Elko, NV or Wendover, NV

Trying to decide whether to make my next weekend trip to Elko or Wendover. I'm about an equal distance north of both locations, so has anybody had experience with casinos in these cities? From what I see online, both have some attractive options.

I never been to either, but I'd imagine if you're looking for advice, probably best to mention what you're interested in.

In wendover, the 5 casinos are reasonably large and relatively close together and there is a shuttle you can take between them. 3 of the casinos are owned by the same group so their rewards cards are the same. There are several restaurants and buffets to choose from and there are discounts for food available to commercial drivers if you visit the truckers lounge in the truck parking area across from the rainbow casino. Table games and craps are usually available 24/7.

Elko has 3 or 4 casinos of decent size but they are on opposite sides of town from one another. I haven't been there in a year or two, but back then the table games and craps were only available in the evenings except on the Saturday they may have had them going all day.

If you're going only for the casino action, wendover is a better choice,but that's about all there is to do there. I think that elko would have more to do if you wanted to do other things besides gambling.

I hope this helps.

At the two non peppermill casinos in wendover, cheating, I mean preferential shuffling, is rampant even to players who are flat betting.

Many years ago I did a loop covering nearly all the casinos in N Nevada. I can remember [West] Wendover but can't remember much about Elko. Also Rte 93 South from Wendover was an enjoyable drive (to Ely, then rte 50 onto Fallon). Also you can always nip into Utah as I did.

As an aside I can't remember the issue of the time zone change in [W] Wendover as I don't think they had introduced it back then.

I make 2-3 trips a year to Elko, Stay at the Red Lion. Small casino but good coffee shop, great steak house ad great beds. Room comps are fairly easy to get. Best deal for VP is the sports book bar. They offer a weekly contest of $50 for the high hand of the week on each machine, and you do not need to be present to win. Sort of nice to get a check in the mail after I get home.

Wendover is much better than Elko. It's a border town with four or five large casinos in close proximity. Elko is an old mining/ranching town with a few small depressed casinos scattered around.

I'm going to W. Wendover next month for the first time. I play mostly video poker and blackjack. Any tips? Thanks!

Don't know where you live, but Reno would be your best choice.

Mantess Wendover casinos share ownership. So, rules and paytables are similar. If you count cards, you should know its kind of sweaty. Also, there are many mirrored walls. If you play too long (or drink too much) take care not to walk into a wall.

Quote: Vegasrider

Don't know where you live, but Reno would be your best choice.

Western Colorado, but I bought airline tickets to Wendover, UT.

Quote: rdw4potus

Mantess Wendover casinos share ownership. So, rules and paytables are similar. If you count cards, you should know its kind of sweaty. Also, there are many mirrored walls. If you play too long (or drink too much) take care not to walk into a wall.

I do count, but not to a great extent (bet $10 instead of $5 if the count is positive enough, hit 12 vs a low card if the count is negative enough). What do you mean by "sweaty"?

I will be sure to watch out for the mirrored walls! LOL

Quote: KevinAA

I do count, but not to a great extent (bet $10 instead of $5 if the count is positive enough, hit 12 vs a low card if the count is negative enough). What do you mean by "sweaty"?

I will be sure to watch out for the mirrored walls! LOL

They watch for counting & will flat-bet or early shuffle, etc. if they think you're counting cards.

Quote: KevinAA

Western Colorado, but I bought airline tickets to Wendover, UT.

Sounds like Grand Junction. Betting $5 -$10 in BJ will get you all kinds of free rooms here in Reno as long as you get a players card. I have a friend who flies out from Connecticut every winter and splits his stays between a couple of the resorts, which also includes food. The casinos have pretty liberal rules here which varies from casinos. Such as the Silver Legacy where you can double down at anytime, not just on the first two cards. You can get rental cars for $5-$9 a day going through priceline.com or most of the casinos has a free airport shuttle.

I travel to Elko about 6 times a year for work, and the places where you gamble is limited and the food is horrible. I'm guessing Wendover is similar but I have never been there. However, Lake Tahoe is different. Although it's only about 30 minutes away, its tough to find deals and much stricter rules on BJ.

Quote: skrbornevrymin

In wendover, the 5 casinos are reasonably large and relatively close together and there is a shuttle you can take between them. 3 of the casinos are owned by the same group so their rewards cards are the same.

Beware.
It can happen anywhere but a woman just won ten grand in Wendover and got robbed in the parking lot. It was just a lucky purse snatcher, he did not know she had ten grand in cash inside her purse after having just won a jackpot. The casino is in Nevada but its parking lot is located in Utah, so police jurisdictions are different for Montego Bay Casino patrons.

Quote: KevinAA

What do you mean by "sweaty"?

Its a reference to the phrase Sweat The Money which means a casino's attitude of excessive concern whenever the casino loses and the player wins. Its an attitude that can be manifested in several ways but particularly at the BJ table where if they even think you are counting cards the floor will show up with a pocket knife and start discussing castration. Well,,,, okay its NOT quite that overt, but you get the idea.

Sweat the money casinos offer bad odds and do anything they can to make it unpleasant for winners. Avoid Sweat the Money joints if possible. Lose your money in a decent atmosphere.

Already went out there last week and I will be heading out again next week to teach another class. Would anyone want me to check out any of the casinos while I'm there?