It is no secret that Las Vegas had a slow year in 2025. Visitation is down. Many issues are causing the decline. The one that gets talked about most is the decline in value at Las Vegas casinos, especially on the Strip. Many casinos have listened to these concerns and have acted on them.
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Palms started by dropping blackjack and craps minimums
Palms was the first to lower table game minimums. In late 2024, Vegas Advantage first discovered a $5 3/2 blackjack table in the Palms pit. In early 2025, Palms added a $5 live craps table, replacing a Roll to Win machine. Both games are open 24 hours a day.
Rio answered with $3 craps
In October, Rio decided to deal $3 craps 12 hours a day, from 3am to 3pm. The table is usually $5 at other hours. Rio later added $5 crapless craps. Last month, the triple zero roulette table was retired, and double zero roulette dropped to a $5 minimum.
These are not the only changes Rio made to give players a better gamble. Earlier in 2025, Rio improved most video poker paytables. Games like 9/6 Jacks or Better, full-pay Bonus Deuces Wild, and other 99% or better games were added to the floor and bars starting at the $0.25 denomination. Video poker variants have some of the best paytables in the Las Vegas market.
Gold Coast
As competition in the neighborhood heated up, Gold Coast was forced to answer. It now deals $5 craps 24/7. Gold Coast also added 9/6 Jacks or Better at denominations $0.50 up to $5 on most bar machines and in some banks on the casino floor.
New $5 blackjack games on the Strip
Slots A Fun has dealt $5 6/5 blackjack since launching its new classic casino concept. Excalibur joined them by adding $5 6/5 blackjack. Excalibur also has $5 Double Down Madness.
The Strat goes all 3/2 payouts on blackjack, brought single zero roulette back
The Strat became the only Las Vegas Strip casino that pays 3/2 on all blackjacks. These games start at $10 for six-deck and $25 on double-deck. Unlike the games mentioned above, some of these tables use shoes. Treasure Island, which has always been a great blackjack value on the Strip, pays 3/2 on two- and six-deck games, but 6/5 on single-deck.
The Strat brought single zero roulette back. We have seen it twice with a $15 minimum bet. That is the cheapest single zero roulette in the Las Vegas market. Plaza’s is usually $25.
Many Caesars now deal $25 3/2 blackjack
After removing 3/2 blackjack from most pits, most Caesars Entertainment casinos now have $25 six or eight-deck blackjack games on the casino floor. These games are dealt out of a mix of shoes and continuous shuffling machines. It is usually $50 at Caesars Palace, though we have seen it there for $25 during off-hours. Several of these casinos only have one table with the game in the pit. Look for the $25 minimum bet signs, as the 6/5 games are usually $15.
Triple zero roulette is slowly disappearing
Rio stopped dealing triple zero roulette in December. That casino joined Encore, Green Valley Ranch, Sunset Station, Treasure Island, and Wynn, as those casinos also dumped triple zero roulette. Tropicana did the same about a year before it closed.
Cheap eats and drinks
Many casinos now offer cheap food and drinks. Station Casinos started it with the $1.99 margarita, where a second shot is $2. All Stations Casinos now offer a $5.99 burger at the cafe and $3 drink specials for several beers and call drinks. Boulder Station and Palace Station have $2.99 shrimp cocktails.
Slots A Fun has some $2 and $3 deals that include beer, popcorn, hot dogs, and shrimp cocktail. Downtown Grand has a $3 hot dog and beer special and a monthly $5 special with an upgraded brat or sausage with an imported beer.
Many Caesars Entertainment casinos now have $5 domestic beers. Casino Royale has offered $3 bottled beers, $5 drafts, and $5 call drinks for years. Rotating happy hours have started to appear at some MGM Resorts properties. Strip Stumble keeps an updated list of Las Vegas Strip happy hours.
New deals are discovered daily as casinos continue to adjust to these market conditions. Hotels keep lowering rates and offering all-inclusive deals. Las Vegas is a better value today than at any point in the last three years.
