One of the best bets if you are a poker player is that it has more poker tables and options than just about any other casino in town.
11) The Excalibur
Any expert in Las Vegas will tell you to start small and work your way up as you get more experience on the gambling floor. This is why the Excalibur is one of the best casinos to get started at. You will not be surrounded by all those professional gamblers that see the inside of a casino more often than they see their home. There are $5 minimums available, so you are able to start off small and see where things take you. Since the biggest opposition you are likely to face is the dealer, you will have a pretty good shot at winning at least a few hands. If nothing else, it is a good place to get your bearings on what you can expect at some of the larger casinos.

Excalibur During Daytime
By Brian Whitmarsh via Wikimedia Commons

The Excalibur is one of the older casinos in town, so do not expect a lot in the way of glitz and glamour. Also, do not expect a lot of comps. Unless you are willing to spend all your money at the slots (never a good idea) you are not likely to get much for free while you are gambling. Now, if you hit a big winning streak, you will certainly get some free drinks and maybe even a free meal, but you are better off getting your meal elsewhere.

Night View of Excalibur from Tropicana Avenue
By Josh Truelson via Wikimedia Commons


- The Tao Of Badass -

10) Mandalay Bay
After watching poker played on television and in the movies, everyone thinks that they are an expert. Las Vegas is a great town to put those feelings to the test. If you truly have the talent, you will find out. If you don’t, you will surely lighten your load while in town. If you just want to try your hand in a real setting, there is no better practice ground than at the Mandalay Bay. This is one of the casinos known for poker, and it is among the only places in town where the casino will actually teach you how to play for free. If you show up in the afternoon, there are lessons given to anyone who wants to take them. Just be careful who is watching you learn.

Mandalay Bay
By Kris1123 via Wikimedia Commons

While you are at the Mandalay Bay, take a little time to walk away from the table and experience the rest of the casino. It is one of the hotels in town that likes to put on a big water and lights show. Since there are so many people drawn to the casino for the entertainment, the odds are stacked pretty well in your favor. With so many different gambling options, you have the ability to choose something you have some talent for.

View from Pool at Mandalay Bay
By Erin Khoo via Wikimedia Commons

9) The Flamingo
This is the casino that many remember from the movie 'Swingers.' It is one of the older casinos in town, and as such, it does not draw a lot of the professional gamblers. Additionally, the tables allow you to place smaller bets and get your feet wet. While you are able to start small, you will also be able to move your way up to playing at some of the higher stakes tables if you feel so inclined. Just make sure that you are getting yourself a drink while you are on a winning streak. More than likely your drink will be for free, and that just makes a good time better.

The Flamingo
By Kvasir via Wikimedia Commons

While many may flock to the Flamingo for the low $5 betting available, they will stay for the inviting atmosphere of the staff and the décor. You are not distracted by a lot of lights and sound. Instead, there is a more subdued atmosphere, so that you are able to concentrate on what you are doing while you are at the table. It can help to bring the fun back for you.

Bugsy Siegel Memorial Outside the Wedding Chapel at the Flamingo Hotel
By Jarhed via Wikimedia Commons

8) Tropicana Las Vegas
If you are going to go to Tropicana, make sure that you join the Players Club first. This is a club that will allow you to have protection if you decide to play the machine-betting games. If you should lose $200, you are protected over the course of three days. This is reimbursed in the form of a “free play” rather than actually giving you your money back. You will at least be given the opportunity to win your money back. It is suggested that if you already have lost $200, don’t go beyond your free plays and lose $200 more. Switch to some other kind of gambling instead.

Tropicana Las Vegas North Tower
By Matthäus Wander via Wikimedia Commons

As some of the older hotels have been demolished or given in to lower rate tables, Tropicana has been able to hold on as one of the better casinos. This may be in large part due to the $200 million renovation that the casino went through. The new theme of Tropicana is to make it look like the casino is set in South Beach. You can find graphics from “Sex and the City”, “The Hangover”, and “Ghostbusters” on the different walls. You can still find low limits to bet on if you are not willing to risk some of the higher stakes.
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Casino and Leaded-Glass Ceiling

7) Paris Las Vegas
Those who live close to the strip will tell you that you have to go to Paris, if for no other reason than to try out the Le Village Buffet. It is renowned as being one of the best on the strip. Of course, you may go for the buffet, but you will stay for the gambling, and the gambling floor will not disappoint you. Keep in mind that the casino floor is pretty big, but you will not have to worry about getting lost. There are definitely larger and more confusing casino floors on the strip. The staff has been rated well and will be more than happy to help you should you not be able to find what it is you are looking for.

Paris Las Vegas
By thinboyfatter via Wikimedia Commons

If you are worried about getting hooked by the professional gamblers, simply stay out of the high stakes rooms. This is where all of the high rollers go to play on a daily basis. The sports bet areas are among the favorite spots for locals and tourists alike to find a fun place to relax. Just settle in and lean back in front of one of the large TVs, and watch the game. Even if you are losing money, you will still be able to enjoy watching the game and having a drink.

Paris Las Vegas Lit up at Night
By ZooFari via Wikimedia Commons

6) Binion’s Gambling Hall & Hotel
While you are in Las Vegas, you are supposed to check out the Fremont Street Experience, and when you go to Binion’s, you are able to do just that. This is the casino where the World Series of Poker got its start. Beginning in 1970, the now famous series brought together some of the best in poker to try their hand at winning a truly huge pot. Do not let this intimidate you from trying to play poker at these tables. There are many novices that want to play in this historic location, and you will be among them, which puts you at good odds of winning whenever you are playing. Just make sure to stay away from the high limit tables if you are unsure of your skills.

Binion's Gambling Hall & Hotel

You will not be able to stay the night at Binion’s since the hotel closed in 2009, but you can still get a bite to eat in between hands at the blackjack and poker tables. If you do not want to worry about coins when playing slots, this is the place for you since you will be using a “ticket-in ticket-out” system while you are playing the machines.

Fremont Street Showcasing Golden Nugget and Binion's
By Johnwalton via Wikimedia Commons

5) The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
The Cosmopolitan is another of the casinos where you can take advantage of the Players Club and get a $100 rebate for machine losses. This is another of the newer casinos in town, and it offers a lot for the whole family. You will be able to check out the bars while the kids are enjoying themselves. The restaurants will have something for everyone, so you can have a nice family dinner before sending the kids to bed and seeing what you can do with their college funds.

Cosmopolitan Resort and Casino
By Allen McGregor via Wikimedia Commons

You may want to consider staying at the Cosmopolitan while you are in town. Like several other hotel-casinos, there is a good chance that if you start winning, they will comp your room rate for the duration of your stay.

Night View of the Cosmopolitan Resort and Casino
By Cygnusloop99 via Wikimedia Commons

4) El Cortez Hotel & Casino
Almost everyone will tell you to check out El Cortez while you are in Las Vegas. This is for a few different reasons. For one thing, the casino is not on the strip. Instead, it is downtown, and you are able to have better luck with the odds because the casino is not one of the ones where many of the locals will try to prey on tourists. If you are going to be there on the weekend, even better. You will be able to check out the food truck festival that is held there every Saturday. This will allow you to experience all of the different foods that these vendors have to offer.

El Cortez Hotel & Casino

On top of being one of the better places to eat on the weekends, the casino is on Fremont Street, which is a destination that every tourist needs to check out at least once while they are in Las Vegas. This is because the whole Las Vegas scene would not exist if it were not for the downtown area. El Cortez is just one of the last stalwarts left from this bygone era and is a must see. It does not hurt that the odds of you winning are in favor while you are gambling here.

Inside of El Cortez

3) Caesar’s Palace
It is hard to imagine a trip to Las Vegas without going to Caesar’s Palace. There are very few places that can be described as truly Las Vegas in style, but this is one of them. The entire scene is all out opulence. Built as if it was built for Caesar himself, the entire casino and hotel resembles something out of ancient Rome, with a hefty dose of mythology. It is no wonder that just about all of the boxing matches occur at this location. If you just want to be entertained, you can find what you are looking for at Cleopatra’s Barge, including some great drinks and dancing.

Caesars Palace View from Across Bellagio Lake

Of course you are in Las Vegas for the gambling, so you will want to mosey on down to the poker tables. Steer clear of them during the tournament schedules. You will know when these are going on because they are highly publicized within the casino. Keno and sports book, along with tons of slots, give you the choice of how you want to play the odds. Staying with card games will give you the best odds of winning.

Sports Book Betting Area at Caesars Palace
By Blane via Wikimedia Commons

List Of Vegas Casinos

World Famous Forum Shops at Caesars Palace

2) MGM Grand Hotel & Casino
MGM Grand puts the grand back into the casino. It is actually the biggest in Las Vegas. Heck, it is the biggest resort complex in the world. There is simply nothing that can compare with the absolute magnitude of the MGM Grand. As such, the odds are in your favor. If you walk up to a table and you notice that the dealer knows every single person there, just walk on to find a table at which you are not the only stranger. The more people from out of town you can find at a table, the better your chances are of winning because they are not career local gamblers.

MGM Grand Hotel and Casino
By Bobak Ha'Eri via Wikimedia Commons

You do not always have to play poker whenever you want to play a table game. You can also get involved in Casino War, roulette, Pai Gow and more. If you are into poker and that is all you want to play, you will be able to find a multitude of poker games that you can play as well as the varying stakes that are available to you so your chances are even better of winning.

Lion Habitat at the MGM Grand
By Izx from Wikimedia Commons

1) Bellagio
If you are looking for sophistication, you cannot beat the Bellagio Casino. This is one of the ultimate luxury resorts. As such, you can expect that there are not going to be many low stake tables to get involved in. Of course, you can also expect that you will have a really easy time of winning. The locals tend to stay away from the tables, and big money players come in from out of town to try their luck, often with more money than knowledge of the game.

Bellagio Casino at Night
By Photographersnature via Wikimedia Commons

Expect to get free drinks as long as you are able to stay at the table. In fact, you can expect to get pretty much anything for free as long as you are not losing too much. If you go up and down, you may still be able to get a lot out of the experience. Just make sure that this is not your first stop, so you are able to get some experience under your belt before going for the big money. With some decent experience, the odds are stacked in your favor to win at Bellagio.

'Dancing' Fountains of the Bellagio
By Photographersnature via Wikimedia Commons

Conclusion
These Las Vegas casinos are just a handful of the hundreds of casinos you can try out. The locals will tell you that the best odds are at the casinos outside of town, but gambling experts will tell you to never bet with the locals. This is especially true if you are a novice at gambling. The locals that bet every day will smell you coming from a mile away and cozy right up to you until even your emergency backup money is gone. The best advice is to bet on what you are comfortable with, and above all else, have fun. Never gamble what you are not willing to lose, and never bet with the thought about what you might win. Approach your trip to Las Vegas with these 15 places in mind and bet with a level head, and you might still have some money for a drink on the plane.


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Caesars Palace is an iconic Las Vegas casino, and it's known for its upscale atmosphere. This is a place with plenty of high limit games, so come prepared to spend some money. Poker players can enjoy a 16-table poker room that offers a daily tournament schedule. A race and sports book give players a vast array of games to watch and bet on, plus private booths with their own individual screens. You can also try out the newest in skill-based games with games like Cannonbeard's Treasure, a combination of cards, skill and naval warfare. Numerous restaurants, an A-list of entertainers and an upscale shopping mall are also on the grounds of the hotel, in case you decide to give Lady Luck a break for a while.
Recommended for Casinos because: With a wide array of games, a race, sportsbook and their own sports betting app, Caesars gives players plenty of ways to win.
Terrisa's expert tip: New games from Gamblit Gaming offer interactive gaming, including a new take on poker. The two to four-person game starts with two cards and when the rest of the deck is shown, players have to grab the cards they need for a good hand.
The El Cortez in Downtown Las Vegas has been around for decades, long before mega-sized casinos and ATM machines. The property's history includes Ben 'Bugsy' Siegel, who was once a partial owner. Today the vintage casino attracts patrons who want a taste of Old Vegas. Gamblers will find a large selection of low-limits games, a casual atmosphere, and a large supply of colorful customers who keep the vibe authentic. Perhaps most notably, gamblers can also find single and double deck blackjack. Las Vegas got its start Downtown, thanks to places like the El Cortez. Today, it's still a reason to make the trip to Fremont Street.
Recommended for Casinos because: The El Cortez hasn't lost its vintage Vegas ambiance, offering coin-operated machines and single and double deck blackjack.
Terrisa's expert tip: For players who find the newer coin-less gaming machines a little odd, the El Cortez offers over 200 original coin machines, including penny and nickel machines.
South Las Vegas
South Point's location on the far end of Las Vegas Boulevard means it's not actually a part of the Strip, which is a bonus for visitors. The casino is one of those with aspects that appeal to both residents and tourists, giving its guests the benefits of both lower prices and plenty of amenities. The casino offers a wealth of machine play, with over 2,390 slot and poker machines. The casino floor holds over 60 table games, including all the standards as well as some newer games like Progressive Fortune Pai-Gow Poker, No Commission Baccarat and Three Card Poker. A poker room, bingo room and a race and sports book round out the gaming options here.
Recommended for Casinos because: With a massive number of slot and poker machines, South Point's casino is a great choice for players who prefer machine play.
Terrisa's expert tip: The South Point's Arena and Equestrian Center hosts events throughout the year. Check the website for coming events that feature horses of all kinds and rodeo-style performances.
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This beautiful resort on the far west side of the city is one of those Vegas casinos that attracts both locals and tourists. Boasting thousands of slot/video poker machines and table games including blackjack, baccarat, craps, poker and roulette, the casino at Red Rock Resort is sure to have everyone's favorite game; there's even a 610-seat bingo hall (with a non-smoking section) and a keno lounge. Non-smokers can also enjoy a game of poker in Red Rock Resort's smoke-free poker room. A private high-limit room is available for high rollers, a mobile app is available for wagering and there's a 206-seat race and sportsbook with a 96-foot video wall for sports fans to watch and bet on all the latest games.
Recommended for Casinos because: Red Rock's casino has a solid variety of games available, including a few not commonly found at Strip casinos like bingo and keno.
Terrisa's expert tip: In addition to a casino, Red Rock also offers guests plenty of non-gaming activities, like bowling and movie theaters. Downtown Summerlin, with its shops, restaurants and attractions, is also nearby.
The Palms recently underwent a renovation and is proudly reclaiming its reputation as a hip and trendy hang-out. With a location just off the Strip, the casino enjoys a clientele that includes locals as well as visitors. For Vegas casinos, a strong local presence is thought to give the players slightly better odds (although it's worth noting that the house always has the advantage). The Palms claims to have the loosest slots in town, and with over 1,500 machines to choose from, you've got plenty of chances to find a winning one. A generously sized casino floor is filled with a variety of games like Baccarat, blackjack, poker, roulette, and craps. High-stakes games include no-limit Texas Hold'em.
Recommended for Casinos because: The Palms offers players a trendy atmosphere and plenty of places to play in its large casino.
Terrisa's expert tip: If you're looking for low limit games, casinos off the Strip like the Palms are a good bet. With a stronger locals presence, players will find more low-limits tables and many believe the odds are better for properties off the Strip.
Just as you'd expect from a classic Las Vegas casino, The Mirage has the full array of expected games: blackjack, baccarat, craps, roulette, a variety of poker and casino war. Guests can even enjoy non-smoking tables, once an unusual feature in Las Vegas but something more people are requesting. Slots range from a penny per play to $1,000. A full-service race and sports book will let you watch and wager on all the games, which are broadcast on huge 85' HD projection screens. The Mirage's poker room is consistently acknowledged as one of the preferred places to try your hand with Lady Luck, with Hold'em (limit and no-limit), Omaha and 7 card stud available. Buy-ins range from single digits to $1,000+. Tournaments happen throughout the day with buy-ins starting at $65.
Recommended for Casinos because: The Mirage casino offers a wide range of games appealing to both novice and experienced players, non-smoking tables and a mobile app.
Terrisa's expert tip: Along with other MGM properties, the Mirage offers mobile gaming apps. The sports betting app allows guess to place bets no matter where they are on the property.
The D in Downtown Las Vegas has been around for a while. Originally opened as the Sundance, later changed to Fitzgeralds, and now in its latest incarnation as The D, this long-time Fremont Street casino hotel is going stronger than ever. On the first floor, players will find a standard array of table games, slots and video gaming. On the second floor, the vibe is vintage with coin-operated machines. The D's Dancing Dealers® will spice up your game, and when you're in need of a break, LONGBAR offers over a thousand feet of counter, flair bartenders and video poker machines. On the second floor, Vue Bar gives you a great view of Fremont Street perfect for watching the Viva Vision light show.
Recommended for Casinos because: The D's assortment of modern and vintage games ensures players they'll find a table or video game that's just right for them.
Terrisa's expert tip: The D is home to the city's only remaining Sigma Derby machine, a mechanized horse racing game. Located on the second floor with the other vintage games, Sigma Derby continues to be a popular attraction at The D.
The sleek and sophisticated casino at ARIA features more than 150,000 square feet of gaming space, including 1,940 slot machines and 145 table games. Gamblers can test their luck at blackjack, craps, baccarat, roulette, Let it Ride, Pai Gow and Ultimate Texas Hold'em, among other games. A popular spot with poker players, the casino at ARIA has a luxurious 24-table poker room. ARIA also boasts an intimate (and non-smoking) race and sportsbook that can show up to 200 live events at once and displays big events on at least one of its 220-inch TVs, so bettors are never in danger of missing any of the action. You can also use your mobile device for sports betting from anywhere in the state of Nevada when you use the playMGM app offered at ARIA and other MGM properties. Just sign up, fund your account and start placing bets.
Recommended for Casinos because: ARIA is known for its popular poker room, but the casino is home to a wide range of games and a sportsbook.
Terrisa's expert tip: ARIA offers a high-limit slots room called SPIN, which has a separate cage, restrooms and dining area. Players who want to go big on slots will find plenty of options here.
The Golden Nugget has been around since the 1940s, and like a lot of Downtown hotels, it's kept an Old Vegas ambiance. The Golden Nugget is one of the larger, more upscale properties along Fremont Street, and so its casino isn't the cheapest in the area, but it is consistently high-energy. In addition to all the regular table games, you'll find slots, keno, a poker room and a race and sportsbook. A wide array of minimums should give every gambler a price point they can be pleased with. It's not unusual to see crowds around the hot tables on the floor, and it can get crowded at various points. It's a smaller sized casino in comparison to the mega-casinos on the Strip, but it's also easier to navigate and has a more down-to-earth feel.

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Recommended for Casinos because: With a lively casino floor and an array of games, the Golden Nugget offers players a wide range of opportunities to test their luck.
Terrisa's expert tip: Sign up for a player's card to get the best value from your play. The Golden Nugget 24K Select card earns points that can be redeemed for free play, food and other purchases.
Photo courtesy of The Venetian | Palazzo Las Vegas
The Venetian's stunning architecture provides bettors with one of the more memorable gambling environments on the Vegas Strip. Combined with its sister property, The Palazzo, The Venetian offers hundreds of table games in separate areas covering a huge area. Gaming options include blackjack, baccarat, roulette, craps, Pai Gow poker and various novelty games. For guests who prefer playing the one-armed bandit, there are more than 1,000 slot machines to choose from at the Venetian alone. Even when the casino is busy, it's large enough that you never feel crowded. There's also poolside gaming available at The Palazzo, and the Venetian offers mobile gaming for race and sportsbook betting no matter where you are.

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Recommended for Casinos because: The Venetian's strikingly designed, large casino is home to a long list of table games, slots and other games of chance.

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Terrisa's expert tip: The Venetian's poker room holds two daily tournaments at 12:10 and 6:10 p.m. with buy-ins from $125 to $340. The casino also hosts other poker tournaments; check the website for details on the current offerings.