VegasChatter

Gambling / Golden Nugget / Aria / Palazzo / Bellagio / Planet Hollywood / Craps / 3 Card Poker / Blackjack / Video Poker / → All Tags

Where Do You Get Lucky In Vegas? (And, Where Do You Not?)

Now that we know where you like to gamble, which casinos are the luckiest for you and which seem to be cursed?

We know that, in the long run, gambling odds will even out. For example, if a game of blackjack offers returns of 96% then playing long enough we'll eventually lose just $4 of every $100 we wager. Of course, few of us will sit and play at the same table long enough to attain true odds. It's more likely that we'll hit a string of wins or losses and move on. With that being said, we can understand that many (not all) of our wins and losses are really a matter of timing.

Our gambling at Aria is minimal because we never seem to win at most games we play. Maybe it's the constant shuffle machines at blackjack or maybe it's the cold feeling we get by the decor and maybe it's just bad timing. We don't always lose here, but we lose a lot more than we win so we tend to avoid it unless visiting friends want to check it out. The same cannot be said for the Golden Nugget where we've never had a winning session on any game.

more ›

Events / Food Trucks / Pop-Up Restaurants / Silverton / Fukuburger / Venetian / Palazzo / Epicurean Affair / Vegas Uncork'd / Bellagio / Caesars Palace / The Cosmopolitan / Mandalay Bay / Rain / The Palms / The Flame Steakhouse / El Cortez / Hot Dogs / First Food and Bar / → All Tags

Hunger Heaven: Foodie Fests, Championships, Qualifiers, Pop-Ups, Affairs, and More

This is what happens when we brainstorm story ideas before eating. For those about to eat, we're sorry. For everyone else that can't wait to eat, we salute you with an all almost (actually not even close if you can believe it) encompassing upcoming Las Vegas foodie event wrap-up.

LAS VEGAS' FIRST FOODIE FEST
Silverton Casino Hotel
Saturday, April 28 (noon to 11 p.m.) and Sunday, April 29 (noon to 9 p.m.)
Family friendly food and fun with over 30 gourmet food trucks, 15 food vendor booths, a farmer’s market, eating contests, beer garden, carnival rides and games, live chef demos, a tequila party tent, live bands, DJs, and after parties. Trucks you may know include White Rabbit Truck, Fuku Burger, Vizzi Truck, Devilicious and Mangia Mangia. Tickets are $7 in advance or $10 at the event. To buy said tickets or more info, visit Las Vegas Foodie Fest.

more ›

Stocks / MGM Resorts International / Las Vegas Sands / Venetian / Palazzo / Gambling / → All Tags

Taking a Gamble on Casinos, And Not In Them

Like everyone else reading VegasChatter, we love Vegas. We love being able to gamble, eat and drink in a variety of different casinos that take us anywhere from Egypt to Italy. While we may be able to find other places in the world with fine dining, good drinking and gambling machines or tables, Vegas has it all under one roof (or roofs). We gamble knowing that the casino has the edge in every game they control. When we lose, someone will always say something to the effect of "these casinos don't build themselves."

Yeah, we know that gambling isn't a winning proposition all the time for us. We're cool with that. We play because it's fun. When we leave Vegas, we pine for our next trip. There are websites to read that may keep us updated on what's going on, but that may not be enough. A couple of drinks and an e-trade baby commercial later we think that maybe we should gamble ON the casinos we love to play at. We spend enough money there, maybe we can contribute to our own income. Besides, if we study our options correctly, it will give us another excuse to read about Vegas.

Over the weekend, we came across an article titled "3 Casino Stocks To Buy For Economic Recovery" and thought about what it would be like to own part of a casino company. Two of the three stocks highlighted in this article are Vegas properties -- MGM Resorts International and Las Vegas Sands. MGM owns almost half the Vegas Strip and Las Vegas Sands owns Palazzo and Venetian, two places we frequent and have definitely helped build.

more ›

Downtown Vegas / Downtown / The Linq / The Cosmopolitan / Wynn / Palazzo / Marquee / El Cortez / Fremont Street / → All Tags

The Growing Separation of The Strip and Downtown Vegas

To many people Las Vegas is only made up of The Strip. Really, until you visit at least three times, it is. There's so much to see and do on The Strip that there isn't a need to leave. If you're into fine dining and clubbing and you stay at The Cosmopolitan or Wynn you may never leave your hotel for the weekend.

If you've been to Vegas a few times, your next stop is usually downtown to "Old Vegas" so you can see what Vegas used to look like. Downtown has always been more run down than The Strip. Age will do that to the best of us. In the past few years (five or so), downtown has started cleaning up. For us, that cleanup began with renovations at the El Cortez. While creating the new old Vegas, an arts district and a lot of cool new bars emerged. There's even a museum downtown now.

more ›

Pools / Pool Scenes / Cabanas / Venetian / Palazzo / Vdara / The Mirage / Monte Carlo / MGM Grand / Mandalay Bay / Bellagio / Aria / → All Tags

How Much That Poolside Cabana Costs

It's probably the most asked question after "are Vegas pools open?" How much does that shady seat or cabana cost?

A simple question, that's not always as easy to discover. A lot of resorts don't even like to quote starting rates as they can (and do) change based on demand, just like hotel rates. But, we give a lot of props to the hotels that do say because at least we have some idea of when to cut back on those tanning sessions what to expect.

So, how much is Vegas charging for pampered fun in the sun these days? Check out our list below, but keep in mind, the prices you find in person may appear larger than the ones on your screen.

more ›

Awards / Food / Dining / Eating / James Beard / Venetian / Palazzo / MGM Grand / Joel Robuchon / The Cosmopolitan / Bellagio / Aria / Wolfgang Puck / Jose Andres / Jaleo / → All Tags

Las Vegas Asks, Where's The Foodie Love?

Oh, those anxious moments before the announcers take to the podium. The James Beard Foundation announced the 2012 finalists yesterday in the food equivalent of receiving an Academy Award nomination. And, this year, all the tension was bottled into a room at the Palazzo. But, despite Las Vegas hosting the event, the city was offered little love on the voting forms. Categories ranged from Outstanding Chef and Restaurant to best food blogger and humorous food writing. (Our review of the city's fried Twinkies is mysteriously absent.)

Over 550 judges tabulate the results derived from over 59,000 entries which sounds like a statistical nightmare. But, the Beard Foundation Awards are the apex of respectability within the food community and enormously prestigious for peer recognition and helping build an audience of informed and appreciative diners. The Venetian and the Palazzo's own collection of restaurants includes more James Beard award recipients than any other hotel in the Vegas. And, even more impressively, the world.

more ›

Club Grazie / Players Clubs / Venetian / Palazzo / Carnevino / → All Tags

Grazie Gives Points For Eating, Sleeping and Shopping, But There's An Asterisk Attached

Personally, we don't gamble consistently enough at any one resort to pay attention to the details of Players Club rewards. We tend to stick our card in a slot machine to play a few bucks and not sweat the points. Brand loyalty may be more foreign to us than some readers (and writers) much to the chagrin of the casinos, but we aren't expecting to be comped any more than the next guy, either.

A year ago the Venetian and Palazzo's Grazie chopped comps for everyone except its most highly rated players. We didn't plan to alter our behavior at Sheldon's properties due to the changes since we have a crush on the place and as mentioned don't gamble for the rewards.

more ›

Caribbean Stud Poker / 3 Card Poker / Let It Ride / Caesars Entertainment / Treasure Island / Palazzo / → All Tags

Is There A Caribbean Stud Poker Shortage?

While checking our Facebook page last week, we happened upon a comment from VC fan Steve J. wondering where all the Caribbean stud poker games have gone:

...I've gotten a straight flush at Caribbean stud (a very difficult game to find these days) TWICE!

For full disclosure, this particular VegasChatter writer doesn't think he's ever player Caribbean stud poker. We've definitely never been sober if we have played it.

more ›

VegasChatter Questions / Boxing / Sportsbooks / MGM Grand / Lagasse's Stadium / Palazzo / → All Tags

Where to Watch the Mayweather-Cotto Fight And Not Actually Be At The Fight

Time for another VegasChatter Question! This time, it's from a VC member looking for the best place to watch the big fight this May. Do you have a question about Vegas? Send it to us and if we deem it clean enough, we'll post it here on VegasChatter!

Fight night in Vegas can be hectic. So it's best to start thinking about where to watch the May 5 battle between Floyd Mayweather and Miguel Cotto now. Just like VegasChatter fan Andrew B. who emailed us a few days ago:

Where can we watch Mayweather/Cotto in while in Vegas in May (closed circuit) or any other big fight held in Vegas? Do these other venues sell beer during fight and do they allow you to come in and out during the fight? Is seating reserved? What is the average ticket price?

more ›

Room Technology / Palazzo / Venetian / Aria / The Cosmopolitan / → All Tags

Sometimes It's The Little Things That Make Our Hotel Stays

As you've seen from our coverage of CES, technology has come a long way in the past few years. In Las Vegas, Aria and The Cosmopolitan are both known for offering fancy technology in their hotel rooms as standard amenities.

We may be able to check out our hotel room using our iPhone now or watch TV in the bathroom, but it's some of the simpler bits of technology that give us the most pleasure.

more ›

Valentine's Day / Suites / Hotel Rates / Encore / Palazzo / Hotel 32 / Tropicana / Mandarin Oriental / → All Tags

What A Sweet Suite Will Run You For A Last-Minute Valentine's Getaway to Vegas

Maybe you didn't realize how big of a deal Valentine's Day was to your significant other. Maybe your hopes of getting on Mobbed for a surprise proposal fell short. Whatever the reason, you're contemplating a last-minute trip to Vegas for Valentine's Day. At just about the eleventh hour.

So, what's left out there and how much will it cost you? Well, the answer to the first question is just about everything. Of the suites we had in mind, all were available. And, even poking around at some other choices, we still found online availability. As to the second answer, there's the rub. Of the five sweet suites we singled out below, each ranges from $839.99 to $329. And, yes, that's just for one night. The most romantic of them all, February 14.

●Mandarin Oriental

Strip View Suite
The service and luxury of Mandarin paired with sensational views
$555 (plus fees)

more ›

Gambling / Craps / Tips / Table Games / Palazzo / → All Tags

Easy, Cheap Way To Get Started Playing Craps

Sharing is caring. It's much more fun to share the things we love so that we have more people to enjoy them with. It's no secret we love to play craps. Besides merely winning, craps is most fun when a lot of people are playing and sharing in the fun times.

Walking through Palazzo the other day we saw a sign for free craps lessons. Most casinos offer these kind of lessons and we recommend you take the casino up on this free tutorial. However, knowing the basics beforehand will make learning the game easier.

more ›