On October 18, 2023, Vegas Advantage visited eight Las Vegas Strip casinos on the south end. We found several new games and changes in this area. The list below is in the order that we visited.
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Tropicana
We parked at Tropicana. It is the only casino in the area with free parking. The situation is convoluted. I’m not even sure we park in an area it is free. The entire lot was almost empty and there are no parking gates or payment machines.
Tropicana pulled half its table games over the summer. The pit closest to the door is gone. There are no more baccarat, pai gow, or 000 roulette tables left in the pit. The minimum bets were the same as always. It is still $25 to play 3/2 blackjack there. Craps is $10 or $15, depending on the time of day.
The other half of the Tropicana pit is now multiplayer electronic table games. All games have a $3 minimum.
Blackjack pays 6:5 and has a larger side bet menu including KK, QQ, JJ, 7s, A-2, Match, Pair, Poker 3, and 19+. In addition to the Ministar 00 roulette machine, Dual 00 roulette is now also available.
The available craps machine has changed, once again. Now, each player chooses two of the three available dice. Meaning results may vary for players during the same roll. It offers a Lucky Roller side bet.
MGM Grand
There are two major changes to table games at MGM Grand. European Roulette is gone from the pit. It is now only available in the Mansion Casino, which is its high-limit salon. The pai gow tiles table is gone.
The table limits were a little lower during this visit. For example, the poker pit games and roulette were $15. There were $25 3/2 blackjack tables. The back pit even had a couple of $10 6/5 blackjack games. It still takes $300 to play high-limit blackjack at MGM Grand. The double-deck tables are $500. Baccarat and European Roulette are $100.
Both stadiums were offline during our visit to MGM Grand. The Shoot to Win craps machine was also out of service.
There is an expanded selection of Interblock heads-up machines with a $5 minimum bet. Options include 6:5 blackjack with the expanded side bet menu, 00 roulette, craps, and Easy Craps. Easy Craps is similar to crapless craps, but come bets and buy bets are not available.
00 roulette can be found for $3 on the Dual Wheel machine and $1, $2, and $5 increments on the Bally upright machines. Ministar and Golden Ball roulette have a $5 minimum.
Park MGM
Virtually everything at Park MGM was the same as before. Most games had a $15 minimum bet, including all dice tables, poker pit games except pai gow poker, and roulette. It takes $25 to get 3/2 blackjack and pai gow poker. The high-limit room has baccarat, European Roulette, double-deck, and six-deck blackjack that stands on soft 17 for $100.
All electronic table games have a $5 minimum, except Dual Wheel 00 roulette which is $3. Golden Ball 00 roulette is available with a side bet. Craps and 6:5 blackjack are available as heads-up and multiplayer games. The Lucky Shooter side bet was no longer available on the heads-up Interblock craps machines.
Aria
Inflation hit Aria’s pits. Every game was at least $25. This includes all the poker ones, craps, crapless craps, 6/5 blackjack, and triple zero roulette. It took $50 to get 3/2 blackjack, pai gow poker, and double zero roulette. High-limit blackjack, midi baccarat, and European Roulette were $100.
There are a few baccarat tables outside the salon. These are no commission games. The minimums were $25 and $50.
The same new craps machine seen at Tropicana was also installed at Aria. However, the game was not yet operational and no minimum was listed.
All other multiplayer and most heads-up options have a $5 minimum. Players can find a selection of craps, 00 roulette, and 6:5 blackjack games.
Be wary of the upright 00 roulette game that short-pays straight and split bets. Increments are $1, $2, and $5.
The stadium offers big six and multihand 6:5 blackjack for $3. $5 options include single-hand 6:5 blackjack, craps, and 00 roulette. Baccarat has a $10 minimum.
New York-New York
Not much ever changes at New York-New York. It offers a good table game value for an MGM Resorts casino on the Las Vegas Strip.
The poker pit games start at $10. Craps is usually $15. Double and triple zero roulette are $20. There is 3/2 blackjack and pai gow poker for $25. The high-limit tables at New York-New York start at $100 and are only open for limited hours.
Heads-up and multiplayer electronic table games have a $5 minimum bet requirement. Options include 6:5 blackjack, craps, Dual Wheel 00 roulette, and Golden Ball 00 roulette.
Baccarat is available on the Interblock stadium for $10. The live dealer option for blackjack is $5. All other options have a $3 minimum. This includes 6:5 blackjack, craps, and 00 roulette. Stadium and heads up craps pay triple on a field 12.
Excalibur
A new center bar is under construction at Excalibur. It is in the middle of what was the pit. This displaced many table games. Three sides of this area have tables. All the games are still there from before. The minimum bets were $15 for all poker games except pai gow, roulette, and craps. Face Up Pai Gow Poker and 3/2 blackjack start at $25.
Most heads-up and multiplayer electronic table games at Excalibur have a $5 minimum bet requirement. However, Dual Wheel 00 roulette and heads-up 6:5 blackjack have a $3 minimum. $5 options include heads-up craps, Shoot to Win craps, Golden Ball 00 roulette, and even-money blackjack. The stadium was offline during our visit.
Luxor
Little seems to change at Luxor. For $10 we found Three Card Poker, 6/5 blackjack, and 000 roulette. Dice tables, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, and 6/5 Free Bet Blackjack were $15. Double zero roulette was $20. There was an open $50 baccarat table. High limit was closed. The minimum bets there are usually $500.
Non-roulette electronic table game options have a $5 minimum. This includes heads-up and multiplayer versions of craps and 6:5 blackjack. Golden Ball and Dual Wheel 00 roulette have $3 minimum bet requirements. The upright Bally 00 roulette machines offer $0.25, $0.50, and $1 increments.
Mandalay Bay
The limits were lower at Mandalay Bay. The poker pit minimum bets dropped to $15 from the previous $25 for all but pai gow. Double and triple zero roulette were $20. Pai gow poker and 3/2 blackjack dropped to $25 from $50. Craps and crapless craps remained $25. All the high-limit tables, which include double-deck and six-deck blackjack that stands on soft 17, as well as European Roulette, were $100.
The stadium was also offline at Mandalay Bay. We were also unable to locate the Bally 00 roulette upright that short-paid on straight and split bets.
Heads-up 00 roulette and Golden Ball 00 roulette have a $3 minimum. All other options have a $5 minimum. Options include Dual Wheel 00 roulette, Shoot to Win craps, heads-up craps, and 6:5 blackjack (both heads-up and multiplayer).
