Foxwoods may have been first, but the Mohegan Sun Casino resort (1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., exit 79A off I-395, Uncasville, 888/226-7711, www.mohegansun.com, 24 hours daily) built by the Mohegan Tribe in 1996 is by far the more atmospheric of the two resorts. The 300,000 square feet of gaming space is divided into two Native American–themed rooms, Earth and Sky, each with its own over-the-top decor.

Earth is the more subdued of the two, with fake wolves, pines, and buffalo hides; the newer Sky, meanwhile, is dominated by a 55-foot waterfall and a 30-foot “crystal mountain” called Wombi Rock, along with a planetarium ceiling.

Together, the two casino rooms have some 6,000 slot machines and just under 300 table games. Of course, once you win your money, you’ll need somewhere to spend it, and Mohegan Sun is happy to oblige with three soaring glass hotel towers for overnight stays, dozens of restaurants—including those by all-star New England chefs Todd English and Jasper White—and three entertainment venues that feature a crap-shoot of current and long-gone musical performers.

Big shows (Eric Clapton, Black Eyed Peas) are reserved for the 10,000-seat arena, where the Boston Celtics also sometimes play exhibition games; more intimate performances take place in the smaller Wolf Den or Cabaret Theatre (remember Eddie Money?).