For Good + Deals, with Nick and Kristie
Casino Facts by State
21+ in most places (18+ at Rhode Island casinos). Gambling can be harmful. This site gives facts about visiting casinos, not gambling advice, and nothing here predicts or promises winning. Help: 1-800-MY-RESET (formerly 1-800-GAMBLER), free and confidential, 24/7, ncpgambling.org.

First-time casino visit: a fact checklist

This checklist uses the nine casinos with detailed pages (Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maine). For other states see the state pages.

This is logistics, not strategy. We do not give betting tips, and nothing here predicts or promises winnings. Everything below is attributed to a casino, regulator or the IRS.

  1. Check the age rule. Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maine casinos listed here are 21+; Rhode Island's two casinos admit 18+. At Foxwoods you cannot enter the floor on your 21st birthday until 6 am. Foxwoods FAQ · RI Lottery
  2. Bring valid, unexpired government photo ID. Foxwoods lists driver's license, military ID, passport or state ID with photo and birth date, and does not combine several IDs to make one acceptable. Other casinos also require valid ID. Foxwoods FAQ
  3. Know the smoking rules before you pick a casino. See the comparison table: several are indoor non-smoking; Bally's Rhode Island casinos have both smoking and non-smoking areas. Compare
  4. Join the free rewards card only if you want it. Programs are free; you need ID and often must join in person (Mohegan Sun). Read what the card tracks and the expiry rules. Rewards page
  5. Decide your limit before you walk in. Mohegan Sun's responsible-gaming page suggests treating gambling like a concert or dinner out and not expecting your money back, and not assuming you are on a lucky streak. Mohegan Sun responsible gaming
  6. Know the tools. Self-exclusion programs, where we found one on a regulator page, are described state by state, and scope and rules differ. See the programs
  7. Taxes on winnings. Casinos report some winnings to the IRS on Form W-2G; for 2026 the IRS says the reporting threshold for bingo, keno and slot winnings is $2,000. Gambling winnings can be taxable even without a form. This is general information, not tax advice; ask a tax professional. IRS W-2G instructions · Foxwoods members can view win/loss statements in their Rewards account (FAQ).
  8. Plan the trip. Parking, hotel and getting-there details are on each casino page. MGM Springfield is steps from Springfield Union Station (CTrail), and Encore lists shuttles, boats and motor coaches from Boston. MGM Springfield · Encore parking page
  9. Don't drive impaired and don't gamble to chase losses. If gambling stops being fun, call or text 1-800-MY-RESET.