Beer lovers around the country are increasingly finding their drink of choice has dedicated on-premise support in casino venues. Indeed, with the opening of legal gambling in more markets in recent decades, casinos are now positioning themselves as beer destinations, with tactics that range from on-site breweries to major beer events to extensive beer menus.

Feather Falls Casino & Lodge in Oroville, California, for example, has featured its own brewery and restaurant for 14 years. The beer-heavy space is the first tribal-owned in-house casino brewery in the country. This summer, its Oroveza Mexican-style lager was awarded a gold medal in the U.S. Open Beer Championship. “People are often pleasantly surprised when they discover the brewery, along with our innovative and award-winning craft beers,” says brewmaster Joel Oropeza. In addition to the Mexican lager, Feather Falls’ other recent U.S. Open Beer Championship winners include Crouching Cougar American barleywine and Angry Mama Bear imperial porter. The beers’ recognition has helped drive visitors and sales at the casino, Oropeza says. Among other casinos, Las Vegas’s Ellis Island also boasts its own brewery.

Across the country in Uncasville, Connecticut, Mohegan Sun Casino & Resort has hosted the Sun BrewFest for more than a decade, and according to director of special events Lauren Willard, it’s one of the venue’s most popular events. “We added this festival to bring together some of the best brews in the region,” she says, adding that the fall fest attracts more than 2,000 guests and showcases about 40 vendors. “Sun BrewFest has allowed Mohegan Sun to develop very strong relationships with various breweries across the region.” The event also helps the casino and resort expand its already vast menu of 60 different brews at locations like its FanDuel Sportsbook bar and Lansdowne Irish Pub & Music House. Last year, Mohegan Sun partnered with nearby Stratford, Connecticut’s Two Roads Brewing Co. on Jackpot Juice Hazy IPA, which is found on draft throughout the property. This year, Sun BrewFest is planned for October 26. Tuscany Suites & Casino in Las Vegas, meanwhile, also plays host to an annual beer festival, the Silver State Summer Brewfest, which recently celebrated its seventh anniversary.

In Atlantic City, New Jersey, the beer garden at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa was unveiled eight years ago, and according to Robert McIntosh, director of food and beverage, guest response has been overwhelmingly positive. “Many first-time visitors are pleasantly surprised to find a beer garden within the casino grounds,” he notes. The Borgata beer garden features a full-service canopied bar serving more than 20 brews, ranging in price from $8-$11 a draft pour, including offerings from Evil Genius, Kona, Dogfish Head, Buenaveza, and Cape May brewing companies. “The combination of a poolside, relaxed outdoor setting, diverse beer selection, and live entertainment has quickly made the beer garden a popular spot,” McIntosh says. And every weekend, beer and spirits samplings from brands such as Corona Extra, Pacifico, Modelo, Tito’s, and Casamigos are offered at the beer garden.

While beer gardens, brew fests, and on-site breweries certainly go a long way in building traffic at casinos, a solid focus on beer service is also important. At Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill, a mainstay at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, staff training receives a big emphasis. “Staff are trained on each new beer we bring in and are provided with a matrix of all the beers we carry,” says general manager Kalani Spaccarelli. “Our staff are expected to be extremely well versed in the selection to be able to communicate the various offerings with our guests.” The English pub-themed eatery located in the heart of the casino has expanded its beer menu to include both international and local offerings since opening in 2012. “Our goal is to introduce our guests to beers they have never tasted before and open their palates to new flavor profiles,” Spaccarelli says. Popular pours include imports like Guinness stout, Kilkenny Irish cream ale, and Stella Artois, as well as local crafts like Big Dog Brewing’s Las Vegas lager.