The Perpetual Tourist

Whenever I visit Vegas, I feel like my trip ends too abruptly. There’s just so much to see and do, and for all that I get to experience, there’s so much more that I feel like I’ve missed. Oh well. Vegas will still be there when I go back, hopefully soon.

I do enjoy the casino scene, and on my last visit, I got to check out some new (to me) casinos and games. I am not by any means a high roller, so my definition of best casino is one that has low-limit games, a nice variety, good comps, and a fun atmosphere. On my latest visit, I spent most of my time at the following casinos: The Las Vegas Hilton, The Riviera, Circus Circus, Slots-A-Fun, The Sahara, and Planet Hollywood. None of these are really A-list locations on the strip, but like I said, I didn’t have the bankroll for the A-list.

Consensus among my wealthier companions is that the Bellagio is the best casino for high rollers in Las Vegas. I did not check it out for myself, but I also recently finished a great blackjack book that mentioned that the best blackjack tables in Vegas (as far as the player’s advantage) at also at this casino. But getting back to what I know…

I don’t really mess around with slot machines. The house edge is so high it just feels like paying taxes, and there’s no social interaction. One of my favorite things about casino gaming is meeting other players and dealers and enjoying the roller coaster with them. I like blackjack because it’s got the best odds in Vegas (when you know what you’re doing) and craps, because it’s a really exciting game with decent enough odds that you probably won’t lose the farm.

Of the casinos I visited last week, Slots-A-Fun is one of the most popular. Owned by Circus Circus and located at the far north end of the Vegas strip, Slots-A-Fun is one of the few casinos in town with $1 tables. Most casinos have a table minimum starting at $5 during slower times and $10 in the busier times, so cheap tables like this are few and far between. That’s pretty much the only thing Slots-A-Fun has going for it — it’s an otherwise dumpy place, and the crowds can be overwhelming. You can also get a half pound hot dog for 99 cents, but that doesn’t excite this vegetarian very much. The soy burgers there are nine bucks.

The Hilton is nicer than the Riv, but both have about the same offerings as far as games and minimums. I only saw a few $5 tables at either place, and they were always full when I walked by. One thing I noticed about the fancier casinos is that there was less smoking inside.

My favorite casino of this visit was Planet Hollywood. It was here that I learned to play craps, thanks to some friendly dealers and helpful fellow gamblers. The PH casino had lots of variety and nice, low table minimums during the daylight hours when I was there. It was clean and attractive, the free cocktails were tasty, and best of all, the dealers made it tons of fun.

Having a good dealer can make or break a gambling experience. The guys at my craps table at Planet Hollywood helped me with the rules, chatted with us while we played, and definitely earned the tips I threw their way. Carlos from Pitney, a particularly animated dealer at PH, was a blast — try to find his table when you visit, and win or lose, you’ll have a good time.

No one paid me off to say that — in fact, I lost $200 in my afternoon at Planet Hollywood, and I didn’t even sign up for their comp card to earn anything back. (That was my mistake. You should always sign up for the comp cards.) But I did drink two and a half free (or very expensive, depending on whether you win or lose…) margaritas, and I had a good time, so I’m considering it $200 well spent on an afternoon of solid entertainment.

I’m eagerly anticipating my next Vegas trip to continue my research into the best casino on the strip. But while I’ll definitely try some new places, I really look forward to poking my head back inside Planet Hollywood and trying to get some of my money back from Carlos. If you see him there, tell him Meg from Virginia says hi.

Don’t forget to tip your dealers!