Welcome to our second annual Vegas Best Advantage Awards. It covers the best games at Las Vegas casinos. Most Vegas Best Advantage Awards are based on the best value using the game’s house edge and minimum bet.
We also posted the Vegas DisAdvantage Awards. These highlight the worst casinos and games in Las Vegas. Images within this article may be used with proper attribution.
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Read them all or jump to a Vegas Best Advantage Award:
- Vegas Best Advantage Award: Overall Value
- Vegas Best Advantage Award: Video Poker
- Vegas Best Advantage Award: Low-Limit Blackjack
- Vegas Best Advantage Award: High-Limit Blackjack
- Vegas Best Advantage Award: Roulette
- Vegas Best Advantage Award: Craps Odds
- Vegas Best Advantage Award: Non-Blackjack Table Game
- Vegas Best Advantage Award: Electronic Table Game
- Vegas Best Advantage Award: Poker Room
- Vegas Best Advantage Award: Sportsbook
- Vegas Best Advantage Award: Players Club
- Vegas Best Advantage Award: Table Game Selection
- Vegas Best Advantage Award: Most Improved
Vegas Best Advantage: Overall Value – South Point
South Point once again wins the Vegas Best Advantage Overall Award. It has 99 percent and better video poker throughout the casino, including at all the bars. There is $5 3/2 six-deck blackjack 24 hours a day. Additionally, South Point at least ties for the lowest minimum bets in the market for baccarat, pai gow poker, Three Card Poker, and Ultimate Texas Hold’em.
The South Point poker room went from barely relevant to one of the busiest in the Las Vegas market over the last 10 years. The sportsbook is one of the few independent ones remaining.
Best Advantage on the Strip – Treasure Island
Once again, the Las Vegas Strip casino with the Best Advantage is Treasure Island. TI offers the cheapest 3/2 blackjack on the Las Vegas Strip. There is a $15 six-deck game with surrender and re-split aces available. Also for $15, there is 3/2 double-deck blackjack. High-limit versions stand on soft 17 and start at $50. The double-deck version is the cheapest of its kind in Las Vegas. The salon also has $50 European Roulette, while typically this game has a $100 or higher minimum everywhere else.
There is hybrid craps for $5 and live craps for $15. A live dealer stadium has $3 3/2 blackjack that stands on soft 17. Other $3 live dealer games include Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Casino War, and 00 roulette. The best video poker game is $1 7/5 Super Double Double Bonus (98.6%).
Best Advantage Downtown – Plaza
Plaza wins the Vegas Best Advantage Downtown Las Vegas Casino for a second year. It still has the best video poker game of any Las Vegas casino. It backs that up by having five other titles above 99%, of which four are on bar tops. Plaza has the second-best bar for video poker in Las Vegas.
Plaza is the only downtown Las Vegas casino with single zero roulette, which starts at just $15. All traditional blackjack pays 3/2. The six-deck version usually starts at $10. Craps with 10 times odds has the same minimum.
(Plaza was a sponsor of our casino record run in 2023.)
Vegas Best Advantage Award for Video Poker
Plaza’s full-pay Joker Poker continues to have the highest theoretical return (100.65%) of any Las Vegas video poker game. Its five other 99% and better games, including four available at Omaha Bar and Sand Dollar Lounge, complement the best game well. So, Plaza once again wins the Vegas Best Advantage Award for Video Poker.
Best video poker in the locals market
While no video poker games return 100%, all video poker machines at South Point have games that pay back 99% or better, including bartop machines. This earns them the top spot for video poker at locals casinos for 2024.
The best game is 16/10 Deuces Wild (NSUD, 99.73%). Other video poker games available include 9/5 Super Double Bonus (99.69%), 9/6 Bonus Poker Deluxe (99.64%), 9/7 Triple Double Bonus (99.58%), 9/6 Jacks or Better (99.54%), 18/7/5 Joker Poker (99.29%), 12/8 Loose Deuces (99.2%), 8/5 Bonus Poker (99.17%), and 9/7 Double Bonus Poker.
Last year, this award went to Station Casinos.
Vegas Best Advantage Strip Video Poker Awards
Caesars Palace for high limit
Caesars Palace still has the best high-limit video poker game in Las Vegas. It is 9/7 Triple Double Bonus (99.58%) at the $25, $50, and $100 denominations. It also has 9/6 Jacks or Better at $5 and higher, which is also available at a few other Strip casinos.
Peppermill for low limit
Peppermill is a restaurant on the Las Vegas Strip across from Resorts World. It wins the Best Vegas Advantage Award for Low-Limit Video Poker on the Strip. The best game is 16/10 Deuces Wild (NSUD, 99.73%). Other quality games include 9/6 Jacks or Better (99.54%), 8/5 Bonus Poker (99.17%), 9/7 Double Bonus (99.11%), and 9/6 Double Double Bonus (98.98%). Denominations are $0.25, $0.50, and $1. The maximum bet is 20 credits.
Last year, this award went to Tropicana.
Vegas Best Advantage Low-Limit Blackjack
With the end of 3/2 single-deck blackjack at El Cortez, Poker Palace wins the top spot for low-limit blackjack in Las Vegas for 2024. In 2023, this game won the best low-limit blackjack game in the locals market. This North Las Vegas casino has a $3 3/2 six-deck game with a bonus rule. Players may double down on two or three cards before and after splitting.
Best Low-Limit Strip Blackjack
For a second year, Treasure Island earns the top spot amongst Strip casinos for low-limit blackjack. The casino has $15 3/2 blackjack. The game uses six decks and is dealt out of a shoe. Double down before and after splitting, as well as surrender and re-split aces up to four hands are available. For $15 or $25, there is 3/2 double-deck blackjack with double down before and after splitting.
Best Low-Limit Blackjack Downtown
For 2024, Downtown Grand wins the award for best low-limit blackjack downtown. It offers the only consistent $5 3/2 blackjack game in downtown Las Vegas. Players may double down before and after splitting. All pairs may be split up to four hands, including aces.
Vegas Best Advantage for High-Limit Blackjack
The best Las Vegas blackjack game by expected return continues to be double-deck that stands on soft 17. It starts at $50 at Treasure Island. It is $100 at Mandalay Bay, Palms, and Park MGM. The minimum bet is $300 to $500 at Aria, Bellagio, Fontainebleau, and MGM Grand.
Vegas Best Advantage for Roulette
European Roulette is still the best version of the game in Las Vegas. It is single zero with la partage, meaning even money bets receive half back when zero is called. This game starts at $25 to $50 on the casino floor at MGM Grand. It is $50 at Treasure Island and $100 at Aria, Bellagio, Cosmopolitan, Encore, Fontainebleau, Mandalay Bay, Park MGM, and Resorts World. At Wynn, the minimum is $200 or $300.
Vegas Best Advantage Award for Craps Odds
In Las Vegas, the days of 100 times craps odds ended in 2021. The maximum odds allowed since continues to be 20 times. Sam’s Town offers this daily. Main Street Station also has 20 times odds. However, its pit is only open on weekends.
Vegas Best Advantage Non-Blackjack Table Game
For another year, the best table game in terms of the lowest house advantage is Ultimate Texas Hold’em. According to the Wizard of Odds, the element of risk is 0.53% with perfect play. This explains why its minimum bet is usually higher than comparable poker pit games. Taking max odds at a 10 or 20-times craps game returns about the same but requires a much larger bankroll. Ultimate Texas Hold’em is dealt at 25 Strip casinos, 7 casinos downtown, and 19 other casinos in the Las Vegas Valley.
Vegas Best Advantage Electronic Table Game
Treasure Island still offers the best stadium setup in Las Vegas in terms of player returns and lowest minimum bets. The live dealer stadium has a $3 minimum for all games, including 3/2 blackjack that stands on soft 17 and has surrender and re-split aces. In 2024, Ultimate Texas Hold’em and Casino War replaced baccarat and Three Card Poker on the menu. Double zero roulette is still available.
Vegas Best Advantage Poker Room Award
The Wynn Poker Room at Encore again takes our top spot for the best Las Vegas poker room. We based this on our observations and ratings from PokerAtlas users. Encore has a spacious, luxurious poker room with a wide variety of cash games and tournaments. It is conveniently located by the pedestrian bridge that connects with the Wynn parking deck.
Vegas Best Advantage Sportsbook Award
Circa has the largest sportsbook in the world. It has three stories of screens and a massive odds wall. There is seating for all levels of guests, from free theater seats to VIP recliners and booths that require a minimum spend that depends on the day and event. Additionally, Circa is fearless and takes all betting action. Its holds on straight bets and futures are often among the lowest in the industry.
There are two stories of video poker machines. One level offers 8/5 Bonus Poker (99.17%) at the $0.50 and higher denominations. Drink tickets are earned on these machines.
(Circa provided transportation and more for our casino record run in 2023.)
Vegas Best Advantage Players Club Award
The All Access Players Club wins again for 2024. It is the player club used by Binion’s and Four Queens. Slot and video poker players receive the best cash back and comps in Las Vegas. Unlike most other casinos, players receive both cash back and comps, so there is no reason to decide which to accept.
Slots and most video poker machines return 0.31% in cash back and 0.63% in comps. Full-pay video poker machines return half that amount.
Vegas Best Advantage Table Game Selection
Wynn continues to deal the largest selection of live table games in Las Vegas. There are 23 different types of live table games offered. Nearly every poker pit game in Las Vegas is available at Wynn. It is one of just two Las Vegas properties with Casino War and one of the three casinos with a live big wheel. Other games include pai gow tiles, two types of pai gow poker, and three versions of roulette. There are also six types of blackjack, including two variants: Blackjack Switch and Free Bet.
Best Downtown Table Game Selection
Once again, Golden Nugget deals the largest selection of table games downtown. Seventeen different live table games are available while most downtown casinos deal around seven to nine games. Golden Nugget has the only Criss Cross Poker table in the Las Vegas market and the only live big wheel downtown. Additionally, it is the only casino downtown with Fortune Pai Gow Poker, Mississippi Stud, and Top Card Flush. Top Card Flush plays like High Card Flush.
Best Locals Casino Table Game Selection
Red Rock has 19 different live table games giving it the largest table game selection in the locals market once again. There are seven types of blackjack and a large selection of poker pit games. In addition to the typical table game selection, options include Crazy 4 Poker, I Luv Suits, Mississippi Stud, 0 Roulette, and crapless craps.
(Station Casinos was a sponsor of our casino record run in 2023)
Vegas Best Advantage Award: Most Improved
Slots A Fun wins the Vegas Best Advantage Award for the Most Improved Casino. In 2023, Slots A Fun was a forgotten property. Its bar was closed. Few players visited it. Earlier this year, Slots A Fun brought back $2 drink and food specials. Dozens of coin slots were moved there from Circus Circus and acquired from vendors. Cheap blackjack, craps, and roulette are now available. This turned the vibe from nonexistent to a classic one.
