Ameristar Casino East Chicago
777 Aldis Ave, East Chicago, IN 46312, South Chicago, United States
3-star hotel
Guest rating: 4.0 / 5
Overview
Ameristar Casino East Chicago is a 3-star waterfront casino hotel overlooking Lake Michigan in East Chicago, Indiana, part of the South Chicago metro area. It holds a strong 4-star average from 6,772 reviews, reflecting consistent guest satisfaction with rooms and food. The property combines lodging, gaming, dining and event space under one roof, roughly 3.9 miles from MacArthur Golf Course.
Rooms
Guest rooms are modern and feature en suite bathrooms with sunken garden tubs and glassed-in showers, plus free WiFi, flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers and minifridges. Guests frequently describe rooms as large, quiet and clean, though some note older carpeting with visible stains and an unusually placed coffeemaker inside the bathroom.
Dining
On-site dining spans an upscale Italian-themed steakhouse, a laid-back buffet with a wide dessert and food selection, and a casual sports bar. The buffet in particular draws praise from guests for its variety and recurring specials.
Amenities & Recreation
The centerpiece is the casino floor, though some guests note it can be smoky and that a portion of the slot machines are older and showing wear. Other facilities include a 24-hour fitness center, a business center, free valet parking, and event space suited to weddings and group functions.
Location
The hotel sits directly on Lake Michigan, with Whihala Beach about 6.5 km away and guests reporting an easy evening walk to a nearby beach. Other Indiana gaming venues, including Horseshoe Hammond and Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, are within roughly 8-10 km, while Chicago attractions such as the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, Pullman National Historical Park, Jackson Park and the Barack Obama Presidential Library are all reachable within about a 20 km drive.
Best for
This hotel suits casino-focused travelers and couples seeking a lakeside getaway, given its on-site gaming floor, waterfront setting near Whihala Beach, and multiple dining options including a steakhouse and buffet. It also works for regional day-trippers based near Chicago who want to combine gaming with proximity to attractions like the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry and Pullman National Historical Park, all within about a 20 km drive.
Travel tips
Free valet parking makes arrival straightforward, and guests note the property isn't always at full capacity, which can mean easier parking and quieter common areas on weeknights. The beach next door is walkable in the evening, and travelers interested in other casino resorts can reach Horseshoe Hammond, Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, or Whihala Beach within a roughly 10-minute drive. Those sensitive to smoke should be aware the casino floor has been described as smoky by guests.
What guests say
Guests consistently praise the buffet's variety and dessert selection, along with rooms that are frequently described as large, clean and quiet. Recurring criticisms include a smoky casino floor, some aging or malfunctioning slot machines, occasional service kiosks being out of order, and cosmetic wear like stained carpeting in rooms. A few guests also mention the unusual placement of the in-room coffeemaker inside the bathroom, and some note the property can feel quiet or under-occupied on certain nights.
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