A recent article in Global Gaming Business Magazine created a buzz this week. It covered the loss of value properties in Las Vegas in terms of both pricing and gambling.The article made many great points. However, there are still some good games to play in Las Vegas. You just must know where to find them.
Las Vegas Strip value gambling
There are several Las Vegas Strip casinos that still offer good gaming. It may be among bad games, so it is important to know where these games are on the casino floor.
Treasure Island
Treasure Island is the best casino on the Las Vegas Strip for blackjack. Players will find $1 stadium blackjack that pays 3:2 and has double down and surrender. The limits go up to $3 during weekend hours.
Live blackjack starts at $10. Double deck and six-deck games pay 3:2. Double down before and after splitting is permitted in both games. The six-deck game adds re-split aces and surrender. The dealer hits soft 17 in these games. For $50, the high limit salon has this game with stand on all 17s.
The video poker is above average for the Strip at Treasure Island. The $1 denomination offers 9/6 Jacks or Better and 8/5 Bonus Poker.
The Cromwell
The Cromwell offers $10 eight-deck blackjack that pays 3:2. Players may double down before and after splitting, as well as surrender. The double deck game has a $15 minimum but does not have double down after splitting. Roulette players will find a single zero table for $25.
There are six video poker machines by the front of the table games pit with quality pay tables on the quarter denomination. Titles include Not-so-ugly Deuces Wild, 9/7 Triple Double Bonus, 9/6 Jacks or Better and several other 99% games.
New York New York
There is one $10 3:2 blackjack table hiding in the back pit by the hotel front desk. It uses eight decks and double down before and after splitting is permitted.
Stratosphere
Stratosphere has the only $5 3:2 blackjack tables on the Strip. In fact, the casino converted many of its 6:5 tables into 3:2 ones in 2018. You will find multiple ones open 24 hours a day.
$15 3:2 blackjack
There are several Las Vegas Strip casinos that spread $15 3:2 blackjack shoes. This includes all Caesars Entertainment properties, though it may be $25 at Caesars Palace during peak hours. Excalibur, Circus Circus and SLS Las Vegas also have the game. All these tables have surrender. Excalibur and Circus Circus add re-split aces.
Downtown Las Vegas
There are many 3:2 $5 blackjack tables in Las Vegas. Many casinos there also spread 100 percent video poker.
El Cortez
El Cortez spreads 3:2 single deck blackjack for $5 most nights. Players may double down on any two cards before splitting. There are dozens of quarter and dollar coin video poker games that return 99.5 percent or more, including 10/7 Double Bonus.
Plaza
Plaza has $5 3:2 blackjack shoes. Double down before and after splitting is permitted. Full pay Joker Poker and Double Bonus are spread. Joker Poker is spread in quarter and half-dollar. Double Bonus is available in quarter, half-dollar and dollar.Plaza has some of the best bar video poker in Las Vegas. Options include 9/6 Bonus Poker Deluxe and Jacks or Better.
California, Fremont and Main Street Station
The downtown Las Vegas Boyd Gaming properties offer great video poker. You will find 10/7 Double Bonus and many 99.5 or better games, especially in the coin sections. Main Street Station has 9/6 Jacks or Better at the bar. Any natural four of a kind on a max bet receives a scratch off ticket at Main Street Station.
Each downtown Boyd Gaming casino has $5 double deck blackjack that pays 3:2. Double down is allowed on any two cards but not after splitting.
Golden Gate and The D
Golden Gate has eight-deck $5 3:2 blackjack. It is $10 at The D. Both have 8/5 Bonus Poker.
