Welcome to Vegas Advantage

Las Vegas Strip

Vegas Advantage was founded by John and Kristina Mehaffey in 2018. It covers gambling at Las Vegas casinos. This includes the Las Vegas Blackjack Survey, Las Vegas Table Game Survey, Las Vegas sportsbooks, and all Las Vegas poker rooms. Vegas Advantage also has an active blog that covers the latest games, gaming news, valuable promotions, strategy, and trip reports. Every section of Vegas Advantage is explained in detail below. 

Vegas Advantage’s goal is to give Las Vegas casino players the best chance of winning. John and Kristina started covering Las Vegas casinos for other websites in 2010. They decided to go independent in 2018, and that’s when Vegas Advantage was launched. 

The most popular features of this site are the Las Vegas Blackjack Survey and the Las Vegas Table Game Survey. The blackjack survey started in 2010. Table games were added in 2014. The original versions only covered downtown and the Strip. By 2018, it included every Las Vegas casino that deals table games.

Many major media outlets have featured Vegas Advantage’s data and expertise, including the Wall Street Journal, Las Vegas Review-Journal, ABC News, Fox Sports Radio, NPR, Fortune, and Business Insider. John and Kristina have been guests on many Las Vegas and casino podcasts.

Vegas Advantage can help you save time on your Las Vegas vacation. There is no need to look for the best table games, electronic tables, and video poker machines. We have done all that work for you. Detailed information from over 70 Las Vegas casinos is available starting at $5 per month. Vegas Advantage’s Patreon subscription service is separated by game and by casino.

Vegas Advantage regularly visits every Las Vegas casino with live table games. Downtown casinos are covered quarterly. Each Las Vegas Strip casino gets at least three surveys annually. Locals casinos are visited at least once every six months. We also have special reports when we receive tips or notice new games during our casino playing time.

Vegas Advantage is supported through memberships, sponsors, and advertisements. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Our Las Vegas Blackjack and Table Game Survey is available as part of a subscription service. You can support Vegas Advantage by signing up for a monthly or annual membership. Survey pages are updated several times per month with new data from casino visits.

Vegas Advantage subscriptions are available through Patreon starting at $5 per month. Sign up now for an annual membership and receive a discount of almost 2 months free!

Table Game Newsletter Membership Banner - Monthly and Annual Subscriptions
Early access to Vegas Advantages Table Game Survey with monthly updates as we revisit casinos

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Vegas Advantage broke the casino visitation record

Circa sign record
John and Kristina Mehaffey holding the Circa record sign Courtesy Circa

On October 5, 2023, John and Kristina broke the world record for the most number of casinos played in 24 hours. This was done to celebrate their 21st wedding anniversary. The joke was that their marriage was old enough to gamble. They played at 93 Clark County casinos in a 24-hour period. You can read more about the adventure here.

Las Vegas Blackjack Survey

Our Las Vegas Blackjack Survey covers every blackjack table in the market. That requires regular visits to all 69 casinos with live table games. This includes the Las Vegas Strip and downtown Las Vegas. We also have this information for the entire locals market, including Henderson, Summerlin, and North Las Vegas.

The survey includes all the blackjack rules offered at each Las Vegas casino, such as a 3:2 or 6:5 payout, surrendering, re-splitting aces, and whether the dealer hits or stands on soft 17. It also includes the minimum bet we expect the casino to post based on our visits to that property. 

The Las Vegas Blackjack Survey is divided into two sections. One covers the games by part of town. The Las Vegas Strip is divided into three sections: north, central, and south. Downtown Las Vegas has its own page. Two pages are dedicated to the local market, which also includes Summerlin, Henderson, and North Las Vegas casinos. This helps blackjack players find the best value at nearby tables. 

The other section is broken down by the type of game, be it single deck, double deck, six/eight-deck, or another blackjack variant dealt in Las Vegas. This helps players looking for a specific blackjack game to find it easily. The website was last updated with data from February 2025. Current information is available to Patreon subscribers.

Las Vegas Table Game Survey

Our Las Vegas Table Game Survey covers non-blackjack games found in the pits. This includes baccarat, craps, roulette, Three Card Poker, Pai Gow Poker, and Ultimate Texas Hold’em.

Major games have a dedicated page that covers all aspects, like minimum bets and special rules. This includes the number of zeros on roulette wheels, maximum craps odds, double or triple craps field payouts on 12, the Pai Gow Poker variants, and the types of baccarat found at each Las Vegas Strip, downtown, and locals casino.

All games have minimum bet and casino location information. Vegas Advantage also has the best video poker paytables available at each casino. The website was last updated with data from early 2025. Patreon subscribers receive current information about these games.

Open Las Vegas poker rooms

Wynn Poker Room
Wynn Poker Room at Encore

One of our most popular sections is our directory of the 19 open Las Vegas poker rooms. Most poker rooms have a dedicated page. We update it with the types of cash games and poker tournaments offered, as well as rake and promotions. 

Las Vegas sportsbooks

A Las Vegas professional sports bettor anonymously authored our Las Vegas sportsbook section. The information he provided includes Nevada sports betting apps, parlay and teaser payouts, the types of action a given book accepts, and the pro’s opinions of each book’s overall operation. 

Las Vegas hotel and casino reviews

Vegas Advantage offers hotel and casino reviews. This includes downtown Las Vegas, Las Vegas Strip resorts, and ones aimed at locals.

Our Las Vegas hotel reviews cover rooms, dining, and entertainment. We also have casino reviews that detail all the video poker and table games offered at each casino. This includes the best video poker pay tables, table game minimums, blackjack rules, and craps odds.

Online poker

Nevada online poker was not the success the industry hoped when it launched in April 2013. We currently offer a review of WSOP.com. It is Nevada’s only licensed online poker room. WSOP has a terrible reputation in the online poker industry due to poor support, withdrawal hassles, and archaic software. We do not recommend playing there.

We think Nevada online poker could make a comeback if it has some competition. WSOP.com has held an online poker monopoly in Nevada ever since competing sites Ultimate Poker and Real Gaming failed, and its second attempt was just as pitifulBetMGM and Partypoker may open in Nevada in the future.

Vegas Advantage blog

We have a Las Vegas blog with over 300 posts related to Las Vegas casinos. Topics include new games, promotions, news, trip reports, hotel room reviews, and coverage of our blackjack and table game surveys. 

Las Vegas Casino FAQ

What is the minimum age for gambling in Las Vegas?

Casino players must be at least 21 years old.

Can minors walk on Las Vegas casino floors?

Yes. However, minors may not loiter on the casino floor. It may only be used as a path to another destination.

Do any Las Vegas casinos ban minors?

Yes. Circa in downtown Las Vegas does not permit minors to enter the property, except to dine at a specific restaurant at the hotel. El Cortez joined them in 2022. Many local gaming taverns also ban minors.

Is smoking permitted in Las Vegas casinos?

Yes. Casinos are exempt from the statewide smoking ban.

Are there any nonsmoking casinos in Las Vegas?

Park MGM is the only nonsmoking casino in Las Vegas. Plaza has a 2,500-square-foot nonsmoking casino that opened in late May 2023.

Are Las Vegas casinos open?

Las Vegas casinos are open 24 hours a day.

Are Las Vegas poker rooms open?

There are 19 open Las Vegas poker rooms. However, a few are only open on weekends.

Are Las Vegas sportsbooks open?

All Las Vegas sportsbooks have reopened.

Are drinks comped in Las Vegas casinos?

Yes. However, a minimum bet or play is required.