I have played more at Plaza Las Vegas in the last three years than all other casinos combined. The only reason the time frame is not longer is because I could have said the same thing about Las Vegas Club before it closed.
I played coin video poker games at Las Vegas Club dating back to the early 2000’s. The video poker returns were better there than most casinos easily accessible to tourists. When I moved to Las Vegas in 2010, I knew that would continue.
When Las Vegas Club closed in 2015, my favorite machines survived and moved to Plaza, its sister property. That was the start of an enjoyable casino experience that has lasted years.
Great employees
All the slot attendants moved from Las Vegas Club to Plaza, as did one of my favorite cocktail servers. This helped make Plaza feel like Las Vegas Club.
I got to know the rest of the staff at Plaza. I quickly realized it is one of the best crews of any Las Vegas casino. Most enjoy their jobs and are quite social for a casino in a tourist setting. The service rivals old school locals casinos. They get to know their customer’s names and check on them regularly.
It is not just the employees I encounter every visit that make Plaza a great place. CEO Jonathan Jossel is on the floor regularly visiting with patrons. He is always open to feedback and has done a few favors for me as a customer that I know no other casino would do. I would imagine most would laugh at me for the requests I have made that he fulfills with a smile. That is a perk of building a great relationship with a casino that does all the right things.
Best Casino Games at Plaza
My game is full pay Joker Poker (100.65%). It is a complex game to learn. The video poker machines still use coins to payout. Five of these machines made it to Plaza after Las Vegas Club closed, though that number is down to four now.
Joker Poker is not for everyone. The strategy is difficult to learn and contrary to most other video poker games. If you play it wrong, you are far better off finding some of the games mentioned below as the return-to-player will be better and you will earn slot points.
Plaza made my list of best Las Vegas bar top video poker. The bar game with the best return is 9/6 Bonus Poker Deluxe (99.64%). You will also find 9/6 Jacks or Better (99.54%), 8/5 Bonus Poker (99.17%) and 9/7/5 Double Bonus (99.11%). These games are available at both the Omaha bar and the one by the sportsbook. You will also find them in banks throughout the casino and by the bingo room.
There are two 10/7/5 Double Bonus (100.17%) machines in a bank behind the sportsbook bar. Denominations are quarter, half-dollar, dollar and two-dollar. I believe it is the only $2 game of its kind in Las Vegas, maybe even the world.
All Traditional Blackjack Tables Pay 3-2
Plaza spreads three different types of blackjack games. There is six-deck that typically has a $5 or $10 minimum bet. This game is found in the main pit and party pit by the front door. A double deck table has a $25 minimum. Both games have the same rules. Players may double down before and after splitting. Blackjack pays 3-2. The dealer hits soft 17.
The other blackjack game is a variant that is proprietary to Plaza. It is called ‘Most Liberal 21.’ This is like Super Fun 21 where most blackjacks pay even money but the other rules are loose. Its house edge is more than double the 3-2 games.
The other table games typically have a $5 minimum bet. These include craps, roulette, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Three Card Poker and Let It Ride. There is also a $10 Pai Gow Poker table.
There are two types of craps games. One is the traditional version. It has 10 times odds. There is also crapless craps. You cannot lose on the come out in this game. A 7 on the come out wins, while 2, 3 and 12 become points. This game has double odds. Both games pay triple on the Field bet on a 12.
Hotel
Book a hotel room at Plaza here. We may receive a commission if you click on a link on this page.
My wife and I get a cabana suite once a year for her birthday. Here is a trip report on those. We are always very happy with them. The room’s patio opens up into the pool deck.
Plaza remodeled every room in 2010. Some of the hotel rooms are being refreshed again.
Rates start around $30 or $35 for weeknights. Weekends have large rate ranges. Some are around $70, while others can break $200. It depends on what events are planned in downtown Las Vegas. The resort fee is $22 a night.
The cabana suite room I linked to above starts around $230 a night during the week and break $300 on weekends.
Dining
Oscar’s is the fine dining option at Plaza. It is in the dome with a view of the Fremont Street Experience. There is a food court, Hash Hash a Go Go, Brightside and Pop Up Pizza. Food comp mailers may be used at Brightside and Oscar’s.
