and the newer, giant-screened monstrosities that look like spaceships. But the real draw for serious players is the table games. There are around 145 tables featuring blackjack, craps, baccarat, and various types of poker.
Wait. Let’s talk about the poker room.
If you follow professional poker, you know Aria is basically "The Office" for guys like Phil Ivey or Daniel Negreanu. The Aria Poker Room is legendary. It’s home to 24 tables and the famous "Table 1," a high-stakes area where the blinds are high enough to buy a mid-sized sedan in a single hand. It’s arguably the best place in the world to watch world-class poker players in their natural habitat.
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The High Limit Experience
Aria leans hard into the "whales" (high rollers). They have multiple high-limit lounges. The Carbone High Limit Lounge is a specific vibe—it’s named after the famous Italian restaurant on-site. Then there’s the Deuce Lounge, which feels more like a club than a casino.
I’ve seen people drop $50,000 on a single hand of baccarat here without blinking. It’s a different world. If you're wondering, does Aria have a casino that caters to the average Joe? Sure. You can find $15 or $25 blackjack tables during the day, but at night or on weekends? Good luck finding anything under $50.
Why the Casino Feels "Hidden"
The architecture of Aria, designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli, is all about curves and light. Unlike the Caesars Palace or the MGM Grand, where the casino floor is the literal sun around which everything else orbits, Aria’s floor feels integrated.
You enter through the valet or the tram station and you’re greeted by water features and massive art installations. The "Maya Lin" silver casting of the Colorado River hangs over the registration desk. You don’t hit the slots until you want to. Honestly, it’s refreshing. It treats you like a guest first and a gambler second.
The Tech Factor
Aria is famously one of the most technologically advanced hotels in the world. This extends to the casino. The slot machines use a sophisticated tracking system, and the "M life" (now MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy) rewards integration is seamless. You use your room key or your digital card, and the machines recognize you instantly.
Even the lighting adjusts based on the time of day to keep you energized. It’s subtle, but it works.
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Beyond the Tables: What Else is There?
If you get bored of losing money at the craps table, Aria is basically a small city. You have some of the best food on the Strip.
- Din Tai Fung: World-famous dumplings.
- Jean Georges Steakhouse: High-end meat and a ridiculous wine list.
- Bardot Brasserie: Michael Mina’s take on a French cafe.
And then there's the pool. The Aria Pool Deck is three distinct pools surrounded by cabanas. It’s not a "day club" vibe where people are throwing champagne—it’s more "I’m rich and I want to nap in the sun."
Liquid Pool Lounge
Okay, I lied a little. There is a party pool called Liquid, but it’s smaller and more upscale than the madness you’ll find at Wynn or Marquee. It’s for the 20-somethings who prefer deep house over Top 40 remixes.
The Neighborhood Factor
Aria sits in CityCenter. This means you are connected to Vdara (which has no casino—important distinction!), Waldorf Astoria (also no casino), and the Crystals shopping mall.
If you’re staying at Vdara and asking "does Aria have a casino," it’s because Aria is your "home" casino. Vdara guests usually walk the five minutes over to Aria to gamble because Vdara is a non-gaming, non-smoking sanctuary. It’s a great combo: sleep in the quiet, gamble in the chaos next door.
Real Talk: The Pros and Cons
Look, no place is perfect.
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The Good:
The dealers are generally more professional here than at the budget spots. They know the game, they move fast, and they don't tolerate nonsense. The cocktail service is top-tier. If you’re playing, the drinks are high-quality—you aren't getting bottom-shelf well drinks.
The Bad:
It’s expensive. Everything. A bottle of water at the gift shop might cost you $9. The table minimums can be intimidating for casual tourists. If you want a $5 blackjack table, go to Downtown Vegas or the OYO. You won't find it here.
Expert Strategy for Visiting Aria
If you’re heading to the Aria casino, don't just walk in and start pulling levers.
First, sign up for the MGM Rewards program before you touch a machine. Even if you only plan to play for an hour, the points add up for "comps" (free stuff). Second, check the "triple-zero" roulette. Avoid it. Aria has it, and the house edge is terrible. Look for the double-zero or, if you’re in the high-limit room, the single-zero wheels.
Finally, use the tram. It’s free. It connects Aria to Bellagio and Park MGM. It saves your feet and lets you hop between casinos if the luck isn't hitting at Aria.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Trip
- Download the MGM Rewards App: Do this before you arrive to track your play and check for room offers.
- Check the Poker Calendar: If you’re a poker player, use the Bravo Poker Live app to see what games are running at Aria in real-time.
- Walk the Art Gallery: Spend 20 minutes looking at the public art around the casino floor; it’s actually world-class (Henry Moore, Maya Lin, etc.).
- Target Mid-Week: If you want lower table minimums, visit on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning. You might find $15 or $25 tables then.
- Stay at Vdara if you hate smoke: You get all the perks of the Aria casino with a 5-minute walk, but you sleep in a smoke-free building.
Aria represents the "New Vegas." It’s glass, steel, and high-end tech. It definitely has a casino, but it doesn't let the gambling define the entire experience. It’s a place for people who want to gamble in a suit, not a Hawaiian shirt. Whether you’re there for the $100k baccarat or just to see what a $9 billion resort looks like, the casino floor is the heart of the machine.