Gambler’s Guide to Las Vegas and Vegas Casinos

There is no greater place on earth for gamblers and adventure seekers than Las Vegas. Built in the middle of the desert in Nevada, the Las Vegas valley is home to some of the largest and most extravagant casinos and hotels in the world. It’s a place where dreams come true, and excitement never sleeps. We know we sound like a commercial for the city, but gambling in Las Vegas is an experience in itself!

If you’ve never been to Las Vegas before or are planning a repeat trip, we’ve got some valuable information for you. We have a team of Vegas professionals who have not only visited the city hundreds of times, but many of them now live here. They have the up-to-date pulse on the city, the casinos, hotels, and whatever else you need to know to have the best time possible.

Here’s a quick look at everything you need know before hopping on one of the many flights to Vegas.

Top Las Vegas Casinos and Hotels – Reviews

In Las Vegas, there are almost 40 different casinos and even more hotels to choose from. Some of these are high-end Vegas properties with all the glitz and ritz, while others are budget-friendly but can still offer a great time. Some of these Vegas casinos and hotels are themed like castles and pyramids. Others take a much more traditional approach to their look and feel.

If you’re considering a trip to Las Vegas, which hotel and casino is the right fit for you and your friends or family? This can be one of the most important questions you answer during your planning process. While you’re most likely not going to be spending much time in your Vegas hotel room, you will probably be spending a lot of time in other parts of the casino or hotel. Because of this, it is imperative that you select the best option.

Got a few great options or found the hotel and casino from the program above? Awesome! Now, you either want to learn more to compare your options or learn more about where you’ll be staying. To help you out, we’ve included detailed, thorough, and most importantly, up-to-date reviews of the top Las Vegas casinos and hotels. These reviews cover every square inch of the property and are jam-packed with insider tips about how to get the most out of your stay.

These are not puff-pieces for each property. These reviews are designed to give you an honest, accurate, and thorough look as to what each Las Vegas casino and hotel is actually like.

Gambling Options Available Right Now

Your Las Vegas gambling trip might be months or even years in the future. Thankfully, this does not mean you have to wait that long to get into the real money betting action. If you’re looking for casino games where you live that have Vegas odds, online casinos could be a great fit. These online casinos are safe, secure, and give you the ability to play your favorite games from the comfort of your own home.

Additionally, this is a great way to learn and practice without fear of embarrassment. You can play for low stakes to learn the rules of online gambling before you actually start in Las Vegas. If you’re ready to give some Vegas casino action a try, check out the top online casinos available in your area listed below.

The Las Vegas Strip – What You Need to Know

The heart and soul of Sin City is the world-famous Las Vegas Strip jampacked with casinos, hotels, nightclubs, shows, and restaurants. At a mere 4.2 miles long, it’s impressive how much excitement lines just a few city blocks.

• 12 million visitors annually
• 45 casinos on the Strip
• 30 hotel properties
• 288 – the number of years it would take you to stay in every room on the Strip

Thinking about staying and playing on the Strip? According to the Nevada Gaming Commission, there are 45 Las Vegas hotels and casinos to choose from. In this guide, we look at the most prominent Las Vegas hotels and casinos. Our expert, locally-based team reviews, ranks, and reports on everything you need to know to plan the best trip possible.

Downtown Las Vegas – Fremont Street

Not interested in the wild hustle and bustle of the Vegas Strip? Looking for a more affordable option? You’re looking for Fremont Street. Located in downtown Las Vegas, Fremont Street often is referred to as ‘Old Vegas’ or ‘Downtown.’ This five-block area of entertainment is packed with hotels, casinos, restaurants, street performers, a massive zip-line, and more.

Fremont Street is known to capture the look and feel of what Vegas “used to be.” It’s grungier feel brings lower prices, lower casino table minimums, and a more relaxed environment. You can still party like a rock star on Fremont Street; it’s just not going to sting your wallet as badly.

Best Restaurants in Las Vegas

We LOVE food here at gambling-giant.org, so it only seemed fitting to have an entire section dedicated to the delicious and delectable cuisines of Las Vegas. What many tourists who are new to the city don’t realize is that the food in Las Vegas is one of the biggest draws of the city. While there are plenty of expensive restaurants that offer great food (and some that don’t), there are also plenty of affordable options that offer comparable or even better food!

If you want to eat like a king or a queen in Las Vegas, pay attention. Below, we have links to some of our favorite restaurant reviews and recommendations. If you like to eat, you’re going to love what we have for you here. These are not just regurgitated lists of the top 10s from Google. No, these are lists carefully cultivated and created by our team of local Vegas experts.

Most Recent Las Vegas Blogs

Gambling Safety in Las Vegas

Even though Las Vegas is one of the craziest cities on the planet, it is still relatively safe. Las Vegas Metro PD and casino security do a fantastic job of keeping their patrons safe, because it’s imperative to keep the tourism industry constant here. That all being said, there are certain things that you need to do in order to ensure you have a safe experience while gambling in Las Vegas. Below, you will find our collection of the top gambling safety tips for those of you looking to try and win big in Las Vegas.

Never Play Gambling Games Outside of the Casino

You’ve probably seen it in movies before-dudes posted up in alleyways throwing dice or doing a “follow the ball” shell game. Think long and hard about these movie scenes or anytime that you’ve seen this in person. What always happens? The person running the game always wins in the end! This is because these games are a scam. Not only are they scams, but they are also illegal and not something you want to be around on your trip to Las Vegas.

Think you’ve got a shot because you just saw someone win big? That person is in on the scam. If you want to gamble, just go inside of one of the many amazing casinos we have listed above. Gambling in Las Vegas is available pretty much anywhere from the airport to the Strip and even local grocery stores. There is no reason you need to look elsewhere for any gambling action, especially in a city like Las Vegas.

Don’t Get Too Drunk or out of Your Element

We are not going to get up on our soapbox and tell you not to drink at Las Vegas casinos and hotels. We could do that, but we know that roughly zero of you would listen to us and, frankly, we don’t blame you. The city of Las Vegas is all about fun, and for those of you over the age of 21, that often includes some lovely libations.

But you have to be careful when you’re drinking and gambling. When most people start to get drunk, their logical reasoning starts to fade. They’ll start taking more risks than usual, which can mean betting more than you would normally want to. While this could work out in your favor, chances are that it will not. Not only will you possibly bet more, but you also might find yourself making mistakes and not playing optimally.

If you’re going to party, find some balance, or separate your drinking days from your gambling days. There’s a reason why you get free alcohol at the tables at Las Vegas strip hotels. Yes, it is to help enhance your overall experience, but it is also to get you feeling a little loose with your money at the tables.

Be Aware of Your Surroundings

When you make it out to Vegas, here’s something you should try. Walk into any Las Vegas strip hotel and just sit back for a minute. Notice just how many people are completely oblivious to what is going on around them. In a city filled with lights and fast-paced excitement and distractions, it is easy to lose track of where you are and what is going on around you.

This is especially true when you are at a table and focused on winning. All you’re going to be worried about is what is going on in the game you are playing. This is when thieves will look to strike. No, we don’t think you’ll get targeted every time you go to a gambling table. In fact, most of you could go to Vegas, walk around completely oblivious the whole time, and nothing bad would happen. But people do get taken advantage of and stolen from.

No matter where you are in Las Vegas, make sure you are aware of your surroundings. If you notice something that seems out of the ordinary, do something about it. If you think someone is following you, duck into a casino, and hang out by security. If you think something is wrong, tell someone. If you don’t like anything that is happening, remove yourself from the situation.

Being aware of your surroundings in Las Vegas does not just help protect you when people try and take advantage of you, but it actually acts as a deterrent. Thieves do not want to go after difficult targets. They don’t want to try and steal from the guy or gal that has their head on a swivel and is paying attention to them. They want to steal from the drunk person who has 100% of their attention focused on something else.

If It Sounds Too Good to Be True…

We’re not big proponents of cliché phrases, but sometimes they say exactly what we want them to perfectly. If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. This is the case 95% of the time in Las Vegas. If you’re walking around the street and someone offers you a deal that sounds too good to be true, it is most likely a scam or there is a catch they’re not telling you about.

There are rare occasions where something that sounds too good to be true is actually true! How do you tell the difference? Here’s a good rule of thumb. If the offer is coming from someone who works at the Las Vegas casino, then what they are offering you is probably real. If the offer is coming from someone on the street, someone who doesn’t work at the casino, or someone who works at one of the businesses inside of the casino, it might not be what you think it is.

Here’s the bottom line-use your judgment. Do your research before you arrive in Las Vegas. You’ll have a good idea of what really happens and what are popular scams. If something raises a red flag, just walk away and go on with your trip as planned. There is plenty of legitimate fun to be had in Las Vegas without having to take a risk on something that might be sketchy.

Follow the Limits You Set

A better first tip would be to set gambling limits. Then, once you have these limits set, follow them. Most people that go to Las Vegas plan on being there for multiple days. If you want to guarantee you’ll have the ability to gamble every day, make sure you set limits and stick to them.

For example, let’s say that you are going to Las Vegas for four days and your gambling budget is $300. Let’s also say that, for one of the days, you are planning to go to the pool and have some drinks with friends. Being the smart gambler you are, you determine that you will only be gambling three of the days that you are there.

The budgeting process is simple. Set aside $100 for each of the three days to gamble with. If you lose your first $100 as soon as you get to Vegas, you’re done gambling for the day. Do not dip into your other $200 just because you want to play some more. While that will get you back into the action, you’re going to run into issues the last few days if you lose that money. You’ll be tempted to hit the ATM and pull out more cash than you wanted to gamble with in the first place. If you happen to have a big first day and win, you can always adjust your limits for the remaining days as long as you don’t go over your $300 limit.

Determine the total amount of money you’re comfortable losing and divide that out for the total number of days you want to play. If you plan on playing more hours on a particular day, adjust your budget accordingly. Once your budget is set, stick to it while you are there. If you have to make yourself envelopes for each day, then go for it. If you need to get someone else to hold the other envelopes for you, do that. Just make sure that you don’t ruin your Vegas trip by getting out of control and losing more money than you planned to.

Wallets Sideways and Purses in Front

Yes, there are pickpockets in Las Vegas. They are not as rampant as they are in some other major cities, but they do exist. Typically, you’ll see these people show up in areas where there are large crowds of people standing around watching some sort of show or act like the Bellagio fountains. This also happens more outside because there are not as many cameras as inside the casino.

Again, preventing yourself from being a victim of pickpockets is all about being the less-appealing target. If someone else is easier to steal from, the thieves are going to bypass you and work on them. While this still stinks for them, it protects you.

Here are two quick tips to keep yourself from being a target. If you carry a wallet, carrying it in your front pocket is the best idea. If you’re not comfortable with that and want it in your back pocket, turn your wallet longways. This makes your wallet wider in your pockets and further down from the opening of your pants pocket. These two things together make it harder to lift your wallet without detection.

If you carry a purse, don’t carry it behind you. The same goes for backpacks. In the heavy crowds of the Strip, thieves can sneak into your purse or backpack without you noticing and take what they want. Think you’d feel them opening it? Sometimes, they don’t even open them. They’ll use a knife and slice the bottom of the bag and grab everything that drops out. While you think you’re going to see or hear this, it’s just not the case. The Las Vegas Strip is absolutely crazy, especially around nighttime and during busy times of the year.

Money-Saving Tips for Las Vegas Casinos

No matter what your budget looks like for your next trip to Las Vegas, saving money should be something you’re interested in. Even if you have an endless budget, every dollar you save on your trip is an extra dollar you can use to try and win big at the tables. If you’re serious about saving some money, check out the quick and functional tips we have for you listed below.

Get Cash Ahead of Time

The ATM fees in Las Vegas are comical at best. If you find a “cheap” one, you’re going to be paying $5 per transaction. Some ATMs on casino floors will have fees as high as $20! If you don’t want to be paying these fees that will quickly add up, bring cash with you. Yes, you do run a bit higher risk carrying a lot of cash, but it’s risk versus reward. If you’re someone who is safe and accountable, save yourself a few bucks by bringing cash with you from home. Do make sure you secure that cash in your room, though. While we don’t want to assume anyone would steal from you, but these are Vegas odds you can control.

Plan the Dates of Your Trip Strategically

The prices of everything in Las Vegas change a lot. This includes Vegas hotels, car rentals, show tickets, and more. Depending on several different factors surrounding your trip, the overall cost can vary by a few hundred to several thousand dollars. So, how do you save?

Well, if you are forced to go to Vegas on particular dates for an event set in stone, you’re not going to have much luck. You can shop around with options, but the prices are going to be pretty set for you. If you are flexible, though, you have some options. First, the time of year or season that you come is important. If you come in the summer when it’s really hot, you’re going to get much better rates. Keep in mind, though, this is because most people don’t want to come when it is 120 degrees outside. But that’s what swimming pools and air conditioning are made for.

Second, schedule away from major holidays, events, and conferences. Anytime there is a huge influx of people into Las Vegas, prices are going to rise. It should be pretty easy for you to know when major holidays are, but there are some events that you won’t be aware of. The city hosts major conferences that can have thousands of people pouring into the city without you even knowing. The best way to check rates is to look at hotel room prices for different times of the year. If they are randomly astronomically high, then something is probably going on.

The best way to take advantage of this tip is by figuring out all of the potential dates you would be able to visit Las Vegas. Then, start looking at hotel rates for those time frames. Find the time that the room rates are the cheapest. All of the other prices in town are going to follow suit.

Use Uber, Lyft, and Public Transportation

How you get around town can have a major impact on your overall Las Vegas budget. The best advice that supersedes this is to choose a hotel close to everything you want to do. Even if the hotel is a few bucks extra, you might save in your overall costs because it cuts down on travel. Think outside the box when you plan.

If you do have to go places around Las Vegas, remember that you have more options than just taxis. Uber and Lyft are massive in this town and their rates are much cheaper than taxis. The only times that the rates get anywhere close to comparable are in times of surge pricing, when everyone and their mother needs a ride for New Year’s Eve, or on a Friday night after a big fight.

Additionally, there is some great public transportation available in Las Vegas. We have double-decker buses that run up and down the Strip all day and are only a few bucks. There is even a monorail to the east side of the Strip that is a quick way to get from place to place. Unlike some cities, the public transportation in Las Vegas is clean, safe, and used by a lot of tourists. And don’t forget, you can also walk if you want! Just keep in mind that everything is going to look closer than it might actually be.

Hit a Grocery Store or Liquor Store

One of the biggest costs of your trip if you like to drink is going to be alcohol. Finding $9 beers will be considered cheap. Nightclubs are going to have Bud Lights for around $18. Yuck! What we recommend you do is take a taxi, Uber, or Lyft to a close liquor store or grocery store. Make sure you go to one that is off the Strip, so you aren’t still getting hit with tourist pricing. Pick up plenty of alcohol for the trip and you can make drinks for way cheaper in your room. Yes, there will be times where you’ll want to get drinks while you are out, but you can at least save a little on your pregaming. Long live the red Solo cup!

Additionally, you can pick up some snacks and waters while you are at the grocery store. A popular tip is to pick up cereal and fruit for breakfast, so you get one meal that you’re not having to pay Vegas prices for. You can even get some lunch things as well if you really want to save. If you have a fridge in your room, you can stock up on some bread and lunch meat and make sandwiches every day. Then, you can enjoy a fancy Vegas dinner without breaking the bank or having to eat out for three meals plus snacks every day.

Ship Things to Your Hotel Ahead of Time

Okay, we just fibbed. One of the ultimate Las Vegas tips used to be going to the grocery store. The new tip is having everything you need shipped to your hotel to arrive the day you get there. We’re looking at you, Amazon. You can have snacks, drinks, alcohol, and anything else you might want to save money on shipped to your hotel to arrive on the day you check in.

Some hotels will even hold the packages for you for a certain period of time if they arrive early. We would recommend asking the hotel what the policy on holding packages early is before doing so. Most of them should give you at least a few days which would be ideal. Do make sure you tip a few bucks when you retrieve your boxes.

Other Las Vegas Activities Besides Gambling

While gambling is the primary activity visitors partake in while in Las Vegas, this is not the only thing there is to do. In fact, you can take an entire trip to Vegas and never gamble once. We don’t recommend it, because we love gambling, but that’s just us. If you want to diversify your trip a little bit, there are plenty of great activities you can do.

In the links below, we’ll break down all of the other activities you can do besides gambling at Las Vegas casinos and give you a place to book them. You’ll be surprised at just how much stuff there is to do! Want to drive a bulldozer or a tank? You can! Want to see the Hoover Dam or the Grand Canyon? Do it. Want to get a massage or go for a beautiful hike? The options are endless. All of these things and more are possible in and around the city of Las Vegas.

Planning Your Trip to Vegas

Gambling in Las Vegas FAQ