Gambling in Las Vegas

Our Basic Rules For Gambling

Play games that you know! Don't learn by sitting down and losing $200. Take advantage of a free lesson on the game or do research online.
Don't gamble with money that you can't afford to lose.
Celebrate wins! You're there to have fun, so try to get your whole table involved when the dealer busts or the shooter hits a point in craps!
Play slow, and play card games at full tables. The house has an edge in all of its games, so a full table slows down your rate of play (and loss) and lengthens the amount of time that you are earning points for status.
Don't blow smoke in other people's faces at the table. We love to smoke cigars, but not everyone does, so be conscience of where your smoke goes!
Other people's poor play or decision making in BlackJack does not affect your odds of winning. If the person on third base splits tens and doubles down on 13 twice against a bust card, it does not change your odds of winning. This is a common misconception. Those other person's decisions do affect his/her chances of winning, but not yours. It does, however, affect you psychologically (We've been there, we understand). If you don't feel comfortable with the play, just color up and find another table. It's your money, so you are in control!
When you win big, tip big! The dealers will appreciate it and remember you!
Ask the dealer for help if you need it. Generally, they'll let you know what the basic strategy card says that you should do in that situation.
Have a goal in mind. If your goal is to double your money, then color up and walk away once you've done that. You can always come back and gamble later!
Very important. If you're genuinely trying to take a stab at winning some of the casino's money, go slow on the alcoholic beverages. Alcohol has an especially adverse affect on good decision making when it comes to gambling. You lose your inhibitions, and generally those are what help keep you from losing a ton of money. If you're drunk, and you do get lucky and win a ton of money, you'll probably end up giving a lot of it back to the casino while you're intoxicated. So just take it easy while you're playing!

Free Gambling Lessons

Take advantage of the free lessons that are available in the Las Vegas Casinos. They offer insight and experience into the different games while also eating up time that you would otherwise being spending money somewhere else. Time is money in Las Vegas, and if you know you have an hour of entertainment for free at one of these lessons, then you are saving money! Always remember that the casino is teaching you to play, so that you'll be more likely to come back to the table later and lose some money (or so they hope!). By implemented some of our strategies, you can really help increase your chances of winning!
Schedule:
Boulder Station: Poker - Thursdays 3 p.m.
Circus Circus: Daily - Blackjack 10:30 a.m.; Roulette 11:30 a.m.; Craps 12:30 p.m.
Excalibur: Daily - Poker 11 a.m.; Roulette 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.; Blackjack 11:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Craps 12:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Golden Nugget: Daily - Poker 10 a.m.; Craps 10 a.m.; Pai Gow 10:30 a.m.; Roulette 11:30 a.m.; Blackjack 12 p.m.
Luxor: Daily - Poker 10 a.m.; Roulette, Craps and Blackjack all daily at noon.
Mandalay Bay: Daily - Poker 2 p.m.
MGM Grand: Daily - Poker 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Monte Carlo: Daily - Craps 11 a.m.
The Palazzo and The Venetian: Craps on Mondays - Fridays at 11 a.m.; blackjack on Mondays - Fridays at 11:30 a.m.
South Point: Craps on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:15 a.m. and Saturdays at 11:15 a.m.
Stratosphere: Poker on Saturdays and Sundays from 8 - 9 a.m.

BlackJack

There are some things that will really help you increase your odds in BlackJack. The first thing is to learn basic strategy. Basic Strategy is the optimal way to play each hand for non card counters. Basic Strategy revolves around the idea that since 10s (10,J,Q,K) are 4 times more likely to come out then other numbers in the deck and that you should assume, the cards you can't see are most likely 10s (10, J, Q, K). The casinos will let you use a small information card at the BlackJack table to help remind you how to play certain hands. If you've never played before, this is an essential purchase until you are more comfortable with the game. They can be found here on amazon. They usually cost around $3. One misplayed hand of blackjack would easily cost you more than $3, so it's a good investment. The American Casino Guide also has pages on basic BlackJack Strategy as well. Both are a great resource. There are some great free BlackJack apps that you should definitely practice on before you sit down at a table. Here are a few rules that will really help:

Never Play BlackJack that pays 6 to 5 for a BlackJack. You should always get 3 to 2, or you shouldn't play. It seems like a small difference, but the swing in house edge is huge. Places that pay 3 to 2 on the Strip for $10 blackjack (in order of most favorable rules) are New York New York, SLS, Treasure Island, Bally's, and Paris. Almost every casino on Fremont Street and in off-strip casinos will have 3 to 2 for BlackJack.
Don't be afraid to surrender if it is allowed at the table. There will be a rule card at most BlackJack tables. If surrender is allowed, you should take advantage of it. When you surrender, you give up half of your bet and give up the possibility of winning the hand. If you have a 15 or 16 against a dealer 10, you should surrender. Also, you should surrender with a 16 against a dealer Ace or a dealer 9. Players often don't like the idea of giving up, but you are just living to fight on another hand.
Splitting and Doubling Down is fun, but you should learn when it actually increases your chance of winning. Only Double Down on hands that can make at least a 20. That means, don't Double Down on an 8 or a 7. Ace,7 is the exception against a bust card. Just say No! Also, don't ever split 4's or 5's. Always split 8s and Aces!
Never take Insurance for a dealer Ace. Insurance pays 2 to 1 and only 30 percent of the deck is made up of 10s. The house edge is huge. You're also never supposed to take Even Money on your BlackJack, get your odds, you earned them!

Low Buy-In Poker Tournaments

We highly recommend playing in low buy-in Poker Tournaments in Las Vegas. Just like any other type of gambling, know and understand the game before you play. There are generally tournaments at most casinos that will have buy ins from $30 to $60 that go all throughout the day. While you play, you get free drinks and you are in control of your play. Places like Bally's even have top shelf 12 year Whisky and Bourbon for their $50 tournament. In poker you play against other guests, instead of the house, which means that the casino has no advantage over you (other than the tournament entrance fee, which the drinks and the service of the dealer easily cover). Some Daily Tournaments that are available in Las Vegas:
Daily - 9:00 AM - Excalibur - $40 Buy In - 5000 Tournament Chips
Daily - 10:00 AM - Bally's Las Vegas - $60 Buy In - 5000 Tournament Chips
Daily - 10:00 AM - Sam's Town - $23 Buy In - 500 Tournament Chips
Daily - 10:00 AM - Green Valley Ranch - $45 Buy In - 4500 Tournament Chips
Daily - 10:30 AM - South Point - $60 Buy In - 4500 Tournament Chips
Daily - 11:00 AM - Luxor - $45 Buy In - 5000 Tournament Chips
Daily - 12:00 PM - Mandalay Bay - $40 Buy In - 4000 Tournament Chips
Daily - 12:00 PM - Santa Fe Station - $50 Buy In - 6000 Tournament Chips
Daily - 1:00 PM - Bally's Las Vegas - $60 Buy In - 5000 Tournament Chips
Daily - 1:00 PM - Sam's Town - $30 Buy In - 3000 Tournament Chips
Daily - 1:00 PM - Excalibur - $45 Buy In - 5000 Tournament Chips
Daily - 1:00 PM - Luxor - $45 Buy In - 5000 Tournament Chips
Daily - 2:00 PM - Flamingo - $60 Buy In - 20000 Tournament Chips
Daily - 2:05 PM - South Point - $60 Buy In - 4500 Tournament Chips
Daily - 3:00 PM - MGM Grand - $50 Buy In - 10000 Tournament Chips
Daily - 3:00 PM - Golden Nugget - $50 Buy In - 5000 Tournament Chips
Daily - 4:00 PM - Bally's Las Vegas - $60 Buy In - 5000 Tournament Chips
Daily - 5:00 PM - Flamingo - $50 Buy In - 20000 Tournament Chips
Daily - 5:00 PM - Excalibur - $45 Buy In - 5000 Tournament Chips
Daily - 6:00 PM - Bally's Las Vegas - $60 Buy In - 5000 Tournament Chips
Daily - 7:00 PM - Flamingo - $60 Buy In - 20000 Tournament Chips
Daily - 7:00 PM - Stratosphere - $50 Buy In - 4500 Tournament Chips
Daily - 8:00 PM - Treasure Island - $55 Buy In - 8000 Tournament Chips
Daily - 8:00 PM - Excalibur - $45 Buy In - 5000 Tournament Chips
Daily - 8:30 PM - Bally's Las Vegas - $60 Buy In - 5000 Tournament Chips
Daily - 9:00 PM - Luxor - $45 Buy In - 5000 Tournament Chips
Daily - 10:00 PM - Flamingo - $60 Buy In - 20000 Tournament Chips
Daily - 11:00 PM - Golden Nugget - $50 Buy In - 5000 Tournament Chips
Daily - 11:00 PM - Luxor - $45 Buy In - 5000 Tournament Chips

Working on Status at your Favorite Property

We have a strategy for earning status, tier credits, reward credits all while getting to practice perfecting your dice rolling skills. Go Play Craps with a team mate or significant other and make sure that both players sign in with your player's cards. One player bets the pass line and the other bets the Don't Pass. Once the point is established, you are guaranteed to break even (for the team) and you are both earning tier credits towards status with the players club. The only way to lose money is on the come out roll. If the shooter rolls a 12 (1 out of 36 chance), then the Don't Pass Bet would Push, while the Pass Line bet would lose. You receive free drinks the whole time you are at the table, earn status, get to roll the dice, and you learn more about the game. Another tip, never say "7" at the craps table! Have Fun!

Video Poker

Video Poker is a game which most casinos offer and the house edge can be extremely low. The first thing to remember is that not all Video Poker is created equally. The house edge can change a lot from machine to machine, based on the Payout table. This link will show you where to find the best Video Poker in Las Vegas. If you click on the Casino name, it will even give you directions to the individual machines in the casino. Often, they hide the best ones in the back or in a corner! Deuces Wild (DW) and Jacks or Better (JoB) are 2 of the most popular games. Here are some of our tips for Video Poker:

Learn Basic Strategy. This link will allow you to practice hands of Deuces Wild online. It will tell you if you have played the hands correctly. Repetition really helps. If you don't play these hands correctly, then the house edges goes through the roof! Learn Jack or Better Here.
Bet the lowest denomination that still gets the optimal payout. You can ear Tier Credits, Status, and room offers plus get some free drinks along the way. The lower denomination will help keep the swings in the game from clearing out your bank roll.
Don't draw for crazy things. Use your pairs and wilds to survive until that perfect hand comes along. Some of our favorite times playing video poker have been sitting at casino bars on Fremont Street, where the house edge is generally lower, playing $.10 to $.25 machines and drinking mimosas. The Plaza has an awesome bartender who works there during the day. Every time he makes a drink, he pretends that its something top shelf. We started with "Dom Perignon" Mimosas, but he had to switch over to "Cristal" when he ran out. He had us cracking up as he poured Andre and J. Roget into our glasses!

Best Gambling in Las Vegas - Low Minimums and Low House Edge

Best BlackJack on the Strip: Treasure Island - $10 Tables with House Edge of only .45953. 2 Decks. 3 to 2 for BlackJack.
Best BlackJack on Fremont Street - El Cortez - $5 Table with House Edge of only .30346
Best Craps on the Strip: The Cromwell or Casino Royale - As low as a $5 Table and 100X Odds on Pass and Don't Pass Bets
Best Craps on Fremont Street - Main Street Station and Brewery - $5 Tables and 20X Odds on Pass and Don't Pass Bets
Best Deuces Wild and Jacks or Better on the Strip - The Cromwell - $.25 and 99.73% Payback on DW and 99.54% Payback on JoB
Best Deuces Wild and Jacks or Better on Fremont Street - California Casino - $.05 and 99.73 Payback on DW and 99.54% Payback on JoB
Best Off Strip Property (Our Favorite!) - Ellis Island Hotel and Brewery - This place has the best Steak Deal in Town ($7.99), 3 to 2 BlackJack, They brew great beer, lots of good Video Poker, and it's the perfect place to watch a game!

Las Vegas Coupon Books

The two best Las Vegas Coupon Books that we have found are the American Casino Guide and the Las Vegas Advisor Member Rewards Book. If you use Las Vegas Advisor, make sure that you don't pull out the LVA coupons until you are in front of a casino representative and are ready to use them! Those are the rules with the LVA Rewards Book! These two books are two of the best ways to save money in Las Vegas, hands down. You can get discounts for food (almost every Buffet is 1/2 off!), drinks (free rounds and BOGO drinks), hotels (discounted stays), and entertainment (Free show or BOGO Tickets). We suggest that if you are traveling with someone, each of you get one of each of the aforementioned books so that you can both enjoy the perks! The American Casino Guide usually costs around $15 to $20 per book and the LVA membership is around $40/person. Keep in mind that the LVA membership comes with a 12 month subscription to their online newsletter that is chock full of helpful tips! Basically, for two people, you'll need to spend around $110 for 2 copies of each publishing. They are definitely worth it if you are planning to head down to Fremont Street (Old Vegas), especially when you consider that even partially used these publications still include a lot of valuable deals (We sold a few Las Vegas Souvenirs this month on Ebay for $70, when we threw in our used book as a free gift with the purchase of the various promotional casino items).

These two books have exceptional value especially when it comes to gambling. There are great ways to give yourself an edge against the casinos. This advantage comes in the form of the Match Play Coupons, Free Slot Play, and Slot Match Plays. Here are the basics on how a match play coupon works. You pick an even money game like Craps, Roulette, or Blackjack and place a bet in the amount listed on the coupon (i.e. $25 bet for a $25 Matchplay or a $10 bet for a $10 Matchplay), placing the coupon under the chips (you will need to have your id and player's card ready to show the dealer as well). If your bet wins, the dealer will pay you 2 to 1 for your bet ($10 bet + Coupon = Potential $20 Win). This swings the advantage to the player. The best game to use these coupons on is craps because the Pass Line (1.41% house edge) and the Don't Pass Line (1.36% house edge) have some of the lowest house edges available. There are blackjack games (off the strip) that have low house edge, but they aren't your best bet when using a coupon, because the casino will not give you out the 3 to 2 payout for hitting BlackJack on your coupon. Without the payout odds of 3 to 2 in Blackjack, the casino edge increases dramatically.

For the Free Slot Play and Slot Match Plays, simple go to the Player's Club and ask them to activate your promotion in their system. We recommend using the Free Slot Promotions on games like Video Poker, because the house edge can be extremely low, which means that you can usually cash in on the deals! You may even hit a big hand. We hit a straight flush on Deuces Wild Video Poker at the Downtown Grand in April on our freeplay which paid $50. For the complete run down on the best ways to maximize your return on these coupons, please visit our Las Vegas Coupon Books page!