Caesars Southern Indiana Review for June 2026

There is a running joke in Louisville, Kentucky that the state's best casino is technically not in Kentucky at all. Caesars Southern Indiana sits on the Indiana side of the Ohio River, just 20 minutes from downtown Louisville, in a small community called Elizabeth that has approximately 160 residents and one very large casino. Kentucky has never legalized casino gambling. The state legislature once seriously debated a resolution to purchase a submarine to patrol the Ohio River and destroy riverboat casinos. The resolution was introduced in jest, but the sentiment was real. Louisvillians have been crossing the river to gamble for over 25 years, and they show absolutely no signs of stopping.

The property opened in 1998 as Horseshoe Southern Indiana, operating from the Glory of Rome riverboat, a 450-foot behemoth that was the largest riverboat casino in the world. Indiana legalized land-based casinos in 2015, and in December 2019 Caesars opened a brand new $90 million land-based facility, retiring the riverboat after 21 years of service. The property became Caesars Southern Indiana and has been operated by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians since September 2021. Locals still call it The Boat, out of habit and perhaps affection.

The casino sits at 11999 Casino Center Drive SE in Elizabeth, Indiana, accessed primarily via Indiana Highway 111. From Louisville, the quickest route is I-64 west to Exit 123 in New Albany, Indiana, then south on Indiana 111 for around eight miles. The drive takes approximately 20 to 25 minutes from downtown Louisville depending on traffic. Despite being directly across the Ohio River from southwest Louisville, there is no bridge connecting the two, so the New Albany route is the only practical option by car.

Free parking is available in a four-level parking garage on site. Bus shuttles run from both Louisville and Indianapolis for those who prefer not to drive, with reservations available through the casino. Free electric vehicle charging stations are also available in the parking garages for EV drivers.

The land-based casino that replaced the Glory of Rome is a substantial 110,000-square-foot single-floor facility that consolidates all gaming, dining, and retail under one roof. The move from riverboat to land delivered a noticeably more comfortable and spacious experience, and the layout flows well from one area to the next. The circular Juno Bar sits at the center of the casino floor and acts as a natural hub around which everything else is organized.

The atmosphere is lively without being overwhelming, and the staff draw consistent praise from visitors for their friendliness and professionalism. The property has been through a number of ownership and branding changes over its history, and the current operation under EBCI Holdings has maintained standards well. One thing worth noting is that smoking is permitted on the gaming floor, which is standard for Indiana casinos but worth flagging for visitors who prefer a smoke-free environment. There is a designated non-smoking area, though enforcement is reportedly inconsistent.

Table Games

With 70 live dealer tables, Caesars Southern Indiana offers one of the more comprehensive table games selections in the region. On my visit the lineup included:

• Blackjack
• Craps
• Roulette
• Mini Baccarat
• Three Card Poker
• Crazy 4 Poker
• Pai Gow Poker
• High Card Flush
• I Luv Suits
• 21 + 3

The craps tables here are worth highlighting. The casino offers 20x odds on craps, which is among the most generous in the region and a genuine draw for serious dice players. A dedicated high limit area offers elevated stakes and more private surroundings for players who want to step things up, with five-spot blackjack tables available for those chasing the biggest limits the property offers.

Poker

Caesars Southern Indiana has a dedicated 16-table poker room offering cash games and tournaments across Texas Hold'Em, Omaha, and Seven Card Stud. The room is one of the busiest in the region, and the casino hosts WSOP Circuit events annually, drawing serious players from across the Midwest and beyond. Caesars Rewards members can even use Reward Credits to enter WSOP Circuit tournaments, which is a smart use of loyalty points that not many casinos can match. For poker players, this is one of the most compelling reasons to choose Caesars Southern Indiana over its regional competitors.

Slots

The casino offers over 1,100 slot machines covering a wide range of denominations and game types. Popular titles on the floor include Dragon Link, Lightning Dollar Link, Wheel of Fortune, Ultimate Fire Link, Lightning Link, and a strong selection of Buffalo variants. The layout on a single floor makes navigation easy, and the high limit slots area provides a more premium experience for players who prefer bigger stakes.

Sportsbook

The Caesars Sportsbook at Southern Indiana is a full-service betting lounge with wall-to-wall TV screens, live betting stations, and comfortable seating. You can wager on all major sports including NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, college sports, golf, and more. Live betting, futures, and parlays are all available. The Caesars Sportsbook app extends mobile wagering across Indiana for those who prefer betting on their phones. The lounge also provides easy access to food and drinks, making it a solid environment for a day of watching and betting on sports.

Rewards Club

Caesars Southern Indiana uses the Caesars Rewards program, one of the most recognized and valuable casino loyalty programs in the country. Members earn Reward Credits and Tier Credits through gaming, dining, hotel stays, spa visits, and retail spending both at Caesars Southern Indiana and across the wider Caesars network, which spans properties in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and dozens of other locations nationwide.

Reward Credits can be redeemed for free casino play at a rate of $1 per 200 credits, or exchanged for hotel discounts, dining credits, spa treatments, and show tickets. Tier Credits determine your membership level, with higher tiers unlocking progressively better benefits including priority service, exclusive event invitations, and VIP perks. The ability to use Reward Credits for WSOP Circuit tournament entries is a distinctive and useful perk for poker players.

Caesars Southern Indiana has a 503-room hotel offering deluxe rooms and suites with views across the Ohio River and the Indiana countryside. All 503 rooms were renovated in a $13 million project completed in 2017, and the standard of accommodation is comfortable and well-maintained. Rooms include standard amenities including in-room safe, refrigerator, and flat-screen TV.

Where to Eat

Caesars Southern Indiana has a focused dining lineup that covers fine dining, casual bites, and everything in between.

Gordon Ramsay Steak is the clear centerpiece of the dining offering. The 6,051-square-foot restaurant opened in early 2023, seats 170, and features a menu personally crafted by Ramsay with a nod to his British roots. Beef wellington, sticky toffee pudding, and fresh seafood all feature alongside an extensive wine and cocktail list. Private dining rooms are available for groups. It is legitimately one of the finest restaurant experiences in the region and well worth the investment.

Aroma Cafe and Bar handles the mid-range casual dining with a broad menu available throughout the day. The Piazza covers quick casual bites for players who do not want to step away from the action for long.

Pool and Spa

Caesars Southern Indiana has a year-round heated indoor pool and hot tub, along with Indulge the Spa, which offers a full range of treatments including massages, facials, and body therapies. The spa is a genuine amenity and one that sets this property apart from most regional casino competitors. The fitness center is also available for hotel guests.

Entertainment

The CenterStage Showroom hosts live entertainment events including musical acts and comedy shows throughout the year. The property also has the Volt Lounge and Bar for late-night socializing and the Juno Bar at the heart of the casino floor for a mid-session drink. The nearby Chariot Run golf course, an 18-hole championship course with an equestrian theme, offers Caesars Rewards members discounted rates and provides a resort-level activity option that most regional casinos cannot match.

Caesars Southern Indiana is the most complete casino resort experience in the region and one of the better all-round properties in the Midwest. The combination of a strong gaming floor, a WSOP-grade poker room, Gordon Ramsay Steak, an on-site spa, a golf course, and 503 hotel rooms gives it a breadth of amenity that most competitors in this part of the country simply cannot match.

The gaming floor is not the largest and the dining footprint outside of Gordon Ramsay Steak is more modest than you might expect from a property of this ambition. The smoking floor is an Indiana-wide reality rather than a Caesars-specific issue. And the hotel, while comfortable, would benefit from further investment to keep pace with newer properties in the region.

What Caesars Southern Indiana has always had, and continues to have, is the loyalty of its audience. Over 50 million visitors in 25 years says everything you need to know. For Louisville-area visitors and those crossing from Kentucky specifically, this is your casino, and it has been for a very long time.