Locals casinos are known for good gambling. Some are better than others. A handful offer outstanding value, even for low rollers. The casinos below are ones in my rotation due to offering the best games.
Emerald Island
Emerald Island is in downtown Henderson. It does not have any 100% video poker games. However, there are many close to it. With the promotions, the return-to-player can easily run higher.
The best game is 10/6 Double Double Bonus (99.96%) that pays 40 on a straight flush. There’s also Not So Ugly Deuces (99.73%) and full pay Jacks or Better (99.54%). These games are available in up to 10 hands with up to 30 coins per line. The denominations are $0.01, $0.02 and $0.05.
Emerald Island is known as a low roller’s joint. It describes itself as “Nevada’s only all penny casino.” However, the 30-coin 10-play nickel games allow for bets up to $15 per hand so there is something for everyone.
Skyline Casino
Skyline Casino is the only place to play full pay Deuces Wild (100.76%) for more than $1.25 per hand. There are 10 machines in the coin section that are quarter denomination and accept bets up to 10 coins. There’s also 10/7/5 Double Bonus (100.17%) from nickels up to $1 and “Almost Perfect Deuces Wild” (99.92%) is spread from quarters up to dollars.
There is a promotion that pays triple points during most hours of the day with 10 times points between midnight and 8am. Players that make 1,000,000 points by the end of the year receive $1,000 in cash. Another big plus of Skyline Casino is its friendly staff that specializes in great service.
Large Station Casinos Properties
The Station Casino properties with hotels generally have great gambling. All have full pay Deuces Wild (100.76%) for quarters, as well as 10/6 Double Double Bonus (100.06%) and 10/7/5 Double Bonus (100.17%) up to $1. Boulder Station, Fiesta Henderson and Santa Fe Station also offer quarter full pay Joker Poker (100.64%).
These games require $1,200 in coin-in for $1 in comps. There are dozens of “Up to 99.8%” machines that pay full points.
Players looking for exotic video poker will like the larger Station Casinos properties. Games like Dream Card, Ultimate X Spin Poker, Split Card and Ultimate X Bonus Streak are among the unusual versions spread.
All of these casinos have double deck blackjack that pays 3-2 and offers double down after splitting. It’s a $5 game, except at Green Valley Ranch and Red Rock, where it can be $10 or $15. Craps has 10 times odds. The minimum bet is $3 at Texas Station and the Fiestas. It’s $10 at Green Valley Ranch and Red Rock. The others have a $5 minimum bet.
Green Valley Ranch and Red Rock have a high limit salon with better blackjack. For $50, players can get a double deck game that adds re-split aces. For $100, there is a six-deck game that adds stand on all 17s and surrender.
M Resort
M Resort has the best blackjack game in the Las Vegas market. For $50, players can get a double deck that stands on all 17s. Double down before and after splitting is allowed. Unlike all other S17 double deck blackjack games in Las Vegas, M Resort permits re-split aces. Craps is usually $5 and has 10 times odds.
Several playable video poker games are spread inn quarter, half-dollar and dollar. These include Triple Bonus Plus (99.8%), No So Ugly Deuces (99.73%), Super Double Bonus (99.69%), Bonus Poker Deluxe (99.64%) and Jacks or Better (99.54%). These are available on video poker machines that say “up to 99.8%” on the sign.
The players club returns 0.3%. It also has some fantastic mailers for video poker and table game players.
Aliante Casino
Aliante Casino was acquired by Boyd Gaming in 2016. Little changed after the acquisition, beyond the removal of some full pay machines. The best video poker here is full pay Deuces Wild (100.76%). Other games on the three remaining full pay machines are Double Bonus (100.17%), Loose Deuces (100.15%) and Double Double Bonus (100.06%).
Craps is $5 with 10 times odds. There is $5 double deck blackjack that hits soft 17 that allows double down before and after splitting, as well as re-split aces. There are many exotic video poker titles on the floor.
Surprised South Point didn’t make list – M had poor 7/5 Double Bonus VP which kept my wallet closed last visit. Good to know blackjack is ok there.
Thanks for the great article, I’m not a local but those are the places we gamble since the strip is terrible.
South Point has some of the best bar video poker and some good machines on the floor but no 100% games. Its blackjack rules are average at best for locals joint. Its craps is only double odds. It barely missed the list but is still a good option, especially compared to Strip.