If you’re planning a trip to Vegas, here’s the breakdown of where to go to play what game.
If you want to play poker: Head to The Mirage first. The atmosphere is a little calmer than the most lavish, craziest hotels like Caesar’s, Venetian, Bellagio, etc… but it’s head and shoulders above the lower-end joints like Circus Circus or Harrah’s. If you’re looking to be in the middle of the Vegas “action” so to speak, head over to MGM. There’s always a show going on there, the poker floor is always bustling with people coming and going, and somebody is always screaming for joy or heartache somewhere in the casino. Some people prefer a quieter spot, though, when they’re trying to concentrate on the game. Of course, if you’re looking for history, you must take the trip to Freemont Street and head on into Binion’s Horseshoe Casino.
Black jack: Take a 180 from the poker recommendations and find one of the no-name, no-door places hidden on Freemont Street or further down the strip. The places where the gum residue on the floor offers a perfect bridge between the street and the carpet of the casino. The carpet’s dirty, there’s no air conditioning in the places, but you can waste away the whole day on cheap, cheap liquor and $2 black jack tables. The atmosphere in these establishments is a little dingy, but it’s still great, and it tends to keep away the tourists. You probably aren’t a blackjack genius, but even you want to stay away from tables that attract these disasters waiting to happen. If you want someplace a little more on the map for blackjack, give Rio a try.
Roulette: For the setup alone, and the ambiance, the only place I’ll spend hours playing roulette is at the Paris hotel. It’s all state of the art, comfortable seating, brightly lit, bunch of tables set up together…just a good place to let the ball roll. Most roulette players aren’t that picky, though, and as is the case there really isn’t any on particular place to avoid.
Slots: Everybody has the loosest slots in town, didn’t you know that? Honestly, there isn’t a casino anymore that doesn’t have what everyone else has. So a good rule of thumb is this: if you’re only planning to run quarters into a machine all day, find a place with the best buffet and restaurant options. The Monte Carlo is a top pick here. Trust me, after a few hours of pulling the lever, grabbing three quarters, rinse and repeat (do they even have levers anymore?) you’re going to work up an appetite. New York, New York also has the best junk food, so it’s a good slot machine destination, as well.