• Not all casino games are created equal – some offer better odds for players, such as Blackjack and Craps which are known for their lower house edge.
• Casino games like Blackjack are strategy-based, often offering a house edge as low as 1% or 2% if the player uses optimal strategy.
• On the flip side, other games known for their entertainment value rather than good odds, such as Keno and Slot Machines, often have a higher house edge.
• Games with best betting odds are often more complex. For instance, Poker requires skill and strategy but offers better odds for experienced players.
• While playing games with the best odds can maximize potential winnings, it’s important for players to gamble responsibly and consider the entertainment value of the game.

So if you’re looking for games with the best odds, you want to look for games that have the lowest house edge. Games with a lower house edge pay out more on average over time compared to games with a higher house edge.

Let’s take a look a some of the games that offer the best and worst odds of winning so you’re all set for your next trip to Sin City, or if you’re planning a staycation with a little recreational online gambling.

Casino Games With The Best Odds

1. Baccarat – House Edge 1.06-1.24%

Baccarat is a simple game with a very small house edge for the casino, making it one of the best games to play. All you have to do is bet whether the “player” or the “banker” wins the hand, and if you guess right, you will double your initial wager. 

You should avoid betting on the tie since it has a 14.36% house edge, compared to only 1.06% when betting on the banker and 1.24% when betting on the player.

Read more about baccarat strategy.

2. Blackjack – House Edge 0.5–2%

Although in blackjack you’ll need to understand the rules and a basic strategy, whether you win or not relies on the luck of the cards drawn.

If you’ve never played, it’s a very easy game to pick up.

You’re looking to score 21 or get as close to 21 as possible with your cards without busting, and without the dealer having a higher total.

Read more about blackjack’s house edge.

3. Video Poker – House Edge 0.5–5%

Video poker is played on machines at the casino, against the machine – rather than other players. While this does cut down on some of the skill aspects of poker, like bluffing or learning other players tells, poker still has one of the lower house edges.

You can also play online video poker.

4. Craps – House Edge 0–5.56%

In craps, you’re betting on the outcome of a roll of two dice by one of your fellow players, the “shooter”.

The ways to win are slightly more complicated than blackjack, but you’ll pick it up within a few rolls.

The house edge varies in craps, depending on the bets placed. Always check an individual casino’s odds and payout tables before playing.

5. Roulette – House Edge 2.7-5.26%

Another simple game of chance with pretty good odds of winning is roulette.

The ball rolls, it falls into a numbered slot on a wheel, either you picked the number – or group of numbers, or high and low, odd or even, red or black – or you didn’t.

It is also worth mentioning that there are multiple roulette variations. The most popular is European roulette, which has one zero field on the wheel and features a 2.7% house edge.

On the other hand, American roulette has a double zero field on top, which makes the house edge a whopping 5.26%, so you should definitely avoid it whenever you have a choice.

Image credit: Suzyanne16/Shutterstock

Casino Games With The Worst Odds

1. Slots – House Edge 2–15%

Slot machines are hugely popular with casino-goers because they’re easy to play, entertaining, addictive, and – if you get lucky – you can win a lot of money.

There is nothing you can do to improve your win rate, though, as they are totally random.

So if you want to gain an edge over the casino you should consider playing a game where you can actually use a strategy.

2. Wheel of Fortune – House Edge 11%

In Wheel of Fortune, you bet on whether the wheel stops on $1, $5, $10, $20 or a joker.

But even if you bet that the wheel will land on a $1 mark (the safest bet), the house edge is 11%.

Bet on a joker and the house advantage is as high as 24%.

3. Keno – House Edge 20–40%

In Keno there are 80 numbers. The house picks 20 and you win according to how many of that 20 you selected.

Just don’t start looking at the actual mathematical probabilities involved; they will make your eyes spin like one of those slots we just talked about.

This is usually the worst game to play at the casino in terms of your odds of winning, so if you do play, know that you’re unlikely to win. Ever.

Go For Entertainment, Not To Make Money

Look, you’re in Las Vegas to have fun.

Maybe you’ve saved up for a trip of a lifetime and you know the money in your pocket won’t be there when it’s time to head to the airport.

But it’s definitely worth looking out for games that’ll help your cash go a bit further.

This is certainly the case when it comes to the Luxor, where it is believed that an eerily high number of deaths have taken place at the venue, resulting in a huge amount of paranormal activity.

Alongside the usual games of poker, blackjack, and slots, the Luxor is famous for its many grisly deaths and supposed hauntings.

Let’s take a look at the mystery of the deaths at the Luxor and find out how it got dubbed the most haunted casino hotel in Sin City.

Destined to be Doomed From Day One?

The iconic pyramid-shaped casino resort has a notorious reputation for being linked with numerous suspicious and untimely deaths. It’s even part of the well regarded Vegas Ghost Tours.

Many guests that have chosen to stay at the 4,407 room Egyptian-themed resort have frequently shared their experiences of ghostly events. If you take a look at the history of the venue it’s not surprising that there are so many claims of haunted sightings within the property.

The impressive building, which is one of the world’s largest hotels and the 4th largest pyramid, opened in 1993 and took only 18 months and $375 million to build.

It is thought that several construction workers died during the building process, with conspiracy theorists suggesting that the management kept these deaths under wraps to save the reputation of the resort. 

Reasonable grounds for haunting don’t you think?

There are also some who argue that the Luxor was doomed to be haunted before it was even built, simply because it is designed like an Ancient Egyptian tomb – a sure fire way to upset the spirits.

Many suggest that the Luxor’s haunting has increased since the hotel opened a Titanic themed exhibition in 2008.

The exhibition contains parts of the doomed ship and personal items belonging to many of those who lost their lives in the tragedy.

A History of Tragic Deaths

In Las Vegas hotels deaths are not exactly uncommon. Approximately 1,100 visitors die every year in Sin City with the majority being from natural causes.

However, 15% of all deaths are suicides, 11% homicides, and an eery 6% go completely unexplained. 

Nearly all of these deaths will not be reported on because the whole of Las Vegas knows that bad news can affect tourism and reduce the city’s profits.

As such, there is little proof of the many deaths that have occurred at the Luxor.

However, even without these unreported deaths it is clear something strange is happening inside that famous black pyramid. 

The Luxor’s first reported death occurred in 1996 when a lady jumped from the 26th floor of the hotel. 

At the Luxor, suicides of this nature are made extra grisly because the pyramid shape of the building means those leaping to their deaths do so from indoor balconies. This means instead of the street they land in the building’s atrium amongst the other guests.

Another guest is also believed to have fallen to his death, this time from the 10th floor.

The circumstances around his death remain a mystery but there was no evidence to suggest his fall was voluntary.

A Surprisingly Large Range of Grisly Endings

The Luxor has also seen deaths from many other causes.

These have included strangulation, as was the case in the assault, robbery, and murder of a 16-year-old woman by the name of Sara Gruber. 

But perhaps the most alarming means of murder came in 2007 when a casino worker, 24-year-old Willebaldo Dorante Antonio, was killed by a home-made explosive device in a plot that Newsweek compared to the hit TV show CSI.

The bomb was set under a plastic cup that had been left turned upside down on the top of his car.

When Antonio turned the cup over the explosion was triggered, ripping a hole in the car’s roof and killing him. The casino was not evacuated, and it continued to run as normal. 

Three years later, the highest profile death took place at the resort. UNLV football player Demario Reynolds got into a fight with another guest, Jason Simon Sindelar, over his partner.

Sindelar was an MMA fighter and struck a devastating blow to Reynolds, who then fell unconscious after hitting the floor and never woke again.

In 2010 a court ruled that Reynolds had died from an overdose and not from the fight.

2012 saw the next death – a casino employee was murdered by their boyfriend in full view of the public in the lobby, scarring those who witnessed the murder. 

The same year, a case of Legionnaires’ disease took another victim at the hotel. Two cases had been identified previously, with the water being treated both times.

However, this third case was not picked up quickly enough because tests on the water came back negative until just after the victim’s death. Creepy.

A third bizarre death took place that year when an airman visiting from Nellis Air Force Base mysteriously fell 25 feet down an elevator shaft.

Once again, no evidence suggested that the victim’s fall was intentional.

Ghostly Goings On

With so many deaths occurring at the Luxor over the 29 years it has been open, it’s no wonder that guests report seeing and meeting many ghosts.

But who are they?

The Deadly Blonde

The most common ghost guests report seeing at the Luxor is a mysterious blonde lady who is often seen in bedrooms on the Luxor’s 12th floor.

Guests sleeping in these rooms have been known to wake up fighting for breath and feeling as if they were being choked.

Others report catching glimpses of the woman standing over their bed or feeling a phantom hand running across their face.

The Construction Workers

The hushed-up deaths of several workers during the building’s construction in the 1990s has reportedly led to the appearance of many ghosts.

These were most commonly seen on the dark banks and tunnels of the hotel’s old ‘Nile River Tour’ an attraction where guests were ferried to different parts of the pyramid by boat.

Many have suggested that the sight of so many ghosts was one of the main reasons the Luxor demolished the river tour during later renovations.

Titanic’s Passengers

The Luxor’s exhibition on the Titanic includes over 300 artifacts recovered from the bottom of the ocean. Many of these items are extremely personal including clothing, purses, and glasses.

Whilst interesting to look at there have been tons of reports of the item’s original owners coming back to haunt the exhibition, including a shadowy figure who has frequently been seen standing on a near-perfect replica of the doomed ship’s grand staircase.

Other guests have also caught glimpses of one of the Titanic’s lookouts, Frederick Fleet, who committed suicide in 1965.

He stands on the exhibition’s Promenade deck peering out into the gloom, searching for the fateful iceberg.

Is The Luxor Cursed?

As mentioned, there are a number of theories about why so many suspicious deaths have been recorded at the Luxor over the years.

The fact that the resort has endured such trauma even though its construction was only completed in 1993, is quite frightening.

The most popular theory relates to the actual design of the resort.

The Luxor takes its name from the Egyptian city of the same name. The whole premise behind its design was to build a venue that truly encapsulated the heart and spirit of Ancient Egypt.

Unfortunately, the Luxor is not a completely accurate copy of Ancient Egyptian pyramids.

For example, it is believed that pyramids in Ancient Egypt required a Sphinx to be facing both East and West so that the pyramid was protected from evil on both sides.

The Luxor pyramid only has one Sphinx facing East, potentially leaving it exposed to evil spirits. 

People also forget that Egyptian pyramids are actually tombs built on the West side of the river Nile. This is the side where the sun sets and where Ancient Egyptians believed the newly dead entered the underworld. 

It just so happens that the Luxor is built on the West side of the Las Vegas strip.

A spooky coincidence that might just explain why so many visitors to Sin City have lost their lives in this hotel. 

Others believe that the untimely death of the construction workers has kickstarted a chain of hauntings.

These have led to more deaths occurring and therefore more ghosts appearing. The opening of the Titanic exhibition in 2008 has only added fuel to this already very spooky fire. 

Another urban legend suggests that after a string of coincidental deaths took place at the resort, local mobsters had a prime opportunity to use the venue as a location to bump off their victims.

After all, who would suspect a thing when people are more willing to believe the existence of a curse?

Finally, it could simply be a sinister run of bad luck for the resort. Las Vegas is all about those hot and cold streaks.

Maybe the Luxor is just experiencing a prolonged run of people being killed on the property grounds.

Whatever you believe, sooner or later their luck has got to turn around. Right?

Want to know more about Luxor Las Vegas besides its ghoulish goings on? Check out our piece on its skybeam that has its own ecosystem.

Lead image: eGuide Travel/Flickr

From huge opulent poker rooms to thousands of slots, these supersized casinos are mini gambling towns in their own right.

Join us as we take a look at the top 10 largest real money casinos in America.

1. Winstar: Thackerville, Oklahoma (600,000 Square feet)

Words like stupendously large just don’t convey the immenseness that is the Winstar Casino. Located just minutes from the Texas border, Winstar isn’t just the largest casino in America, it’s the largest casino in the world.

With 600,000 square feet of gaming space, almost 9,000 slot machines, and over 150 table games, the Chickasaw Nation has built a phenomenal mousetrap for the 7.5 million people in the Dallas Fort Worth metro area.

Like all of the mega-casinos on our list, they’ve made gambling the star attraction, but you shouldn’t overlook the world-class golf, spa, top-of-the-line concerts, and luxury dining and hotel experiences. If you can’t make it, however, check out our review of the Winstar Online Casino.

2. Mohegan Sun: Uncasville, Connecticut (364,000 square feet)

Huge casinos need a constant stream of players to continue to thrive. When the tribes began negotiating gaming compacts in Connecticut 30 years ago, it was obvious from the outset that, with more than twenty million people within a two-hour drive, these casinos would need to be big.

With 364,000 square feet of gaming, Mohegan Sun did not disappoint.

Mohegan Sun boasts 6,400 slots, over 350 table games, a state-of-the-art sportsbook, and stadium betting on baccarat and roulette.

The tribe didn’t scrimp on amenities, with hiking trails, golf, tennis, pickleball, and lots of other fun outdoor activities on offer. There are also countless restaurants and more than 1,500 hotel rooms to meet your needs.

3. Foxwoods Casino Resort: Ledyard, Connecticut (340,000 square feet)

Foxwoods is sort of the bookend to the Mohegan Sun property in that they are similar in their massive gaming square footage but only 13 miles apart.

The Mashantucket Pequot tribe has about 340,000 square feet of gaming space spread across six casinos within a casino. These are comprised of about 5,500 slots and 260 table games.

Foxwoods is also known for its state-of-the-art shopping experience, with almost 100 high-end luxury shops on the property.

In addition to the 2,500 hotel rooms and the usual amenities like golf, the resort offers premier zip-lining and go-carting experiences that draw risk-takers of all ages.

4. Yaamava Resort and Casino: Highland, California (290,000 square feet)

Run by the San Manual band of Indians, the Yaamava casino story is one of almost constant growth and rebirth in the 40 years since it opened.

The casino currently boasts 290,000 square feet of gaming space, with more than 4,400 slot machines and 150 table games. While it only has 400 hotel rooms on the property, the nearby towns of San Bernadino or even Riverside have many overnight stay options.

Other recent additions include a world-class 3,000-seat concert venue, which draws many LA-based bands when they are not on tour, along with a half dozen restaurants and some high-end retailers.

While this resort doesn’t yet offer the amenities that many other properties with similar-sized gaming spaces on our list of the largest casinos in America do, it is in the heart of the Los Angeles metro area and a whole lot closer than the 4-hour trip to Vegas.

5. Thunder Valley Casino: Lincoln, California (250,000 square feet)

This large American casino is operated in Northern California in a joint effort between the Miwuk and Maidu Indian tribes. It is located near Sacramento, California. The 250,000 square feet of gaming space is jampacked with 3,500 slots and 150 table games. 

The hotel only has 400 rooms, and though there is a spa and entertainment venue that holds over 4,000 guests, the spotlight here is more on local play than driving tourist visits.

That being said, it is a beautiful property with plenty of dining options, and just about any game or slot you might wish to play.

6. Hard Rock Tampa: Tampa, Florida (240,000 square feet)

The Hard Rock Tampa, on the other hand, is a true destination resort in the sun. Three pool areas total over 200,000 gallons of water, and one pool area alone has 60,000 square feet of swimming space. 700 lounge chairs, almost two dozen cabanas, and two DJ booth setups round out the poolside attractions.

You can choose from almost 900 hotel rooms and more than a dozen dining options, as well as hit their award-winning spa or top-tier concert tours. That’s before you try your luck at one of their 6,000 slots and 200 table games spread across a well-thought-out casino space of 240,000 square feet.

The Seminole Tribe bought out Hard Rock International at a bargain basement price in 2007, and now have cafes in more than 70 countries, an exclusive brand name to build on, and casino resorts in almost another dozen locations.

This means that your Unity tier card not only works in Tampa, but Atlantic City, and all the other Hard Rock locations, as well as the Mirage. That’s a big deal to people who like to use their tier points and comp credits at more than just one location, and gives the Seminoles the ability to cross-sell to various locations.

7. River Wind Casino: Norman, Oklahoma (219,000 square feet)

The metro area of Norman, Oklahoma, is home to a surprising 1.4 million people, and the Chickasaw-owned River Winds Casino is there to meet all their gaming needs.

It has 2,700 slots, over 20 table games, and a 17-table poker room. Unlike some of the Tribal Casinos located a bit closer to the Dallas—Fort Worth area, the RiverWinds, despite its still very impressive 219,00 square feet of gaming space, is not a mega-resort. In fact, it only has 100 hotel rooms.

They do have partnerships with Panda Express, Burger King, and perennial favorite IHOP for a quick bite, or a buffet and a British Fish and Chips place for something a bit more upscale. Other amenities include a 1500-seat theater, and a gift shop located conveniently near the exit.

8. Choctaw Casino: Durant, Oklahoma (219,000 square feet)

In its 219,000 square feet of gaming space, Choctaw Casino currently has over 7,000 slots, 120 tables, and a large poker room.

Being several hours from the Dallas-Fort Worth area and less than 30 minutes from the largest casino in the US (Winstar), this resort has taken a different look at amenities, creating not one but two huge nightclub/live concert venues, including a Gilley’s Road House.

You can also find over 20 restaurants, ranging from fine dining at Salt and Stone to Texas barbeque, which you’ll need to eat with your fingers.

You will find more than 1,700 hotel rooms, including Vegas-style suites, as well as amenities seldom seen at big US casinos like horse riding, fishing, bowling, hiking, and, of course, a world-class spa to relax in.

9. River Spirit Casino: Tulsa, Oklahoma (212,000 square feet)

Situated in the northeast corner of Oklahoma, the River Spirit Casino is near Tulsa, which boasts about 1 million people in its metro area. It can also draw people in from Kansas and Missouri who are looking for some casino excitement. 

The Muskogee Tribe has 3,100 slots and about 70 table games in their 212,000 square feet of gaming space. 

The tribe has added 483 luxury hotel rooms so far and is making plans for more. Their concert venue can host 2,500 guests and their restaurant choices number over a dozen. The amenity list includes a pool, and convention center.

10. Encore Casino: Boston, Massachusetts (210,000 square feet)

Strictly speaking, this casino, owned by the Wynn group, is located in Everett, MA, and is the only non-tribal casino to make our list of the 10 biggest casinos in America

At approximately 210,00 square feet of gaming space, it is still a massive space filled with 3,400 slots and over 160 table games. This integrated mega resort cost 2.6 billion to build in 2019.

Developed on just 34 acres, this casino doesn’t feature many outdoor amenities due to space constraints, but it makes up for that in 5-star luxury that one would expect from any Wynn property.

The 671 hotel rooms are all lavishly appointed and designed to meet the needs of very discerning clients. There are thirteen restaurants and the entire property is almost a museum space as it is filled with millions in paintings and sculptures.

A Round Up Of The Largest Casinos In America:

1. Winstar: Thackerville, Oklahoma (600,000 Square feet)
2. Mohegan Sun: Uncasville, Connecticut (364,000 square feet)
3. Foxwoods Casino Resort: Ledyard, Connecticut (340,000 square feet)
4. Yaamava Resort and Casino: Highland, California (290,000 square feet)
5. Thunder Valley Casino: Lincoln, California (250,000 square feet)
6. Hard Rock Tampa: Tampa, Florida (240,000 square feet)
7. River Wind Casino: Norman, Oklahoma (219,000 square feet)
8. Choctaw Casino: Durant, Oklahoma (219,000 square feet)
9. River Spirit Casino: Tulsa, Oklahoma (212,000 square feet)
10. Encore Casino: Boston, Massachusetts (210,000 square feet)

There are more than 1,000 casinos in the US, so it takes a true behemoth to make the biggest casinos in America shortlist.

With all of the casinos constantly expanding, this list may look very different in a few years, especially as new gaming legislation is passed in states like New York, where the population within a few hours’ drive is easily in the tens of millions.

Perhaps, despite the intense competition in Las Vegas, someone will finally build a mega-resort that puts Sin City back on the top ten biggest list again. Combining the Wynn and Encore properties in Las Vegas only gets us to 195,000 square feet of gaming, so still a little room for improvement.

While bigger isn’t always better, these casinos show the true diversity of gambling in America. From slot halls to five-star luxury, they cover the gamut of the American gambling experience and showcase the reach of gaming growth over the past several decades.

From Norman Oklahoma to Boston, from Riverdale California to Tampa, casinos continue to thrive.

Cheapest Blackjack in Vegas: What You Need to Know

• While they aren’t as easy to find as they used to be, there are still $10 blackjack tables in Vegas and even $1 blackjack in Las Vegas, if you know which casino to look in.
• However, the cheapest blackjack in Vegas isn’t always the best value. You need to take into account the blackjack house edge to understand exactly the value of each hand you play.
• The best value blackjack in now found at casinos offer online blackjack and you can use our casino reviews to find the best value casino games online.
• Take advantage of the local, nose to the ground, insight in this guide to help you find the best value and cheapest blackjack tables in Las Vegas.

The days of cheap blackjack even in downtown or local casinos is quickly coming to an end unless you want to play an electronic version of Las Vegas Casino games table games or perhaps a stadium game.

Cheapest Blackjack Tables in Vegas

Now, that is not to say that you can’t still find some $5 blackjack in Vegas or even $1 blackjack in Vegas, downtown, up in North Las Vegas, or just off the Strip, but it does mean that cheap doesn’t always mean you are getting value.

A $1 blackjack in Vegas game where you have to pay 25 cents every hand as a blind isn’t good value. A $1 game where you get even money on blackjacks and can’t double after splits isn’t good value.

Even a $5 game that pays 6/5 on blackjack in Vegas will be much more expensive to your bankroll than a $10 table that offers 3 to 2 blackjack in Vegas in even the very short term. So, while we will tell you where you can find the cheapest blackjack tables in Las Vegas, we will also make sure we discuss whether those tables represent any real value.

Cheapest Blackjack in Las Vegas: How to Scout The Best Tables

Let’s talk a bit about how a casino shift manager decides what blackjack limits to offer. It really comes down to supply and demand. If it is 4:00 a.m. on a Tuesday, I will need a lower limit than if it is a Saturday night with a prize fight in town.

If my casino doesn’t have a hotel, is a little run-down, or is set further away from the action, all of that will also affect how much I can set my blackjack limits and still hope I will get play.

Seasonality Matters When it Comes to the Cheapest Blackjack in Vegas

As does the season. In Las Vegas, even though it will light your hair on fire, the summer is still busier than the winter. We just had seven days in July over 115 degrees Fahrenheit, but hey, come out whenever.

But also, some casinos would rather have no play at times than set the wrong precedent and attract the wrong kind of customer, which is unfortunate but the reason why you might see a $5 game early morning in the off-season at a place like the MGM Excalibur or Circus Circus on Las Vegas Boulevard but never at the Wynn, Caesars Palace, or the Bellagio.

People’s perception matters. Chanel will never sell a $50 purse, and many strip properties would rather be caught dead than offer a “cheap” table limit.

Cheap Blackjack Tables on the Strip

We can narrow down where we might look for $5 and $10 games on the Strip proper by looking at where they have been offered in the past, and then looking at times when we can expect play to be slow, i.e. midweek and early morning.

Some likely spots are Excalibur, Luxor, Circus Circus, and Slots of Fun. By looking at Trip Advisor, other travel forums, and even Reddit, we know that $5 real money blackjack games have been spotted at these places in the past six months or so.

We try to steer away from sites that offer surveys or reviews when we look for cheap blackjack tables in Las Vegas. We don’t know if they go to these casinos more than once a year, whether they go at 4 a.m. on a Wednesday or 7 p.m. on a Friday, and so we don’t know if they are seeing the lowest minimums that that casino offers or just what is offered while they are on the property writing down their findings.

Just Call And Ask

If you don’t feel like making the trek to either end of the Strip, you can call these casinos and ask about current minimums. I actually get calls asking about table limits all the time, but be aware that it wouldn’t be unusual if you called in the early evening for them not to know what the table minimums are going to be early the next morning.

We suspect that you could find these $5 blackjack games in Vegas in the early winter at some of these properties when hotel rates plummet, and no conventions are in town. Still, you are probably looking at at least $10 games during the morning and afternoon, going to $15 by early evening during the rest of the year. At least, that has been our experience.

Take in Account the House Edge and Odds

Knowing the house edge and the blackjack odds of each game in critical to getting the best value for your bet. There are some 6/5 games mixed in with 3/2 blackjack at these levels, so pay attention. Games that pay only 6/5 on blackjack are several orders of magnitude worse because of house advantage.

A good double deck with stand-on soft seventeen and double after splits could be as low as 0.22%, while the same version of the 6/5 game might be 1.5% or 500% worse.

Most games at prestigious casinos in the middle of the Strip will have $15 blackjack on the main floor, yielding to $25 or higher towards evening if demand calls for it. So, if you genuinely have your heart set on playing $5 blackjack in Las Vegas, either be prepared to work the properties at the edge of the Strip or be ready to venture downtown or off the Strip.

Image credit: lucky-photographer/Shutterstock

Cheap Blackjack Tables in Downtown Las Vegas

We’ve personally seen $5 games downtown as well, but even here, they can prove elusive and shifting. The Golden Nugget casino generally has a $5 game, but they require a $2 side bet, or they offer it in games that may have blackjack in the name but aren’t truly blackjack.

There have been sightings of 6/5 $5 blackjack at the Plaza early morning as well. But probably the most reliable place to look for $5 blackjack is at the Downtown Grand Casino, and yes, they still have the $1 blackjack game as well.

$10 blackjack in Las Vegas: Fremont Street

Now, if you are looking for $10 blackjack in Las Vegas, then Fremont Street is a neon gold mine, though again off-peak hours are the best time to be panning for nuggets. We have seen 3/2 blackjack games with ten minimums at El Cortez, which recently had a $20 million remodel, which is probably still our favorite downtown casino, even on a weekend night.

You can also try the California Casino, Main Street Station, the Plaza, and Fremont.

You may notice that many double-deck games don’t allow double-after-split. This increases the house edge on these games to 0.6%, which is almost exactly the same as the house edge on the six-deck games that allow double-after-split.

So, feel free to play either one. As always, stay away from 6/5 blackjack games and give any table that requires a side bet a wide berth.

Cheap Blackjack Tables for Las Vegas Locals

Away from the bright lights and easily walkable gambling halls found along the Las Vegas Strip and Fremont Street, many other casinos exist. These primarily cater to locals, though certainly a certain breed of tourist also seeks them out. You can still find not only some of that old Las Vegas charm but also some of that old Las Vegas value.

The Oyo Casino

Many of these places are not dozens of miles from the tourist epicenters but, in many cases, just a few blocks away. Take Oyo, which also has one of those infamous $1 blackjack in Las Vegas tables you can tell all your friends back home about, as well as $5 3/2 blackjack. Is it in a sketchy area? Yeah. Is there what we will euphemistically call a seedier element? Sure. But did we mention the $3 shots and $10 beer buckets?

Ellis Island Casino

Another casino that offers great value and is strip “adjacent” is Ellis Island. Just a couple-minute walk from the Paris/Horseshoe monorail station, Ellis Island is the epitome of a great value local casino. Here, not only will you find some of the best $5 blackjack in Las Vegas, but fun, friendly dealers and decent free entertainment.

We highly recommend either the prime rib or the $9.99 steak and eggs if you stop in for a bit of gambling. We should probably mention they have $5 craps games as well?

Southpoint Casino

Another great place for gambling value is just a few miles south on I-15. Southpoint Casino offers both $5 and $10 double-deck blackjack with standard rules and 3/2 on blackjack; you should be able to find these table limits regardless of when you visit. Some rooms have a nice view of the strip properties in all their nighttime glory, and they have 64 bowling lanes open until 2 a.m.

Other places to find $5 blackjack in Las Vegas at off-strip properties include any of the Station Casinos, especially Palace Station or potentially the Silverton. However, the last time we were there, it was all $10, except for 6/5 games.

Finding the Best Value Blackjack Tables in Vegas

There is still cheap blackjack on the Strip and downtown, although the cheapest blackjack tables in Las Vegas remain in local-friendly off-strip properties, often only a few minutes’ drive from the tourist action.

The next time you are in Las Vegas, just ask the cab drivers, dealers, or cocktail waitress where they like to play, and you may be rewarded with a little hole-in-the-wall gem even we don’t know about.

Title Image credit: Andrew Angelov/Shutterstock

It’s no secret that before he was the 45th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump was heavily involved in the US casino scene. Snapping up multiple properties throughout the 1980s, Trump had his name in lights no less than three times on the Atlantic City boardwalk.

Though he managed to bankrupt each of his New Jersey properties, his legacy lives on as one of America’s gambling linchpins. As such, it’s hardly surprising that many of the casino kings he once rubbed shoulders with are opening up their wallets and funding his campaign.

Desperate to close the gap between Biden’s campaign cash flow and his own, Trump has been ingratiating himself with the Vegas elite. From the original legends of the Strip to their families, partners, and stakeholders, here are the casino moguls cashing in on Trump’s third Presidential bid.

Steve Wynn

Donald Trump and Steve Wynn engaged in a tumultuous legal battle over Atlantic City’s gambling landscape that lasted throughout the 1990s. But after years of lawsuits, employee poaching, and public slander, their relationship eventually transformed from rivalry to respect.

Mirroring the age-old ‘enemies-to-lovers’ trope, Donald Trump and Steve Wynn somehow transformed their mutual hatred into a politically charged friendship. After all, the pair share many similarities: both are casino moguls, share the republican ideology, have faced numerous sexual assault allegations – the list goes on.

The outcome of Steve Wynn’s allegations? A $10 million fine, loss of ownership of his casino empire, and exclusion from participating in any casino-related role other than a customer.

Back In The Game

However, it seems Wynn isn’t sitting around licking his wounds. Instead, the former finance chair of the Republican National Committee has rekindled his political associations.

In April 2024, Wynn pledged over $800,000 to a Trump 47 campaign fundraiser, which he helped organize and co-hosted. He also received a shoutout from Trump after an uncontested victory in New Hampshire in January. In June 2024, Wynn was finally victorious in his years-long foreign lobbying case against the Department of Justice.

While his historical feud with Trump played out on the New Jersey shore, Steve Wynn was one of the most influential figures on the Vegas Strip. During his 50-year career, Wynn became the majority shareholder of the Golden Nugget Casino (the youngest casino owner in Vegas), opened a string of legendary properties (including the Mirage, the Bellagio, and Treasure Island), launched his eponymous Wynn Resorts Hotel & Casino chain, started the online gambling site, Wynnbet and expanded into Macau.

Image credit – Wangkun Jia/Shutterstock

Dr. Miriam Adelson

Wynn isn’t the only mogul backing the Trump administration. Dr. Miriam Adelson, wife of the casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, has been a staunch supporter of Trump since the beginning. After flying under the political radar for a couple of years, Aldelson has returned to back her favorite wispy-haired Republican.

In 2016, the Adelsons donated over $25 million to Trump’s campaign and inauguration ceremony. Two years later, the pair pledged over $110 million to various Republican causes, earning Miriam the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2018. The Adelsons also spent around $90 million aiding Trump’s failed 2020 re-election efforts.

Far from Wynn’s disgraced expulsion from the Vegas strip, Miriam Adelson has found herself the proprietor of one of its biggest casinos. After her husband passed away in 2021, Adelson inherited the majority share of his casino empire, Las Vegas Sands, and became the fifth-richest woman in America. Ironically, the newly-appointed kingpin (or should that be queenpin?) of gambling is a doctor who specializes in the biology of addiction.

The Queenpin of Vegas

Since assuming her new role as majority shareholder, Dr. Adelson has set her sights on more than just casinos. In November 2023, Adelson shed $2 billion of company stock (around 10% of her share) to purchase majority ownership of the Dallas Mavericks.

Six months later, she blew the dust off her political checkbook and reprised her role as Trump’s most extravagant supporter. Though she refrained from investing during the early stages of the 2024 election, Dr. Adelson donated over $400,000 to the Trump 47 Joint Fundraising Committee in May.

Almost immediately after the June presidential debate between Trump and Biden—during which Trump aligned himself with her pro-Israel sentiments—Adelson pledged a mind-blowing $100 million to Trump’s campaign via the reconstituted Preserve America super PAC. According to Dave Carney, leader of said super PAC, the money will be spent on media campaigns to win over a handful of undetermined states.

John Paulson

Though not directly a casino owner himself, John Paulson enmeshed himself in the casino world with his various supersized stakes. Through his hedge fund, Paulson & Co., John Paulson bought stakes in companies such as MGM Resorts, where he became the second-largest shareholder of the MGM Mirage after a $410 million stock purchase in 2010.

He’s also held positions with Caesar’s (buying 12.3 million shares in 2012), Boyd Gaming (where he swapped $40 million for 4.6% ownership), and Bally’s (which he added to his portfolio in 2021 with a $54.11 million stake). Though he has since relinquished these stakes, it’s clear he’s always had a keen eye for casino investments.

Potential Cabinet Pick

Paulson has been publicly linked to Donald Trump since 2016 when he was a valued donor and financial adviser to the Trump campaign. Now, it seems he’s back in the political limelight and hoping to offer up more than just his wallet. In March 2024, Trump discussed the possibility of recruiting Paulson as his Treasury secretary if he wins the election.

Paulson is already going to great lengths to prove his devotion to Trump. In April 2024, the hedge fund manager opened up his Palm Beach mansion to host a fundraiser in Trump’s honor, aiming to rectify the financial disparity between Biden’s campaign fund and his own. The event, which had around 100 attendees and cost between $250,000 to $824,600 per ticket, reportedly raised over $50 million for the Trump campaign.  

Image credit – Ken Wolter/Shutterstock

Tilman Fertitta

Tilman Fertitta is the owner and CEO of Landry’s Inc., which operates over 600 casinos, hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues across the US. Landry’s is a subsidiary of his entertainment conglomerate, Fertitta Entertainment Inc.

Perhaps the most famous of all Landry’s brands is the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino, which Fertitta acquired from the Poster Financial Group in 2005 and which was cemented as one of the Strip’s most iconic casinos in 1977 by former owner Steve Wynn. Since acquiring the initial two Golden Nugget casinos, Fertitta has opened half a dozen Nugget resorts across the US.

The NBA’s Houston Rockets are another prominent business venture for the Texan tycoon, which he acquired through Fertitta Entertainment Inc. in 2017 and doubled in valuation in the next seven years. However, they’ve caused him considerably more hassle in the last few years than his successful casino resorts.

Houston We Have A Problem

In 2020, star players James Harden and Russell Westbrook requested to be traded from the Rockets, largely due to Fertitta’s strong support of Trump and the Republican party. After Trump’s numerous attacks on the “low IQs of African-Americans” and on NBA star LeBron James specifically, it’s not hard to see why.

Despite dissatisfaction among the team about his political views (and possibly because both players have already left the Rockets), Tilman Fertitta is in no rush to diminish his support for the Trump 47 campaign. Instead, he’s pulling out all the stops to ensure ol’ Don gets the funding he needs.

In May 2024, Fertitta hosted a private fundraiser inside his five-star Post Oak Hotel in Uptown Houston. Tickets cost between $100,000 to $844,600 per couple, with a photo op thrown in for a mere $25,000. Fertitta’s co-hosts included oil tycoon George Bishop, Hilcorp Energy CEO Jeff Hildebrand, and Al A. Gonsoulin, chairman and chief executive of the energy aviation company PHI Inc.

Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta

Brothers Frank III and Lorenzo Fertitta are also big-time backers of the Trump campaign and long-standing Republican donors. Third cousins of Tilman Fertitta, Frank III and Lorenzo inherited their father’s successful Station Casinos chain in 1993, which consists of 17 properties throughout Nevada.

However, the brothers made the bulk of their billions through the MMA promotion company UFC, which they bought for $2 million in 2001 and sold for $5 billion in 2017.

The Fertitta brothers have long been embroiled in a legal battle with the Culinary Union, a 60,000-strong organization representing Vegas’ tourism industry workers and the largest union in Nevada. Though Culinary has successfully unionized most Vegas casinos, Station and Red Rock Resorts (Fertitta’s publicly traded arm) are proving a difficult stone to turn.

In September 2021, the brothers were subpoenaed for attempting to undercut labor organizing efforts, and in March 2022, they faced a mass action lawsuit for violating Nevada’s “Right to Return” Act.

America First Action

So, how are the Fertitta’s linked to Donald Trump? Since 2016, the pair have donated over $5 million towards Trump’s campaigns, including over $200,000 to his Inaugural Committee and $2 million to the controversial America First Action super PAC. In 2022, the brothers donated over $1.5 million to various Republican PACs.

Though it remains to be seen how much the Fertitta’s will pledge during the 2024 campaign, their involvement is pretty much guaranteed. The brothers met with Trump in January 2024, where they allegedly committed to supporting his latest Presidential endeavors.

Image credit – Tupungato/Shutterstock

Phil Ruffin

Last on our list but the first out of the gates, Phil Ruffin was the first casino mogul to donate to Trump’s 2024 campaign. Donating $1 million to the MAGA Inc. super PAC and more than $800,000 to the Trump 47 Committee, Ruffin was a real leader of the PAC (pun intended).

Co-owner of the Trump International Hotel and long-term sidekick of Trump himself, Ruffin made his money through casino acquisitions. He bought the New Frontier Hotel & Casino in 1998 for just shy of $200 million and sold it to Israeli developers a decade later for $1.2 billion.

Leader of the PAC

In 2009, he bought the Treasure Island Hotel & Casino for $775 million (one of the many Strip casinos founded by Steve Wynn) and acquired the Circus Circus Casino for $825 million in 2019. Despite the former churning out enough money to fund Ruffin’s retirement for the next few centuries ($400 million annually, if you’re interested), the 89-year-old casino magnate refuses to bow out of the gambling game.

Sure, the pair don’t always see eye to eye – for example, Donald believed you could kill the coronavirus with bleach, while Phil was adamant that sunlight and desert heat would do the trick. However, Ruffin’s latest donations prove he’s just as invested in Trump’s 2024 campaign as he was in the last two.

If you’re interested in learning more about the 45th president, his casino mogul supporters, and their many many ties to the casino world and Vegas, check out these articles:

Title image credit – Iv Olga/Shutterstock

• Donald Trump & His History of Casinos
• 2024 Election Betting Odds: Who’s The Next President?
• Political Betting In 2024 – 10 Bets You Can Place
• Phil Ruffin: Sin City’s Self-Made Casino Mogul

So, we’ve put together a list of the best stuff to do in Vegas besides gamble. You can thank us later.

1. People Watch

Las Vegas is the best place in the world for people watching, because the world comes to Las Vegas. From Saudi princes to Hong Kong junkets, from backpacking European students to folks from so deep in the rural south that you’d think they’d need a passport too, you can see it all on the Strip.

From Haute Couture to cutoffs and flip-flops, tuxedos and pinstripes to saggy pants and Crocs, you’ll never look at fashion the same way after an hour or two of watching humanity pass by while camped out at the LINQ promenade, our vote for the best people-watching spot on the planet.  

2. Fremont Street

If you’ve ever considered a zipline journey through millions of neon lights soaring over the heads of thousands of strangers, well, we’ve got something for you.

But more than neon, the Fremont Street experience is, well, an experience. Street performers, live concerts, heck, U2 shot a video here without shutting down the streets or even announcing it. You never know what you might find. And that’s half the fun. It’s one of the best free places to visit in Vegas.

3. Amusement Rides

Ok, roller coasters may not be the first thing on your mind when you think about things to do in Las Vegas that aren’t gambling. But that doesn’t change the fact that Las Vegas is home to some great thrill rides.

While we still miss the High Roller at the Strat, they have a roller-coasteresque ride called the X-scream, though it’s 860 feet above the ground instead of the 1030 that the High Roller used to race around at.

Also, don’t miss the Big Apple Coaster in New York. It’s not every day you get to zip around the Statue of Liberty upside down. It’s a great thing to do in Vegas with kids.

4. Catch A Show

Right behind dropping $300 in the Dragon Link Bonus, most people’s favorite Las Vegas memories revolve around some jaw-dropping, eye-popping over-the-top Las Vegas extravaganza. And there is a lot to choose from.

If it’s the burlesque shows that burnished Las Vegas’s Sin City reputation in the 60s that you like, try Fantasy at the Luxor or Rouge at the Strat. If you’re still wowed by magicians, Las Vegas is the Magic capital of the world. You can catch performances by Mat Franco, David Copperfield, and Chris Angel.

And don’t forget the mind-bending madness of Cirque De Soleil, current shows include Ka, O, and Mystere, along with the Beatle’s Love.

5. Food Trucks

Las Vegas has quietly become a food truck mecca over the last few years, with gourmet food being served up in parking lots and on street corners.

Do yourself a favor, stop paying $50 for a bland buffet, and track down the Hawaiian food at Antidote LV. We highly recommend the Poke nachos. Or get your carb overload at Endless Pastabilities. How often do you get five-star spaghetti and meatballs served in a cone?

6. Mob Museum

Take a trip down memory lane to a time, not so long ago, when the mob ran Las Vegas. When you visit the Mob Museum, you won’t just find a bunch of mugshots of Tony Spilotro and Bugsy Speigel (though some blood-splattered clothes are lying around in exhibits). This museum has state-of-the-art exhibits on processing a crime scene, and you can even wrap your hands around a pistol for their simulated firearms training.

7. Pinball Museum

If you’ve brought your kids to Las Vegas, now is the perfect time to show them what daddy did before the internet. And while the Pinball museum might be called a museum, you can play every machine they have, which at last count was more than 360. This is what makes it one of the best arcades in Vegas.

8. Michelin Stars

Maybe you are celebrating a birthday or anniversary and sitting on the curb having tacos from the El Taco Truck and watching the traffic go by on Sahara Ave. isn’t going to cut it.

Did you know nine restaurants in Las Vegas have been granted Michelin stars? Two of them are at Bellagio. Picasso serves extraordinary food, and the actual Picassos on the wall set a hard-to-top ambiance.

The famed Le Cirque may not have million-dollar artwork on the walls, but it is set on a lake with a view of the Bellagio fountains, and is certain to be one of the best meals of your life.

But no self-respecting foodie would consider a visit to Las Vegas complete without a dinner at Joel Robuchon. Only about a dozen restaurants in the US have ever received three Michelin stars, and Joel Robuchon is on that rarified list, and with reason.

9. Fine Art

You can find traditional artists at the Bellagio Gallery, where works by Picasso and Warhol are on permanent display. The gallery also has many traveling exhibitions that make periodic stops.

For a different take on art and how to view it, swing by the Immersive Van Gogh experience. Five million visitors can’t be wrong. And if you are into this exhibit, we can’t recommend Area 15 highly enough. It’s groundbreaking use of a movie-like experience to explore art and the world around us, which has to be seen and understood.

10. Bellagio Fountains

The unlikely lake situated in front of the Bellagio hides another surprise: more than 1200 fountains that seem to dance along to the music and send jets of water over 400 feet into the desert sky. More than 4000 lights are also synced to the music to create an unforgettable display.

The fountains run every half hour starting at 3 p.m., and then around dark, they put on their display every 15 minutes until midnight. On the weekend, they start at noon, and best of all, they are free.

11. Neon Museum

With over 250 neon signs from old Vegas Casinos and even some other businesses, we think spending an hour at this museum is a great way to start an evening. While they do offer day trips, the beauty of the Neon Museum is when they turn on many of the signs at night.

Plus, honestly, there is something magical about the desert air at night, and it’s a heck of a lot cooler.

12. The Great Outdoors

Speaking of getting outdoors, did you know you can ski in the winter just 40 minutes from Las Vegas? Yep, Mount Charleston can be reached in less than an hour and has great skiing and other winter activities. It’s also a great place to visit in the summer, as temperatures are often thirty degrees or more cooler than down in the valley.

Another great outdoor area to visit is the Lake Mead National Recreation area, also just a short 40-minute drive from the Strip. You’ll find abundant fishing, boating, hiking, camping, and even biking opportunities. The lake covers over 240 square miles, and there are hundreds of out-of-the-way coves and even some islands you can explore by boat.

13. Gondola Rides

If you prefer your boating with a bit of singing, we highly recommend the Gondola rides at the Venetian Hotel. This ten-minute ride around the recreated canals and even a small St Mark’s Square is a one-of-a-kind Las Vegas experience.

14. Welcome Sign

For 65 years, the iconic Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas sign has greeted millions of tourists from Southern California. Millions of pictures have been taken of it, but should you want to add one more, the County has made notable improvements at the site over the years. So, while the sign hasn’t changed much, the parking and accessibility around it certainly has.

15. Walk the Strip At Night

The Las Vegas Strip is a one-of-a-kind man-made wonder. Walk past a 30-story tall pyramid and a 28-story fairy book castle, a recreation of the Eiffel Tower, the reimagined streets of Venice, the Statue of Liberty and the New York Skyline, the dancing fountains in a lake in the middle of the desert, and the glory of old Rome.

Take this walk at night amongst the miles of neon and throngs of tourists, and you will see what draws tens of millions of tourists to this glittering oasis every year.

For instance, games like slot machines, roulette, and lotteries depend almost entirely on luck. The outcomes are random and there is no strategy that can change what is essentially a random draw or spin.

On the other hand, certain games such as poker, blackjack, and sports betting do involve a significant element of skill. Knowledge, experience, and strategic decision-making can greatly affect the outcome of these games.

But remember, regardless of whether a game is primarily based on luck or skill, the house usually has an edge, and all forms of gambling have potential risks and should be approached responsibly.

Examples Of Luck vs Skill

Here are three different scenarios; see if you can spot the difference.

Scenario 1:

It’s the final of the World Series of Poker. Player A has bet all his chips with a made straight. He is all-in and is waiting for his opponent, Player B, to make a decision. Player B, meanwhile, is sitting with a nut flush draw with two cards to go.

Player B knows he has only a handful of potential cards in the deck that can improve his hand, and figures that his ‘hand odds’ are about 4/1. However, if he bets and wins the hand, his pot odds – ie. the amount of chips he stands to gain – is roughly 8/1. Statistically, then, does he gamble and play the favorable odds, or fold, wait for another good spot, and avoid the gamble altogether?

Scenario 2:

Here’s our next scenario: it’s a soccer qualifier for the World Cup. With a matter of seconds remaining, and the home team needing to score to win the match and qualify for the finals, needs to go all-out. With virtually the last kick of the match, the home team’s striker launches a speculative ball into the opposing team’s penalty area, it ricochets off the goalpost, back off a defender, and into the goal. The winning team celebrate their outrageous luck wildly.

Scenario 3:

Finally, a gambler in a Vegas casino walks up to a roulette table, closes his eyes and throws a large stack of $100 chips onto no. 36, then waits for the ball to come to a rest. The ball duly hits 36, he picks up his $3,500 winnings and walks off.

So, of those scenarios, which are games of skill and which luck?

If you listen to the lawmakers, depending where you are, soccer is the sport, poker the game of skill and chance, and roulette the game of complete chance.

But why? What part did luck play in those three games, and how much skill really features in classic games of chance?

Poker As A Game Of Skill

Let’s take a look at poker first, as more than any other games, poker is the one most fiercely debated as regards to its skill vs. gamble elements.

The adage goes that for recreational poker players, poker is 30 percent skill and 70 percent luck, while for pros those figures are reversed.

In an article called “The Role of Skill versus Luck in Poker: Evidence from the World Series of Poker” by Steven D. Levitt and Thomas J. Miles, a group of highly skilled poker players at the 2010 World Series of Poker were analyzed. That set of players achieved an average return on investment (ROI) of over 30 percent, compared to a -15 percent for all other players at the tournament.

If poker was a game of pure luck, as many jurisdictions around the world surmise, then why do the best players in the world constantly reach final tables at big tournaments?

While it’s true that calculating odds does play a part in poker as we saw in our first example – after all, a large part of poker is based on the turn of a card – there are so many other elements to the game that poker can never be treated truly as a game of chance.

And while for every winner in poker there has to be a loser – those buy-ins have to go somewhere – employing skill in poker allows the top players to override the luck factor.

Soccer – A Game Of Chance?

Let’s go back to our soccer analogy. Tom Tango, author of ‘The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball’, suggested that if you consider just games where a team wins or loses (draws in games make the calculations far too complicated) luck actually plays a bigger factor in sports results than you expect.

In fact, when applying Tango’s calculations to soccer over a typical 10-month season, variations in results due to luck accounts for around 35% of the total variance (luck) leaving around 65% attributed to talent. This is good news for the skillful footballers as talent has approximately double the effect on a team’s win percentage that luck has.

However, this still means that around one third of a team’s win percentage is purely down to random chance. If that’s true, why isn’t soccer considered a game of chance like poker?

The Casinos’ Favorite Games

At the end of the day, some games lend themselves to pure luck, and no system will ever work out in the long-term.

Take roulette or video slots. Played sensibly, with the most conservative odds selected, both games can win you a few nice wins in the short-term, but played out for long enough will most likely leave you in the red.

It’s no mystery that land-based casinos will cram their floor space with the most profitable games for them. Per square meter, roulette and slots ‘earn’ the casino much more than say, a poker table, ever would.

And there’s a good reason – the chances of winning at those games are so much lower than a skill-based game like poker where you have to bring at least some knowledge to the table – or even blackjack, which offers players a more favorable house edge than its table game rivals. And that’s not even taking into account the house edges that roulette or blackjack that are skewed in favor of the casinos. Not only do gamblers have to win over chance, they have to win over the casino’s own odds too.

The Gambler’s Fallacy

The gambler’s fallacy, also known as the Monte Carlo fallacy, is the mistaken belief that if something happens more frequently than normal during some period, then it will happen less frequently in the future, presumably as a means of balancing nature.

This fallacy can arise in many practical situations although it is most strongly associated with gambling where such mistakes are common among players. However, the problem is it’s utterly wrong.

The most famous example came in a game of roulette in a Monte Carlo casino in 1913 (hence the name) when the ball fell in black 26 times in a row. Gamblers lost millions betting against black, incorrectly assuming that a long streak of red was overdue.

Las Vegas: Built on Luck

The fallacy remains to this day. Visit any casino and you’ll see gamblers furiously scribbling down the previous numbers on a strip of card, or frantically scouring the casino’s digital board displaying the last dozen numbers, as if ‘chance’ knows what’s come up before and will somehow redress the balance at some point.

If that was the case, Vegas wouldn’t have multi-billion dollar casinos, 20-storey hotels, and penthouse suites on tap. It’s all the gamblers who’ve bought into the fallacy who have helped pay for those suites.

Everyone Needs a System

Other than ‘don’t play’, every gambler needs a system to over-ride any variance, or luck, that sitting down at a table will inevitably bring.

The infamous Martingale system will have been toyed with by every gambler at some point (before, hopefully, being thrown in the general direction of the garbage bin) and it works something like this:

Let’s say you bet $5 on Red at a roulette table, and you lose. The next spin you double your bet, to $10, and keep going until you win. Therefore, your first win would help recoup all of your previous losses, as well as give you a profit equal to the initial stake.

That system sounds fine, except for one small problem: most gamblers, unless you’re a Russian oil tycoon, have a finite bankroll, and will inevitably go bust before the system can bear fruit. Any in any case, casinos generally have a stop button applied to losing gamblers: they will simply pull the plug if you lose too much.

Where Casino Systems Fall Down

On most, if not all, roulette tables around the world there will be a table limit – a maximum bet that once reached you cannot increase your bets any further. The maximum bet varies, but it is generally in the region of 500 – 5,000 times the minimum bet. This means that, even at the upper end of the table limit scale, you cannot exceed 13 losing spins.

Just look at that 20-storey Vegas hotel – it’s living, breathing proof that systems on roulette don’t work.

How Can you Override the Luck Factor?

So, can systems ever work in gambling games?

Even with a game that features a healthy skill element like poker, ALL players will experience a spell of bad variance and go bust – the luck may just not be with the players, even if they’re making sound betting decisions.

So, how can gamblers override the chance factor? With casino games that rely on luck so much, the easy answer is not to play at all. OK, so that’s a little simplistic, but simple bankroll management is the way for long-term success in ANY game involving odds. Play a strict percentage of your bankroll, bank winnings when you’re ahead, and take only ABC decisions that make good sense.

Taking on the Bookies’ Edge

Even good sports betting pros will gamble on Even money (1/1) or odds-on results, and avoid accumulators and wild bets like scorecasts that attract casual gamblers. There’s a reason bookies will advertise odds on a striker to score a hat-trick in a soccer match – because the chances of them doing that, especially if they’re going through a bad spell of form, are much lower than the odds the bookie are quoting.

Sports betting sites and bookies will skew the ‘true’ odds of anything happening (ie the true odds of someone scoring the first goal in a soccer match is generally much higher than the usual 6/1 or 7/1) but when gambling you’re not just taking on luck in itself, you’re taking on the house too.

But hit big, hit that ‘long shot’ and beat the house, and you’ll be quids in. Hit six numbers on the Lotto or that slots progressive jackpot for mere dollars and those astronomical odds will have been hit. It’s the ultimate temptation – bet small, win big, and spend the rest of your life on a luxury yacht sipping champagne having ‘cheated’ luck – and the house too.

Can We Avoid Luck

Luck, or chance, is inherent in everything we do. Get knocked over by a car, win a raffle prize or get struck by lightning – all involve chance, and just as in gambling, it’s how you play your luck that’s the key thing.

So, stick to games with favorable house edges or skill/gambling games like poker, and study, practice systems, do your legwork and make the odds work in your favor. It’s either that of give up gambling altogether.

And that doesn’t really appeal, does it?

Below you’ll find out everything you need to know about the sprawling casino-hotel-entertainment complex, which put a small town in Oklahoma on the map over 20 years ago.

Want to know how many table games you can play? Whether you can bring the kids? Which mega band are performing next? Or where you’ll be able to grab a bite to eat? We’ve got you covered…

WinStar World Casino & Resort Quick Facts

Owners: The Chickasaw Nation

Open since: 2003

Size: Roughly 600,000 sq. ft. of dedicated gambling space, including eight different plazas offering table games, slot machines, a poker room, bingo hall and betting parlor.

Where: 777 Casino Avenue, Thackerville, Oklahoma. Around an hour’s drive from both Oklahoma City and Dallas.

Fun fact: Located in Love County, only five miles away from the Texas border, Thackerville was last estimated to have a population of just over 400 people. So, the largest casino in the US is situated in one of the country’s very small towns…

Rooms: 1,495 with roughly 1,395 of those rooms at the main complex, and the remainder off-site.

WinStar World Bars and Restaurants

At last review, pre or post-casino snacks included staples such as pizza, fries, pies and burgers, with guests able to tuck into everything from fancy steak, through to Mongolian dishes and buffets.

WinStar has plenty of options to help you keep your hunger at bay. From fine dining to casual eats, restaurants and bars include:

• Vino’s Italian Kitchen
• Chips N’ Ales
• NYC Burgers & Dogs
• Matadors Pizzeria
• El Fenix
• Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill
• Capisce Ristorante Italiano
• Le Paris Bakery & Cafe
• Legends Bar & Grill
• IHOP Express
• Panda Express
• Gran Via Buffet
• The Rotunda Bar
• Dairy Queen
• Kirby’s Steakhouse
• Khan’s Fire Mongolian Grill
• Palladium Sports Lounge
• Terrace Cafe
• Red River Grill
• Cafes & Quick Bites
• Mist Nightclub
• Skyline Lounge

Winstar Age Limit: Is WinStar Family-Friendly?

To visit the gaming area or play any of the casino games, guests must be at least 18 years old. However, kids can still eat at the resort’s restaurants and attend shows in the events center if accompanied by an adult — but they must not be left alone.

What Can You Do At WinStar World Casino & Resort?

Get a glimpse backstage at the Global Event Center:

• The casino area offers more than 10,000 electronic games, 100 table games including crowd-pleasers and traditional favorites like blackjack and roulette, and a 55-table poker room. The bingo hall seats around 360 people.
• Away from the casino, WinStar boasts a 6,500-seat event venue, making it a big draw for live music. WinStar World Casino & Resort has previously hosted Pitbull, KISS, Bob Dylan, and many other huge names.
• For those that like to pair the fun of the gaming floor with pampering and wellness, there’s a championship golf course and academy, a spa, gym, hot tubs, and a swimming pool with cabanas, bungalows and day beds.
• There are plenty of places where visitors can carry on the party into the early hours, including Mickey Mantle’s and Palladium Sports Lounge.

The Good:

• Since its grand unveiling, the resort has hosted performances from famous faces such as Kelly Clarkson, Lynyrd Skynyrd, James Taylor and Maroon 5.
• The hotel offers a real holiday resort experience across its four different accommodation areas and showcases 24-hour room service, fitness facilities and a luxury pool.
• The casino’s nine gaming areas are named after world-famous cities such as Cairo, Paris, Rio and London, with a theme to match.
• The poker room and Rio gaming plaza are both non-smoking, so everyone can enjoy their time on the floor.

Wonder what the gaming plazas look like? Take a tour through WinStar’s Rio section:

The Bad:

• No dogs allowed. If you’re staying at the casino’s hotel you’ll have to leave your furry friend elsewhere. Only service animals are allowed on the casino’s premises. It might be the biggest casino in the US, but there’s no room for your pooch.

What People Are saying:

• One TripAdvisor reviewer said, “I come at least once a month for a two day sabbatical of fun, relaxation and gambling”.
• “Awesome slot machines, many of which are interactive,” said one recent visitor, “We like how the casino is divided into different regions of the world and the shuttle service that will take you from one end to the other. Food choices are great and tasty”.
• One guest, writing on TripAdvisor described it as a “Fun place to visit and play” and the food as “excellent”.
• Another TripAdvisor review said that the “hotel accommodations were superior”, “gaming was enjoyable” and the “overall stay was a pleasure”.
• “Huge casino with all the sensory experience you could ever want. It was fun,” stated a customer on the casino’s Facebook page.

Upcoming Events

You can find a list of regularly updated events on their site, but notable entertainment in 2024 includes:

• Stevie Nicks: May 10th 2024
• Duran Duran: May 19th 2024
• Kevin Hart: June 22nd 2024

There’s gaming and then there’s next level gaming and, as some of the gambling universe’s most glamorous names jostle for bragging rights, it can be hard to keep up with who is offering the best selection of slot machines, restaurants and shopping malls.

So, find out which juggernauts of the gambling and gaming sphere make our list of the top 10 biggest casinos in the world:

1. WinStar World Casino, Oklahoma, USA (600,000 square feet)

WinStar World Casino is not only the largest casino in the US, but also the biggest casino in the world – in the unlikely destination Oklahoma!

With at least 600,000 square feet of gaming space, this super-size casino delivers a knockout blow to rivals with its 7,000+ gaming machines, around 100 table games, 800-capacity bingo hall and non-smoking poker room.

And that’s just for starters.

Aside from the gaming appeal, you’ll be kept on your toes with the resort’s golf course, nightclub, sports lounge, pool bar and spa. Its eight gaming plazas take their names from some of the world’s most famous cities, and this international feel is reflected in its 17 restaurants.

Adding to its pull, this Chickasaw Nation-owned establishment is punching above its location by attracting top entertainers and events, thanks to a 3,500-seater Global Event Center and 7,700-seat Colosseum — venues a small city would be proud of.

Located just a little more than 90 miles north of Dallas, the world’s biggest casino continues to grow.

2. Venetian Macau, Macau, China (546,000 square feet)

This mammoth offering from Macau, and one of the biggest casinos ever, is located directly opposite the City of Dreams — making it easy to immerse yourself in this exciting, vibrant and contemporary gambling destination.

The bright lights of the Venetian’s exterior reflecting in the water below are a sight to behold, as this premium, luxe casino and hotel complex is comprised of an impressive 39 stories and 10,500,000 square feet of space overall.

Of that, a good chunk is dedicated purely to gaming. It proudly showcases 6,000+ slot machines and 800 gaming tables, as well as four themed gambling areas.

In addition, this ginormous resort is styled after Venice’s romantic winding canals and replica landmarks to give its patrons a unique experience. It offers huge swathes of retail, convention and dining spaces, and a 15,000-capacity events area.

3. MGM Cotai, Macau, China (500,000 square feet)

This $3.4 billion dollar temple to excess opened in 2018. It hosts the world’s largest art garden with more than 2000 different species, as well as hundreds of modern art paintings and Ancient Imperial Chinese artifacts. Then, within its 500,000 square feet of casino space, you’ll find more than 170 table games and 1,500 slots.

The Sky Bar on the 35^th floor is the place to see and be seen, though only open to guests of the hotel’s unique Sky Lofts. These are part of almost 1,400 rooms in total.

You’ll find three dozen exclusive high-end retail stores and almost two dozen restaurants, bars and dining areas spread across the cavernous space.

4. Wynn Macau, Macau, China (424,000 square feet)

With a gaming area of approximately 424,000 square feet, the resort also features an art gallery, pool, spa, four fine dining restaurants and around 29 designer shops.

There are several eye-catching installations and visual art shows that make this casino resort stand out from the crowd.

These include a color-changing ‘Tree of Prosperity’, a rotating ‘Dragon of Fortune’, a mesmerizing ‘Performance Lake’ featuring a light, music and fire show, and a fluorescent ‘Moon Jelly Aquarium’.

5. City of Dreams, Macau, China (420,000 square feet)

Casino patrons flock from far and wide to experience all that this otherworldly 420,000 square foot, themed gaming space has to offer.

If the generous menu of 450 gaming tables and more than 1,514 gaming machines don’t take up all your time and attention, you’ll still have VIP areas, four hotels, four spas, 175,000 square feet of retail space and endless boutique shopping to keep you occupied.

With more than 30 restaurants and bars, art exhibits, a nightclub and a live water theatre, the City of Dreams lives up to its self-billing as a ‘leading leisure destination’.

6. Galaxy Macau, Macau, China (400,000 square feet)

In Macau, it’s very hard to impress, but Galaxy Macau does just that by combining some of the world’s most luxurious hotel brands. Within this casino resort, you’ll find the likes of the Ritz Carlton, Andaz, JW Marriott, Raffles, and three other hotels, with nearly 5,000 high-end rooms in total.

Then think of the shared casino space. Hundreds of table games (up to 500) and slots, with more than 115 dining options to choose from, situated between brilliant luxury.

Tired of all that gambling? They have more than 200 stores to meet your retail therapy requirements, and if you’re looking to relax by the pool, how about 150 yards of white sand beach around the world’s largest sky wave pool. Heck, they even have a quarter-mile-long rapid ride on top of the hotel.

7. Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, Connecticut, USA (364,00 square feet)

Built almost thirty years ago, the Mohegan Sun casinos of the Sky and of the Earth have undergone at least three major renovations. They currently sport about 6,000 slots and 350 table games across their 364,000 square feet of gaming space.

The rest of the casino continues to modernize as well, with over 60 shops, dining spots, and bars, as well as recently renovated hotel towers which have over 1,500 rooms between them.

The resort’s proximity to New York has always played a role in its success, and it offers daily helicopter transport to and from the city.

The Mohegan Tribe, which owns the entire venture, continues to innovate and grow to meet the demands of the Northeast US gambling market, as well as invest in great new amenities that appeal to the next generation. It’s currently the second biggest casino in America.

8. Foxwoods, Ledyard, Connecticut, USA (340,000 square feet)

Owned by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, this sprawling resort actually contains six different casinos.

With an estimated total gaming area of between 340,000 — 344,000 square feet, guests will be spoilt for choice with over 250 tables, including the usual suspects like blackjack and craps, and more than 3,400 slot machines.

As well as this, there’s a shopping center and several high-end boutiques. You can also find a huge offering of around 55 food and drink outlets, a spa, golf, and activities such as bowling and zip-lining.

9. Ponte 16, Macau, China (270,000 square feet)

Players can explore 270,000 square feet of gaming attractions at the 9th largest casino in the world.

These include 109 tables, around 307 slot machines, and two VIP halls. With plenty of variety, the resort showcases games such as fan tan, pat kao, American roulette, three card baccarat and face-up blackjack.

For the full experience, upscale travelers can make the most of a luxurious French hotel with a swimming pool, spa, and fitness center.

There’s also an Angry Birds-themed kids’ play center, foot massage center, a gallery of unique items from around the world, and a street performance area. The seven restaurants and bars will keep hunger at bay.

10. Rio Casino Resort, Klerksdorp, South Africa (266,330 square feet)

Get in on around 266,330 square feet of gaming action at Rio Casino.

Taking inspiration from the carnival atmosphere of the Brazilian city it takes its name from, there’s 24-hour slots to enjoy, with 274 gaming machines and 12 table games, plus regular poker tournaments.

There’s also a Salon Privé for high-rollers, a hotel, a kids’ arcade gaming center, a crèche, two restaurants, and a bar to complete the attractions.

Go Big Or Go Home

That’s what the movies will tell you. And it’s certainly a quote that the world’s casino bigwigs have taken to heart.

It’s all about size and thinking BIG: bigger buffets, larger hotels, more games and those star names.

It’s an exciting time for casino connoisseurs, as resorts continue to compete to provide the best all-round experience and race to become the biggest in their region, or even the world.

Watch this space…

If you enjoyed this, check out our post on the smallest casinos in the world too!

This leaves cruise lines with every incentive to make their casino bigger and better. So, without further ado, here are the seven best cruise ship casinos out there right now.

1. Allure of the Seas: 18,000 square feet

Royal Caribbean is one of the world’s best cruise lines, with casinos operating on all seven seas. Their Oasis class ships were some of the biggest cruise ships on the ocean until the last few years. The Allure had her maiden voyage in 2010 and can comfortably handle 5,400 guests.

She has two dozen restaurants, 15 bars and lounges, and many other amenities, like rock climbing, an outdoor movie theater, minigolf, and a beautiful theater. Also, check out the zipline, the Aqua Theater, and their version of Central Park on a ship.

The casino on the Allure is currently the biggest on any cruise ship, coming in at 18,000 square feet. For comparison, a good-sized Las Vegas property might only be 100,000 square feet. However, the biggest casino in the world, the Winstar in Thackerville, Oklahoma, comes in at 600,000 square feet.

They have 27 table games, including fan favorites like blackjack, craps, roulette, and baccarat, as well as some of the carnival games like Three Card Poker, Mississippi Stud, and similar games. The slot total is 456, with all the usual hits like Buffalo, Buffalo Stampede, and 88 Fortunes.

They have a small non-smoking casino on Deck 4 with a few tables and several dozen slots if you need to be away from the smoke of the main casino. Overall, it’s the best cruise casino today.

2. Oasis of the Seas: 15,000 square feet

A fun fact: while the Oasis was built to the exact same specifications as her Sister ship, Allure of the Seas, the Oasis is 2 inches shorter in length. That being said, this Royal Caribbean flagship of the Oasis Class is a beauty. Her maiden voyage was in 2009.

Unlike her sister ship, Oasis had extensive renovations in 2019, so she has some newer amenities like an eleven-story slide and a waterpark. She also has several newer restaurant concepts that were not found on the Allure.

The Oasis lost some casino space during the remodel, but still has 15k gaming square footage, including 24 tables and 464 slot machines. The no-smoking casino has three tables and 46 slot machines to choose from. This is a good option if looking for the best slots on cruise ships.

3. Norwegian Epic: 13,000 square feet

The Epic was launched in 2010 and was planned to have two sister ships in the same Epic class, but the deal fell through, so Epic became the only Epic class ship in the Norwegian fleet. She can hold about 5,300 guests and is 19 decks tall.

There are 15 restaurants onboard, as well as a dozen bars and lounges and the usual amenities, like water slides and rock climbing walls, as well as two pool areas and the Broadway-type Theaters that Norwegian is known for.

The Norwegian Epic once had one of the largest casinos on a cruise ship anywhere. However, after her remodel in 2020, she returned with a still respectable 348 slot machines and 28 tables over about 13,000 square feet.

You can find about any table game you wish to play, as well as every hot new slot you’ve been dying to try. While some other Norwegian casinos have poor reviews for ventilation, the sheer size of the Epic casino helps with the irritating cigarette smoke.

4. Symphony of the Seas: 12,000 square feet

As one of the best cruise lines with casinos, it’s no surprise to see Royal Caribbean make the list again.

Royal Caribbean has five ships in the Oasis Class, and they span almost a decade of shipbuilding. The Symphony of the Seas was launched in 2018. While generally adhering to the Oasis model, she has upgraded staterooms and amenities that more closely match those of Oasis of the Seas after her remodel, than those of the Allure of the Seas, eight years her senior.

The casino on Symphony has also been somewhat reduced in size, down to about 12,000 square feet. But it seems similar in size to the one on Oasis and has almost the same number of tables (24) and slots (452). So we’re still happy to consider it as one of the best cruises with casinos.

5. Sun Princess: 9,000 square feet

One of the best casino cruise ships is also the newest. Princess Cruise Lines Sphere class of cruise ships kicked off their maiden voyage in late February 2024 with the Sun Princess.

She has a capacity of 4,300 guests in a double stateroom, and if the name sounds a little familiar, it’s because she is named after the iconic Princess Line boat from the television show “Love Boat.”

The Princess has state-of-the-art cabins, and the usual zip lines and rock climbing. The dining room encompasses three full stories and looks over the ship’s stern, promising grandiose views. The Piazza is a glass sphere, which inspired this class’s name. It functions as the ship’s atrium and features several cafes and bars with views along the ship’s interior from its multi-floor perch.

The casino comes in at 9,000 square feet with 17 table games and 227 slots. They’re not getting the memo about scaled-back casino space; it’s the largest they’ve ever built.

Three great additions are table games linked progressives on blackjack and various poker games. A Buffalo Zone, often found in land-based casinos, is just a dedicated space for many Buffalo slot machines with cool signage. A new high-limit slot area will feature enhanced luxury seating for those long hours at the machines.

To be in with a chance of winning an all-expenses paid trip on this cruise ship, check out this casino cruise tester competition.

6. Norwegian Escape: 8,000 square feet

The Escape is a Breakaway Plus class ship. It was launched in 2015 and can comfortably carry just over 4,000 guests. Norwegian is known for its best-in-class Broadway-quality shows and entertainment and its relaxed approach to cruising. There are no formal dinner nights here.

The Escape has over two dozen dining options and 15 bars, as well as the de rigueur Aqua Park, rope climbing, rock climbing, and mini golf. There are two pool areas and a huge spa as well as a fitness area.

The casino covers about 8,000 square feet but squeezes in 23 tables and 318 slots. They have many poker variants like Three Card Poker, Pai Gow, and Ultimate Texas Hold’em, as well as the staples of craps, blackjack, and roulette. The machines are newer and feature most of the same titles that you would find in a modern Las Vegas casino.

7. Carnival Celebration: 5,000 square feet

The Carnival Celebration is one of Carnival’s Excel Class ships. Launched in 2022, she can comfortably hold just over 5,300 guests and spends much of her time in the Caribbean on six- and eight-day cruises.

They have 24 restaurants, and if, for some inexplicable reason, you’re a huge Guy Fierro fan, they feature his Barbeque Smoke House concept, along with his Guy’s Burger Joint. There are 15 bars and lounges, none of which have any Guy-inspired cocktails that we are aware of, and the usual movie theater, climbing wall, and splash pad-type amenities.

What separates the Celebration from the competition is Bolt, its 800-foot-long, 40 mph rollercoaster on the top deck. This has upped the ante regarding onboard sports deck amenities and, at least on paper, looks a lot more entertaining than another rock-climbing wall.

While smaller than some of our other entries, it covers almost 5,000 square feet of space, has 15 tables, and has slightly more than 200 slot machines. It was voted Best Cruise Ship Casino in a reader’s choice poll in Newsweek in 2023.

FAQs About Cruise Ship Casinos

Are Cruise Ships Rigged?

As multi-billion dollar companies with millions of customers yearly, it simply doesn’t make economic sense to “rig” games.

That being said, there are no gaming commissions on the high seas that you can raise a dispute with, or that have mandated a minimum Return To Player percentage for slot machines.

Many believe that while most slots in the USA are set close to a 90% Return to Player, those in cruise ship casinos are set at closer to 80%, but there is no hard proof of that.

Do You Pay Taxes on Cruise Ship Winnings?

If you are a US Citizen and you win a slot jackpot in the waters off Mombasa or Monte Video or anywhere else in the world, the US government will want their piece of it, and you must pay federal taxes. Any jackpot over 1,200 will trigger the dreaded W2G and 24% withholding on major cruise lines. Technically, all winnings should be reported on a 1040.

If you are a UK citizen, there doesn’t seem to be the same tax burden, though please consult a tax professional should the need arise.

Do All Cruise Ships Have Casinos?

Nope. Even some of the major companies, like Norwegian, have boats that lack casinos, though usually with good reasons. For instance, their Pride Of America never leaves Hawaiian waters, so they would never be in a position to open the casino. Check the casino status before you book, though the vast majority will have them due to their significant revenue contribution.

Are Cruise Ship Casinos Regulated?

Most would be regulated by the country they are registered in, such as the Bahamas. Many have signed agreements and regulations with the CLIA (the Cruise Line International Association) – an industry trade group that provides some rules and oversight – but market forces do most regulation.

I’ve compiled a list of the 19 best activities to do in Sin City for under $35. We wanted to make it under $20, but you know, inflation.

After all, I wouldn’t want you to miss the thrill of the Mob Museum or the view of Las Vegas by night from the Eiffel Tower over a few bucks. To balance it out, I’ve also thrown in some great free things to try.

1. Gondola Rides At The Venetian ($34pp)

The singing gondoliers of The Venetian have been entertaining Las Vegas visitors for more than two decades now. It’s quite the photo experience and not to be missed. It’s one of the most popular cheap things to do in Vegas during the day.

If you don’t want to spend the $34, discount tickets or coupons are usually available in coupon books handed out on the Strip, or you can watch and listen for free along the promenade.

Inside the Venetian hotel, 10am to 10pm.

2. Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas Sign ($0)

The first thing you can see as you enter the Las Vegas Strip from the South is this Las Vegas sign, which has been featured in visitors’ photo books for more than sixty years. It’s one of the most popular cheap things to do in Las Vegas.

Over the past couple of decades, though, much work has been done to make it easier to get that snapshot. More parking and safer, easier access to the median where the sign sits have been added.

5100 Las Vegas Boulevard, 24/7.

3. Pinball Hall Of Fame (Bring Quarters)

Just a block from the Las Vegas sign sits the Pinball Museum. With hundreds of Pinball and amusement machines still in working order and ready for you to play, you could spend hours out here for just two bits if you’re some sort of Pinball wizard.

Otherwise, you’re probably going to need a more reasonable $5 or $10 per player. It’s one of the best cheap things to do in Vegas with family – keep the kids entertained for hours!

4925 Las Vegas Boulevard, 10am to 9pm.

4. Big Apple Roller Coaster at New York New York Hotel ($25+)

Race above New York and plunge right through Lady Liberty on this thrill ride featuring a 200-foot-plus drop at over 65 mph in a New York City cab.

This one is excellent day or night, and with several loops and drops as it races around the casino, it’s bound to get your heart pumping. More than 1.5 million riders a year can’t be wrong. Plus, it’s part of one of the best arcades in Vegas, featuring over 200 games.

New York New York Hotel, 11am to 11pm.

5. Eiffel Tower Experience at Paris Hotel ($24.50)

46 stories above the Las Vegas Strip is a view along the deck of the Paris Hotel’s half-scale replica of the Eiffel Tower. Best seen at night, it’s a breathtaking spectacle of all of Sin City, laid out in front of you in all her neon glory. The Las Vegas skyline has never been so la la la.

Even the ride to get there is stunning, and there’s probably no more romantic spot in town. Possibly one of the best cheap things to do in Vegas for couples. There are also discounts for seniors and locals.

Paris Hotel, Las Vegas Strip, 12pm to 12am.

6. Neon Museum ($20-$45)

This isn’t some hike through a sign graveyard. Well, it isn’t JUST a hike through a sign graveyard. They’ve got tour guides and augmented reality displays, and at night, they turn the neon on and light up the desert. It’s probably one of the coolest cheaps thing to do in Vegas.

You can even get a helicopter tour over the museum at night to see it all from above. The Neon Museum is really unlike any museum you’ve been to before. And it’s beyond Instagrammable at night.

There are several different prices depending on which tour and add-ons you like. It’s gotten so popular you may want to get tickets in advance.

770 Las Vegas Blvd North, 2pm to 10pm.

7. Skypod at the Stratosphere ($20+)

Skypod at the Strat is a two-level observation deck at the top of the 1150-foot Stratosphere hotel tower. The $20 is just for the view, but if you’ve ever wanted to bungee jump from 1,000 feet up or asked yourself wouldn’t it be great if there was a roller coaster wrapped around the top of this enormously tall building, the Strat has answers, albeit pricey ones.

There’s also a restaurant and bar up there, so you can make a several-hour stay out of it if you want, and really get your $20 worth. The view of the Las Vegas skyline is simply breathtaking.

Strat Hotel, 10am to1am.

8. Food Trucks (Varies)

Food, like everything else in Las Vegas, is expensive and overhyped. But some fantastic food trucks with great food and reasonable prices are hidden right off the Las Vegas Strip, or scattered downtown.

Try out some of the best ones like Buddy’s Jersey Eats in the 3000 Block of Las Vegas Boulevard. Or track down the daily setups for local Las Vegas favorites like El Taco, AntidoteLV, or the world-famous fried mac and cheese egg rolls at Stripcheeze. Though simple, it’s still one of the best cheap things to do in Vegas.

You can see locations and daily menus on Instagram or Facebook.

9. Mob Museum ($35)

One of our favorite Sin City spots, this downtown Las Vegas museum relives the sordid past of the organized crime families that ran Las Vegas for decades.

It’s not just a display of blood-splattered mobster clothing and pictures of hits gone awry. This state-of-the-art museum has a firearms training simulator, a Crime Lab that shows how Medical Examiners process bullet-riddled crime scenes for evidence and, of course, a Prohibition Era Distillery tour. There are even whispers of a password-protected speakeasy somewhere in the building.

300 Stewart Avenue, 9am to 9pm.

10. Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art ($18)

Home to a priceless art exhibit, this relatively small museum has hosted exhibitions of Picasso, Degas, and Faberge, along with many other modern art masterpieces. Since exhibits revolve, you may want to see what they have on display when you arrange your tickets.

Sadly, the $130 million Picasso, La Reve, that former Bellagio owner Steve Wynn accidentally put his elbow through, has been repaired and sold off. An oopsie like that would be hard to pass up.

Bellagio Hotel and Casino, 10am to 5:30pm.

11. The Las Vegas Strip ($0)

There is no place like the Las Vegas Strip at night. There is an energy, a distant hum, that gets in your head. It’s the desert air, the billions of dollars in neon, and the people. Mostly the people. There is no better place to people-watch than the Las Vegas strip just before Midnight.

Wander out and see the whole cross-section of America, heck, the world, mixed along just a few blocks of one of the most famous streets in the world. You may be unable to describe or even capture it in pictures. But you will never forget it. It will always remain one of the best cheap things to do in Vegas.

Desert Inn Road to Tropicana Avenue, nightly.

12. Ethel M Chocolate Factory ($0, Chocolate Extra)

This factory is named for Ethel Mars, the mother of Forest Mars, who introduced the world to M&M’s and dozens of other one-of-a-kind American chocolate bars and treats. It’s where Forest came after he retired from the Mars company and started a new business dedicated to craft, small-batch chocolate.

Just minutes from Las Vegas in Henderson, you can tour the factory, visit their renowned three-acre cactus garden, and, most importantly, taste some of this award-winning chocolate.

2 Cactus Garden Drive Henderson, 10am to 6pm.

13. Hoover Dam Tour ($30+)

Looking for cheap things to do in Las Vegas off the strip? The best-guided tours of Hoover Dam will let you not only tour the almost 90-year-old dam and power plant, but also admire views of the dam from two points. First, from the Black Rock Canyon, and second, from the Colorado River (down-water side, looking up). This view allows you to fully understand the massive undertaking that building this 700-foot dam must have been.

Some tours will also include lunch. Depending on the type of tour, you will need to set aside at least four hours to get there and back.

14. Mount Charleston (Varies)

Mount Charleston is the high peak you can see northeast of Las Vegas. While only 45 minutes away from Vegas, most tourists and even some locals never seem to visit. It’s covered in hiking trails, and there’s both a lodge and a restaurant.

In the summer, it can be 30 degrees cooler on the mountain, and in the winter, they have a small ski resort that you can sojourn to. Tours can be pricey and crowded, but you can often get a rental car for as low as $15 a day in the off-season. It’s a great trip if you want to get out of town and see some of the beautiful nature surrounding the Las Vegas Valley.

15. Bellagio Fountains ($0)

The Bellagio Fountains cover eight acres and use more than 1200 fountain heads, some of which shoot columns of water up to 450 feet in the air. Synchronized with a soundtrack and light show, this is a not-to-be-missed attraction, especially considering the price point. Shows are every half hour but are best seen on a clear night after sunset.

Bellagio Hotel and Casino, 3pm to 12am.

16. Fremont Street Experience ($0)

Downtown Las Vegas is home to the Fremont Street experience: six blocks of debauchery shoehorned under a neon roof. While it earned the nickname Glitter Gulch as far back as the 1950s, the 50 million LED lights that cover Fremont today put the old moniker to shame. Free concerts, free street performers, cheap food and a zipline soaring high above it all make this a not-be-missed roadside attraction.

Freemont Street, 24/7.

17. Linq High Roller ($23.50+)

Billed as America’s largest wheel ride, the 500-foot Vegas Eye is a beautiful piece of machinery that lets you get a look at Las Vegas from 50 stories up. Each cabin can hold up to 40 people and generally spends about half an hour making a complete revolution. This allows you to get a good look in all directions and take pictures to your heart’s content.

Outside drinks are allowed, but no glasses or coolers. If you prefer the Happy Hour cabin, you can get a ride and free drinks for a bit more.

Linq Hotel and Casino, 2pm to12 am.

18. Dive In Movies at the Cosmopolitan ($10+)

This one is a hidden gem. Starting in May and running through the end of September, the Cosmo holds outdoor movie night every Monday at their Boulevard Pool. It’s a massive 270-square-foot screen with some curated movie experiences like Aquaman or The Goonies.

Plus, if you’re a local, it’s only $10 per person and $15 for tourists not staying at the Cosmo. Splurge and rent one of the huge daybeds or just lounge on an air mattress in the pool.

The Cosmopolitan, doors open at 7pm.

19. Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay ($29)

The Shark Reef Aquarium has 1.3 million gallons of water which is home to more than 2,000 fish and critters. Also on exhibit in this walk-through aquarium is over 200 shark species for your viewing pleasure.

This a great place to get out of that Nevada sun and spend an afternoon in a dreamy underwater world. Besides the main exhibit, you can feed the sharks or pet the stingrays for an upcharge. Plus try out their 4-D immersive video diving experience.

Mandalay Bay, 10am to 7:30pm.

As you can see, there are plenty of amazing, fun cheap things to do in Vegas, so have a great trip!

FAQs About Vegas Budgets

What is a good budget for a Vegas trip?

As with so much in Las Vegas, it depends on what you want to do. A $100 a day per person would be a good baseline starting point, and then work your way up from there. If you gamble even on the penny slots for eight hours a day, you better have a large bankroll. If you don’t mind a slightly less ritzy hotel and enjoy hiking or exploring the less expensive things Las Vegas has to offer, you can enjoy Las Vegas for much less.

Is $100 a day enough for Las Vegas?

The average tourist spends more than $300 daily, so it depends on what you want to accomplish. If you’re willing to stay farther South on the Las Vegas Strip at properties like Excalibur and Luxor, which have rooms at $20 to $30 a day, dine off the Strip, and use our cheap things to do in Vegas list (or even better, our free things to do in Las Vegas list), it could be done.

How much money do I need to have fun in Las Vegas?

Money doesn’t equal fun, not even in Las Vegas. That guy betting $20k a hand at the Bellagio, maybe staying in a $40,000 dollar-a-night suite and eating at five-star restaurants every night, is probably having less fun than some Vegas first-timers, eating 99-cent Midway hotdogs at Circus Circus and staying in some downtown hotel for $25 a night. Vegas is what you make it.

Is $1000 enough for four days In Las Vegas?

Sure. You could put yourself together a nice itinerary with $1,000 for four days. Use the coupon books and look for deals to make the most of your money.

What is the cheapest way around Las Vegas?

The monorail is $13 a day for unlimited rides up and down the Las Vegas Strip. Busses are clean and cheap and, while a bit slow, can take you anywhere you want to go for $8 unlimited a day. You can also rent electric bikes from the Las Vegas Transit Authority for $5 daily.

Whether you’re a high-roller who wants to splurge their winnings on a wellness experience, need to cure your hangover and rejuvenate after a night (or two) of too much fun, or simply want to pair your casino-hopping with some hard-earned rest and relaxation, there’s a spa for you in Sin City.

We’ve narrowed down the very best spas in Las Vegas, so let’s get into it…

1. The Spa & Salon at Aria

For a five-star spa experience, head to The Spa & Salon at Aria.

What makes this chic facility standout is its private suites. For the full VIP effect, or just a little extra privacy between treatments, reserve an exclusive room for up to four people, where you’ll indulge with a lounge area and hot tub.

The spa also features beautiful wet areas, a Shio Salt Room, and Ganbanyoku beds (Japanese heated stone beds for the uninitiated). You can also unwind in the therapy pool — an infinity pool with a co-ed balcony and chaise lounges.

Treatments include a changing ‘specials’ menu that features massages, scrubs, facials, and hair masks, as well as manicures in the salon. The classic package usually includes three hours of treatments, access to a hydrotherapy tub, food and drinks, and a spa host.

Just be aware that there’s a 20 percent service charge on treatments.

2. The Spa at Encore

The Spa at Encore delivers style in spades with its grand decor and 61,000 sq ft of pure relaxation space — where you’ll find a sauna, steam room, whirlpool, plunge pools and a couples suite.

Awarded five stars by the Forbes Travel Guide, it boasts a truly extensive menu featuring tempting options such as a Moroccan Mud Wrap, Citrus Soufflé Body and Facial Treatment and a Chinese-inspired ‘Good Luck Ritual’.

In terms of price, classic message therapies start at $120, while specialty massages start at $200. All treatments are cheaper Monday-Thursday than at weekends or on holidays. You’ll find this at most spas in Las Vegas.

3. Waldorf Astoria Spa Las Vegas

Was a spa at the Waldorf ever going to be anything but decadent?

Named ‘Nevada’s Best Hotel Spa’ by the World Spa Awards in 2019, it has everything you’ll need to rest mind, body and soul.

Stretching across 27,000 sq ft, it provides 16 treatment rooms, a beauty salon and an idyllic eighth-floor pool deck.

Hit that hangover hard with everything from tailored multi-hour treatment packages, through to couples’ massages and individual body scrubs, wraps and facials. You can even get your hair cut.

Prices for massages start at $200, body treatments start at $150, and facials start at $205. You can enjoy the couples experience from $200.

4. Saffron Day Spa

For those that aren’t celebrating a big win and want to be a little more wallet-friendly, there are plenty of more affordable spas in Las Vegas to choose from.

Perfect for massage purists and no-frills seekers, the highly-rated Saffron Day Spa has an array of packages up for grabs — including a ‘Spa Sampler’ which allows you to select four treatments from an extensive list, all for $125.

For even greater value, time your trip to coincide with Happy Hour Spa Days on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, when you can choose any three treatments from a menu of eight options, for just $60.

A combination of massages, foot treatments, hand rescue, facials and waxing could be just the ticket if you enjoyed yourself a little too much at a real happy hour the day before. One of the best day spas in Las Vegas for sure!

5. The Spa at Wynn

Another luxe, five-star option, The Spa at Wynn has had a makeover and is now a feast for the eyes as well as a tranquil retreat from the hustle and bustle.

Handily located within Wynn Las Vegas, you can head straight there following a day or night at the roulette wheel.

Designed to evoke the ‘serenity of nightfall’, the gorgeous decor features dark purples, blues, candles, cozy fires, koi carp and Japanese cherry blossom.

You’ll enjoy use of a sauna, plunge pools and a sunlit atrium — but it’s the treatments that truly catch the eye, including a ‘Four Hands Massage’ that utilizes two synchronized therapists, as well as a ‘Forest of Dreams Foot Ritual’ and ‘Fire and Ice Stone Massage’.

6. Spa at Flamingo Las Vegas

If you need to rest your weary feet after an all-nighter, the Spa at Flamingo may be just the tonic.

You can also take your pick of spa packages, signature services and a host of special treatments, such as reiki.

You’ll pay $129 for a 50-minute Swedish massage, while massage enhancements, including aromatherapy and scalp treatments, are $15-$80 a pop. There’s plenty more to choose from, and it’s worth keeping an eye out for seasonal deals specials, too.

But a day pass to simply use the spa facilities, encompassing three pools, sauna, steam room, and relaxation lounge with heathy snacks, costs $45.

And yes, you may come across flamingo-themed decor.

7. Sahra Spa, Salon & Hammam

Billing itself as an ‘oasis’ that’s inspired by the desert, Sahra is a Las Vegas wellness retreat that focuses on the peaceful and natural side of Nevada. It’s what makes it one of the best spas in Las Vegas Nevada.

Walls represent canyons, silver ceilings recall moonlit nights, and long hallways lead guests to dramatic features including a monsoon cave, serenity lounge, steam room and a Hammam room with a heated slab.

Massages start at $180 and can be enhanced with adds-ons from $20. For instance, you may choose to elevate your massage with a CBD-infused oil and targeted pain cream application for $30.

If that’s not for you, you can wash away the excesses of your vacation with a cleansing soak, bathing ritual or Hammam experience, instead.

For a day pass alone, hotel guests can expect to pay $75 during the week and $100 at the weekend, while non-guests must reserve a treatment for facility access.

8. Bellagio Spa & Salon

If you’re staying at the Bellagio, you’ll already know all about the world-class on-site spa: Bellagio Spa & Salon. It has remained one of the top spas in Las Vegas for some time now.

Inspired by the seasons and offering a specialist barber and makeup artist, it has something for everyone.

Indeed, the spa has a truly international feel thanks to wellness treatments that will whisk you around the world — with rituals from India, Japan, China and more.

Hotel guests pay $100 for access to the facility’s steam room, sauna, plunge pool and whirlpool. Massages, body treatments and facials all start at $180, increasing to $195 on the weekend.

9. Boracay Massage

The place to go if you’ve tied yourself up in knots with all-day and all-night parties, and been sat at one-too-many slot machines.

Services at the well-reviewed Boracay Massage spa include deep tissue, Swedish, sports, couples, and hot lava stone massages.

Located just 10 minutes away from the Strip, Boracay is well situated for when you need to find a sanctuary.

Pampering packages feature various combinations of a Swedish massage, a scrub and either Shiatsu, aromatherapy or hot stone therapy.

Starting at $179 for 90 minutes, they provide value in Vegas and, if you happen to be travelling as a twosome, you can capitalize on a wide selection of special couples’ deals, too, making it one of the more affordable spas in Las Vegas.

1. MSG Sphere

The hottest new concert venue in the US, and maybe even the world, is the kaleidoscopic 2.3 billion-dollar fever dream that is the MSG sphere. There are many great vantage points to see its ever-changing surface, but the best is in the Encore parking garage, directly adjacent to the Encore Casino.

The view from the garage’s top floor is widely believed to be the best in Las Vegas. This is one of the best things to do in Vegas at night for free. Though it’s definitely still visible during the day.

2. Lake of Dreams at Wynn Las Vegas

As long as we’re out and about on the famous Las Vegas Blvd at night, let’s check out the Lake of Dreams show at the Wynn Las Vegas. Best viewed from one of their bars or restaurants, you can still see it for free near the hotel lobby.

A 9-story waterfall, some seriously oversized puppets, and dancing water and lights make this an unforgettable show. You can catch it after dark every half hour until 11:30 pm.

3. The Venetian Hotel

Head south on Las Vegas Blvd, duck into the Venetian, and see their take on Venice’s Grand Canal. You’ll need tickets for the gondola ride, but you can get great photos for free and listen to the Gondoliers singing as they row. You can also wander through the Grand Canal Shoppes.

One of our favorite free attractions, Streetmosphere at the Venetian, was cancelled at the end of 2023. We’re hoping they are planning to put something new in its place. It was located near the end of the Grand Canal Shoppes near the entrance.

4. The Mirage Volcano Show

Time is quickly running out on this must-see Las Vegas experience. Hard Rock International, the new owners of the Mirage, plan to turn the beloved volcano into a guitar-shaped hotel.

We expect it to remain open through the first part of 2024. So run, don’t walk to see this hot attraction in front of the Mirage on the Strip. Exploding nightly from 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm.

As one of the best free attractions in Vegas for the last 30 years, she will be missed.

5. Flamingo Wildlife Habitat

Thousands of people walking on Las Vegas Blvd don’t realize that a four-acre lush tropical paradise is hidden in the Flamingo at the heart of the Strip. And they certainly don’t realize it’s free to enter.

Bubbly streams, cascading waterfalls, and tropical plants are filled with a wide variety of birds, including flamingos and herons. There are also catfish, turtles, brightly colored koi and other tropical fish in the water features.

It’s cool, relaxing, and miles away from the hubbub of the Strip, yet just a few feet inside the Flamingo’s front doors. It’s arguably one of the coolest things to do in Vegas for free.

If you get there early (they open at 7:00 am), you will very likely have this secluded oasis to yourself. Closing time is at 8:00 pm. During the early afternoon, you can meet with staff who can answer questions or tell you about the animals.

6. Bellagio Fountains

The fountains in front of the Bellagio are a must-see Las Vegas attraction, with 1,200 jets and almost 5,000 lights spread over 8 acres of some of the most expensive real estate in the world. The best view is from nearby rooms that are fortunate to overlook the display, but you can witness it for free right along the Las Vegas Boulevard sidewalk.

Another great vantage is just outside the hotel lobby, looking towards the Paris Casino, as you can still hear the accompanying music. A common mistake is to get there too early. The show doesn’t start until 3:00 pm during the week.

7. Botanical Gardens and Bellagio Conservatory

Just across the intersection of Las Vegas Blvd from the Flamingo, we can find the Bellagio Botanical Gardens. Free to wander through, this 14,000-square-foot attraction is genuinely stunning. The gardeners and staff conjure up creatures and people 30 feet high using plants, trees, and other techniques.

As the year progresses, so do the Conservatory themes, moving through spring, summer, and then holiday presentations. And the thing is, it’s not just a sensation for the eyes, but the nose as well. Those flowers smell amazing. It’s one of the best things to do in Las Vegas for free.

This free attraction is open 24/7. It is just to the right of the main entrance. The botanical gardens are open to all ages.

8. The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace

If you fancy a little window shopping, or maybe you’re just really keen on buying a purse for 30k, the Caesar’s Palace shops will appeal to you. Just across Flamingo Road from the Bellagio, this is probably one of the most famous luxury malls in the world.

The Roman-themed Forum shops are no longer the highest-grossing mall per square foot, but that doesn’t mean you can’t while away a few hours perusing Versace, Vuitton, Armani, Dior and Gucci. Or perhaps the stones at De Beers or Tiffany might interest you.

While not free, the Forum shops also contain a dozen restaurants. If all these high-end designers have you craving Italian, you can’t go wrong at Carmine’s or even RPM Italian with its handmade pastas.

9. Eiffel Tower Replica at Paris Casino

A bit further south down the Las Vegas Strip, we come across the Paris hotel. Now, Paris wouldn’t be complete without a faux 46-story Eiffel Tower. While this is only half-scale to the original, it’s still pretty impressive, especially with the light show they put on at night from dusk ’til midnight.

While the light show and getting your picture taken in front of the Eiffel Tower are free, we would be remiss if we didn’t mention that the ride to the top of the viewing platform is one of the best buys in Las Vegas. It’ll cost you $23 for kids and $28 for adults.

And hey, if you don’t tell anyone you’re in Vegas and they just assume you’ve taken a trip to France…well, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.

10. The Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood

Still headed south down Las Vegas Blvd, we come to Planet Hollywood. Planet Hollywood is known for its Miracle Mile Shops where you can do some more window shopping. Despite the name, it isn’t just 150 storefronts selling everything under the sun. Well, it’s mostly that. But it also boasts over a dozen different theatres, tons of restaurants, and other tourist attractions.

11. New York New York Casino

Another few hundred yards south down the Las Vegas Strip sits the New York New York Hotel and Casino. This is the perfect spot for a photo op of its 47-story Empire State Building, or its half-size Statue of Liberty. Unlike the Eiffel Tower, we won’t confuse anyone with this one, as the Big Apple Roller Coaster cuts right through her.

12. Excalibur and Luxor

Just another 100 yards south on the Las Vegas strip, we come to the dual properties of Excalibur and Luxor. Many of the free experiences here have been lost over the years, but they’re still worth a quick walk past. I mean, it’s not every day you see a 28-story castle with 5,000 rooms, or a 30-story pyramid capped with the brightest man-made light in the world.

13. The Pinball Hall of Fame Museum

Now, if you would like to take a cab or bus another mile south on Las Vegas Blvd, in the 4900 block, you will find a free museum dedicated to Pinball machines. Thousands of them, dating back 60 years in some cases. While it is free to enter and look around, you may want to bring some quarters, as not only can you look at the antique games, but in almost all circumstances, you can still play them. It’s one of the best arcades in Las Vegas.

14. Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign

Just another block south on Las Vegas Blvd, you’ll find the world-famous Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign. Welcoming visitors from Southern California for 65 years, this iconic piece of old Las Vegas has probably been photographed millions of times. Nowadays, you can cross the median safely, and there is parking just for sign visitors. Though that wasn’t the case for the first fifty years the sign stood!

15. The One and Only Las Vegas Strip

While the old saying about the journey being the destination may seem a little trite, just wandering up and down the Las Vegas Strip is truly an attraction in its own right. You get the best people watching in the world, with people from every walk of life and from all over the world, mixed with scenery straight out of some crazed dream. With Venice and Paris mixed with Volcanos, Pyramids and the Statue of Liberty, it truly is a wonder.

Steve Wynn used to say the action is the attraction, and if that’s true, a trip down Las Vegas Blvd at night might be the ultimate free attraction.

16. Free Circus Acts at Circus Circus

Miles north of the Las Vegas Welcome sign, on our way back to downtown Las Vegas along Las Vegas Blvd, sits Circus Circus. This is Las Vegas’s tribute to quintessential American entertainment – the Big Top.

We’re talking trapeze artists, silk cord dancers, jugglers, contortionists, ladder men, and sadly, clowns. Clowns aside, this is a fantastic show, even more so because it’s still free and open to children of all ages.

17. The Fremont Street Experience

Also dubbed the Viva Vision light show, they’ve taken five blocks of downtown Las Vegas and turned it into the world’s biggest block party. It’s the world’s largest video screen, with a ceiling that’s 90 feet up and covered in LED lights. At last count, nearly 50 million of them.

Three free stages will have musical acts almost every night of the year, weather permitting, and while not at all free, you can zipline down the entire length of it. No cars are allowed on this part of Fremont Street so that pedestrians can wander in and out of the various casinos, restaurants, and other shops along this downtown Las Vegas hotspot.

18. Downtown Container Park

As the name suggests, this downtown Las Vegas entertainment and shopping area is built entirely from shipping containers and metal cubes. Also located a bit further along Fremont Street, this complex offers shopping, free entertainment, restaurants, live music and even an art installation of a fire-breathing mantis. Because of the size limitations of the chosen building materials, most shops and entertainment venues are markedly small. There’s also a popular playground for children.

The stores generally open around 11:30 am and close around 9:00 pm. The restaurants and other entertainment are open until 11:00 pm during the week and 1:00 am on the weekends.

19. The Mermaid Show at Silverton

While more than five miles away from downtown Las Vegas and Fremont Street, the aquarium and mermaids at Silverton really shouldn’t be missed. Consistently voted one of the top free things to do in Las Vegas, this 117,000-gallon aquarium has over 150 species of fish and more than 5,000 fish in total.

The mermaids do 15-minute shows underwater using hidden breathing tubes and are quite the sight, moving with their tails through all of the tropical fish. There are several smaller aquariums on the property as well, holding freshwater fish like catfish, trout and crappie.

Conclusion

We hope you get out and see some of the fantastic free things you can do in Las Vegas, as this list barely scratched the surface. This town has so much more to offer than slot machines and overpriced buffets. Get out there and see some of them! The list of things to do for free in Las Vegas Nevada is as long as you choose to make it.

FAQs About Free Things in Vegas

How can I get free money to play in Las Vegas?

Most Las Vegas casinos, especially those along Fremont Street, are known for giving free play to new players who sign up for their Players Club Cards. While not quite cash, it can be converted into cash after you’ve played for a bit.

If you already belong to, say, BetMGM’s player club, check your offers. You may have free play or other comps available once the app realizes you’re in Las Vegas.

Another great trick is playing free apps like MYVEGAS, which has free play as one of the awards you can choose. Of course, you’ll need to start playing long ahead of your trip.

How can I get free stuff at the casinos?

Your best bet to get free swag is via a Players Club or the complimentary fun books handed out along the strip. You’ll often need to play some small amount before being awarded a free t-shirt or the like. Other times you can get them just for signing up or showing a coupon from one of the fun books.

Are drinks free in Las Vegas?

This is a common misconception; drinks are never free in Las Vegas. They are complimentary. This means that the house will get you a drink for no charge as long as you’ve been gambling for a while. But how long is “a while?”

Sometimes, it just means putting some cash into a slot and waiting for wait staff to come by. Increasingly, though, it means playing until the slot lets the server know you’ve played enough to warrant a complimentary drink.

For more ideas of things to do in Vegas, check out our articles on the best Las Vegas shows, fun things to do in Vegas with kids, the best Vegas spas, and cheap things to do in Vegas.

This mentality has trickled down into Sin City’s food culture where buffets, the ultimate in excess, have traditionally reigned supreme. 

Unfortunately, the Coronavirus pandemic has seen many of the city’s famous buffets like Aria Buffet, The Flamingo’s Paradise Garden Buffet, and Le Village Buffet, close.

To make matters worse the famous Las Vegas buffet pass, known as the Buffet of Buffets, is no longer operational. 

This means visiting more than a couple of Las Vegas buffets could become quite expensive. 

With that in mind, our advice is to pick your buffet carefully.

Luckily, Sin City still has a number of excellent buffets that you can sink your teeth into.

Here is everything you need to know about our favorites. 

Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace

Where: Caesars Palace Las Vegas Hotel and Casino, 3570 Las Vegas Boulevard South.

Cost: Brunch is $64.99 (for adults) and $32.50 (for children aged 4-10); Snow Crab Brunch is $79.99/$39.99; Dinner is $79.99/$39.99; All you can drink is $19.99.

What’s unique? After a $2.4 million makeover Las Vegas’s biggest buffet is back and looking better than ever.

With nine kitchens and 15 changing daily specials, no two meals are ever the same at Bacchanal buffet.

There has been a real effort to bring different cuisines into Bacchanal and the results are an amazing array of options including Chinese dim sum and Laotian cuisine. 

Some highlights include fantastic carving stations with options including smoked brisket and prime rib. While at breakfast time you can help yourself to a number of freshly squeezed juices. 

Try the: Red velvet pancakes; Chipotle bourbon BBQ oysters; Snow crab legs (Snow Crab Brunch only).

Style of space: Designed and updated by Tetsuo Aoyagi, Bacchanal buffet is a glass and stone wonder. The gorgeous space feels less like a buffet and more like an upscale restaurant with plenty of light and space. 

Hours: 3:30pm – 10:00pm (Monday – Thursday); 9:00am – 10:00pm (Friday – Saturday).

A.Y.C.E Buffet

Where: Palms Casino Resort, 4321 West Flamingo Road.

Cost: Breakfast is $24.99 (for adults) and $12.99 (for children aged 3-11); Brunch is $32.99/$19.99; Dinner is $36.99/$21.99; Lobster Dinner is $64.99/$54.99; Crab Feast Dinner is $58.99/$48.99; Prime Rib Dinner is $42.99/$29.99.

What’s unique? A.Y.C.E is known for having the best seafood of any buffet in Las Vegas.

The Palms has doubled down on this reputation by hosting a hugely popular all you can eat lobster dinner on Wednesday nights. People also visit A.Y.C.E for weekend champagne brunches as well.

Excellent service is all but guaranteed with servers going above and beyond to make sure your meal is as enjoyable as possible. 

Be aware that Wednesday’s lobster dinner is extremely popular. Get down to the buffet well before A.Y.C.E opens to register for a table. You don’t have to wait in line all day; they will text you when you need to join.

Try the: Lobster dinner; Crab legs; Prime rib; Gelato.

Style of space: A homely design with clear signage. The tables and seating are well-spaced, making for a comfortable experience.

Hours: 8:00am – 11:00am, 4:00pm – 9:00pm (Monday, Tuesday & Thursday); 8:00am – 11:00am, 2:00pm – 9:00pm (Wednesday); 8:00am – 11:00am, 4:00pm – 10:00pm (Friday); 

9:00am – 4:00pm, 5:00pm – 10:00pm (Saturday); 9:00am – 4:00pm, 5:00pm – 9:00pm (Sunday).

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The Buffet at Bellagio

Where: The Bellagio Hotel and Casino, 3600 Las Vegas Boulevard South.

Cost: Brunch is $44.99 (for adults Monday-Thursday), $49.99 (Friday-Sunday); Dinner is $66.99; Children aged 5 and under eat free of charge; Children aged 6-11 eat for 50% off adult price; Beverage package is $24.99.

What’s unique? The Buffet at Bellagio is one of a few high-end buffets in Las Vegas. It is known for its live action cooking stations and a 600-seater dining hall.

As it only serves dinner three times a week, The Buffet at Bellagio is mainly seen as a brunch destination.

During brunch hours you can design your own omelets, help yourself to piles of crustaceans, and enjoy Asian specialties such as Hong Kong Barbecue buns. 

Try the: Eggs Benedict; Mini gyro; Rotisserie Chicken; Shrimp shumai.

Style of space: Not as grand as you might expect given it is in the Bellagio. The buffet and dining area is still a comfortable, clean space.

Hours: 8:00am – 3:00pm (Monday – Thursday); 8:00am – 3:00pm, 5:00pm – 9:00pm (Friday – Sunday).

The Buffet at Wynn Las Vegas?

Where: Wynn Las Vegas, 3131 Las Vegas Boulevard South.

Cost: Brunch is $46.99 (for adults); Dinner is $65.99; Gourmet Brunch is $50.99; Gourmet Dinner is $70.99; Children aged 3-9 eat for half price. 

What’s unique? It’s incredibly luxurious. Both the room itself, with 16 live cooking stations (including a pan roast station), and the food are of the utmost quality.

Many dishes are cooked fresh to order and the range of dishes is truly staggering. In other words, The Buffet at Wynn Las Vegas is the ultimate buffet dining experience.

Try the: Thai chicken wings; Unagi sushi; Truffle mushroom pizza; Key lime tart.

Style of space: The Buffet at Wynn Las Vegas is one of the grandest buffet dining rooms in the city – and probably the world.

White tiled floors and colorful drapes mix with palm trees and columns to create an exquisite atmosphere. 

Hours: 8:00am – 9:00pm (Daily).

Garden Buffet at South Point

Where: South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa, 9777 Las Vegas Boulevard South.

Cost: Breakfast is $14.95 (for adults); Lunch is $18.95; Prime Rib and Champagne Brunch is $26.95; Prime Rib Dinner is $26.95; Seafood Night is $44.95; Children three and under eat free; Children aged between four and eight eat half price; Club members get a $3 discount on all meals. 

What’s unique? As an off-Strip location Garden Buffet at South Point is a lot cheaper than some of the other buffets on this list.

While it might lack the grandness of some other Las Vegas buffets, Garden Buffet still boasts six live cooking stations, opportunities to create custom dishes at a Mongolian grill, and even bottomless Bloody Marys included with breakfast. 

Try the: Osso Buco; Shrimp ceviche; Apple strudel.

Style of space: Garden Buffet is a simple space with bright murals and carpets.

The tables are very well spaced, and the room is pleasantly lit. It won’t take your breath away but it’ll definitely do the job.

Hours: 7:00am – 10:00am, 11:00am – 3:00pm, 4:00pm – 9:00pm (Monday – Friday); 8:00am – 3:00pm, 4:00pm – 9:00pm (Saturday – Sunday). 

Wicked Spoon

Where: The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, South Las Vegas Boulevard 3708.

Cost: Breakfast is $38 (for adults) and $19 (for children aged 5-10); Brunch is $49/$24; Lunch is $45/$22.50; Children under four eat for free; Bottomless Beverage package is $24; Specialty Bottomless Beverage package is $40.

What’s unique? Wicked Spoon has become famous for elevating buffet dining.

Instead of food being available in massive dishes, each item is available on a small, single serving plate, improving both hygiene and presentation.

As one of the best buffets in Las Vegas, Wicked Spoon prides itself on its ever changing menu and deluxe dishes. This is the closest you can get to a fine dining buffet. 

Try the: Bone marrow; Shrimp and grits with bacon; Squid ink pasta.

Style of space: Wicked Spoon has a modern, suave style that is expected of premium hotel casinos like The Cosmopolitan.

Beautiful light fittings, artworks, and room design all combine to make the view inside almost as enjoyable as the food itself. 

Hours: 8:00am – 3:00pm (Monday to Friday); 9:00am – 4:00pm (Saturday – Sunday); Please note that Wicked Spoon is not currently open for dinner.

The Buffet at Excalibur?

Where: Excalibur Hotel and Casino, 3850 Las Vegas Boulevard South.

Cost: Weekday brunch is $28.99 (for adults) and $16.99 (for children aged 5-11); Weekend brunch is $31.99/$17.99. The Drinks Package is $14.99.

What’s unique? The Buffet at Excalibur is seen by many as the best buffet available in Las Vegas at this budget-friendly price point.

The buffet is packed full of traditional staples including pizza but where the buffet really excels is on the drinks front.

Drinks packages are cheap, and the cocktails are known to be some of the strongest on the Strip. 

Try the: Biscuits and gravy; Bread and butter pudding; Margaritas.

Style of space: A lot like the food, the design of The Buffet at Excalibur is nice but not incredible. Pretty light fixtures illuminate a simple space complete with both chairs and leather seating booths. 

Hours: 8:00am – 3:00pm (Monday – Sunday).

The Buffet at Luxor

Where: Luxor Hotel and Casino, 3900 Las Vegas Boulevard South.

Cost: Weekday brunch is $28.99 (for adults) and $16.99 (for children aged 5-11); Weekend brunch is $31.99/$17.99; Children under four eat for free; Bottomless Drinks package is $14.99.

What’s unique? The Buffet at Luxor does not serve the best food on the Strip. Like a lot of other MGM-owned casinos, the buffet serves simple classics which are better suited to people looking to fill up than enjoy an amazing culinary experience.

That being said, it offers great value and there are some nice touches including a homemade pizza station and a 30-foot salad bar.

The buffet is also known for having brilliant service with staff members being polite, competent, and eager to assist.

Try the: Pizza; Chorizo scrambled eggs; French toast.

Style of space: Like the rest of Luxor, the buffet has an Ancient Egyptian theme. Sarcophaguses, columns, and dark, dramatic lighting all create an atmosphere that children will absolutely adore, making this the place to go for families with young kids. 

Hours: 8:00am – 3:00pm (Monday – Sunday).

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Garden Court at Main Street Station

Where: Main Street Station Casino Brewery Hotel, 200 North Main Street.

Cost: Brunch is $23.99 (for adults, Monday – Friday); Brunch is $26.99 (Saturday – Sunday); Dinner is $32.99; Children aged 4-10 eat for half price; Children 3 and under eat for free; Loyalty club members with emerald status or above get $3-$4 off per meal. 

What’s unique? Just away from Fremont Street, Garden Court is more laid back than the buffet options found on the Strip.

This makes for a much more relaxing dining experience with smaller queues and better service. The food itself is relatively simple but executed to a very high level.

Try the: Hawaiian stew; Portuguese sausage; Coconut banana cream pie.

Style of space: Thanks to its Victorian decor,Garden Court is one of the most beautiful buffet dining rooms in Las Vegas.

It has incredibly high ceilings complete with illuminated metal arches. Exposed brick walls and a tree that sits near the center of the dining hall complete this stunning room. 

Hours: 8:00am – 2:00pm (Sunday – Thursday); 8:00am – 2:00pm, 4:00pm – 9:00pm (Friday – Saturday).

Market Place Buffet

Where: Rampart Casino at the Resort at Summerlin, 221 North Rampart Boulevard.

Cost: Lunch is $19.99 (for adults) and $12.99 (for children); Prime Rib Dinner is $30.99; Aloha Night Dinner is $30.99; Deli Night Dinner is $26.99; Weekend Champagne Brunch is $31.99; All You Can Drink Beer and Wine is $7.99; All dinners and brunches are $17.99 for children aged 12 or under. Those with members and players cards will receive a small discount. 

What’s unique? Market Place is the only buffet in Northwest Las Vegas.

It is known for its cheap prices and an abundance of themed nights including Aloha Night Dinner on Saturdays and Deli Night Dinner on Mondays.

Market Place is quieter than the Strip-based buffets but note that you can still expect to wait in line a while during peak times. 

Try the: Matzo Ball Soup; Lechón; Cannoli.

Style of space: White walls and wooden floors give the Market Place buffet a clean modern feel. Furniture is basic but the overall feeling is of a functional, well-designed room. 

Hours: 11:00am – 2:00pm, 4:00pm – 8:00pm (Monday, Thursday & Friday); 9:00am – 2:00pm, 4:00pm – 8:00pm (Saturday – Sunday).

Lead image: Julian Paefgen/Unsplash

An adult’s playground it may be, but you’re just as likely to see a family walking down the Strip as you are a bachelor party.

Since the coronavirus pandemic Las Vegas has become very family friendly.

A recent survey by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) revealed that while only 5% of visitors brought their children with them to Vegas in 2019, a whopping 21% did in 2021.

If you are among those planning a trip to Las Vegas with kids, rest assured there are a lot of fun things to do.

Below we have listed our 10 favorites, five of which are completely free!

5 FREE Things To Do In Las Vegas

Watch the acts at The Midway, Circus Circus 

Many visit The Midway at Circus Circus to play some of the 200+ arcade games on offer (which is in fact what makes it one of the best arcades in Vegas).

But instead of paying to play, why don’t you enter the world’s largest permanent circus for free and watch some amazing shows?

Sitting in the center of The Midway is the Circus Stage which hosts performances from a number of acts including high flying trapeze artists, clowns, and much more. 

During the weekends, new acts come onto the stage every half hour and every single act is free to watch no matter the time or day. 

Acts start at 1:30p.m. Monday – Thursday and 11:30 a.m. Friday – Sunday.

Hershey’s Chocolate World

If any of you has a sweet tooth, then Hershey’s Chocolate World in the New York-New York Hotel and Casino is a must-visit destination.

Here, guests can customize their own chocolate bars, shop for some quirky chocolate gifts, and even star in their very own Reese’s peanut butter cup TV ad!

The store also stocks some exclusive chocolate flavors for those with adventurous tastes. 

If you don’t fancy eating chocolate, wandering around is still going to take your breath away as you’ll be able to feast your eyes upon an 800-lb chocolate carving of the Statue of Liberty. 

Fountains of Bellagio

One of the most famous sights in Las Vegas, the fountains outside the Bellagio Resort and Casino are an iconic attraction.

Watching the fountains dance in time to music is an awe-inspiring sight that the whole family is bound to love. 

In the evening, the show becomes even more dramatic with bright lights illuminating the beautiful jets of water.

Performances start from 3pm Monday – Friday and midday on Saturday and Sunday; the details of the shows can be found on their schedule.

The Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian Resort 

Las Vegas can get very hot. Luckily there are plenty of fun ways for everyone to cool down.

One of the best ways is to step inside The Venetian, as a short walk through the resort will lead you all the way to Venice!

A shopping mall with a difference, Grand Canal Shoppes is styled like Venice with a canal running down its middle.

Children are sure to love the iconic scenery and the sound of singing gondoliers as they travel down the canal. 

The shops are fantastic and there are plenty of restaurants nearby if anyone gets hungry. 

Watch the Mirage volcano erupt (while it’s still here!)

They say nothing lasts forever, and in Las Vegas this is doubly true. 

When it was announced that a guitar shaped tower block was going to take the place of the Mirage’s volcano there was an outcry.

Fortunately, Hard Rock Resorts have agreed for the volcano to stay open into 2023. 

At the moment, it erupts on the hour every hour from 7pm – 11pm every night.

Watch as fire and lava burst into the night sky, accompanied with a suspenseful soundtrack to complete the experience.

Click here for more free things to do in Vegas.

5 Ticketed Things To Do In Las Vegas

Discovery Children’s Museum

A great destination for families with young children, the Discovery Children’s Museum is a brilliant hands-on, interactive experience.

Kids can play on a life-size pirate ship in the Fantasy Festival area or put their scientific skills to the test in Patent Pending. 

Thanks to the Discovery Children’s Museum’s huge size, every child is bound to find something they love. There is even a special toddler section for the young ones!

Cost: Nevada residents $13:50; General admission $15.50; Children under 1 go free.

The Tank at Golden Nugget Hotel

Most Las Vegas hotels have their own pool, so why pay to visit one? The answer to that is simple, The Tank at the Golden Nugget Hotel is unlike any other pool in Las Vegas. 

Children will love it because of the signature 30ft slide which goes through the middle of a 200,000-gallon aquarium. An amazing experience that no one could ever forget. 

The pools themselves are clean and spacious and you can even peer into the aquarium while you swim.

For adults, The Tank offers a chance to relax and unwind away from the chaos of the city. 

In our mind, that’s money well spent. 

Cost: Free for Golden Nugget guests; Free for Las Vegas locals on select days; $15 per person for the day.

Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay

If The Tank doesn’t hold enough sea life for you then your only option is to visit the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay.

This beautiful aquarium is home to over 2,000 animals including giant rays and sea turtles.

Staff are extremely knowledgeable and will be able to answer any questions about the animals that you may have. Extra special experiences, like feeding stingrays or sharks, can also be purchased.

Cost: (Pre-booked tickets) Adults $29.00; Children aged 5-12 $24.00; Children 4 and under go free.

Circus Circus Adventuredome

While some attractions like the Circus Circus pool are a little dated, the iconic hotel and casino still has many features that visitors rave about. Among these is the Adventuredome.

Inside you’ll find adrenaline pumping rides like Chaos and Slingshot as well as classic attractions like bumper cars.

Kids must be over 48 inches tall to go on some of the rides, although experiences like the laser challenge and virtual reality rooms don’t have this height limit. 

While free to enter, tickets or wristbands must be bought for rides. As adults often have to accompany children, it can get quite expensive. 

Cost: Regular All-day ride pass (48 inches and taller): $60.00; Junior All-day ride pass (33 inches – 48 inches): $30.00

Tournament of Kings 

Since making its debut way back in 1990, Tournament of Kings – a show and dinner at The Excalibur – has become a Las Vegas favorite.

During the 90-minute show you can expect to see knights jousting and fighting while wizards cast frightful spells.

With 30 actors and nearly as many horses, the show is one of the most impressive in Las Vegas.

Adults as well as children will enjoy cheering for their king while a meal of Cornish Game hen and potatoes – that must be eaten without cutlery – only adds to the fun. 

Cost: Tickets around $70

Check out more cheap things to do in Vegas.

Lead image: Lyle Hastie/Unsplash

Casinos across the world invest a lot of time, money, and effort into security and generally manage to keep things safe and secure but, sometimes, things happen that not even the casino security team could have seen coming.

In this article, we’ll look at some of the biggest casino and poker room cheating scandals from recent years.

1. Counterfeit Chips at Borgata Winter Open

Security scandals are usually connected to casino games, which makes the Borgata story that much more interesting.

Back in 2014, a poker player named Christian Lusardi was arrested for introducing counterfeit chips into a Borgata Winter Open tournament.

According to the reports, Lusardi used the fake chips to top up his stack in the festival’s first event, which had $372,000 reserved for the winner.

Not surprisingly, he came in to the second day of the tournament as the chip leader.

However, Lusardi’s trickery was short-lived. Tournament officials quickly detected the surplus of chips and started an investigation while the event was still ongoing.

In full panic mode, Lusardi tried to get rid of the counterfeits by chucking them down the toilet. Naturally, this clogged the pipes, and it wasn’t long before the cause was traced back to Lusardi’s room.

Investigators found $2.7 million worth of chips in the pipes.

Fake chips were of 5,000 denominations and the tournament had to be stopped.

Lusardi was arrested shortly after at another hotel nearby, and he confessed to introducing $800,000 worth of fake chips into the event.

Lusardi was later charged with a different crime and consequently sentenced to five years in prison, and it seems he’ll never face the trial for the Borgata scandal.

2. An Inside Scheme That Cost Bellagio Over $1 million

Bellagio is one of the most iconic Las Vegas casinos and is loved by all types of players, from small stakes casuals to high rollers.

The venue employs some of the best security experts around, but even with all these measures in place, they fell victim to an elaborate scam back in 2016.

This particular scam was an inside job as it involved a craps dealer, Marc William Branco, and two of his friends.

The scam itself was quite simple. Branco’s accomplices would come to the table handled by their friend and announce high-value (hop) bets on particular roll combinations.

However, they did it in such a way that it was impossible to discern what their bet actually was. They would just mumble something that sounded like they were placing a hop bet.

When the roll was over, Branco would pay them as if that were the bet they announced regardless of what numbers fell.

This kept on happening for over two years.

The casino finally caught on after the duo took them for more than a million, guessing correctly in 76 instances over this period. The odds of this happening are 452 billion to 1, so alarm bells were ringing.

The trio was eventually charged with several crimes, and they each got at least four years in prison while also having to pay hundreds of thousands in restitution to the casino.

If they knew how to walk away while ahead, perhaps their scam would have never been uncovered.

3. A Video Poker Bug That Lost Casinos Hundreds of Thousands

Security flaws aren’t always specific to a location. Sometimes they can be tied to a particular game, especially if it’s electronic.

This is exactly what happened with Game King video poker machines, which featured a hard-to-find but fatal flaw – in all its machines across casinos in the US.

It was John Kane who discovered this bug in 2009 and shared it with his friend Andre Nestor. Together, the two took casinos for well over $500,000.

The bug itself wasn’t easy to find, and Kane stumbled upon it by accident.

However, if anyone were to find it, it would be Kane, as he spent countless hours playing video poker in the years prior, losing a lot of money in the process.

What he stumbled upon, though, was a real game-changer.

Kane discovered that he could change the credit denomination on the game after a big win, and it would pay the jackpot based on the new denomination.

So, he could play for a royal flush on a $1 denomination and then switch it up to $10 or $20 when he made the hand for a massive payout.

It sounds simple but the process to actually do this involved switching between game variations, and for the bug to work, the machine had to have the double-up feature enabled.

But the duo figured all this out and managed to perfect their method.

Eventually, the casinos clocked on.

Kane was arrested first at the Silverton Casino in Las Vegas, and the police picked up Nestor at his home in Pennsylvania.

But, even though the investigation revealed what they were doing, the prosecutors had a very weak case against the two.

After all, they didn’t use any outside devices or tamper with the machines in any way. Their defense was they simply pressed the buttons, which was what you’re supposed to do on a video poker machine.

In the end, the case was dropped, and neither was convicted. Casinos couldn’t retrieve a majority of their losses, so you could say these two pretty much got away with it.

And, since this security flaw was present in pretty much all Game King cabinets, we can only assume that at least a few more gamblers were able to discover it and take advantage of it.

4. Mike Postle Poker Cheating Scandal

One of the biggest security scandals to rock the poker world took place in 2018 and 2019 at the Stones Gambling Hall, bringing to question the use of RFID cards and live streaming.

The main protagonist of this scandal was Mike Postle, the man who kept winning game after game, pulling in big pots and making incredible plays that left other players and commentators scratching their heads.

Games from the Stones Gambling Hall were streamed live on YouTube and other media channels, allowing viewers to watch the action as it unfolded.

To live stream the games, the organizers used cards equipped with RFID chips, allowing them to identify players’ hole cards and display them for the audience.

Over the period of time, the Stones Gambling Hall hosted many players, some regulars and some guests, and all of them had varying results, as is normal in poker.

Only Postle kept on winning, with virtually no losing sessions.

At first, some people believed that he was just running super-hot, while others thought the poker world had perhaps uncovered another great talent.

But as time passed, it became more and more obvious that something sinister was happening behind the scenes.

Eventually, Veronica Brill, who did some commentary for the live stream and had played in some games herself, came out publicly accusing Mike Postle of cheating.

She accused him of having access to the RFID data, which would allow him to know other players’ hole cards, explaining his stellar results.

What ensued could be described as one of the biggest controversies in modern poker history.

Postle, of course, denied accusations, and there was no solid evidence to back the cheating claims.

His results were way above the expectation, and his demeanor at the tables was suspicious. He’d often look down during hands as if he were trying to read something from his phone.

The poker public had a lot of fun with the latter, saying that perhaps he simply enjoyed looking at his crotch.

The case went to court, but charges were eventually dismissed. Although most players were convinced there was cheating going on, no one could find any real evidence.

It was all pretty circumstantial, at least as far as courts were concerned.

Postle had seemingly got away with it but then decided to file a defamation lawsuit against anyone and everyone who said anything bad about him, including some of the players involved in the original lawsuit, asking for millions in damages.

These suits were dismissed as frivolous, and then Veronica Brill and Todd Witteles (another player Postle went after) sued once again, this time demanding to have their legal fees covered.

With this debt amounting to over $50,000 and whatever money he might owe to his own legal team (who also abandoned him in the process), it seemed Postle was on the verge of financial ruin and inches away from involuntary bankruptcy.

A “confidential settlement was reached” in December 2021, finally putting an end to the whole legal saga.

5. Casino Security Expert Cheated Slot Machine Code

Casinos, game developers, and various control boards go above and beyond to ensure all games found on casino floors are safe and cheater-proof.

But what happens when one of the people in charge of making things secure goes rogue?

As you could well imagine, this can be a real nightmare for the casinos.

Ronald Dale Harris was an employee of the Nevada Gaming Control Board, the state’s supervisory body for all things gambling.

He was a computer expert whose job was to write anti-cheating software for slot machines during the early 1990s.

It appears that Harris was a pretty good programmer, as he managed to change the source code of some slot machines without anyone noticing.

? 12 Sneaky Ways To Cheat At Slots

With these changes, slots were primed to pay huge wins after a player would insert coins into them following a very specific sequence.

Once slots were shipped out, he shared this secret with several accomplices, who then proceeded to win hundreds of thousands of dollars from Las Vegas Casinos between 1993-95.

In the end, Harris was arrested and sentenced to seven years in prison, but only because one of his accomplices ratted him out to the police when he was caught cheating in a game of keno in Atlantic City.

In addition to serving prison time, Harris also made it to the infamous “black book” which means he’s barred from entering any casinos in Las Vegas.

A Game Of Cat And Mouse

These primarily read as entertaining stories, but they can also be observed as cautionary tales, as you should never let your guard down when in a casino and must always stay alert.

There will always be someone looking to cheat their way into easy money, and you can’t always trust the casino security to save you from trouble.

As we’ve seen in this article, no matter how hard people in the gaming industry work to try and protect themselves, even the biggest casinos and the best-organized events can become victims of cheaters.

The battle between swindlers and security staff is always ongoing and probably will never end.

But, at the very least, we’ll get some good stories out of it!

Lead image: Shutterstock

After all, it is this very same industry that transformed this once sleepy town into a bustling city with a population of nearly three million people.

Ever since the first Las Vegas casino opened back in 1906 the city has seen not only growth, but also a never-ending process of evolution that has caused many famous casinos to come and go.

And while most have long been destroyed, their legacy continues to shape Sin City today.?

Las Vegas, A Railroad Town

Las Vegas was first founded in May 1905, when 110 acres of land was sold by the Los Angeles and Salt Lake railroad company.

It only took a year for the very first casino to open, Golden Gate, a hotel-casino which was located at 1 Fremont Street.?

Back in these early days you could get both room and board for a single dollar.?

Las Vegas, which was still just a railroad town at this time, voted to become incorporated on June 1, 1911.

For 20 years Las Vegas remained a relatively quiet place. But then, in 1931, two things kickstarted its transformation into the busy city we all know today.

First among these were changes to the area’s divorce laws. This meant that anyone who had been a resident of Las Vegas for six weeks could file for divorce, which led to many “divorce tourists” visiting the city.?

1931 also saw the construction of the Hoover Dam beginning just east of Las Vegas.

This attracted thousands of workers to the city and led to casinos and other entertainment venues opening along the length of Fremont Street.?

Many of these establishments, such as Northern Club, were known for illegally selling alcohol during the Prohibition Era, as well as offering gambling.?

Fortunately, the ban on gambling was lifted in 1931 and Northern Club was the very first establishment in Las Vegas to receive a gambling license in March of that year.

After the end of Prohibition in 1933, both alcohol and gambling began to bring big money into Las Vegas. Aware of this fact, The Mob began to establish themselves in the city at the beginning of the 40s.?

By 1941, infamous mobster Bugsy Siegel was operating the Northern Club.?

The Mob, The Strip And Booming Casinos

By the 1940s casinos had been operating both legally and illegally in Las Vegas for decades, most notably on Fremont Street.

However, it was only in 1941 that the iconic Las Vegas Strip was born.?

The very first casino built on the Strip, which was just outside the city’s jurisdiction, was El Rancho Vegas, opened by Thomas Hull.

The casino part of the development was seen as an afterthought on this project, Hull’s focus being mainly to provide a motel for tired drivers.

El Rancho Vegas proved to be a hit and its success soon inspired others to develop their own complexes on Highway 90. Bugsy Siegel was one of them.?

Having recently bought El Cortez, a casino on Fremont Street for $600,000, Siegel was having some trouble with law enforcement who knew of his ties to The Mob.?

Looking for a casino-hotel outside city limits led Siegel to a man called Billy Wilkerson, who had planned a resort named Flamingo.?

Wilkerson needed funding to make the project happen and was only too happy to accept an offer by Siegel who posed as a legitimate businessman.?

Siegel bought two-thirds of Flamingo from Wilkerson and eventually took complete control of the project after intimidating Wilkerson so much that he fled to Paris.?

Having taken over, it cost Siegel $6 million to finally open Flamingo, which he did in 1946. Although the initial opening flopped, other Mob members reopened the resort in 1947.

While incredibly expensive, The Mob had finally built something unique; a luxury hotel-casino that offered the full “Las Vegas experience.”

This included excellent entertainment and high-level gambling, all in a luxurious setting.

The Mob’s success with Flamingo, which turned over $4 million profit in 1948 alone, led them to open several other casinos on the Strip including the Frontier and the Sands, both of which continued to develop the idea of a full Las Vegas experience.?

Back on Fremont Street, other notable players in the casino business included Benny Binion, who opened the massively popular Horseshoe Casino in 1951.?

In contrast to The Mob’s glitz and glamor casinos, the Horseshoe was all about gambling.

There were no entertainment shows, no music, and no private gaming rooms or pits.?

Binion was also the very first casino owner to offer no upper limit on maximum bets and to introduce comps, such as free drinks, to gamblers, shaping casino culture as we know it today.

The huge number of casino complexes that were being opened, luxury or otherwise, across Las Vegas saw tourist numbers reach eight million per year by 1954.

The city even attracted the day’s biggest performers like Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley.?

In other words, Sin City was officially open for business.?

Wynn And The Megaresort Era

While Las Vegas kept rolling through the 1950s and 1960s, the huge success achieved by The Mob and other investors in Las Vegas’s early casino scene could not last forever.?

The economic effects of The Mob skimming money off the top of casinos like Stardust, combined with two separate recessions (1973-1975 and 1981-1982), saw Las Vegas begin to stagnate during the 1970s and 1980s.?

Las Vegas also had new competition towards the end of the 1970s thanks to the first casino in Atlantic City, Resorts International, opening its doors in 1978.?

The city was tired, a little run down, and many people weren’t sure if it would continue to thrive.

Las Vegas needed revitalizing and Steve Wynn was the man to do it.

Wynn dreamed up an outrageously large and lavish resort called The Mirage and managed to find the financial backing to build it.?

Located on the Strip, The Mirage cost $630 million to build and was opened in 1989.

The huge complex was the first megaresort to open on the Strip and its opening was a definite turning point in Las Vegas history, inspiring a massive construction boom during the 1990s.?

This led to other iconic casino-resorts, including Wynn’s own Treasure Island, the MGM Grand, Luxor, Bellagio, Venetian, and many more being opened during this decade.?

These megaresorts focused on providing middle class customers with an affordable, luxurious experience, many of them in a family-friendly setting.

A very different approach to the hard gambling and raunchy entertainment of Las Vegas in the 40s, 50s and 60s.

Nearly all these resorts helped usher Las Vegas into the 21st century and many still stand as the most recognizable buildings in the city today.?

Although gambling revenue in Macau first surpassed Las Vegas in 2006, Sin City has remained the most iconic gambling destination in the world thanks in part to these landmarks.?

The Mirage and later megaresorts were also among the first Las Vegas developments that attracted corporate investment, leading to a huge injection of money for the city and the beginning of a new era.?

Vegas In The 21st Century?

The megaresort mania that gripped Vegas in the 90s is still very much alive.

This has been demonstrated by the opening of the city’s newest resort, the 3,500-room Resorts World Las Vegas in 2021.?

As the most recent megaresort in Vegas, this gigantic complex offers some insight into what the future might hold for Las Vegas casinos.?

Of course, technology will play a huge role as it continues to transform the entire gambling industry.

For example, Resorts World offers cashless betting at slots and tables, plus an app that allows all purchases, including food and entertainment, to be made digitally.?

People used to solely travel to Las Vegas for gambling, however the city itself has become a huge attraction thanks to world-class sports teams, enormous convention centers, brilliant restaurants and tons of things to do.?

At the moment brick-and-mortar casinos still dominate Las Vegas, and there are around 150 in the city in general and 31 on the Strip.

However, one of the biggest changes facing Las Vegas casinos in the future is the rise of virtual, online gambling.?

There are worries that hyper realistic online gambling, including features such as live dealers, could reduce the number of gamblers who head to Vegas.

However, online gambling doesn’t seem to have damaged the casino industry so far.

In fact, many brick-and-mortar casinos are doing extremely well by offering both virtual and physical gambling options.?

Las Vegas casinos have also dealt with similar threats before. Many people believed the widespread legalization of sports betting would damage Las Vegas casinos.

Instead, they have been performing brilliantly with Nevada sportsbooks taking record bets before the last Super Bowl.

What’s more, many people believe the atmosphere and excitement Las Vegas is known for will always draw crowds to the city, meaning there will always be a demand for its casinos.?

Whatever the future holds it’s probably safe to assume Sin City’s casinos will find a way to cash in. After all, it’s what they’ve been doing for over a century.

Lead image: Lorie Shaull/Flickr

The building even stood as the tallest casino on the strip, although it’s since lost this title.

However, it wasn’t just the size and shape of the building that made the Luxor so widely loved.

Instead, it was thanks to the Luxor sky beam, an incredibly bright beam of light that shoots from the tip of the pyramid into the sky above.

Often called the world’s brightest light, the sky beam has drawn people from all over the world to come and see it. 

But it isn’t just humans that the sky beam attracts… 

The Sky Beam Has Created Its Very Own Ecosystem

Anyone that has ever gone camping will know that bright lights attract bugs, moths in particular.

As the brightest light in the world, it should come as no surprise that the Luxor sky beam attracts bugs in their thousands.

The massive swarms of flying critters are mostly sphinx moths, which Luxor staff have reported to give the beam a golden glow.

With so many bugs in one place it was only a matter of time before they attracted Nevada’s hungry bat population.

Now there are so many bats in the air that tourists end up mistaking them for UFOs. 

Owls, who as nocturnal hunters must be rather confused by the bright lights of Las Vegas in general, are natural predators for bats.

So, owls have also descended on the sky beam, getting their own feast, and adding even more UFO fever when they are caught in the light.

In 2019, there was even a swarm of migrating grasshoppers in Vegas that also added to the Luxor sky beam’s ecosystem.

Of course, all these flying creatures can cause problems if they manage to get into the lights themselves.

If they land on the actual lamp, they instantly cook and can cause the glass to crack. 

No wonder the staff at the Luxor keep all the windows closed.

How Bright Is The Sky Beam?

The sky beam is a 42.3 billion candela tunnel of light.

To put that into perspective, the beam thrown by a modern lighthouse is equivalent to about 1 million candela.

In other words, the Luxor sky beam is brighter than 42,000 lighthouses combined.

So bright is the sky beam that on a clear night it is visible from 275 miles away. 

Some people wrongly believe that the beam is made by a single giant flood light, plugged into the top of the Luxor.

In fact, the light is powered by 39 xenon lights with 7,000-watt bulbs that you certainly can’t pick up at your local store.?

The beams from these different lights are then combined using a number of mirrors to create the sky beam.

Because of the heat from the lamps and mirrors, workers can’t do any maintenance on the setup while the system is on.

Temperatures have been measured at 500 degrees Fahrenheit just above the surface of the lamp, while the workers’ platform 25 feet above the lights hits 300 degrees when the lights are on.?

The sky beam is known as the brightest light on Earth, but it has actually been dimmed since it was first turned on in 1993.

In an effort to save energy and money, only half of the lamps are used every night.

A Light So Bright It’s Used By Pilots

For the most part, aeronautical equipment is so advanced that pilots do very little manual navigation.

But sometimes, aviation requires pilots to figure out where they are, which is why they use literal landmarks to find their way.

These could be skylines or natural formations, but one of the most popular throughout the southwest of the United States is the sky beam.

Because it’s visible from so far away, pilots can use the beam of light as a means of orientation.

Plus, it is fun to point out to passengers flying in the area at night.

Despite being extremely bright, the Luxor sky beam can’t be seen from space.

This is because, at that distance, all the lights of the Las Vegas strip blend together, meaning that picking it out with the naked eye is impossible.

However, special cameras can just about manage it.

The Sky Beam‘s Running Costs

Back in 1993, it reportedly cost the hotel $1 million per year to keep the massive light on.

However, with the Luxor now only using half the lights, they’re saving quite a bit of energy as well as money.

No one knows exactly how much energy or money this effort saves, but the last numbers available suggest that the sky beam costs $51 per hour to run.

The shortest nights are the cheapest, which means a month like July would cost the least to run the sky beam.

With an estimated 300 hours of darkness in July in Las Vegas, the hotel spends about $15,300 to keep the sky beam on, going up to $22,700 during the darker months of the year.

You have a 1 in 187 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime in Sin City, compared to in the whole of the United States where your odds stand at around 1 in 250.

It might sound scary but, like everywhere, crime is not evenly spread throughout Las Vegas and some neighborhoods are a lot more dangerous than others.

And, unless you know Las Vegas well, working out which neighborhoods to avoid can be a tricky business, so we’ve put this guide together for you. 

If you’re a tourist and want to visit places other than the Strip, be sure to steer clear of these areas.

1. West Las Vegas

Notorious for drug and gang activity, the most dangerous neighborhood is West Las Vegas, located northwest of the Strip.

This is one of the most deprived areas of the city, with many people living below the poverty line and where violent crime rates are a whopping 713% higher than the national average.  

This translates to a 1 in 32 chance of being a victim of a violent crime. Shockingly, people in West Las Vegas are running a 1 in 7 risk of being a victim of any crime.

Homicides are frequently reported in West Las Vegas.

Recent disturbances include an armed barricade situation and a young mother who was stabbed to death in her home. 

To put it simply, West Las Vegas is not somewhere you should go when vacationing – either after dark or during the day.

2. Naked City

Naked City is located just west of The Strat (that big tower at the end of the Strip) but it’s a far cry from the glitz and glamor of the casinos.

While many people like to walk the Strip, you should never wander into Naked City where violent crime is common. There are numerous reports of homicides, as well as drug dealing. 

So bad is Naked City’s reputation that taxis won’t go there at night, and it’s generally considered to be one of the roughest parts of Las Vegas.

3. East Las Vegas / Whitney

Another area worth avoiding is around Whitney, where the violent crime rate is an astonishing 288% higher than the national average.

With figures that high it’s clear that tourists and newcomers should stay away.

Unfortunately, this area, in particular the area around the Boulder Highway, is also where many of the extended stay hotels are situated.

As a result, people looking to move to Las Vegas might think that it’s worthwhile to stay in one of these cheap hotels while searching for a new home. 

However, these hotels are hotbeds for property crime, with the neighborhood having rates 167% higher than the national average.

This means that, if you are staying in these areas, you are at an extremely high risk of having your possessions stolen. 

The best advice? Avoid this area at all costs.

4. Charleston Heights

Charleston Heights is one of the lowest income neighborhoods in the entire country. Here 45.5% of children live below the federal poverty line and unemployment is 73% higher than national average.

When in Charleston Heights you have a 1 in 13 chance of being the victim of any crime, with many being committed every day.

For example, between October 3-–4, 2022, at least 50 crimes were reported in and around Charleston Heights, including thefts, assaults, and burglaries. 

One redditor even reported their horrific experience of living in Charleston Heights: 

“Well in the 2 years I lived there, my girlfriend was shot and killed in the neighborhood in a drive-by and there was another homicide near the 24hr fitness. Not to mention the multiple times I’ve also heard gunshots at night.”

All of this makes Charleston Heights a neighborhood we would recommend avoiding. 

5. Huntridge

Huntridge, which is located in south Las Vegas, is another area with a reputation for being dangerous.

The neighborhood is home to Circle Park, a place well known for attracting drug addicts, homeless people, and thieves. 

Circle Park was first closed in 2006 after a stabbing. More recently, in 2018, the assault and shooting of an 80-year-old lady in the park caused outrage in the community. 

Despite these crimes, the park is now open once again and is accessible between 7 a.m. – 11p.m.

As a tourist, it’s probably best not to visit this neighborhood unless you absolutely have to.

6. Downtown

In Downtown, the “older” part of Las Vegas, you’ll find plenty going on and will probably want to visit this area when on vacation.

And while it’s a lot safer than it used to be, violent crime rate in Downtown is 98% higher than the national average. 

In fact, violent crime has become such an issue that the local police force expanded its presence in the area during the summer months. 

This was seen as a response to a growing number of violent crimes, including homicides, that were occurring on Fremont Street – the second most famous street in Las Vegas.

During summer, police manned entrances around Fremont Street, using metal detectors, bag checks, and an 8pm curfew for under 21s to reduce crime and violence rates.

During the first week of operation in the area, police made over 350 stops and seized four firearms.

There are, of course, a ton of fun things to do in Downtown, so if you do head to this area just be vigilant and stick within a few blocks of Fremont Street.

Don’t Be Too Alarmed

While we may look at various neighborhoods and say that it’s best to avoid them, the reality is that Las Vegas is generally a safe city.

In fact, Forbes even ranked it as the 14th safest in a list of American cities with populations over 300,000.

So, if you are visiting, feel free to explore a little. Just be sure to not put yourself in any unnecessary, dangerous environments. 

Lead image: Clément Bardot/Wikimedia Commons

Just after opening the Seminoles were threatened with closure by the county sheriff. 

A long legal battle closed in 1981 when the Supreme Court ruled that the Seminoles had the right to operate the parlor thanks to their sovereignty rights.

This led to many Native American Tribes rightly opening their own parlors and casinos.

In recent years the number of Indigenous-owned casinos in the United States has grown to over 500. 

But how exactly do these casinos differ from others around the US?

1. Tribes Don’t Pay Taxes On Casino Income, But Employees And Winners Do

There’s a bit of confusion around Native American casinos and tax.

In reality, it’s all quite clear. The federal and state governments are not allowed to charge taxes on the tribes’ activities. 

This means that the casinos don’t need to pay taxes to the federal or state governments, including on commercial or business incomes.

However, there are usually still compacts and stipulations that see casinos paying local counties or states a portion of the profits.

When they pay out funds as salaries or profit sharing to tribe members, that income is taxable. However, individuals who are given money under general welfare or social benefit programs do not have to pay tax.

For players, taxes apply as normal, so if you win money at a Native American casino the IRS wants to know about it.

Casinos can also issue win/loss statements using loyalty card transactions to help when people are filing taxes, too.

2. Native American Casinos Bring In More Gambling Revenue Than All The Casinos On The Las Vegas Strip Combined

In fiscal year 2021, tribal gaming revenues increased by over 40% from the previous year to reach gross gaming revenues (GGR) of $39 billion – a new record.

During the same year, the Las Vegas Strip brought in $7 billion in GGR. These amounts are before salaries, management costs and other expenses.

Of course, this comparison is not entirely fair as it pits the combined revenues of around 500 tribal-owned casinos against the approximately 30 casinos found on the Las Vegas Strip. 

But it still shows us that, while the Las Vegas Strip gets all the attention, there is serious money to be made by running casinos on sovereign Native American land. 

3. Security Guards At Tribal Casinos Have The Power To Detain, But Not To Arrest

Planning to cheat at your local tribal casino? You might want to think again.

In Las Vegas, the security officers are only allowed to watch and report, bringing the police in should any crimes take place.

At Native American casinos you’re on sovereign land. This means that the Indigenous police are usually guarding the casinos.

Because of this it is in their power to investigate crimes, search suspects, and detain non-Indigenous people. 

However, Indigenous police forces are only allowed to arrest and persecute other Native Americans. 

The fact they are limited in the arrests they can perform often means Indigenous police forces have to wait for non-Indigenous police forces to arrive and formally complete arrests.  

4. Palms Casino Resort Is The First Casino In Las Vegas To Be Owned By A Native American Tribe

Palms Casino Resort is a 703-room hotel and casino resort that was first opened in 2001. 

After changing hands a couple of times, Station Casinos purchased Palms Casino Resort in 2016 for $312.5 million. The company then paid for a $620 million renovation. 

Like other casino resorts in Las Vegas, Palms closed at the beginning of the Coronavirus Pandemic in 2020. This, amongst other reasons, led Station Casinos to list Palms for sale. 

In May 2021 it was announced that the resort would be sold to the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians for $650 million.

This sale marked Palms as the very first Las Vegas casino resort to be owned by a Native American Tribe and it re-opened after a two-year closure on April 27, 2022.

Speaking before the sale was finalized, CEO of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Laurens Vosloo, said: 

“It’s the gaming Mecca of the world and the place to be. It’s a natural and a good fit for us to have an asset there that we can send our customers to, contribute to that economy and be part of the Las Vegas community.”

5. Games Aren’t Regulated In The Usual Way

Casino games at tribal casinos aren’t regulated like Las Vegas casinos.

Instead, they must adopt a gaming ordinance approved by the National Indian Gaming Commission. This determines the casino’s payment schedules and payout percentages. 

What’s more, there aren’t clear rules about displaying these payout percentages, so many gamers won’t know the odds they are coming up against.

However, this doesn’t mean that Native American casinos are tighter than other casinos elsewhere. Some casinos might even have looser odds. 

It’s important to remember that because each casino can follow different rules, most experiences are purely anecdotal.

In general, though, it appears that the table games are more generous at tribal casinos, while slots are a bit tighter.

6. Native American Casinos Are Some Of The Biggest In The World

Many of the world’s most famous casinos, such as the MGM Cotai and The Venetian Macau are well known for their massive gaming spaces.

The MGM has around 500,000 sq. ft. of gaming space. The Venetian Macau, a whopping 546,000. 

However, the casino with the largest gaming space in the world is the WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville Oklahoma, a casino owned by the Chickasaw Nation. 

This casino boasts an incredible 600,000 sq. ft. of gaming space; that’s nearly the size of 10 and a half football fields!

Another massive, Indigenous-owned casino is Foxwoods Resort Casino in Ledyard, Connecticut.

Owned by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, Foxwoods offers 344,000 sq. ft. of gaming space – making it 2.7 times larger than the gaming space available at Caesars Palace.

? Top 10 biggest casinos in the world

7. Although They Own The Land, The Tribe May Not Run The Casino

Indigenous land is sovereign, but that doesn’t mean that all casinos found on Indigenous land are run by Native Americans.

Just like any business, Indigenous-owned casinos frequently turn to investors, advisors and managers to aid the success of their business. 

For example, before its merger with El Dorado Resorts, Caesars (through Harrah’s) managed Native American casinos for years. 

At the time of the merger these included Harrah’s Ak-Chin, outside Phoenix, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort and Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino and Hotel in North Carolina. 

What’s more, famous businessmen have also been involved with tribal casinos over the years.

Lim Goh Tong partnered with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe for Foxwoods Casino, and Donald Trump partnered with Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians of California to open what was then called Trump 29 Casino. 

8. Native American Casinos Improve Local Employment Rates

One of the key benefits of Native American casinos is that they provide a ton of jobs for locals.

Research highlights that casinos result in both a 26% increase in local employment rates and a 14% drop in the number of working poor. 

Casinos have also been shown to cause an 11.5% boost in reservation populations. This is thought to be because the good employment opportunities allow Native Americans to move back to the reservation. 

Other markers of poverty, such as childhood obesity, also declined in Indigenous communities that were close to a Native American casino. 

9. Casinos Can Negatively Affect The Local Indigenous Community

Unfortunately, developing casinos on Indigenous land can result in a list of negative effects as well. 

These include a 10% increase in violent crime, a 10% increase in car theft, and an increase in bankruptcies of those who live within 50 miles of the casino. 

This is nothing new; casinos have been shown to increase crime pretty much everywhere they are built. 

However, it is thought that Native Americans are at an increased risk of developing gambling addictions when compared to the wider American public.

This has led people to wonder if building casinos on reservations is something that benefits or harms the tribe.   

10. Tribes Use Profits From Their Casinos To Build Infrastructure And Fight Inequality

Many people assume that, with such a huge market for local casinos, all Native American communities must be flush, too. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

Native Americans are still one of the most impoverished populations in the whole of the United States. 

One of the key reasons for building casinos is to improve the lives of the Native American population.

But it’s important to point out that even if the casino is profitable the individual members of the tribe don’t really get profit sharing or additional cash.

Instead, the tribes generally use the money to invest in improving infrastructure, education services and healthcare. 

For example, the Muckleshoot, a tribe based in Washington, have used income from their casino to build a medical and dental facility, and to construct homes for the elderly. 

What’s even more impressive is that Native American tribes often give a large proportion of their earnings to charity.

The Muckleshoot Tribe gives away over $3 million annually to local governments, schools, churches, and non-profit organizations. 

Some countries have strict anti-gambling laws while others proudly advertise their incredible casino complexes. 

The huge number of people that live in and visit Asia has seen the demand for casinos in the continent to become massive. 

This has meant that the few areas that allow and promote casinos, such as Macau, have become immensely popular, attracting millions of gamblers every year.

Casinos are high in demand but short in supply in Asia, meaning their owners gain incredible amounts of wealth and power. 

Both of which they have used to transform Asia’s gambling industry into the biggest in the world. 

1. Lui Che Woo – $12.4 Billion

Lui Che Woo first made his fortune by launching K. Wah Group, a quarry operator that focused on importing construction equipment from Okinawa to Hong Kong. 

K. Wah Group was eventually expanded to include property developments with locations spread across Southeast Asia.

After Stanley Ho’s monopoly on Macau’s gambling sector came to an end in 2002, Woo’s entertainment company, Galaxy Entertainment Group, won one of the three gaming concessions for the island. 

He wasted no time in putting his concession to use, constructing The StarWorld Macau Casino and Hotel, which opened in 2006. The 5-star hotel casino is known for its striking and colorful design. 

Woo followed the StarWorld by building his flagship casino, Galaxy Macau, in 2011 for $1.9 billion.

This world-class resort has helped Woo become dominant in Macau’s casino industry; in 2016 Galaxy Entertainment Group overtook Sheldon Adelson’s Sands China as the biggest casino and gambling operator in town, taking 23% of the market. 

Now 93 years old, Woo has largely handed control of his sprawling business empire to his 5 children with his eldest son, Francis, running Galaxy Entertainment Group. 

2. Stanley Ho – $6.4 Billion

Stanley Ho was one of the most famous casino owners Asia has ever seen.

Known both as “The Godfather” and “The King of Gambling” he was the founder and chairman of SJM Holdings, which had a government-granted monopoly on Macau’s gambling scene for 40 years. 

During this time Ho helped transform Macau from a modest fishing island into one of the world’s most iconic gambling centers. 

Throughout his life Ho has built a number of casinos, including the incredible Grand Lisboa, the tallest building in Macau. 

He proved to be an intelligent businessman during his career, thinking of many ways to attract would-be gamblers to Macau. 

Perhaps his most famous idea was to build a harbor and hire a fleet of high-speed boats that ferried gamblers from nearby Hong Kong to Macau.

However, there were some people who believed that Ho’s wealth was not entirely legal.

Accusations of links to Triad organizations, including 14K and Sun Yee On, followed him throughout his career. 

Ho retired at the age of 96 and died two years later.

Upon his death Ho’s business empire and wealth was split between a family that included 17 children and four wives. 

The most successful of his children is Pansy Ho who is a shareholder in both SJM Holdings and MGM China.

Stanley Ho’s fourth wife, Angela Leong, is the managing director of SJM Holdings and has accrued a $2.7 billion fortune, thanks to both Ho’s casino business and her own real estate holdings. 

3. Pansy Ho – $3.2 Billion

Despite being the daughter of Macau’s biggest casino legend, Stanley Ho, Pansy did not always work in the casino business. 

Instead, she first pursued a career as an actress and then launched a highly successful PR company, called Occasions. 

Nowadays, Ho is deeply involved in Macau’s casino scene. She gained shares in casino industry giant MGM Resorts after the company sought to increase its stake in MGM China.

She has been consistently selling these shares for massive amounts of money. Over two days in May 2021, she gained $86 million from sales of the MGM Resorts stock. 

Ho has large shares in both MGM China, which has two integrated resorts in Macau, and her late father’s SJM Holdings, which has numerous casinos on the island. 

She also owns nearly a third of the MGM Macau, a 600-room casino resort and is the managing director of MGM Grand Paradise, a position which earns her around $8 million every year. 

4. Chen Lip Keong – $2.4 Billion 

With a net worth of $2.4 billion, Chen Lip Keong is Malaysia’s 7th richest person.

Keong made his money in Cambodia, having first traveled there in the hope of finding oil. 

While his search for black gold would fail, Keong did not leave the country empty handed. 

Instead, his Malaysian company, NagaCorp, won an international tourism opportunity in 1994.

This saw Keong awarded a Cambodian casino license, a 70-year tenure and a government-guaranteed monopoly in Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh.

This monopoly will last until 2035 and has allowed Keong to transform Cambodia’s capital into an attractive gambling destination – while making a lot of money.

His flagship integrated resort, NagaWorld, is the only luxury casino hotel complex in Cambodia and boasts several separate casinos, gaming areas and further complexes linked together with passageways and underground tunnels. 

The newest of these is NagaWorld 2, which is an entertainment complex that boasts a 300-table gaming establishment, gaming suites and premium gaming halls. 

When Keong was trying to borrow money to build the Naga2 expansion he was frustrated by interest rates offered to him by the banks.

So, instead of borrowing the money for construction, he paid $369 million out of his own pocket and took company shares as payment. 

NagaWorld is currently undergoing another expansion. Naga3, which will include a 75-story hotel tower, is slated to open in 2025 and has a budget of $3.5 billion. 

5. Lim Kok Thay – $2.2 Billion

Lim Goh Tong founded Genting Group in 1965. He steadily built his empire by developing, marketing, and operating global integrated resorts. 

Lim Kok Thay, Tong’s second child now chairs the business, having been appointed as director in 1976. 

Genting Group owns a large number of casinos all around the world, including the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, and the United Kingdom. 

The company has also become known for owning palm oil plantations as well as the cruise line, Star Cruises.

Many of the ships, such as Genting Dream, featured casinos on board. 

Due to difficulties caused by the Coronavirus Pandemic, the parent company of Star Cruises, Genting Hong Kong, filed for liquidation in January 2022.

The ships it had ordered, including four that weighed over 150,000 tons, were left in the docks.

However, Thay has not let this setback unsettle him.

He recently launched Resort World Cruises which now operates Genting Dream, and is in talks to acquire the other ships that were previously owned by Star Cruises. 

He has also made a longshot bid for a Macau gambling license in the hope of breaking into the island’s lucrative industry.?

For something similar, check out the top 5 richest casino owners in the US.

Lead image: Jimmy Woo Man Tsing

Of course, most people know about the high rollers and casino whales, extremely rich individuals who love nothing more than gambling millions of dollars in a single session. 

However, the richest people at casinos are usually not the gamblers, but the casino owners themselves. 

Out of all these owners there are a few who are at the very top of the US casino business. 

These individuals are some of the wealthiest people in the States and many of them own multiple resorts that are worth billions of dollars.  

Some were born into the business, others only got involved with casinos much later in life. 

However, all are extremely ambitious and have built a reputation as some of the best businessmen and businesswomen in the country.

1. Sheldon Adelson – $33.5 Billion 

Adelson made and lost millions of dollars multiple times in his adult life. 

He only really established his fortune after launching Comdex, a Las Vegas computer trade exhibition, in 1979. 

Adelson began building his casino empire, the Las Vegas Sands Corporation, in 1989 when he purchased the Sands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas for $128 million.

After honeymooning in Venice, Adelson decided to demolish the Sands and build a new casino-hotel in its place. The Venetian opened in 1999 and cost $1.5 billion to construct.

Adelson took his casino empire to Asia in the early 2000s, building Sands Macau, the island’s first Las Vegas-style casino, in 2004.

During the same year Adelson decided to take Las Vegas Sands Corporation public. After he did his net worth reportedly grew by $1 million every hour, for two years!

Other developments soon followed, including The Venetian Macau, which opened in August 2007 and cost $2.4 billion.

In 2010 Adelson outdid himself, building the Marina Bay Sands resort in Singapore. At a cost of $5.5 billion it was the most expensive building in the world.

These resorts continued to make fantastic amounts of profit for Adelson, earning him a top ranking on Forbes’ Annual “Biggest Winner” List in 2013, after his casinos added an estimated $15 billion to his net worth during the year.

In September 2020,a few short months before his death, Sheldon Adelson was estimated by Forbes to be worth an incredible $33.5 billion.

Adelson died in January 2021, at the age of 87. He is survived by his wife Miriam Adelson who still owns more than half of the Las Vegas Sands Corporation gambling empire.

She has a current net worth of $27.7 billion.

2. Tilman Fertitta – $7.9 Billion

Tilman Fertitta initially made his money during Houston’s real estate boom in the 1980s. He then moved on from real estate and became an investor in seafood restaurants owned by the Landry family.

Fertitta became the sole owner of these restaurants in 1988 and has steadily grown the business portfolio by purchasing a number of well-known restaurant chains such as Bubba Gump, Rainforest Cafe and Joe’s Crab Shack.

In 2005, as his restaurant empire continued to grow, Fertitta moved into the casino business by buying Golden Nugget Hotel and Casinos for $295 million.

This bought him both a casino in Laughlin, Nevada, and the famous Golden Nugget in Las Vegas, one of the oldest casinos in Sin City.

Since purchasing the property Fertitta has spent over $300 million renovating it. This included constructing a new hotel tower and expanding the casino floor itself.

Fertitta has opened three more Golden Nugget casinos, including one that replaced Trump Marina in Atlantic City. 

Fertitta bought this property at a massively discounted $38 million, nearly a tenth of the $316 million Trump Enterprises was asking for before the 2008 financial collapse.

3. Phil Ruffin – $3.1 Billion

Phil Ruffin built his wealth through owning a chain of convenience stores. He then moved into the hotel business and finally in 1995, when he was 60 years old, the casino industry.

He began his casino empire by buying the Crystal Palace Resort in the Bahamas.

Three years later Ruffin bought his first US-based casino, taking over The Frontier Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

The Frontier had been struggling for years because of a long workers’ strike that was being performed by members of the Frontier’s staff. 

Ruffin resolved the strike in a few short hours and remodeled the casino for $20 million dollars.

He would ultimately go on to sell the 36-acre property for more than $1.2 billion, in what was the largest per-acre price in The Strip’s history.

Ruffin currently owns two of Las Vegas’ most iconic casinos, Treasure Island and Circus Circus. Both of these properties have undergone extensive renovations.

Ruffin, now aged 87, is still fully committed to his casinos. So much so that he told Forbes that he has no intention of retiring and aims to “die at his desk.” 

4. Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta III – $2.6 Billion

The two Fertitta brothers, who are third cousins of Tilman Fertitta, each have a net worth of $2.6 billion and have had shockingly similar career paths.

They both got their start in the casino business from an early age, thanks to their father Frank Fertitta Jr. who launched Station Casinos in 1976. 

Station Casinos began as a casino for locals to enjoy and has become one of the largest, local casino operators in Las Vegas.

Having worked for Station Casinos as young men, Lorenzo and Frank led the company to its first IPO after their father retired in 1993.

They raised $294 million and became principal shareholders and co-founders of Station Casinos Inc. in the process.

Both Frank and Lorenzo were early investors in the UFC, purchasing the fight promotion company for $2 million dollars in 2001.

In 2016 the brothers sold their shares for an estimated $4 billion.

Station Casinos Inc. now owns numerous hotel-casinos including Red Rock Casino and Spa in Las Vegas and Sunset Station in Henderson, Nevada. 

The company also manages a large number of casinos for other owners.

5. Elaine Wynn – $1.7 Billion

Nicknamed the “Queen of Las Vegas,” Elaine Wynn is a woman who, along with ex-husband Steve, transformed the Las Vegas casino industry.

The two of them launched Mirage Resorts in 1973, which would go on to build some of Las Vegas’s most iconic casinos including The Mirage, Treasure Island and Bellagio. 

These developments were among the first to offer the full range of glitz and glamor that Las Vegas casino resorts have become known for.

In 2000, following their great success, the couple sold Mirage Resorts to Kirk Kerkorian for $6.4 billion.

The Wynns wasted no time in launching their new venture, Wynn Resorts.

Their first property, the flagship hotel and casino Wynn Las Vegas, was opened in April 2005 and cost $2.7 billion to construct.

Wynn Resorts now operates a total of six hotel-casinos, two in Las Vegas, three in Macau and one in Boston.

Elaine and Steve divorced in 2010, evenly splitting their 38% stake in Wynn Resorts.

In 2018, Steve Wynn resigned as CEO of Wynn Resorts and sold the majority of his shares following accusations of sexual misconduct from Wynn Resort staff members. 

This has made Elaine the second largest shareholder of Wynn Resorts, and one of the most powerful casino owners in the world. 

Intrigued? We thought you would be.

So, here’s a brief rundown of some of the rules surrounding gambling on cruise ships, beginning with the most basic, and golden, rule.

That rule is that the boat is considered to be an extension of the country under whose flag it sails.

Except when it sails into another’s territorial waters…

The Laws About Gambling At Sea

According to maritime law – the rules that govern all things seaworthy – gambling laws on the waves are determined by the nation the ship is registered with. Simple, eh?

Well, yes and no.

Once a ship is docked or within a certain distance from the coast of a country, then it becomes subject to the law of the land whose coastline it is.

For example, if you are sailing in US waters, activities are governed by US federal and state laws.

And, again under maritime law, international waters become territorial waters when the ship sails within three to 12 miles from the coastline.

Should your cruise ship take you to within 12 miles of the coast of the US, the on-board casino will be closed for business.

So, with a few exceptions, cruise ship casinos will shut up shop while the ship is docked, to comply with local gambling rules.

This means that if you’re exploring the US or another country where gambling is banned on shore, but you had hoped to spend a lot of time in a casino, keep this in mind — you may want to choose a cruise itinerary with a lot of sea days.

How Far Out To Sea You Need To Be To Gamble Legally

This depends on the country you have just cast off from.

Gambling laws in the US and the UK are very different. In the US, where casinos are restricted by state, ships must be a minimum of 12 miles out before the first dice is thrown.

When it comes to the UK Gambling Commission, things are far more relaxed.

Cruise ships do need to have a premises license if they offer commercial gambling, but if the ship is “on a journey into or from international waters” then no premises license is even required at all.

You can gamble away in UK waters without batting an eyelid.

The Countries Where Gambling Is Banned (But You Can Get Around By Gambling At Sea…)

In the following countries, land-based gambling is illegal or so heavily state-controlled that the ship’s casino doors will only be open when you are the legal distance of 12 miles or more off-shore:

• Afghanistan
• Algeria
• American Samoa
• Bangladesh
• Barbados 
• Bhutan
• Brazil
• Brunei
• Cayman Islands
• China
• Cuba
• Ecuador
• Guam
• Guatemala – operates on a contradictory, semi-legal basis
• Indonesia
• Iran
• Iraq
• Israel
• Jordan
• Kuwait
• Libya
• Maldives
• Mauritania
• Norway
• Oman
• Pakistan
• Palau
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• Somalia
• South Sudan
• Syria
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Turkey
• Tuvalu
• United Arab Emirates
• Uzbekistan
• Yemen

Gambling laws can change quickly, so the above list is not exhaustive.

Countries To Keep An Eye On

Always remember to do your research on local gambling laws before you roll the dice, but keep your eyes peeled for developments in some of these countries…

In some nations such as North Korea and Cambodia, land-based gambling is illegal for its citizens yet legal for foreign visitors, which led to a casino-tourism boom for the latter. 

Unfortunately, there is also a difference in how native and foreign casino workers are treated.

Researchers have reported that Chinese casino workers in Cambodian casinos earn 4.5x as much as their Cambodian colleagues. 

Other countries, such as Japan, have put plans in place to limit native participation without banning it entirely. 

Since the government approved the necessary legislation for integrated resorts (IRs) a few years ago, Japan has been preparing to open its land-based gambling venues.

The IR program is seriously behind schedule though, due to COVID-19 and other issues, so it’s unlikely to see an IR open its doors before at least 2027 or 2028.

When these are complete it expects to become a global hub for international gambling. 

However, Japanese nationals will only be able to visit the resorts 10 times a month and will have to pay ￥6,000 (approximately $45) for admission each time.

Laws which Prime Minister Fumio Kishida hopes will stop addiction and crime levels soaring. 

As shown by Japan, it can take a country multiple years after the legalization of gambling to build the required infrastructure.

For example, Bermuda, a country that legalized gambling in 2014 has yet to open any casinos because of multiple delays. 

Plans have been approved for four casinos to be integrated into Bermuda’s existing hotels and resorts. The first to open was supposed to be the St Regis Hotel in St George’s.

However, the opening date of this casino has been pushed back multiple times and it currently remains unopened.

Whilst land-based betting is causing issues for Bermuda, online betting has created problems for many countries that have banned gambling. This is because these countries are struggling to stop their citizens from playing online.

In Israel, offshore online casinos can escape the government’s strict anti-gambling laws and offer gambling to Israel’s population because the government’s method of website blocking is not 100% effective.

As such, many Israelis can gamble illegally from the comfort of their own home. 

Those Israelis not interested in online betting can still gamble thanks to the range of cruise ships with casinos that dock in major Israeli ports which allow players to spin the roulette wheel in international waters.

Gambling laws can change rapidly, as proven by the recent changes made by Japan and Bermuda. 

So, if you’re planning a cruise, it’s a good idea to keep tabs on the countries you are going to visit, just in case.

Legal Gambling Ages On Cruise Ships

Again, this works on an international vessel basis and, of course, on whose water you are floating at the time.

If you’re complying with US law or are on specific ships that stop in US ports, you must be at least 21 years old to gamble.

However, much like the rest of the rules, if the nation under whose flag you are sailing has a more liberal approach to gambling, then the age cut-off might drop to 18, as it is in the UK.

Even then, you could still be at the discretion of the cruise line, with some requiring that passengers aged between 18 and 21 be accompanied by a passenger over 21 if they want to gamble and drink.

If in doubt, always check before you book.

Taxes On Gambling Wins When You’re On A Cruise Ship

Ok, here’s where things get a little more complicated.

Paying taxes on your winnings can depend on whether the amount you win is deemed worthy of reporting to the state by the casino operators on board the ship.

Should somebody win over $1,200 in a single payout or enjoy a table game win with odds of 300/1 or more, then technically the house is required to provide the lucky winner with IRS Form W-2G — who can then pay the taxes on their haul.

For winnings that fall under these thresholds the player will not be given any forms but should self-report their winnings using IRS Form 1040.

This is the case for winnings across gambling games such as blackjack, bingo, and slot machines. 

But they’ll only have to do this if the casino operators are based in a country that taxes its gambling winners.

The UK does not and has not done so since it changed its laws back in 2001, so you can keep your cash if you’re in its waters.

Who Regulates Casinos On Cruise Ships?

The world’s largest cruise industry trade association, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) enforces some regulations and policies surrounding equipment, rules of play, internal audits, internal control procedures for cash counting, and customer service.

In general, CLIA tends to follow the regulatory standards and rules of play used by control boards, licensed jurisdictions and established casinos in Nevada and New Jersey in the US, or England in the UK.

Regulation and policies have become more important as cruise ships are fitted with larger casinos.

In fact, a report by the Gaming Technologies Association revealed that it is not uncommon for some cruise ships to have over 300 electronic gaming machines. 

To put this into perspective, during 2019 a fleet of 17 Royal Caribbean International cruise liners had nearly 4,000 electronic gambling machines – over 3x as many as Caesars Palace in Las Vegas!

With that much gambling potential on offer, you may run into some problems. 

But who do you contact if you have a gambling dispute onboard a ship?

It’s unlikely you’ll find a representative or agent in the middle of your cruise, so your best bet is to first raise your issue with the onboard casino manager.

If it can’t be resolved, you’ll then usually be directed to the ‘hotel’ manager or director.

In rare cases, when a dispute can’t be solved onboard, the policy is to direct patrons to the contact information for the main office or casino operator on land.

Gambling Vacations In 2022 And Beyond

Want your next trip to be a gambling one? It doesn’t get much better than a cruise.

Essentially luxury hotels that sail between one exotic destination after another, cruise ships mean all-inclusive and endless buffets, cringey but fun cabaret acts, a new location every day or two and, of course, a casino.

Now you’re all clued up about gambling on cruise ships and the laws at sea, you can get planning your next trip!

Tipping etiquette can confuse the best of us. There’s a lot to consider: who should I tip? How much is enough? What if the service was bad?

Sometimes it seems as though every city, or even every venue, has its own rules — and every tip-ster has their own opinion on how much to pay.

But nobody wants to be known as a bad tipper or, worse, a tightwad.

And a positive customer-server experience can be the making of a great trip, especially if you’ll be frequenting the same casinos, bars or restaurants during your stay.

So, if you’re a novice, a newbie or just unsure how they do things in Sin City, read our guide to why, when, and how much to tip in Las Vegas.

Why You Should Tip

When you travel around the world, particularly in Europe, you’ll know that tipping is usually left to patrons’ own personal discretion.

However, it’s a different ballgame in the US. While it may not be a legal requirement to tip, it is expected.

More than simply a token of appreciation or recognition, it’s a cultural norm and one that’s taken seriously.

And the main reason for this? Minimum wage.

In the US, those in the service industry can reportedly expect around $7.25 per hour without tips, or $2.13 for employees who earn a minimum of $30 in tips per month.

So can you see how if you’re earning as little as $2 per hour, you will rely heavily on gratuities to make up the rest of your income.

Working tables is hard, from greeting potentially hundreds of customers a day, through to ordering, serving, remembering usuals and specials, and handling questions and complaints. So please remember to tip.

Thinking about it may dampen your vacation mood, but tipping is a necessity – especially since it’s on the decline in Vegas.

How Much Should You Tip In Vegas?

Leaving between 15-20 percent is the standard gratuity practice across Las Vegas, and the US as a whole.

So you’ll be safe as long as you stick to those figures when you pay the bill in the casino restaurant or bar.

But, of course, if you received outstanding service there’s nothing stopping you from leaving more.

You may even come to be known as a “George” — that’s code for big tipper. It’s much better than being called the opposite — a “stiff”.

Should You Tip Different Amounts For Different Services?

As mentioned, a trip to a casino will bring you into contact with many kinds of staff who rely on gratuities to bolster their wage.

So, while the 15-20 percent rule will serve you well for the waiters, bartenders and hosts in casino restaurants and bars, what about the rest?

The general rule of thumb is:

1. Casino Hosts

Check the casino rules and policies before tipping your host.

Some venues are strict about cash gifts, so your goodwill could land someone in trouble if it looks like a bribe.

However, if you have the green light, it’s often best to do this at the end of your stay, with gift certificates, bets and comps popular too.

2. Dealers

Tip your dealer as you play or when you leave.

Between two to five percent of your overall winnings is the standard, but you’re free to base it on how well you are doing and how much fun you’re having.

For poker dealers, a minimum of a $1 chip is expected but you can judge it on the size of the pot.

3. Room Service

Tip 10-20 percent. There’s arguably a little more flexibility here due to typically pricier bills, less ‘service’ and charges often being added by the hotels themselves.

4. Buffet Service

Use the cost of the buffet, and the level of attention you’ve received, to guide you.

Usually a little less than a restaurant, the average is 10 percent of the meal, or around $2-5 per person.

5. Spa Staff

Some casino and hotel spas will automatically add a 20 percent charge for each spa service you receive.

If not, opt for your trusty 15-20 percent rule, depending on how good your treatment was.

6. Drinks Runner/Drinks Service

It’s typically $1 every time somebody brings you a beverage on the casino floor or at the slots.

You might want to fork out a few more bucks, or stick by the 15 to 20 percent rule, if you’re feeling flush or banking on regular and attentive service.

7. Housekeepers

$1 to $3 per night is the norm.

But again, use your discretion and consider factors like the size of the room or suite, the number of guests, any special requests made and how messy you are.

Just remember to leave a note with the cash so it isn’t overlooked.

8. Bellhops

Go with $2 to $3 per bag and bump it up for quick service or if there’s a lot of heavy duty lifting.

9. Limo Drivers

If you’re traveling in style, a $20 tip is recommended.

If your driver is full of handy local knowledge and goes the extra mile, you may want to shell out a little more.

10. Other Drivers and Valets

As a rough guide: 20 percent of the fare for taxis and Uber drivers.

$5 for a hotel shuttle driver who handles your luggage or $2 to the airport.

$2 to $5 is the usual range for a valet, too.

Just make sure you don’t tip someone who has taken you the long way around!

What If A Service Charge Has Already Been Included On The Bill?

With mandatory service charges on drinks bills, rising prices and extra fees, it can be confusing whether you should also tip on top of the charges.

It’s common in restaurants to add a service charge to the check, particularly if it’s a busy time of the year or you’re part of a large party of diners.

But don’t fear, if the bill says a gratuity has been included you don’t have to add anything extra on top — unless you wish to.

And the same logic applies if you feel the rate is too high and wish to pay less.

Should You Tip For Bad Service?

If service has been unacceptably slow, rude, or just downright terrible, what should you do?

The simple answer: Speak to the restaurant or bar manager.

If you feel the service was too bad for a tip, it’s too bad not to speak up about.

Trying to leave without explaining the lack of gratuity will lead to some awkward questions.

If in doubt, a reduced tip of 10 percent for restaurants and bars will get the message across, too.

Can You Tip With Chips?

It does happen but technically, no.

Chips are casino property, even when in your possession. Essentially, they were never yours to give away.

So always make sure you have some cash on you and avoid any nasty fees by reading our guide to ATMs in Vegas first.

Check out our other article for even more information about tipping in casinos.

But not even a hundred years back, Las Vegas looked nothing like its modern version.

It was a small settlement before the Hoover Dam construction that started in 1930.

Thousands of people came to the area looking for work, creating a perfect environment for what would become Sin City over the next few decades.

The city, largely populated by men who spent their days working and were looking for something to help them blow off steam in the night, offered many business opportunities.

But someone had to get the ball rolling – and that someone was Benny Binion.

His name is forever connected to the foundations of modern Las Vegas.

While his Horseshoe Casino may not have been the first one in Las Vegas, it quickly became the best-known and most famous.

Benny understood the casino business and knew what people were after – and he wasn’t afraid to give it to them.

Benny Binion’s Beginnings In Las Vegas

Benny Binion, whose full name was Lester Ben Binion, was born in 1904.

Before coming to Nevada, he ran an illegal gambling operation in Texas, as gambling was pretty much all he knew in life.

Benny didn’t have any formal education as he spent his childhood accompanying his father, a horse trader, on his trips.

He certainly had a checkered history filled with all sorts of run-ins with the law.

While he wasn’t what you’d call an exemplary citizen, Binion’s determination enabled him to take control of all gambling operations in Dallas by 1936.

For a while, things were going well in Texas, but after World War II, the Chicago Mob made a move for Dallas, and Benny lost the support of local officials as the new county sheriff was elected.

So, in 1946, he decided it was time for a change and moved to Las Vegas.

At this time, Las Vegas was already shaping up to become what it is today – the world’s largest gambling hub.

That said, there was still a lot of space and opportunities for those who knew their way around gambling tables, and Benny Binion most certainly did.

The Legendary Binion’s Horseshoe Casino Is Born

After arriving in Las Vegas, Benny spent a few years trying to find his place.

Following a few failed attempts, he finally purchased the Eldorado Club and the Apache Hotel.

This was where he opened his now-legendary Binion’s Horseshoe Casino.

There were already numerous casinos in Las Vegas, but, just like in Dallas, Binion was ready to do what it took to make his stand out from the rest.

The first thing he did was raise the maximum bet on table games.

For example, his craps games (one of the most popular games at the time) had a maximum of $500, which was 10 times higher than what the competition offered.

Binion also promised players that he would take bets of any size, as long as their bet wasn’t larger than the size of their very stake.

The Horseshoe Casino was the place for hardcore gamblers who wanted to play and weren’t afraid of big stakes. 

There is a famous story from those days that a man walked straight into Binion’s Horseshoe and placed a bet of $1 million on the pass line.

This is a huge amount of money even today, but a million was a truly head-spinning number back then.

Yet, no one tried to stop him and his bet was accepted. The gambler lost but, had he won, he’d most likely have been paid in full.

After all, even in those murky times, Benny understood that reputation was of utmost importance. People knew him to be a man of his word.

So other than large max. bets, what else did his casino offer?

Unlike some of his competitors, Binion didn’t care much about “extracurricular” activities.

There were no live shows or anything of the sort to distract players from the tables and entice them to spend money somewhere else.

Benny was the one who introduced free drinks for players, which soon became a popular practice in Las Vegas casinos.

Vegas was an ideal place for Benny Binion as he didn’t have to fight any turf wars here. The area was still largely undiscovered and there was plenty of action to go around.

On top of that, he quickly made himself friends with all of the important people in the city from both sides of the fence, allowing him to focus on his business.

It wasn’t long before Binion’s Horseshoe got the legendary reputation that it’s kept pretty much to this day.

It was a real casino for real players – with no nonsense.

Although Binion took some risks by allowing massive bets, he knew what he was doing.

He had the house advantage on his side and he knew that, as long as he could ride out the variance, he would come out a big winner.

That’s exactly what happened, as he made a fortune from the casino.

Benny’s Criminal Past Comes Back To Haunt Him

Having moved to Vegas, Binion was done with his old life in Dallas.

However, he didn’t really make a clean break as he left a trail of crime behind him.

Two Dallas district attorneys were hell-bent on arresting and charging him, and they finally collected enough evidence in 1953.

Binon faced charges for tax evasion and was consequently sentenced to 42 months in prison.

This wasn’t a particularly long stint, all things considered, but the conviction ensured that he could never run a casino again as his gambling license was revoked.

His son, Jack, took it upon himself to continue running the casino, while Benny took on the role of PR Director.

Jack Binion Picks Up The Slack

In the years immediately following Benny’s release, the Binion family didn’t hold a controlling interest in the casino.

It was only in 1964 that they were able to get back the majority share in the venue.

Despite this, Jack Binion picked up right where his father left off. He got a gaming license from the Nevada Gaming Commission and took it upon himself to keep the business going.

Jack kept many of his father’s ideas, especially in terms of bet limits and accepting all bets, but came up with some of his own to make the venue even better.

Jack was a prudent businessman and he knew how to make the business grow.

In 1988, he significantly increased the size of the hotel, buying the next-door Mint Casino and Hotel for $27 million.

He even came up with a slogan – “a fair game and fair odds” – which was meant to capture the spirit of the Horseshoe Casino – and it worked.

People kept flocking to the venue and profits continued to grow.

Jack wasn’t Benny’s only child, and quite a few people didn’t believe he was the one who should take up the casino business.

But he proved them all wrong, showing a lot of talent and natural flair for the gambling business, which he inherited from his father.

The Binions Establish The World Series Of Poker

Today, the World Series of Poker is a huge festival that gathers tens of thousands of people from all over the world.

The Main Event alone features thousands of entries every year, generating impressive prize pools and makes multiple players millionaires in the process.

But it all started with just seven people gathered at Binion’s Horseshoe.

Benny Binion had been a part of the Las Vegas gambling scene for years, and he knew pretty much everyone there was to know, including all the big players.

So, in 1970, he decided to invite some of the major names in town for a big showdown to determine the best poker player.

Poker was nowhere nearly as popular back then, and there were maybe 50 poker tables in the whole of Las Vegas.

That first competition was envisioned as more of a publicity stunt than anything else, and Benny and Jack Binion couldn’t have imagined what the WSOP would eventually turn into.

The first World Series of Poker tournament gathered just seven players, including Doyle Brunson, Amarillo Slim, Puggy Pearson, and Johnny Moss.

After several days of high-stakes cash games action, Moss was voted the best player by his peers.

That first WSOP was a very small affair, and no one outside of Las Vegas even knew about it.

But, thanks to the Binions’ vision and some lucky developments, the competition would gradually gain nationwide popularity.

In 1971, the format was changed to a $5,000 freezeout tournament instead of a series of cash games.

Moss won the 1971 tournament, but it was the 1972 victory by Amarillo Slim that turned out to be a major turning point for the WSOP.

Slim was a famous gambler and talkative player. After his win in 1972, although the tournament featured only 12 entries, he made a huge deal out of it, going on a national tour and talking about the WSOP everywhere he went.

Slowly but surely, the World Series of Poker attracted more and more players each year.

In 1973, it even received TV coverage by CBS Sports, which was a huge breakthrough at the time.

By the late 1980s, Binion’s Horseshoe could barely accommodate all the players coming through its doors.

This was when Jack decided to expand, buying Mint Casino and Hotel and several other properties and set up a full-time poker room at the venue.

Sadly, Benny Binion wouldn’t live to see the WSOP reach its full potential. He died of a heart attack aged 86, on Christmas Day of 1989, leaving it up to Jack to continue its legacy.

Jack Binion continued to run the WSOP and the tournament kept growing.

However, a dispute inside the family resulted in Jack selling his interest in the Horseshoe Casino in 1998 to his sister, Becky, ending his involvement with the venue and the tournament.

He still kept the rights to the Horseshoe brand outside of the state, later opening several riverboat casinos under the famous name.

In 2004, Harrah’s Entertainment (later renamed Caesars Entertainment) purchased Binion’s Horseshoe and obtained all rights to the World Series.

The tournament, which had grown significantly in size by this point, was moved to the Rio Hotel and Casino, while the Horseshoe was sold to MTR Gaming Group.

A Las Vegas Legacy

Following the acquisition by MTR, the casino was renamed Binion’s Gambling Hall and Hotel, keeping the famous name above the door.

Then, in 2008, another company purchased the venue and closed it shortly after that due to the recession.

In 2019, the new owners opened under a new name – Hotel Apache.

Jack Binion, who was born in 1937, is still around.

He holds a consulting role with Wynn Resorts, and has witnessed and been a part of some of the greatest moments in the history of Las Vegas.

Even though things have changed a lot in Las Vegas since those early days, Benny and Jack Binion’s mark on the city remains and their story won’t be easily forgotten.

Without the Binions, the history of Sin City would likely be much different, and we probably wouldn’t have the World Series of Poker – or at least not as we know it today.

Lead image: Twitter/TracesofTexas 

With our handy guide you’ll be sure to stay on the right side of the law and blend in with the locals. Read on to discover the best of the bizarre things that might land you some jail time – you can thank us when you make it safely home!

1. It’s Illegal To Feed Any Wild Animals

Since November 2017 it’s been illegal to feed the pigeons (all you Mary Poppins fans will have to re-enact that song scene elsewhere) with the threat of a $1,000 fine or six months in jail.

I mean, I don’t know about you, but I don’t mind pigeons (neither do these guys who worked to lift the unfriendly ban) but I’m not willing to risk imprisonment for seeing to some of their fuss-free food needs.

Three years later, the ban was extended to include all wild animals including rabbits and community cats, with a more digestible $10 fine.

Thoughts behind this law stem from a concern for public health although the links between wildlife and human illness are limited.

Still, there were concerns over the crowding of pigeons in one particular parking lot that made it look like a casting call for a remake of Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds.

Bottom line, save your inner Dr Jane Goodall for another town!

2. It’s Legal To Keep Exotic Animals As Pets

Continuing the theme of animal cruelty, the next bizarre, and frankly heinous, law that makes our list is that there are a number of exotic animals you can keep as pets.

It’s not just on The Hangover that you could be sharing a Las Vegas suite with a tiger. If you fall in with the wrong crowd, it could be a legal reality.

Lions, elephants, camels and zebra to name a few are on the list of the animals you actually are allowed.

If it’s giant toads, skunks, or foxes you’re looking to domesticate, you’ll need to head on to the next town.

3. It’s Illegal To Ride A Camel On The Highway

So whilst you can have a pet camel in Las Vegas, don’t go and get you and your steed into trouble by riding on the highway.

This law dates back to the 1800s when camels transported loads across the Nevadan deserts.

The result? Too many camels, and the lawmakers saw to it that there was a reduction.

4. It’s Illegal To Hail A Taxi On The Strip

Las Vegas taxi drivers are not allowed to drop off or pick up anyone along the Strip.

But fear not, you can still travel around pretty easily as outside most casinos and hotels there are designated spots where you’ll get your automobile service.

The same rules apply for taxi ride apps too.

5. It’s Illegal To Use Bath Salts

If you’re not in Las Vegas and up partying all night then you’re probably going there for some luxurious relaxation.

For many that might include a bubbly bath with some aromatic bath salts. But hold up, you mean we can’t do that?!

Don’t panic, these are a different sort. Phew.

We’re talking about the bath salts that are synthetic cathinones, formerly a ‘legal high’ and a cheaper and stronger alternative to cocaine.

With adverse long-term effects from usage, these were made illegal to possess, ingest, and sell in 2012.

6. It’s Illegal To Hula Hoop On Fremont Street

If you’ve been to Las Vegas you’ll know how vibrant and buzzing Fremont Street is, where street performers are aplenty.

You’ll also know how busy it can get and if there’s one thing that needs lots of space, it’s hula-hooping. It needs the kind of space that just doesn’t come easily on a busy street.

It’s for that reason that it was made illegal to do so by the local council, owing to the hazard it presents to anyone walking nearby.

This same law prohibits unicycling, skating and skateboarding down Fremont Street, so go let off your steam somewhere else.

7. It’s Illegal To Pawn Your Dentures

For all you folks looking to make a quick dime, pawning your grandma’s (or even your own!) dentures is a criminal offence in Las Vegas.

The weirdest part about this law is that it had to be written in law.

How many toothless grins did it take for them to decide things were getting out of control? And who was buying them?

Also, don’t try and pawn anything whilst drunk. Yup, you guessed it – also illegal.

You’ll be turned away and maybe when you sober up, you’ll realize that actually, you quite like your dentures…, or your wedding ring…, or any other of your precious belongings.

8. It’s Illegal To Be Homeless

One of the most controversial amongst the weird world of the laws in Las Vegas is the criminalization of being without a home, which came into effect in November 2019.

According to the law, voted in by the city council, if you’re found to be ‘lodging’ on sidewalks (or even just sitting or resting!) you risk facing six months in jail or a $1,000 fine.

Whilst many local residents and business owners support the ideas behind the law – human feces featuring too often outside people’s doors – they’re unnerved by the lack of support provided.

It’s one thing to criminalize something where it’s an avoidable offence, but many people find themselves living on the streets as a result of dire circumstances, very often related to mental health issues and addiction.

The local shelters are not large or equipped enough to deal with the overwhelming numbers of people that find themselves without a roof over their heads in Sin City.

Many police officers feel the same, refusing to ‘arrest a community issue’, wanting instead to focus on tackling violent crime.

9. It’s Illegal To Rent Out Your Place For A Weekend In Residential Areas

If you’re planning to rent out your home to some rowdy tourists on a mad weekend, think again. You might end up forking out $1,000 a day in fines.

One homeowner became the first to incur such a fine two years after the law came into effect in 2012 – setting them back a whopping $29,000!

It’s still possible for rolling contracts to operate on a month-by-month basis, but anything less than that isn’t allowed.

10. It’s Illegal To Consume Alcohol In Public Spaces

This might not seem such a strange law to some people, but given the naughtiness that goes down in Las Vegas, it shocks us that you cannot legally drink in public spaces.

Of course that doesn’t mean bars, clubs, restaurants etc., it refers to areas outside of that, like walking down the street or chilling in the park.

So for all you booze-lovers hoping for a raucous stroll down the Strip, think again. Keep it contained to the alcohol establishments.

It’s even illegal to have an open bottle of alcohol on you, and to drink from it, in a moving car regardless of whether or not you’re the driver.

I’m sure there are plenty of Uber drivers grateful for that law!

11. It’s Illegal To Pay For Sex

Whilst some counties in Nevada do allow for the legal acquisition, and offering, of sexual services, Las Vegas doesn’t fall into that category.

It’s legal in counties where the population is less than 700,000 and within that rule, it’s only legal in state-licensed brothels.

If you’re caught doing the dirty in Las Vegas – trying to pay for or offer sex – you’ll face some jail time, plus up to $1,400 in fines if it’s your first time.

The time spent in jail and the fines go up the more often you’re caught, so maybe skip on that one!

12. It’s Illegal For “Cat Fanciers” To Keep And Exhibit More Than Six Adult Cats

“Cat fanciers”?

Yeah, we worried for a second too.

But fear not, this is just the official term given to people who take their kitties to at least one cat show per year.

So there are limits on the number of cats they can have in their home (it seems limitless kittens, but they grow up so fast!) if they’re planning to get them involved in some cat-walk (*wink wink*) shows.

13. It’s Illegal To Curse On The Las Vegas Strip

We all know we can get a bit more lairy after a few drinks, running the highs and lows of the gambling games, but watch your language on the Strip.

It might help to ask yourself: Would I say this in front of my mother-in-law?

14. It’s Illegal To Go Hunting Recreationally

Whilst most of the vast state of Nevada is open for hunting, approximately 48 million hectares, the Las Vegas Valley is off limits.

Clark County closed off any areas within 500 ft of a private road, or half a mile from a highway.

Good to know there won’t be any rogue bullets skimming your head as you stroll to the next casino.

15. It’s Illegal To Hire A Communist

Perhaps the most antiquated law on this list, dating back to the Cold War and feeling less and less relevant or constitutional.

When it was brought in there was much fear around Communism, and whilst it’s given rise to some terrible regimes around the world, political sympathies shouldn’t be a barrier to employment in the free world, surely?

Discussions around its violation of the 1st Amendment and Americans’ right to free speech have so far not seen it lifted…perhaps it will get more air time over the coming years.

Or perhaps America will always vehemently hate Communism.

So there you have it, the weird world of Las Vegas laws. Hopefully with this handy guide you’ll stay on the right side of the law and have an awesome stay.

Lead image: Wikimedia Commons

Withdrawing cash can be especially pricey if you withdraw while at a casino, particularly on the Strip, where you can expect to pay up to $10 in fees.

Even if you bring a big pile of cash with you (more on that later), chances are you will need to withdraw a little extra at some point because Vegas is going to drain your wallet.

So, if you’re heading to Vegas for your next trip, here are some tips to help you avoid any nasty extra costs.

How To Get Cash Out For Free In Vegas

Free ATMs in Vegas are a rarity.

Unless you’re a US bank account holder e.g. Bank of America, and can visit a branch as a customer while in Vegas, finding a free ATM is going to be very difficult.

But here are some handy hints.

1. Free ATM Withdrawals Through Your Bank

Wells Fargo account holders – get cash out for free from ATMs at airports and car rental centers. It can depend on the location, but the bank has a number of outlets across the city.

Canadians using Interac and Plus should look out for the no-fee Allpoint green logo at locations such as CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens, and the Monorail Station Harrah’s & the LINQ on the Strip.

Or head slightly further afield to the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Another alternative is to open an account with a bank that offers ATM fee reimbursements. However, there are often caps with these.

2. Bank Alliance Schemes

Some banks are also part of ‘alliance’ schemes or cooperatives with other banks and retailers.

These can give you access to a large network of ATMs, not just your own banks’.

If you travel regularly within the US, it’s worth doing your research to see if your account qualifies, as the more withdrawal points you can use, the better your chances of finding a surcharge-free one.

3. Cash Back In Stores

Finally, if you expect to do some shopping while you’re in town, you can always try avoiding ATMs completely.

Many retailers offer a free, or very cheap, ‘cash back’ service when you make a purchase on their premises.

This could be convenient, but the costs can still clock-up and, as the limit will likely be lower than an ATM, you may have to make more trips.

Tip: Locate the machines before you travel and pin them on your maps app.

ATMs With The Lowest Fees

As mentioned, it’s really hard to find an ATM with zero fees in Vegas – but there are some places you can get lower fees (around $3).

The bank ATMs on the Strip won’t be free if you’re not a customer. But they’ll usually end up saving you a couple more dollars than the in-casino options.

On the Strip itself you should find a few Bank of America outlets, with Wells Fargo locations sandwiched in between the Strip and Downtown Vegas.

However bear in mind that if you’re travelling from outside the US you may get stung with extra bank charges.

Other options for lower fees are ATMs at convenience or drug stores.

ATM Fees Are Highest In The Casinos

When you’re having fun, it will be tempting to stick with the closest ATM in your casino or hotel. And that’s exactly what the establishments bank on!

The issue with the ATMs in casinos is they come with hefty charges.

The introduction of ‘table-top ATMs’ a couple of years ago hasn’t helped matters either.

While handy, as the machines pay out currency in the form of casino chips — meaning players don’t need to leave the gaming tables — they’re a very easy way to lose money.

The fees for these ‘point-of-sale’ transactions can be a few dollars lower than an ATM, at roughly $4 plus around 2.5 percent of whatever you withdraw.

So it’s a stretch to call them cheaper. And for many, they can prove too good to be true.

Our verdict? Use one of the alternative suggestions above and save your hard-earned cents for the fun stuff instead.

And if you’re wanting to spend your moolah on services other than gambling, you can always turn to your digital wallet and use cryptocurrency.

As a city that always has one foot firmly in the future, Vegas has had bitcoin ATMs in casinos for a while now.

As for alternate ideas, wire transfers direct to the casino cages, and setting up lines of credit with the casino, are both also options.

However, these come with their own pros and cons.

Wire transfers can have large minimum limits, meaning they’re only usually viable for fairly big spenders and high-rollers, and they’re quite restrictive.

While, lines of credit can be ‘dangerous’ if you’re worried about suppressing your budget.

ATM Fees At The Most Popular Casinos In Las Vegas

Ever wondered how much you’ll have to pay to get cash out at your favorite Vegas casinos?

Reported ATM fees at the following casinos:

• Bally’s – $9.99
• Paris – $9.99
• Planet Hollywood – $9.99
• Caesars Palace $9.99
• Flamingo – $9.99
• Aria – $8.99
• MGM Grand – $8.99
• The Venetian – $7.99
• Luxor – $7.99

Being Vigilant With ATMs

Despite our recommendations for seeking out the cheapest ATM you can find, be careful. Cheaper doesn’t always mean more secure.

Use your gut and don’t withdraw money if anything about the machine looks unusual, or if you don’t feel comfortable in the area.

Just like anywhere else in the world, card-skimming scams can occur in Sin City.

There’s no need to be overly worried, but it pays to be vigilant in Vegas, where crooks know there are plenty of travelers distracted by the sights and sounds — and wanting to withdraw money.

It can be tough to spot skimming technology with the naked eye.

Just a few examples include magnetic strips that read a credit or debit card’s data, to fake PIN devices, hidden cameras, and so-called ‘Lebanese Loops’ that act as shell on top of ATMs to trap customers’ cards inside.

Your safest options are usually ATMs in banks and airports. As for those who like to use contactless ‘swipe’ payments for smaller bills, keep your eyes peeled for anyone getting too close at the bar, or on public transport.

While you’re out and about, one potential scam is opportunistic theft via a portable card reader.

Travelers often try to get around this by using Radio-frequency identification (RFID) blocking card inserts or wallets, but it is unknown how effective these are.

Carrying Cash vs Withdrawing – Which Is Your Best Option?

Bringing cash with you to Vegas gives you greater flexibility.

It means you won’t be faced with the dilemma of leaving to withdraw more money, or risk being charged eye-watering fees on the casino floor. And you’ll have the means to pay, wherever you are.

However, using money to pay in public can make you a target for pickpockets. Don’t walk around with too much loose cash, and make use of internal zippers, well-concealed money belts etc.

Of course, walking around with a full wallet is far from ideal. So take the usual precautions and avoid poorly-lit places and going off the beaten track, especially if you’re alone.

Using your card to withdraw money, as and when you need, can have more ‘cons’ than just ATM fees. Card scams can still occur, and the more often you withdraw, the more likely you are to attract attention.

Avoid taking out large amounts or asking for a lot of cash-back in public spaces.

Don’t forget about tipping in Vegas. It’s expected that you’ll tip a wide range of hotel and casino staff, usually a few dollars a time, making easy-access cash and small bills essential.

So, with benefits and drawbacks for both approaches, what’s best? If you want to save money and stay safe, think ahead. You don’t have to limit yourself to one idea.

If you’ll be travelling with cash, divide it up into smaller amounts in multiple secure locations.

And, of course, once you arrive at your hotel or Airbnb, there should be an in-room safes available, allowing you to take a little out at a time.

But, even if you plan how much you’ll need beforehand, expenses can quickly escalate as Vegas is expensive.

So, give yourself the flexibility to withdraw when needed, and keep a little budget back on your plastic in case anything does go wrong. As well as logging the better value and cheaper ATM locations on your phone’s maps.

By mixing and matching approaches, you’ll have all bases covered and most of the funds you need on hand or within easy reach.

Now you’re armed with the best tips and tricks when it comes to ATMs in Vegas. Enjoy your trip!

But there’s something to be said for a hotel experience.

From room service and housekeeping to pools and casinos, hotels in Las Vegas can be special, even if you don’t stay at the most expensive spot.

These hotels offer the best value for money in Las Vegas.

Just keep in mind that prices may be higher during peak seasons or when major conventions are in town.

1. Fremont Hotel & Casino

Average cost of stay: $65 per night including resort fees

Where: Fremont Street

The Good: Right in the heart of the up-and-coming Fremont Street experience, the Fremont Hotel & Casino is ideal for people looking for the modern Las Vegas. Within walking distance to great restaurants and shopping, with a fun and funky atmosphere.

The Bad: The rooms are a little bit smaller than some visitors expected. If you’re planning to do things outside of the downtown area, you’ll need to get a ride to the Strip or convention center.

2. Fiesta Henderson

Average cost of stay: $70 per night including resort fees

Where: Henderson

The Good: All the rooms were renovated in 2016, so you can expect an updated and fresh hotel. Nestled in Henderson, the hotel is quieter than those on the strip, but still boasts the full casino experience you’d expect when visiting Sin City.

The Bad: Some visitors were disappointed by how far the hotel was from other activities in Las Vegas, as you’ll need to drive for about 30 minutes to get to the strip or other attractions.

Please note that the casino is temporarily closed and currently not taking reservations.

3. Luxor Hotel and Casino

Average cost of stay: $70 per night including resort fees

Where: Bottom of the Strip

The Good: The Luxor is often touted for its cheap room rates with excellent service and accommodation. The hotel has a good range of pools and amenities, although you’ll pay for them with resort fees and other extras.

In fact, the rooms themselves are advertised for an average of $30 per night, but are really more than double thanks to the extra fees.

The Bad: Despite being on the Las Vegas Strip, the Luxor is quite far from the action. Prepare to take a shuttle or other form of transportation to get where you actually want to be in Las Vegas.

Oh, and there are rumors of paranormal activity.

4. Excalibur Hotel and Casino

Average cost of stay: $70 per night including fees

Where: Bottom of the Strip

The Good: One of the cheaper hotels on the Strip, the Excalibur is known for being ideal for families and other visiting groups. Previous guests enjoyed the medieval castle theme and familiar food court.

The Bad: A rather dated hotel by Vegas standards, some rooms might not have enough outlets or USB ports, and some visitors were not impressed by the cleanliness or amenities here.

5. OYO Hotel & Casino

Average cost of stay: $75 per night including resort fees

Where: Just off the Strip

The Good: Formerly Hooters Casino Hotel, it was bought and rebranded in 2019. Recent reviewers rave about OYO’s excellent customer service and cleanliness. The suites are very affordable too.

The Bad: Just off the strip, this casino can feel a bit out of the way. 

6. Artisan Hotel Boutique

Average cost of stay: $75 per night

Where: Just off the Strip

The Good: Offers a break from all the casino fun in a quirky, unusual setting. Dogs are also welcome.

The Bad: The adults-only vibe won’t appeal to all visitors.

7. Circus Circus

Average cost of stay: $80 per night including fees

Where: On the Strip

The Good: There’s a reason Circus Circus is popular with families, with a wide range of kid-friendly activities and amenities.

The rooms are cheap, with additional resort fees bumping things up from the advertised rates – but still viable at under $100 per night.

The Bad: As one of the older hotels, many of the rooms need an update. It’s also rather crowded and can be too busy for some visitors.

8. The Strat

Average cost of stay: $85 per night including fees

Where: End of the Strip

The Good: Formerly The Stratosphere and rebranded as The Strat in 2020, this spot has the best views in the whole city. There are also fun rides on the roof and you can watch people bungee jump.

The Bad: At the end of the strip, you’ll have a bit of a trek if you plan to do activities elsewhere. 

9. Harrah’s Las Vegas

Average cost of stay: $85 per night including fees

Where: On the Strip

The Good: This hotel and casino is typical Las Vegas, filled with excellent customer service, clean rooms and a fun casino. Great location no matter where you want to be in Las Vegas.

The Bad: Another standard, classic hotel in Las Vegas. In no way bad, but probably not astoundingly great, either.

10. Bally’s Las Vegas

Average cost of stay: $110 per night including resort fees

Where: On the Strip

The Good: A Las Vegas classic, Bally’s has everything you’re looking for, from a lively casino to stellar service and clean hotel rooms. Plenty of dining options.

The Bad: Fairly average by Las Vegas standards. Clean and comfortable, but you probably won’t be sharing your swanky room on social media.

That got us thinking about the oldest casinos in the world and what they’re offering today. Pull up a stool and take a tour through these grand old buildings that were gaming hubs long ago…

Casino di Venezia (1638)

Of course, the casino with the claim to being one of the oldest in the world had to come from Italy.

Believed to have been trading as far back as 1638, the Casino di Venezia in Venice is unsurprisingly situated along the historic and stylish Italian city’s world-famous canals.

With its entrance on the Grand Canal and adorned with classical Venetian architecture, it is possible to picture the Venetian elite sailing up and enjoying aperitifs here as they mingled and gamed, as much of the extravagant decor still echoes older times.

Today, Casino di Venezia is offering players the chance to live the high-life for an evening or two by dressing up in their best and trying their hand at classic games like blackjack, roulette and poker, as well as fine dining.

But it is also home to around 600 slot machines – not something those old Italian idols will have encountered.

Casino de Monte Carlo (1863)

Known under a different name when it was established back in 1863, the Casino de Monte-Carlo is one of the oldest and biggest casinos in Europe.

Its new name came in 1866 in honor of Prince Charles III, who led the casino’s development – ‘Monte Carlo’ meaning ‘Mount Charles’ in Ligurian. 

The casino famously featured in the James Bond movies Casino Royale and Goldeneye. Perhaps unsurprising given its location, history and pedigree, the casino still welcomes the rich and famous today to its grand rooms and grounds.

Alongside the luxury cars, you’ll find exclusive bars, lavish concert halls, a theatre and expensive restaurants – making it a dining and cultural attraction too, where you can enjoy both opera and ballet.

And the view from the front with the water feature? Nothing short of lavish.

Casino Baden-Baden (1820s)

You’ll find Germany’s oldest casino in the popular and historic spa town of Baden-Baden.

This allows you to imagine the type of clientele the casino may have hosted back in 1820s or 30s, when it was originally constructed.

Still boasting neoclassical architecture and grand, opulent interiors, the casino is open to guests today and is set in the stunning Kurhaus – the area’s spectacular social hub that holds events and conferences, and houses a spa.

The origins may date as far back as the Roman Empire, which gives it some serious historic clout.

Channeling this energy, it currently combines lavish decor and chandeliers with more modern additions like slot machines.

Crockford’s Club (1823)

The UK, or London, could never be far behind when it comes to historic casinos.

Crockford’s Club lays claim to being one of the oldest after opening in 1823 as a gentleman’s club, of course.

A members’ club for a long time, Crockford’s is believed to have attracted heavy-weight politicians and decision makers rather than the glitterati.

A turbulent history meant it closed and was refounded a few times between 1823, 1845 and 1970, when it finally shut its doors for good.

The name, however, still lives on as a highly luxurious casino nearby – yet it has no real connection to the original.

Lead image: Pedro Szekely/Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0

The world’s top casinos, usually home to luxury hotels, keep their customers in the building by housing some of the globe’s finest eateries too. There’s no need to go anywhere else.

But it’s not all about buffets, bar food and big chains. Some casino restaurants are attractions in their own right, offering hungry high-rollers imaginative menus dreamt up by world class chefs, immersive dining, glamorous dress codes and creative cocktails. 

Here — while dreaming of our next trip in safer times — we’ve collated a handy list of our picks for the top 10 casino restaurants in the world. So pop open the bubbly, sit back and decide where you’d like to dine…

Restaurant Guy Savoy, Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, US

Regularly billed as one of the best restaurants in Vegas, this French fine dining restaurant is hailed by public reviewers and critics alike.

That’s no surprise, as Head Chef and owner Guy Savoy has conceived a group of Michelin star-winning restaurants.

Of course, an elegant European eatery at a popular casino such as Caesars Palace was bound to be a big hit.

And at this classy mainstay on the casino food scene, you’ll find all the glamorous features you’d expect on the à la carte menu, including oysters, caviar, soup with black truffle and lobster.

Reviewers on Tripadvisor rate the dedicated bread, dessert and Champagne carts, as well as the 13-course tasting menu and overall dining experience.

Top of the World, The Strat, Las Vegas, US

It’s tough to go fine dining in Vegas and not try this one.

A fixture as much for the experience as the food, the Top of the World Restaurant at The Strat Hotel & Casino sits over 840 ft above Vegas’s valley floor, allowing for sweeping views of the city.

And what’s more, this famous dine out destination revolves 360 degrees every 80 minutes, making it a must-see in its own right.

The restaurant has scooped awards for its dining and its excellent wine. Diners can select from a range of seafood including shrimp, oyster, lobster and crab, plus steaks and pasta.

Reviewers on Tripadvisor praise the observation deck, the revolving aspect and the chance to watch bungee jumpers as you eat…

Robuchon au D?me, Grand Lisboa, Macau, China

This is special.

Regularly named among the best restaurants in the world, full stop, and arguably offering the top gastronomic experience in Asia, the Robuchon au D?me sits in the dome feature atop the extravagant and iconic architecture of the Grand Lisboa hotel and casino skyscraper.

Aside from the spectacular aesthetic, including a cascading crystal chandelier, the French restaurant has a wine list reaching into the tens of thousands and has received Michelin stars.

Although top French chef Jo?l Robuchon has passed on now, his legacy is about as renowned as it gets.

Tripadvisor reviewers talk about the Napoleon cake, dessert cart and French cheeses. Yum.

Wing Lei Palace, Wynn Palace, Macau, China

We couldn’t leave Macau without giving a nod to a top restaurant showcasing Cantonese food. But Wing Lei Palace deserves its place, having been given the stamp of excellence by many of the world’s top guides.

This Chinese fine dining spot hits all the senses as diners drift through a garden filled with thousands of flowers to reach the rather royal gold, white and green-decorated restaurant with views of Wynn Palace’s famous ‘Performance Lake’.

Customers can book private rooms with en-suite bathrooms and lakeside terraces.

But back to the food, you’ll feast on dim sum, bean curd, Peking duck and roasted goose with plum sauce.

Tripadvisor reviewers placed the dim sum as a highlight, along with watching the fountains.

Bobby Flay Steak, The Borgata Hotel, Atlantic City, US

We couldn’t complete a restaurant casino top 10 list without heading to Atlantic City, too.

Bobby Flay Steak hits the spot here, with its ‘modern twist on the traditional steakhouse’.

Offering classy comfort food right on the Empire Boardwalk, its signature is the ‘Philadelphia-style strip steak’ but you can also chow down on fare like tuna, burrata and dishes from the ‘lobster bar’, such as lobster-crab cake.

However, for reviewers on Tripadvisor it’s the lamb that’s the star of the show. Wash it all down with something from the wine menu or cocktail selection.

Buddha-Bar, Place du Casino, Monte-Carlo, Monaco

Billing itself as a ‘lounge-like’ restaurant, Buddha-Bar is heavily influenced by Japanese and Thai cultures, design and, of course, food.

Striking features in the converted concert hall include a seven-meter-high ceiling, a huge Buddha statue and open-air terraces.

But the biggest draw is thankfully the food, with the sushi, sashimi and a range of pan-Asian dishes earning rave reviews.

Tripadvisor comments note it for its Champagne, sushi, atmosphere and live DJ.

Le Train Bleu, Casino de Monte-Carlo, Monaco

This eatery is so chic it’s set in a reproduction of a train restaurant car.

Lauded for a long time by those in the ‘casi-know’, Le Train Bleu or ‘The Blue Train’ is actually a fine Italian restaurant…but still with plenty of French (or Monégasque) flair.

Designed with Belle époque decor, this is a sophisticated spot you’ll need to dress up for.  Then simply select from an indulgent à la carte menu that’s translated into Italian, French and English.

You’ll have plenty of seafood, tortellini and saffron risotto to sample, as well as a cheese platter and puddings including a ‘dolce del momento’ or ‘sweet of the moment’.

The Ritz Restaurant, London, UK

Gentlemen, you must remember to wear a jacket and tie here. Because it’s The Ritz and it’s London.

The Grade II listed five-star hotel will transport you back to a bygone era and the Michelin-starred restaurant will tempt your tastebuds before you head into the basement Ritz Club casino.

Against a backdrop of chandeliers, marble columns and park views, you’ll dine on fancy foods like lobster, crab, local fish or duck liver with damson and pistachio, dig into classic desserts and have access to gourmet vegan and vegetarian food.

If you choose the right night you may even be treated to a live pianist too.

Heliot Steak House, The Hippodrome Casino, London, UK

For something just as lovely but a little bit more low-key in London, The Hippodrome Casino is home to what it modestly calls the English capital’s ‘best steak house’.

We’ll leave that up to you decide, but what we can tell you is that the 100-seat restaurant overlooks a casino gaming floor so you can keep an eye on the action. It’s also home to a late-night bar.

As well as USDA prime steaks, which you can have topped with lobster tail, there’s seriously posh mac ’n’ cheese, sea bass, goat cheese ‘lollipops’ with lemon curd, grilled octopus, vegan sliders, and even almond millefeuille among the desserts.

Waku Ghin, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

In a city that loves its gourmet street food, you know a casino restaurant must be good if it’s as famous as Waku Ghin.

The two Michelin-starred spot serves Euro-Japanese fusion food crafted from fresh and seasonal ingredients.

Top chef Tetsuya Wakuda is famous for his combination of French and East Asian cooking styles and influences that result in mesmerizing plate presentation.

Made for those that love elegant small plates and minimalist style, previous exciting menus have featured sea urchin, Okinawa spinach and yuzu granita.

For a city built in an arid desert basin in Nevada, the USA’s driest state with around 10 inches of rainfall a year, this doesn’t sound too surprising. But the climate emergency and recent droughts have changed the complexion and urgency of the problem.

Was Vegas always a risk due to its geography? Perhaps. But it is now considered to be the fastest-warming city in the US. And when you’re warm, you tend to need even more water.

With this in mind, we decided to do some digging into where Vegas gets its water, as well as who uses the most and what we can do about it. Will casinos come out among the worst water waste offenders? Let’s find out….

Where Does Las Vegas Get Its Water?

It’s estimated that Vegas gets up to 90 percent of its water from Lake Mead, courtesy of the mighty Colorado River. It stretches from its snowmelt source in the Rocky Mountains and winds its way through seven US states including Nevada, before eventually arriving at its mouth in Mexico’s Gulf of California.

By comparison, the remaining 10 per cent or so of Sin City’s water supply trickles in from groundwater wells and other pipelines.

That’s a lot of over-reliance on a source that serves around 20 million people across a number of states. Especially since, despite its population growth over the years, Nevada’s share of Lake Mead’s supply is historically much less than neighboring California and Arizona.

From Colorado River, the water reaches man-made Lake Mead via Lake Powell and is sucked through Las Vegas Valley’s “straws” on a journey that carries the water thousands of miles through treatment facilities on a cyclical mission.

It returns to Lake Mead by way of the Las Vegas Wash, and finally enters the water system to get to Sin City’s taps.

When it’s flushed back into the sewer system, it resumes its journey from treatment plant to wash to lake and back again into homes and businesses.

Quite the adventure!

So, Is Las Vegas Running Out Of Water?

But if Vegas’s main water supply is reused and recycled constantly, why is the city said to be running out of water?

Simply put, it’s an issue of supply and demand and… climate.

Not all the water is flushed or drained back into the system for re-use.

Instead gallons of the good stuff are wasted outdoors, for example, through automatic sprinkler systems.

One report suggests that Vegas gets through more water than most US cities, supping up or hosing out around 219 gallons per person on the average day.

Coupled with the very real impact of climate change and the desert setting, it all makes for a potent mix.

So federal government officials are tipping Lake Mead levels to finally fall below 1,075 feet in 2021.

The huge reservoir has already plummeted by 130 feet since 2000 and the projection means Nevada, along with other states like California and Arizona, could have access to much less water.

But it’s not necessarily Sin City’s fault.

It is, after all, much harder to conserve water in the middle of a desert than in a city soaked with rain.

So where does all that water go? Maybe not quite where you’d think.

How Much Water Do Vegas Casinos Use?

Despite the images of lavish casino hotel pools along the Strip, water-guzzling tourists living an oasis lifestyle atop a desert landscape and that famous Bellagio fountain, the majority of water actually escapes down the city’s plug-holes.

Yep, a whopping 60 percent of Vegas’s water is used by households and residents.

It’s true that the gaming and gambling industry in Sin City still sucks up plenty of H2O itself though, with around three billion gallons a year required to power its casinos, water cannons and all.

But 54 percent of that water is actually just used in hotel rooms, rather than the casinos themselves. And, overall, this still ‘only’ accounts for 7.6 percent of Vegas’s total water usage.

So casinos have taken a lot of the heat on water consumption over the years and perhaps without much cause.

Many large casino corporations actually take the initiative with sustainability projects and lead the way when it comes to reducing water consumption, too.

Among the major casinos, such as MGM properties, water recycling rates are often said to be as high as 40 percent. While a lack of green spaces on the Strip, as well as a focus on desert plants for decor and low-flow shower heads in rooms, have helped some of the industry’s most famous names set and achieve impressive water targets.

And what about those famous, or rather infamous, Bellagio fountains? It’s true, they do require 20 million gallons of water. But that gets filtered and reused, just as it does with all fountains on the Strip.

In fact, each day, roughly 100 million gallons of raw sewage is treated by the Clark County Water Reclamation District, and around 90 million gallons of reclaimed water goes back into the Las Vegas Wash.

Will Lake Mead Ever Fill Up Again?

Despite the headlines, it’s not all bad news for Nevada and Vegas.

Some even hail the area for its water-smarts, with the LV community using 27 billion gallons less water in 2018 than it did just after the Millennium.

In the last 20 years, the city has placed restrictions on new sod and yard watering, while the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) has spent millions on a pumping station project to increase capacity.

But crucially, this water will not come from Lake Mead; it’s there as a backup while hopes rest on the main reservoir to recover and resist.

Southern Nevada is no stranger to water warnings, either.

There were previous predictions that the region would run out of water by 1995 too, before swift action was taken.

Water usage restrictions and investment in technology, such as thousands of leak monitors, as well as implementing fines for water violations, has resulted in resilience so far.

What Next?

It’s clear that however many conservation projects Las Vegas and its casinos take part in, the combination of the city’s thirst for development and the climate crisis mean that the area’s ‘water war’ will rumble on.

But there’s hope.

Despite being the poster child for excess in the US, Sin City is also a shining example of what can be achieved when everyone chips in.

Water shortages are expected to impact more than just Vegas in the coming decades. So it’s not an exaggeration to say that perhaps the whole world is watching how this desert city deals with the crisis first.

But what can you do to play your part?

Top Tips To Help Save Water

There are tons of small things you can do to make a difference, so we’ve included some water saving tips below to help you get started.

1. Take Shorter Showers

We all love a long soak, but timing your shower and installing a low-flow shower head, just like Vegas’s casino hotels do, could save liters every minute.

2. Put Your Feet Up

That’s right. Saving water is a great excuse not to do the dishes. Pause your chores until you have a full-load for the dishwasher.

3. Choose Tap Water

Think ahead and cool a jug full in your refrigerator, so there’s no need to buy bottled or leave the tap running for ages when you want a refreshing drink.

4. Save Money By Spending Money

Save yourself money in the long-run by avoiding big water bills. One of the easiest ways to do this is by getting that leaky tap fixed or splashing out on water-efficient household goods.

5. Turn It Off!

Turn that tap off when brushing your teeth or shaving, to save yet more liters per minute.

Additional Sources:
https://www.waterworld.com/drinking-water/distribution/article/14068676/las-vegas-isnt-gambling-with-water-supplyhttps://www.lvvwd.com/water-system/where-your-water-comes-from/index.html
https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1016&context=honors_theses
https://www.outsideonline.com/2016686/water-conservation-brought-you-las-vegas
https://www.kunc.org/2020-11-09/2020-delivers-setbacks-for-some-long-planned-western-water-projects
https://lasvegassun.com/news/2014/aug/24/how-our-water-goes-toilet-tap/
https://www.lvvwd.com/
https://statesatrisk.org/nevada/drought
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/sep/02/las-vegas-climate-crisis-extreme-heat-hellish-future

Some people are trying to sell outrageous items online while others are looking to get you to share your darkest secrets.

Here are just some of the most eye-brow-raising or jaw-dropping items on Craigslist Las Vegas right now…

Questionable Cars

There are numerous listing for Las Vegas Craigslist cars for sale. Most of them are your typical car sales.

But of course, when you browse the Las Vegas Craigslist for sale listings, some things do stand out as a bit out of the ordinary.

Let’s take a look at what’s available right now.

If you’ve got a bit of spare cash lying around, let me introduce you to the 2018 McLaren 570s Spider.

This is a beauty of a car which, according to the ad, is ‘the fastest and most unique Mclaren on the road’ which you’d hope for with the price tag of $164,975.

That includes delivery to your door but at that price, I’d expect no less.

Whilst we all love the glamour and style of a McLaren, you can’t beat a Ford when it comes to reliability.

And this old school Ford F100 from ’54 is no different. Looks a bit rusty here and there but who else is still as spruced up as they were in their younger days?

Perhaps you’ve recently come up with a new business idea in the food industry. Well, you’ll be needing a custom made food trailer then, won’t you?

For under $15,000 you can set up a shop in wheels and become everyone’s best friend.

And if you’re feeling called to a mechanical mission then this 1956 COE ca1956 COE ca1956 COE ca is what you’re looking for.

Having sat around for decades(?) it’s built up some rust ‘n’ dust but hey, you can get it to start up for a whole five seconds! There’s hope in this car hauler yet, so call up a group of your buddies and haul this beast onto your backyard.

Unusual Gigs

One of the real advantages of Craigslist is putting people in touch with others in their line of work to create working relationships that might never have been possible otherwise.

Las Vegas Craigslist gigs listings go beyond the usual “we need a drummer for this event” post.

Instead, you’ll find all kinds of unique gigs on Vegas Craigslist…

Right now, a company seeking out participants for online marketing research purposes is promising you a potential of $500.

They claim that they cannot disclose the company but the title of the ad boasts it’s for Snapchat.

Hmm…did they just give the game away or is this a ploy to involve some Gen Zs?

No Scrooges for this next one please.

So, yes, it’s official: we’re entering the festive period and with festivities comes a need for an artistically inclined person.

If painting the Grinch dressed up in Santa Clause outfits onto windows floats your boat then look no further. Get out your paintbrush and start mixing those colors.

There’s something pretty creepy about this ad for a dog assistant.

If you think you’re helping the dog, think again.

This ‘older woman’ is seeking help with her YouTube channel and she’s made it very clear that she’ll know (as will her dog) if you don’t actually love her precious pooch.

So don’t even try and get in there for the ‘extra compensation along the way’ – whatever that is…

What’s that saying? If you can’t be famous, be infamous.

And what better place than Las Vegas to achieve such renown? Cue this awesome gig to feature on a brand new TV show about exes living in the same hood.

Sounds cheesy but could be great entertainment. If you still live near your ex then now’s the time to share all the horrors and excitement that that involves.

Funny Furniture

This is one of the most amusing parts of Craigslist Las Vegas. Furniture might not seem entertaining, but these range from the sublime to the ridiculous…

We know that in Las Vegas the parties are a big deal. And parties need the right decorations. So it’s time to make sure you’re kitted out for all of the events.

Hang a wreath on your door for Valentine’s Day, St Patrick’s, Thanksgiving and Harvest time. Now everyone will know that you’re the one with the best party spirit in town.

Speaking of Valentine’s, maybe your lover needs a reminder of how to treat you on the daily.

Perhaps they don’t kiss you enough and you just wish there was some way of reminding them without having to throw yourself into their arms every night.

You need this 2ft Always Kiss Me Goodnight sign. You can’t buy love but you can spend $8 on reminders about it.

With more of us working from home these days it might be a nice idea to jazz up the home office with these chic’ decorations. There’s a whole array of things here to do just that, from epic signs exclaiming that ‘Talk Is Chic’ to hotpot slow cookers.

Not really sure what the office vibe is with this seller though as there’s a drinking game thrown in for good measure and a very random looking tree-shaped, metallic object.

And to unwind at the end of a long day at the office it’s going to take something like a wonderful foot massager. This machine comes just ‘like new’… but I bet when it was new it didn’t have those marks on it.

If you love candles but you’re scared of fire, trick the psyche with this interesting garden patio candle-holder.

Whilst it may look strange to the outsider to see a decorative tap suspended above a candle, it will relax you into thinking that no fire will break out. How could it with a water supply so close to the flame?

Strange Jobs

So many odd jobs appear on Craigslist Las Vegas. Here are a few of the highlights at the moment.

This Lip Smacking foodie tour guide job is perfect for those who love food.

Walk a group of gastro lovers to four of the best eating joints along the Strip and Downtown and enjoy three to four of their signature dishes in each spot!

With historical facts to learn and share along the way this is a great way to earn your next meal.

For those who love slots (and it’s Vegas, so who doesn’t?) why not apply to be a slot route tech? This part time job at the shop that literally never stops could earn you great money with the right attitude.

If you’re new to the area why not do this job where you get free tea and coffee? It all sounds great. The only problem is, we can’t figure out what exactly the job is…

Other “Services“

You may think you’ve stumbled upon an ad for a cleaner or a masseuse, but the Las Vegas Craigslist services might be offering something a bit different…

It’s not entirely clear what Jessica’s offering with her relaxation sessions’, but we’re glad to hear she’ll be taking safety measures to keep you both safe.

Equally, Brielle’s massage therapy seems to focus on her as the ‘tender nurturing provider’ to suit all your needs. Free ‘massage’ when you refer three people, too.

Freaky Vegas Craigslist Stories

Vegas Craigslist still offers itself as proof that the marketplace is used by the some of the stranger folks in our society.

For example, the creep that posted ads in order to lure sex-trafficking victims into his web of deceit to perform disgusting ‘body rubs’.

Another individual was keen to create a YouTube video talking about her own personal experience on Las Vegas Craigslist when searching for a job.

While we may have picked out the wacky and wonderful on our list here, both these tales show just how dangerous online services can be and serve as reminders to always be extremely vigilant.

Since its first casinos in the ‘40s through to its current landmark status, it’s always been known and loved for its gambling opportunities.

Let us show you how it’s developed over the decades into what we know and love today.

1940s

Although gambling was legalized in 1931 in the desert state, it wasn’t really ‘til the 40s that things got going. In 1941 the Las Vegas Army Airfield was activated which increased footfall in the city.

With the building of the Flamingo Hotel and Golden Nugget Casino in 1946 the city of Las Vegas was marked out for what we know today.

In this vintage video we see other clubs such as the Monte Carlo, the Eldorado Club, and the Boulder club that popped up shortly after and bolstered the city’s rep as an entertainment destination.

It’s clear from this early footage that Las Vegas was always going to be about fun. Mobsters played a key role in getting the industry going by investing heavily.

We see Siegel in the video alongside actor Bruce Cabot and restaurateur Michael Romanoff.

1950s

During the 50s Las Vegas really boomed (in more ways than one!) and the population rose by 161% to almost a quarter of a million.

Tourists flocked for the exciting nightlife and for the chance to see a nuclear detonation every day at dawn.

The Nevada test site was located close enough to the casinos so when they tested nuclear bombs, one could see the explosion.

For many, seeing a mushroom-cloud smoke up in the air was the perfect way to end a beautiful night.

In the next video below, we take a sunny tour along the Strip as it was then past old haunts such as the Sahara, the Riviera Hotel, and billboards for El Morocco.

There are great views across the desert, and you get a real sense of a holiday destination.

Not only was Las Vegas’s popularity soaring due to the great casinos, it was the way of life.

People were attracted to it for the romantic potential of the place. With divorce easy to get administrated and the option to immediately remarry, it was the perfect place to snap up a partner.

1960s

In this rare and personal footage of a holidaymaker visiting Las Vegas in the 60s there’s a wistful charm that reaches out to us.

Capturing the magic of those glittering lights that so many tourists must have enjoyed on coach trips there.

With such a focus on the people, we really see the impact of the city on those that visited, and the magic it promised is reflected in their eyes and smiles.

In this footage from the early 60s we see the Strip take on the identity that we recognize from today.

Until then most of the action had been downtown but here we see the action really ramping up on the Strip.

With Caesar’s Palace opening up in ‘66 with Circus Circus following in ’68 it was a time of development.

The Flamingo Hotel was purchased the same year by the influential Kirk Kerkorian, who is fondly known as the godfather of Las Vegas.

1970s

Although this footage was taken by director Ray Dennis Steckler in a bid to pad out some of his movies, it provides a fascinating insight into the vibe of the time in Las Vegas.

As you can see, the city was thriving, with hot, young people all over the town soaking up the rays and the good times.

The Strip was now known around the world and Steve Wynn had made his first purchase (of many) in ’71 of the Golden Nugget.

MGM Grand Hotel & Casino was up and running in ’73 and big names were plastered across billboards. This was the place to come for entertainment.

And speaking of big names, we couldn’t run a piece on the development of Las Vegas without a nod to The King who made his name in Sin City.

In this unique video from 1970 above, we see him rehearsing some numbers and reveling in his talent and musical prowess.

The quality is pretty bad but it’s still amazing to see this behind-the-scenes footage.

1980s

In a bad start to the decade, in November 1980 the MGM went up in flames, tragically taking the lives of 85 people. The same length as a football pitch, the flames spread across that distance in 20 seconds!

This was in the days before health and safety so many areas of the hotel didn’t have sprinklers.

When the place eventually reopened it was as Bally’s Las Vegas resort.

But by the end of the decade, with the Cold War over and the economy revving up, the Strip continued its evolution.

Things were getting bigger and better. Tropicana and Marina high-rise resorts sprung up, paving the way for more giant complexes and in ’89 the Mirage opened its doors.

This was the beginning of a golden era for the USA.

1990s

Nevada was declared the fastest growing state in 1990. This was one party that just wasn’t slowing down.

In 1990 Las Vegas took a turn towards more family-friendly action with the opening of the Excalibur Hotel.

A year and a half in the making, the opening welcomed its first couple for marriage with fabulous costumes and balloon displays.

With more attention on magic, the Luxor Pyramids came into being in ’93 and the below documentary shows some of the technology that went into its creation.

And for a direct look at the changes that the region has undergone check out this home movie, drawing parallels from footage taken between 1988 and 2019.

If you enjoyed this, be sure to check out our other post on vintage videos of Las Vegas shows:

The continent steeped in a rich and varied cultural history might not offer some obvious gambling destinations, but there are some absolute gems to be found.

We couldn’t create a list without including an honorary mention to…Casino di Campione, Como, Italy which is currently closed.

This giant 590,000 square feet casino was shut down in July 2018 due to huge debts. Hopefully it’ll be snapped up by a rich patron so Lake Como can bring back the gaming fun.

Read on to discover the top five biggest casinos you’ll find in Europe in working order at the moment:

5. Casino Barrière d’Enghien-les-Bains, France

Located in a spa town 11km north of Paris, this lakeside casino with stunning views is the only casino in the area offering slots – 350 to be exact.

Since its creation in 1901 it’s undergone a number of changes over the years to bring you the building it is today. It now has a fabulous theatre and atrium providing a wonderful atmosphere in which to play in a sophisticated fashion.

With 40 table games offering blackjack, roulette, baccarat and more you’ll not get bored here in the 43,000+ square feet of gaming space.

If high stakes games are more your thing then head to the exclusive and intimate Salon des Princes, which was designed by Jacques Garcia. If you want to play in there you’ll need €500 for a minimum wager though.

There’s plenty fine dining and drinks available at a couple of restaurants they have and you’ll need to dress up to be allowed in. Open daily from 10am to 4am there’s usually a cover charge that you should check out ahead of visiting as it’s subject to change.

4. Casino at the Empire, London, UK

For those of you looking for a touch of yesteryear, this London casino harking back to the Victorian era is for you. Dating back to 1884 the venue alone is reason enough to visit.

Located in the heart of London’s glitzy West End, this converted music hall will keep you entertained for hours. As part of the Caesars Entertainment franchise you know you’ll be well looked after.

There are 150 table games and slots for you to get stuck into 24/7, as well as excellent food and drink available and a different DJ every week. The venue covers 55,000 square feet so there’s plenty to see!

3. Resorts World, Birmingham, UK

This is the newest offering on our list and it really packs a punch.

Costing the Genting franchise a whopping ￡150 million to construct it’s been in operation since 2015.

After two years of building it didn’t disappoint and is now well and truly putting Birmingham on the gambling map.

Located in the NEC district it’s right in the heart of the action and the huge complex has followed the Las Vegas style haunts. You’ll find bars, restaurants, a cinema, spa and 4-star hotel on site.

And gaming wise, you’re in for a treat. 200 of your favorite games like baccarat, blackjack, and roulette, plus some high-class VIP rooms for a special night.

2. Casino de Monte Carlo, Monaco

Monte Carlo is famed for its beautiful streets that turn into a racetrack and the rich and famous that flock there. The casino fits perfectly into the aesthetics of its surroundings.

With expensive yachts moored in the harbor and flashy sports cars rolling past designer boutiques, it’s befitting that the casino is just as beautiful and grand.

Dating back to 1863 this complex has had its fair share of movie moments – think James Bond and Ocean’s Twelve – so you’re probably familiar with its opulence and grandeur.

Not only does it look fabulous, it’s also a haven of fun – and over 108,000 square feet for you to explore.

You’ll also find Les Ballets de Monte Carlo and l’Opéra de Monte Carlo in the same place, so all entertainment needs are met at this classy establishment.

So long as you’re not a citizen of Monaco you can try your hand at the 300 slots and table games on offer here. And for those with a taste for the finer things in life you’ll find plenty of delicious food at the 18 restaurants.

Only in town for a whistle stop tour to save money? Read our budgeter’s guide on how to spend 24 hours in Monaco.

1. Casino Estoril, Lisbon, Portugal

Situated 18km south west of Lisbon in Portugal lies this beauty. Lisbon’s very popular with tourists for many reasons but did you know it’s also home to a fabulous casino?

The Casino Estoril – which markets itself the largest in Europe = has been going strong since the First World War in 1916.

Its then-president, Dr Bernardino Machado, laid the first stone of the building and it’s been a majestic space to behold ever since.

Rumor has it that during WW2 it provided a secret hideout for spies and fugitive royals. Ian Fleming certainly felt inspired enough by its décor to set his James Bond story, Casino Royale, there.

Rather than the usual round the clock opening hours, this establishment does just fine operating in 12-hour stints. You’ll be able to play all your favorite games here with over 1,200 table games and slots available.

The poker room here is renowned the world over for its elegance and regular tournaments, so it’s definitely worth checking out.

Kick back in any of the 10 bars and restaurants available offering top-notch food and a great selection of drinks.

Now you know there’s more to the world’s casinos than Las Vegas and Macau so get yourself over to Europe!

Something Similar:

These freebies are handed out by the house and differ from player to player. They could take the form of anything from drinks, concert tickets, and fine dining, through to flight discounts, hotel stays, room upgrades, and limo usage.

Making Comps Work For You

So far, so good, right? But how can you get comps from your casino?

Every gambling destination differs, but what you’re entitled to depends on a range of factors. Visitor ‘gifts’ will roughly be calculated based on factors including how much you bet, how long for or how frequently, how much you lose, and what games you play.

All this will usually be tracked by your players’ card, which will feed back a feast of data to casino analysts behind the scenes.

So, it’s up to you to make the comp criteria work for you.

As a general rule of thumb, casinos love customers that play slot machines. They account for a large slice of the casino profit pie.

Slots attract regular and ‘middle income’ players, who will likely sit and play on their favorites for long sessions, which provides a steady stream of income alongside the more glamorous weekenders and high-rollers.

For this reason, if you put in the work on the slots, you may find yourself making quicker work of those comp tiers than a if you were a poker player.

Essentially, what comps you get is dependent on what you put in to the casino through your custom.

Do your research and figure out the best bet for you. If you have plenty of time on your hands, consider which casinos most favor those that put in hours of play?

While if you’re short on time but bigger on budget, you’ll want to choose a casino that gives more back for every buck you spend. If you’re not a high-roller, find out which casinos also take into account what you spend across the vacation.

What You Get With The Different Comp Levels

Every casino has its own comp system. And there are many different types of comps. But we’ve detailed a rough guide below, to show you what gamblers get as they rise through the ranks.

Drinks

While a complimentary cocktail is the bare minimum an extravagant casino whale will expect on arrival, new or casual players will still enjoy the novelty of a drink on the house.

Free drinks are most commonly served on the casino floor to slots players but if you’re spending enough on other games, you can enjoy this perk across the casino.

To get swift service with a smile, don’t forget to tip your hard-working server generously. Our guide to tipping will help if you’re unsure about what’s appropriate (or check out our guide on tipping in Vegas specifically).

Food

You’ll level up from a bargain beverage to free food.

The usual form your food freebie will arrive in is a coupon to use at one of the on-site restaurants or cafes or, commonly, to use at a buffet.

But, at some casinos, high-rollers may even be gifted reservations at popular fine dining restaurants, or the gourmet meals themselves.

Rooms

Free rooms are one of the most sought-after comps.

Even if your casino doesn’t have a hotel, it might put you up in other local lodgings, should you prove to be worth the investment. But you’ll have to have really earn your stripes at the slots or tables to qualify for free accommodation.

The next step up is a room upgrade, or even being bumped up to a suite. You may be more likely to get one during the week, since there’s a higher chance of some empty rooms.

Despite appearances, it will cost the casino next to nothing to give these away, especially during low season.

But they’ll have to believe you’ll be spending, or have spent previously, more than it’s worth on the floor.

High-Roller Comps

The holy-grail of casino comps are the benefits that high-rollers get to enjoy. You’ll have put in plenty of hours and dollars to get that status, but the freebies reflect that.

Often tailored and bespoke, due to the data the casinos collect on promising patrons, high-roller or whale comps can include a host of red carpet treatments — as far as airport transfers in private cars and limos, and even airfares or a bump up in ticket class to get the gamblers to the casino floor.

To convince big spenders to make a longer stay of it, or perhaps to bring the whole family, live entertainment can be included too.

Music concerts, magic shows, theatre, dance performances, and sporting events — often being hosted in the casino complex itself — can be comped via free or reduced tickets, or access to the best seats in the house.

Wait, How Do Comps Work For Casinos?

On the face of it, giving away things for free seems like a bad business decision.

But while dishing out free drinks to customers, or writing off a night in a luxury suite will indeed cost the casino some money in the short-term, it also helps them to save money in the long-term.

It’s important to remember that the retail price for the comp you receive is not necessarily its real money value to the venue, which may buy its ingredients and alcohols in bulk or on the cheap from wholesalers.

Think about it.

You’re just planning on popping by the Strip while you’re in Vegas on business.

But a few free drinks or a meal might just put you in the mood to stay and play for a few hours longer and spend more money. And a comp room could convince you to turn your trip into a weekend away.

The casino comp system also creates a sense of loyalty, and a relationship, between customer and casino.

The outlets provide players with treats to make them feel special, so that they return regularly. It’s an area of high competition —retain your clientele with appealing inclusions, or risk losing repeat business to another venue.

This even leads to visitors picking a casino based on the hotel they most enjoy staying at. If you play at one or two places to potentially earn an extra night’s stay on your next trip, it makes a lot more sense than dividing your dollars between multiple casinos for no extra benefits next time around.

How To Take Advantage Of Casino Comps

Many players don’t realize how they can make the most of what’s on offer in exchange for their business. If you’re one of those, check out our tips for how to get the best casino comps below.

The best advice you’ll get is that comps will usually only be worth the trade-off of time and money for regular players, or those planning to spend big. You’ll get little to no real benefit from spending small amounts infrequently.

TOP TIP: Only use your players’ card if you plan to spend big. Otherwise your worth to the casino value goes down.

This casino worker on Reddit explains how your value at a casino works and why you should only log time if spending money:

So, use your reward card only when spending a decent wedge of money, with those trusty slot machines the best way to get bang for your buck when it comes to comp points.

If it’s table games that are more to your taste, however, simply ensure that you only clock in officially when you’re ready for a long session of craps, or to spend big on blackjack.

Or, even more ideally, choose a game where the house edge is lower.

If you’re on a losing streak, remember that your losses could actually work in your favor when it comes to comps. Losing is never ideal or the aim, but it might not be all doom and gloom if you eventually get a room in return.

6 tricks to help you get better casino comps:

1. Look like you’re spending more than you actually are.
   As casino staff will be rating your play, make an impression at the beginning by placing bigger bets for the first three or four wagers, and then alternating between bigger and smaller sums as discretely as possible. It’s all about appearances, so hopefully yours will stick.
   
2. Make it look as though you’re playing for longer than you are.
   Play at crowded tables during peak times like weekend evenings and holidays. This makes it tough for pit bosses to keep track of you as you play. Every third or fourth time you put chips or credit down, retract just before the bets close. This works even better with a partner on a connected card.
   
3. Take lots of bathroom breaks.
   If you take part in fewer rounds or hands than anticipated by the casino, when playing table games, it stands to reason that you’ll lose less while the casino guesses you’re losing more.
   
4. Play with a partner.
   Reward cards reward couples. You can play it cautious by off-setting bets, which means twice the amount of wagers but in theory losing less from your shared budget if you bet in opposite ways e.g. red or black. Many casinos also allow couples or people from the same household to link card accounts, so you can share the spends and the rewards.
   
5. Make it look like you are losing.
   Act the part and let everyone know when you lose, as the casino will want to latch on to a big spender that also looks like a big ‘loser’. Another slightly more cynical ‘trick’ is to hide chips in your pocket when you leave the table so that staff think you’re leaving with less than you really are. Be careful with this one though. Even though you’re not cheating, you don’t want to upset security.
   
6. Be generous.
   At some but certainly not all casino resorts, any spends you make in the complex — including at restaurants, bars, and hotels — can count as points on your reward or players’ card. Look like a big spender, if you go with a group, by getting a round in or buying dinner. But bear in mind that counting these expenses towards comps always depends on an individual casino’s discretion.

Finding The Casinos With The Best Comps

Casino comps are a competitive field. So shop around to get the best deal for you.

There’s no point chipping away at the points system in a particular casino if you don’t care much for the attached hotel or restaurant.

Go for the complex that you rate highly for service, who makes great drinks, has comfortable rooms, or that houses one of your favorite restaurants or spas.

When it comes to Vegas casinos in particular, some venues will specialize in different comp areas like rooms or food. So it makes sense to pull up a stool where you’d be happy to spend time anyway, and to build up a relationship with the staff so that they’ll get to know you, how you play, and what you prefer.

This is could also lead to you getting a casino host — when a regular, local or big-spender benefits from the attention of a dedicated member of staff.

Keeping a good relationship with your host can mean it’s a smoother road to those coveted comps each time you visit. And you’ll be much comfier asking someone you trust what you’re entitled to. After all, they want you to have a good time.

The question of which casinos in Vegas offer the best comps depends entirely on your budget.

Big hitters like the Bellagio Hotel and Casino, and Wynn Las Vegas are rated highly for their comps, with the latter particularly popular for its rooms — but it will likely take you much longer to get them, unless you’re a high-roller.

If you’re not flying solo and will be gambling as a couple, be it housemates, siblings, or partners, you may find that MGM Grand’s M life card works well for sharing points and rewards. The casino is also rated well for its food, drink and room freebies, making it an appealing if expensive all-rounder.

If you’ll be on a more modest budget, try making your money go further with the rewards at Rio All-Suites Hotel & Casino, or Flamingo Las Vegas, instead.

Spend More, Get More

Ultimately, the fastest way to get comps in Vegas is to simply spend money. Casinos are a business and they want you to bet, with all comps aimed at rewarding you for that and encouraging you to spend more.

So enjoy your well-earned freebies but always make sure to be careful, stay within your budget and be aware that nothing truly comes for free.

That old catchphrase, ‘what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas’, died along with that awful sound of the Internet dial-up tone.

With the modern world demanding more and more of an online presence you need to make sure your presence looks good (even if you don’t always feel it). So check out our official list of the 10 best Instagram spots in Las Vegas:

1. The Welcome to Las Vegas Sign

Most iconic so, of course, this is right at the top. If you only have a chance to stop off at Las Vegas for one photo, this is where you need to go. And with a parking lot, it’s easy to pull up in your car. It’s one of the best free things to do in Vegas!

Tip: Get there early to avoid the crowds and bag that sweet snap without the bald dude’s head glistening in the background.

Location: 5100 Las Vegas Boulevard South

2. Seven Magic Mountains

Beautiful, quirky, and cultural? Yes please.

This giant art installation by Swiss artist, Ugo Rondinone, plays with the contrast between nature and the artificial. It’s been extended to stay there ‘til the end of 2021 so get yourself over there before it’s gone!

Tip: This is a real crowd puller so either arrive first thing before the tour buses or come midweek.

Location: 10 miles south of Las Vegas Boulevard and St. Rose Parkway intersection.

3. Venetian Canal

Nothing says European glamor like a Venetian canal and that’s why this spot’s hot on our list. You may not be in Europe but it sure looks like it…two ‘trips’ in one as far as your followers are concerned.

Tip: Take a ride on the canal for the ultimate experience.

Location: Inside the Venetian hotel-casino mall at the intersection of the Vegas Strip and Spring Mountain Road.

4. Paris Las Vegas Eiffel Tower

It may be a smaller version of the French original, but some clever angling will soon change all of that. If you get both this and the Venetian canal people will think you’re on a tour of Europe!

Tip: At night it’s all lit up and looks gorgeous, or keep it quaint and French and stand across the water in the sun.

Location: 3655 South Las Vegas Boulevard

5. Little White Chapel

Getting hitched in Las Vegas is all par for the course when you head to the desert gambling destination. Even if you don’t say ‘I do’ you’ll want to get papp’d there, believe me.

If you are getting married on a whim, be sure to visit a shop that offers last-minute wedding dresses in Vegas.

Tip: Use a wide-angle lens to capture all the glory.

Location: 1301 South Las Vegas Boulevard

6. The Neon Museum

This outdoor museum of Las Vegas’s old neon museums is a sight to behold. Great for culture vultures as you dive into the history of Las Vegas, and of course, perfect for boosting followers.

Tip: Take a guided tour to learn all you can, or if you want to snap in your own time get a normal ticket.

Location: 770 North Las Vegas Boulevard

7. The High Roller

This is the world’s largest ferris wheel which is exciting enough itself, but then when you consider the Las Vegas skyline you’ll get a view of, it’s extra awesome.

Either capture the beauty of the High Roller itself or take advantage of the great heights you’ll reach whilst riding it.

Tip: Hop on just before sunset and you’ll capture the famous strip in golden light.

Location: 3545 South Las Vegas Boulevard

8. The Influence Pool at The LINQ

It’s almost like this spot was designed with photo ops in mind it’s so perfect! A hotspot for parties so you can let your hair down in the sun and make everyone back home jealous of your adventures.

Tip: Go before the parties start so you can get the High Roller in the background without anyone else standing around.

Location: 3535 South Las Vegas Boulevard

9. The High Hat Motel

Whilst it might not be the flashiest place to stay, you’ll want to get this groovy and old-school looking sign decorating your social media.

Tip: Go in daylight to capture the colour contrast of the sign with the building.

Location: 1300 South Las Vegas Boulevard

10. Downtown Las Vegas

If you’re looking for that rough and ready charm of vintage Las Vegas then head downtown. It looks like the movies and the casinos are less fancy so there’s charm around every corner.

Tip: If you go at night all the neon lights will show up!

So there you have it, all the best spots in Las Vegas to get those Instagram money shots. You can thank us later when your followers increase. ‘Til then, happy snapping!

And the hotels are just as exciting. The luxury on offer is incredible but comes with a price tag. Not all the hotels are quite as nice though. So, what about the ones that don’t match up to general standards?

Read on to uncover the top 10 worst hotels in Las Vegas that you should absolutely avoid if you’re planning a trip to Sin City. And have a little giggle (or gasp) at some of the things that have been written on TripAdvisor forums…

1. Siegel Suites (Tropicana)

At Siegel Suites Tropicana you’ll get just that.

One reviewer warns that this isn’t a place for people to stay, it’s where they live. Expect ‘drugs and prostitution’ and other ‘criminal’ activity to which the ‘Las Vegas Metropolitan Police frequently responds’.

The rooms themselves sound vile! With broken furniture, no AC and ‘bed bugs outnumbered only by the roaches’. Ew.

2. Diamond Resorts Intl.

This place may sound all razzle-dazzle from its name but it’s anything but.

A time-share with a very dark side. The people running this place are described consistently through reviews as ‘liars’, ‘thieves’ and ‘crooks’.

One poor reviewer recounts about how he and his spouse found themselves ‘held hostage by a pushy, dishonest’ member of the team. Not the sort of thing you want getting in the way of your precious casino time.

Avoid, avoid, avoid unless you want fake people who ‘will smile and lie in your face, steal your money and throw you every loop to manipulate you’. Las Vegas is for fun, not stress, so steer clear.

3. Flamingo Hotel & Casino

But this tale really tops it all…

After a flooding problem happened in the room next door they failed to tell this unfortunate reviewer who woke up to a ‘foul smell’, ‘toilet water everywhere, urine and feces included’.

Worse still, their suitcase was on the floor, full of their clothes as they were checking out that day, so they were all wet with this ‘unsanitary water’.

So gross, makes me gag just the idea of someone else’s excretions all over my floor and clothing!

Leaks aside, the cleanliness leaves a lot to be desired. With ‘stains on the floor and on the sheets…even the hairdryer’, it’s one hotel we should aim to avoid.

4. Excalibur Hotel & Casino

From all reviews it seems that the exterior is utterly impressive, I mean, who wouldn’t want to stay in a castle, right? But they just can’t keep it up once you step through the door.

The common gripe is how dirty and ‘nasty’ everything is, and how the ‘staff needs to work on better guest service’.

I don’t know, that maid who offered ‘a water spray bottle to spray the room’ in an attempt to clear out the smell of ‘mold and mildew’ is going above and beyond…

And you’re not even guaranteed a room if you reserve. I’d see that as a blessing in disguise! With all the hidden charges and windows so dirty you can’t see outside, it’s one to avoid.

5. On The Vegas Boulevard Hotel

‘On The Vegas’, like ‘on the money’? Hmm, weird name, and the experience doesn’t improve it.

For some, the 24hr porn shop over the road is a turn off, but even if that’s your thing, I bet leaving the next day with ‘15 bed bug bites on your arm and back’ probably aren’t. Are they so hungry because nobody goes there?

Either way, that’s super gross.

I feel inclined to agree with the reviewer who advises you ‘stay in your rental car or out in the desert…it will be much nicer’. Ouch!

And their behavior towards mobility-impaired elders is disgraceful. One poor couple couldn’t get their scooters into the specially designed handicapped room and were offered no refund for this blunder.

6. Circus Circus Hotel & Casino

There’s a massive clown face grinning at you as you arrive at reception so if you’re hoping for a good night’s sleep, you might want to try somewhere else.

But even if you’re a clown lover, you may drive home ‘with allergies’ from the ‘terrible air quality’, blanketed by the stench of ‘tobacco and cigarettes’.

The whole place feels very old…including the linen that ‘was not changed from the previous guests’.

Unless you’re looking for inspiration for a 70s horror film, this might not be your best bet. A review for another hotel attacks their attempts at being fancy with a snarky ‘umm check yourself, you are literally next to Circus Circus’.

Oooh, that burns.

7. Stratosphere Hotel, Casino & Tower

From the reviews we’ve trawled, we’d say not.

It seems that the biggest problem is that checking in can take about 40 minutes…and that’s before somebody even arrives at the desk to speak to you.

After that, you might not even have a room, even if you’ve booked. One guest was warned by management that ‘no one’s room is guaranteed because they don’t check to make sure they’re available even if you reserve them’.

Is there no certainty in this world? I’d rather save playing my luck for the casinos, thank you very much.

It’s all doom and gloom according to one ex guest who asks, ‘why bother’? He goes on, adding ‘the hotel is grubby…dark, unwelcoming, I sense the end is near’. That’s some crazy prophesy stuff – watch this space?

8. Tropicana Las Vegas

That’s right, one guest hated it so much they went to the trouble of capitalizing every second letter for emphasis of the word.

And the tropical part of this place, i.e. the pool and cabana area is half closed off anyway. So…why the fun name?!

This place seems to be the turd you just can’t polish. One review is titled ‘There’s only so much lipstick you can put on this pig’. Pretty damning.

And one poor reviewer had to play a sordid game of musical rooms in order to find one that was clean.

But in this grown up version there was no music or exciting prize. Just what you would expect from a hotel room – a clean place to sleep. Guess how many rooms they got through?

FIVE.

Five rooms until they found an acceptable one.

9. Luxor

Or perhaps, one could argue, it’s becoming a historic relic in its own right. With no air con and the offer of a fan in 110-degree heat, it’s certainly not feeling so current.

With an ‘unconcerned’ front desk, rooms with ‘towels used and thrown all over the floor’ and ‘no hot water’ there really isn’t much going for this place. One reviewer labels it the ‘flea bag hotel at Disney resort prices’. Not to mention the paranormal activity…

WOW, well we’ve been warned.

10. Palms Casino Resort

This hotel has terrible service, with one reviewer getting right in there and slating it as ‘the worst hotel in Las Vegas’. Tall claim, but they’re not the only person leaving with a sour taste in their mouth.

There seems to be a ‘total incompetence of the people in charge’ where communication between departments is lacking.

With stingy rules on food and drink in rooms and no fridge, one reviewer promises they’ll ‘get no stars from’ him.

So there you have it, a comprehensive list of hotels to absolutely avoid, based on the sheer volume of customer dissatisfaction that we found online.

Needless to say I’ll be taking their word for it on how terrible some of these places are…I have no urge to go and explore for myself!

If you’re looking for accommodation in Vegas without the horrors found on this list, why not check out our posts on the top 10 Airbnbs or best Las Vegas spas instead??

But in recent years the tide’s been turning. Being the giant corporations they are, a few are taking the responsibility to act and work on reducing our carbon footprint.

Whether it’s with new eco lights or finding ways to recycle and reuse, the gambling scene is tackling our planet’s biggest threat.

1. Melco Resorts and Entertainment

The Asian gambling giant has pledged to ban single-use plastic both amongst its workers and guests. By mid-2019 they aim to identify the different types of packaging in order to develop further plans to deal with each type accordingly – re-useable, compostable, non-re-usable.

They’ve also just launched a new sustainability strategy that will guide their eco actions until 2030.

Eco rating:?7/10

2. The Venetian Macao

Last summer saw the first Macau Green Hotel Platinum Award given to The Venetian Macao for efforts to improve its environmental impact. Over the course of a year their efforts for a sustainable approach were demonstrated through parking facilities for electric vehicles, reducing food waste, and using an environmentally friendly guest mattress swap scheme.

Its operator, Sands Chinas, is reported to have claimed that by switching to LEDs they saved enough electricity to power 50,000 households for a year!

Eco rating: 7/10

3. MGM Resorts

In Fall last year, MGM China announced plans to eliminate plastic straws and take-out cutlery and packaging across its franchise. They estimate throwing out 860,000 straws and 470,000 take-out boxes each year and hope to lessen the damage and strain on the planet with this new plan.

Eco rating: 6/10

4. Resorts World Sentosa

Singapore’s big casino resort is the latest to ditch plastic straws in a bid to help save the planet. This applies across all their entertainment venues including Universal Studios Singapore and S.E.A. Aquarium meaning they’re reducing 1.2 tonnes of plastic being thrown out and into landfills.

Eco rating: 6/10

5. Mandalay Bay Resorts

This place is renowned for its eco-friendly approach. Whether they’re saving on food waste in the kitchen and using locally-sourced ingredients, to sorting waste out by recycling on-site, they take their pledge to the environment seriously.

Linen that’s no longer up to scratch for guests is donated to NSPCA (Nevada Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) and they deactivate the heating systems in certain areas at certain times.

Eco rating: 8/10

6. Caesar’s Entertainment

Working alongside Clean the World, a non-profit organization, since 2010 they’ve donated 2.3 million bars of soap to people across 100 countries!

When guests don’t finish the toiletries, Caesars sends them where they’re needed. Their waste program is efficient and involves educating staff so they can sort through it thoroughly. In 2010 they won the Environmental Leader Award for their efforts.

Eco rating: 8/10

7. Sibaya Casino

In South Africa’s Durban, this casino takes its approach to cutting down waste very seriously, with no aspect of the casino left untouched. All staff are encouraged to recycle, reuse and reduce, with food waste going into a compost.

But this is a super speedy compost as it’s actually a wormery so the worms make their way through all that’s thrown away.

Eco rating: 8/10

8. Turtle Creek Casino

Casinos infamously prevent players from knowing what time of day it is by having you play in windowless rooms. It’s also a technique supermarkets use.

This casino, in 2008, did away with that and installed skylights to make use of natural light. They pay half what they did for electric bills, so think what it’s doing for the planet!

Eco rating: 6/10

Sources:
https://www.melco-resorts.com/sustainability/index.html
https://www.ggrasia.com/melco-resorts-roadmap-to-bar-single-use-plastic/
https://www.ggrasia.com/venetian-has-first-ever-macao-green-hotel-platinum-award/
https://www.ggrasia.com/throwaway-plastic-ban-at-mgm-china-eateries-from-1q-2019/
https://www.rwsentosa.com/en
https://www.ggrasia.com/resorts-world-sentosa-scraps-plastic-straws/
https://mandalaybay.mgmresorts.com/content/dam/MGM/mandalay-bay/meetings/documents/mandalay-bay-meetings-green-e-brochure.pdf
https://www.caesars.com/corporate/this-is-caesars
https://www.caesars.com/corporate/corporate-social-responsibility/planet/waste
https://www.suninternational.com/sibaya/
https://www.suninternational.com/sibaya/stories/travel/sibaya-is-durbans-most-eco-friendly-casino/
https://www.turtlecreekcasino.com/
https://www.sustainablebusinesstoolkit.com/casinos-sustainability/

Chefs are increasingly coming here to showcase their food creations.?Some are more outlandish than others, but each of these items is worth a try when you visit. You may just need to run up and down the boardwalk a few times to burn them off afterwards.

1. Funnel Cakes at Vanina’s Ice Cream

 

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If you’ve ever been to a local fair, you’ve probably encountered funnel cakes. Pancake batter is essentially just poured straight into the deep fryer then, once cooked, you top it with ice cream, sauces and other treats.

Vanina’s Ice Cream is an unassuming looking shop on the boardwalk. It doesn’t even have a website.

But take one look at the reviews, and you’ll see why this is a must visit spot in Atlantic City. From deep fried Oreos to fried cheesecake, this is your one stop for all the fairground fare you crave.

2. Fralinger’s Salt Water Taffy

 

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Plenty of places on the boardwalk sell candy, but the only one you need to visit is Fralinger’s. Here, you’ll find the original salt water taffy and you can’t leave Atlantic City without visiting this shop.

Try a few in the store and you’ll understand the hype.

3. “Oscar An Entrée” at Knife and Fork

 

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At first, Knife and Fork looks and feels like an old-timey steakhouse. You’ll get all the old-school dishes, including a lobster thermidor.

But what’s really cool is the option to “Oscar” your dish, adding lump crab meat, bearnaise sauce and grilled asparagus. If you don’t fancy that, you can’t go wrong with a bit of surf ‘n’ turf.

4. All the Shellfish at Dock’s Oyster House

 

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Despite its proximity to the coast, there aren’t a lot of places selling fresh seafood in Atlantic City. Sure, crab cakes feature on many restaurants’ menus, but you’ll struggle to find a place based on the food that’s readily available from the ocean.

Except at Dock’s Oyster House, which has been shucking oysters for generations and features the most incredible selection of shellfish in Atlantic City.

On any given day, you can choose from 12 or more different types of oysters. Really though, you should just get the Blue Points. Then you can move on to a full raw bar of scallops, shrimp, crab or lobster. Or just jump for the shellfish sampler and get it all.

5. Buffalo Chicken Pizza at South End Pizza II

 

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No fancy website for this place. This hole-in-the-wall is a local favorite, though, and well worth a visit.

It can get rather busy, so be prepared to wait. The specialty is the Buffalo Chicken Pizza, and whether you get a slice or a whole pie, you really need to taste it to believe it.

Chicken is basted in Buffalo wing sauce and then piled onto the pizza. Take your slice to the next level by pouring blue cheese or ranch on top for a winning combination.

6. Lobster Ramen at Okatshe

 

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If you’ve watched Iron Chef America, you know Chef Garces, which is why you’ll be excited to head to his restaurant Okatshe in The Tropicana at Atlantic City.

With fun Japanese food in the modern, small plate fashion, you’ll be able to try some delicious bites. Be sure to try the lobster ramen.

This isn’t the one-minute-noodles version of ramen you might be familiar with. Instead, this is cooked with a lobster dashi, a lobster stock, and then piled high with Shiitake, cabbage, clams, shrimp and a whole lobster tail. This one is a real winner!

7. Taco Pizza at Tony Boloney’s

 

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Two of the most popular forms of food come together at Tony Baloney’s, where tacos are piled onto the pizza.

No, not taco flavors or toppings, but literal tacos on each slice, letting you combine the joys of both forms of food in one.

Not totally convinced? There are numerous other outlandish pizzas at Tony Boloney’s.

Pick up a Jewish Cowboy which features Jewish Passover BBQ brisket, smoked mozzarella, beef horseradish and parsley. Or a Tikka pizza, with curry, paneer cheese, jalapenos and fresh cilantro.

8. Tongue, Tripe or Goat Tacos at Pancho’s

 

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The chefs in Atlantic City love to visit this no-nonsense taqueria for some tasty tacos. And you know if the chefs come here, that it’s worth a visit.

You’ll be able to get all the usual tacos you know and love but maybe you’ll want to branch out. Don’t just decide if you want chicken or beef. Why not give tongue, tripe or goat tacos a try?

If Pancho’s can’t make a goat taco you enjoy, no one can.

9. Udon Mac and Cheese at The Iron Room

 

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Mac and cheese is a comfort food around the world, but in the US it is typically taken to special heights. How about by taking out the macaroni element.

Wait, what?

At The Iron Room, you can get udon mac and cheese that’s made with udon noodles, three cheeses, panko and truffle oil. Everyone raves about it so be sure to try it.

10. Tasting Menu at Buddakan

 

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Buddakan has some truly delicious food on the menu so don’t just stick to one dish.

There is a chef tasting for two, with options at the $60, $70 and $80 per person price point. Embrace the excess of Atlantic City and get the $80 version because just check out what you’ll get.

Together, casinos across the state can keep track of which would-be scammers have previously been convicted for gambling theft or other offenses. This prevents thieves from ripping off one casino after the other.

The statutes actually go beyond simply telling casinos who to ban, though. In fact, if a casino admits or allows banned players to gamble, they can also get a citation, fine and more. As a result, these bans are stringently enforced. So, who is on the list, and how did they get on it? Each one has an intriguing story!

1.?Dominic Anthony Spinale
Date Added: January 26, 1994
Amount Scammed: Unknown
Scam Story: With two convictions for bookmaking and ties to the New England organized crime family, it was quick and easy to ban this mobster.

2.?Ronald Dale Harris
Date Added: February 20, 1997
Amount Scammed: $100,000+
Scam Story: Harris was actually a 12-year employee of the State Gaming Control Board, assigned to evaluate gaming devices. Arrested in New Jersey for using a computer program to win $100,000 on a Keno game, he was later charged in Nevada for rigging slot machines.

3.?Douglas Joseph Barr
Date Added: November 29, 1990
Amount Scammed: Unknown
Scam Story: Placed on the list at age 31, Barr had already been arrested about 30 times. Many of his arrests were for gambling related offenses, and his father was placed on the list four years later for slot cheating.

4.?Joseph Whit Moody
Date Added: August 23, 2018
Amount Scammed: Unknown
Scam Story: One of the more recent additions to the list, Moody was known for running scams on tourists in Las Vegas. He would distract female or elderly visitors as they used redemption kiosks or ATMs. Blocking their view of the part of the machine where cash was dispensed, he’d ask for directions or a similar innocuous question. When his victims were distracted, he’d grab the funds and disappear in the crowds of the casino.

5.?Sandra Kay Vaccaro
Date Added: October 2, 1986
Amount Scammed: Millions
Scam Story: Sandra Vaccaro is the only woman on the list, a dubious honor to say the least. She was actually added to the list along with her husband, who was part of the Los Angeles Organized Crime Family. Together, they collaborated with other criminals to rig slot machines to win progressive jackpots – stealing millions from Nevada casinos.

Sources:
https://www.reviewjournal.com/uncategorized/knowing-vegas-whats-the-story-behind-nevadas-black-book/
https://gaming.nv.gov/index.aspx?page=75
https://gaming.nv.gov/index.aspx?page=207
https://gaming.nv.gov/index.aspx?page=126
https://gaming.nv.gov/index.aspx?page=190
https://gaming.nv.gov/index.aspx?page=336
https://www.cdcgamingreports.com/two-time-convicted-felon-nominated-to-nevadas-black-book/
https://gaming.nv.gov/index.aspx?page=211
https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/816/443/137475/