Why Las Vegas?
February 19th, 2018 at 2:39:36 PM
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Not that I work for the Reno Chamber of Commerce, but why do gamblers insist going to Vegas? Unless you are a poker player or a real high stakes gambler and get comped, for the average gambler I see no value. If you're a $10-$15 a hand table games player or even a .25 cent slot or VP player, I don't see the benefits unless you're also there for the 1st class entertainment. If I recall, I think the bartenders require you to bet at least $1 a hand to receive a free drink playing the machines, here in Reno, it's ten cents!
February 19th, 2018 at 3:32:50 PM
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Simply put... The reason is because Vegas is ...well, IT'S VEGAS BABY!!
'Winners hit n run... Losers stick around'
February 19th, 2018 at 3:36:51 PM
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For me, flying into Reno typically costs twice as much as flying into Vegas, and will add a couple hours to the flight. If travel to either were equal, I would probably split my trips between the two or go to whichever was the better deal for rooms/food/free play/etc. My comps have been better for Vegas than Reno recently.
I think you can still find value in Vegas, just not on the strip. Last time I was out there, we stayed a couple of days at Paris, but did most of our gambling at Ellis Island or Downtown. We also spent a few days at Red Rock. I think gambling value at these places is on par with Reno.
In general, I think people would rather go to Vegas than Reno because Vegas is "Vegas, baby!" and Reno is not.
EDIT: D'oh! Out-quicked by WMW! :P
I think you can still find value in Vegas, just not on the strip. Last time I was out there, we stayed a couple of days at Paris, but did most of our gambling at Ellis Island or Downtown. We also spent a few days at Red Rock. I think gambling value at these places is on par with Reno.
In general, I think people would rather go to Vegas than Reno because Vegas is "Vegas, baby!" and Reno is not.
EDIT: D'oh! Out-quicked by WMW! :P
"Dealer has 'rock'... Pay 'paper!'"
February 19th, 2018 at 3:40:43 PM
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Because the expression is Vegas, Baby! Vegas! and it is NOT Reno Baby, Reno!! And that is perhaps just about the only reason left.
If you go back into various archives of mystery novels and B movies and the like you will find that it was Reno, not Vegas, that was featured. Gin soaked dames went to Reno to get rid of an oaf, not to Vegas.
Vegas boomed when movie stars, many of them hard core gamblers, made appearances routinely in Las Vegas. Joe E Lewis once got his data a pack of free cigarettes that cost him ten grand. One Hollywood starlet got short sticked at Binions and re-adjusted her wardrobe to provide a full view exclaiming "if you want to look, look but send me my dice".
Also the "visit your fine feathered friends" campaign in Los Angeles and New York City ads had a great draw. The fine feathered friends were of course the dancers that populated the girl ghetto that used to exist that was just full of tall, leggy dancers sunning themselves au naturel. Women earning small fortune dancing and dealing blackjack in the post-The Book era kept the crowds growing. Benny Binion packed everyone in, casinos had their own schools to teach blackjack, casinos paid parents bonuses if their children became blackjack dealers, particularly their daughters. There were rumors all over Vegas about breast sizes and the best shifts for cocktail waitresses. Benny Binion ended the rumors by putting up a chart in four inch letters and installing a mirror so the girls could see the view men would be having as they bent down to place a drink on a crap's tables ledge. He told them straight out that view is worth a grand a month to us and about an extra grand a month to you. Circus Circus built a 'world's longest buffet' and actually made a profit on it too. Everything was excessive and everyone was swimming in money as the stock market boomed.
So Vegas became the symbol of wealth and greed.
Now its all restaurants and dance clubs and pool parties and oh yeah,,,, a little gambling now and then.
Better bargains all over the place now and Reno is one alternative.Sure it was really bad a few years ago now its just sort of bad, but that just makes the casinos really work to get people to drop by and to come back. That means the casinos have to do well by them. Far more so than in Vegas it seems.
If you go back into various archives of mystery novels and B movies and the like you will find that it was Reno, not Vegas, that was featured. Gin soaked dames went to Reno to get rid of an oaf, not to Vegas.
Vegas boomed when movie stars, many of them hard core gamblers, made appearances routinely in Las Vegas. Joe E Lewis once got his data a pack of free cigarettes that cost him ten grand. One Hollywood starlet got short sticked at Binions and re-adjusted her wardrobe to provide a full view exclaiming "if you want to look, look but send me my dice".
Also the "visit your fine feathered friends" campaign in Los Angeles and New York City ads had a great draw. The fine feathered friends were of course the dancers that populated the girl ghetto that used to exist that was just full of tall, leggy dancers sunning themselves au naturel. Women earning small fortune dancing and dealing blackjack in the post-The Book era kept the crowds growing. Benny Binion packed everyone in, casinos had their own schools to teach blackjack, casinos paid parents bonuses if their children became blackjack dealers, particularly their daughters. There were rumors all over Vegas about breast sizes and the best shifts for cocktail waitresses. Benny Binion ended the rumors by putting up a chart in four inch letters and installing a mirror so the girls could see the view men would be having as they bent down to place a drink on a crap's tables ledge. He told them straight out that view is worth a grand a month to us and about an extra grand a month to you. Circus Circus built a 'world's longest buffet' and actually made a profit on it too. Everything was excessive and everyone was swimming in money as the stock market boomed.
So Vegas became the symbol of wealth and greed.
Now its all restaurants and dance clubs and pool parties and oh yeah,,,, a little gambling now and then.
Better bargains all over the place now and Reno is one alternative.Sure it was really bad a few years ago now its just sort of bad, but that just makes the casinos really work to get people to drop by and to come back. That means the casinos have to do well by them. Far more so than in Vegas it seems.
February 19th, 2018 at 3:46:24 PM
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Many would go to Reno if flights were cheaper, big factor. It's the value gambling capital USA. Pretty sure their weather is not as good, snow scares people away.
I am a robot.
February 19th, 2018 at 3:47:34 PM
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Because what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. And what happens in Reno....NVM, nothing ever happens in Reno.
♪♪Now you swear and kick and beg us That you're not a gamblin' man Then you find you're back in Vegas With a handle in your hand♪♪ Your black cards can make you money So you hide them when you're able In the land of casinos and money You must put them on the table♪♪ You go back Jack do it again roulette wheels turinin' 'round and 'round♪♪ You go back Jack do it again♪♪
February 19th, 2018 at 3:47:53 PM
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Red Rock used to offer four different 'intimacy kits' when you reserved your room. They needed to lure customers and that is the only reason they sprung for mints, rose petals, various flavored items and faux bondage tape, etc.Quote: JoemanWe also spent a few days at Red Rock.
February 19th, 2018 at 3:56:01 PM
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I started because of the weather. Best time of year for me to take vacations was January and I was fleeing the snow, not looking for it.
Rooms were cheap or free, car rentals were a fraction of what I was used to paying. Airfare and cars in Reno are not cheap.
I'm headed north this fall, but Reno isn't a priority. Carson City and Virginia City are.
Rooms were cheap or free, car rentals were a fraction of what I was used to paying. Airfare and cars in Reno are not cheap.
I'm headed north this fall, but Reno isn't a priority. Carson City and Virginia City are.
The older I get, the better I recall things that never happened
February 19th, 2018 at 3:56:22 PM
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Look at how many people play 6:5 BJ even when it is explained to them, they you have your answer.
You are asking the wrong question, It is not "why do GAMBLERS insist on going to Las Vegas,: It is, "why do TOURISTS not want to go to Reno?" I would like to try Reno one day, but I will have to go alone. I cannot even convince people I know that Freemont St is better to play than the Strip.
I'd say Reno needs to stop trying to be "Better Value Vegas" and get some kind of draw on its own. If not:
Get the hotels to have real one-to-one service, not shuffling you like cattle into their 4,000 rooms, have the room waiting for the guest, not the guest waiting for it.
Find a niche for the shows, artists on their way up or back, in an intimate setting,
Get some "draws," make it feel like an adult vacation but not in the porno way.
Vegas Lite will not get you tourists, Vegas simply has too many cheap rooms to fill.
So much could be done.
You are asking the wrong question, It is not "why do GAMBLERS insist on going to Las Vegas,: It is, "why do TOURISTS not want to go to Reno?" I would like to try Reno one day, but I will have to go alone. I cannot even convince people I know that Freemont St is better to play than the Strip.
I'd say Reno needs to stop trying to be "Better Value Vegas" and get some kind of draw on its own. If not:
Get the hotels to have real one-to-one service, not shuffling you like cattle into their 4,000 rooms, have the room waiting for the guest, not the guest waiting for it.
Find a niche for the shows, artists on their way up or back, in an intimate setting,
Get some "draws," make it feel like an adult vacation but not in the porno way.
Vegas Lite will not get you tourists, Vegas simply has too many cheap rooms to fill.
So much could be done.
All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others
February 19th, 2018 at 4:13:28 PM
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I would love to go to reno and lake Tahoe but flights are about 500 compared to vegas at $120.
Expect the worst and you will never be disappointed.
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February 19th, 2018 at 6:12:52 PM
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I'm told Reno has Density Altitude problems and capacity limitations.
February 19th, 2018 at 6:32:27 PM
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We go for the cheap flights, cheap rooms, and great food and entertainment. All that exists because of the casinos, so it’s nice that we enjoy a wager every now and then.
A falling knife has no handle.
February 19th, 2018 at 6:59:59 PM
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It's a matter of crowds attracting crowds. The fact that so many people visit the city makes flights cheaper and food/entertainment better. This also leads to all the "Vegas" meme type stuff (ie 'Vegas, baby' and "Only in Vegas') and the city delivers enough of that to keep me coming back - the people that return as often as I do (4 times a year) would tend to agree with that (I presume).
And Ping Pang Pong at Gold Coast is really, really good. Go there for dim sum.
And Ping Pang Pong at Gold Coast is really, really good. Go there for dim sum.
Its - Possessive; It's - "It is" / "It has"; There - Location; Their - Possessive; They're - "They are"
February 19th, 2018 at 8:49:14 PM
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I'd be driving from the LA region, so it'd be an extra six hours past Vegas, which is a hard sell...
But, for me, I suppose it boils down to an abject lack of meaningful marketing. Even before I started gambling, I had a pretty decent sense of Vegas. (Mostly accurate, though my imagination involved considerably less time and effort spent parking.) Before I went to Laughlin, I had a vague idea what to expect. (Unfortunately, I find the river smells like sewage disturbingly often and the general population is both older and more irritating than I expected.)
Reno? That falls somewhere between "That place used to be like Little Vegas, right? Is it still around?" and "Didn't somebody shoot somebody there once, just to watch them die?" I really have no idea what's over there, and considering it's over twice the distance away, I'm not inclined to head over on a whim.
But, for me, I suppose it boils down to an abject lack of meaningful marketing. Even before I started gambling, I had a pretty decent sense of Vegas. (Mostly accurate, though my imagination involved considerably less time and effort spent parking.) Before I went to Laughlin, I had a vague idea what to expect. (Unfortunately, I find the river smells like sewage disturbingly often and the general population is both older and more irritating than I expected.)
Reno? That falls somewhere between "That place used to be like Little Vegas, right? Is it still around?" and "Didn't somebody shoot somebody there once, just to watch them die?" I really have no idea what's over there, and considering it's over twice the distance away, I'm not inclined to head over on a whim.
February 19th, 2018 at 10:33:08 PM
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It wasn't for nothing. The guy stepped on my dogs shadow.
The older I get, the better I recall things that never happened
February 19th, 2018 at 11:13:58 PM
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Even a nice folk song about Reno.
It's a long, long way down to Reno Nevada
And a long, long way to your home
But the change in your pocket is beginning to grumble
And you reap just about what you've sown
You can walk down the street, pass your face in the window
You can keep on fooling around
You can work day and night, take a chance on promotion
You can fall through a hole in the ground
Now there ain't no game like the game you're playing
When you got a little something to lose
And there ain't no time like the the time you been wasting
And you waste just about what you choose
There's a man at the table and you know he's been able
To return all the odds that you lay
Hey, but you can't feed your hunger and you ain't getting younger
And your tongue ain't got nothing to say
And it's a long, long way down to Reno Nevada
And a long, long way to your home
But the ground underneath you is beginning to tremble
And the sky up a above you has grown
There's a time to be moving and a time to be grooving
And a time just for climbing the wall
But the odds have been doubled and it ain't worth the trouble
And you're never going nowhere at all
It's a long, long way down to Reno Nevada
And a long, long way to your home
But the change in your pocket is beginning to grumble
And you reap just about what you've sown
There's a man at the table and you know he's been able
To return all the odds that you lay
Hey, but you can't feed your hunger and you ain't getting younger
And your tongue ain't got nothing to say
It's a long, long way down to Reno Nevada
And a long, long way to your home
But the change in your pocket is beginning to grumble
And you reap just about what you've sown
You can walk down the street, pass your face in the window
You can keep on fooling around
You can work day and night, take a chance on promotion
You can fall through a hole in the ground
Now there ain't no game like the game you're playing
When you got a little something to lose
And there ain't no time like the the time you been wasting
And you waste just about what you choose
There's a man at the table and you know he's been able
To return all the odds that you lay
Hey, but you can't feed your hunger and you ain't getting younger
And your tongue ain't got nothing to say
And it's a long, long way down to Reno Nevada
And a long, long way to your home
But the ground underneath you is beginning to tremble
And the sky up a above you has grown
There's a time to be moving and a time to be grooving
And a time just for climbing the wall
But the odds have been doubled and it ain't worth the trouble
And you're never going nowhere at all
It's a long, long way down to Reno Nevada
And a long, long way to your home
But the change in your pocket is beginning to grumble
And you reap just about what you've sown
There's a man at the table and you know he's been able
To return all the odds that you lay
Hey, but you can't feed your hunger and you ain't getting younger
And your tongue ain't got nothing to say
Sanitized for Your Protection
February 19th, 2018 at 11:21:29 PM
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Good point, OP. There was a time not too long ago where Vegas was basically the ONLY place to gamble aside from horse, dog, and Lottery. That was when most states had a ban on casinos. Since the casino ban has been lifted on most, if not all, there really isn't that much incentive to go to Vegas anymore since most people can just hop into their local casino to gamble nowadays.
In both The Hunger Games and in gambling, may the odds be ever in your favor. :D
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February 20th, 2018 at 6:27:53 AM
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exactly what I was going to post.Quote: NathanGood point, OP. There was a time not too long ago where Vegas was basically the ONLY place to gamble aside from horse, dog, and Lottery. That was when most states had a ban on casinos. Since the casino ban has been lifted on most, if not all, there really isn't that much incentive to go to Vegas anymore since most people can just hop into their local casino to gamble nowadays.
I now have local casinos near me so no need to fly 6hrs each way (plus 1.5hrs at airport).
there's nothing in Vegas that interests me anymore.
RIP: Casino Royale's $3 craps with 20x odds (100x with $5 min)
Craps is paradise (Pair of dice).
Lets hear it for the SpeedCount Mathletes :)
February 20th, 2018 at 7:05:30 AM
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Quote: NathanGood point, OP. There was a time not too long ago where Vegas was basically the ONLY place to gamble aside from horse, dog, and Lottery. That was when most states had a ban on casinos. Since the casino ban has been lifted on most, if not all, there really isn't that much incentive to go to Vegas anymore since most people can just hop into their local casino to gamble nowadays.
Your local casinos such as the Indian Reservations may not have favorable rules so Vegas would still be on table for anyone who is interested in trying to win. I lived in Vegas for over a decade, and had traveled to Reno time to time. In comparison, I thought Vegas was so much better. Even when I relocated out of state and found myself returning to Nevada, but Reno of all places, my negative views of the city still lingered. It's only when I actually spent some time here in this city, I have discovered it's so much better than Vegas in terms of gambling, with the exception of live poker & bingo. It's true though, we don't get the A entertainment. Kind of surprised that people are finding airfare so high. My friend from the east coast finds better deals to Reno than Vegas. Southwest, Frontier are some of the budget airlines that serves Reno, although their prices may not seem to be on the budget side at times.
February 20th, 2018 at 7:07:56 AM
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"Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded"- Yogi Berra
February 20th, 2018 at 9:01:58 AM
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The high resort fees, the parking fees, and the weak comps from the strip casinos all fuel the masochist in me; coupled to the cost of air fare, a rental car and a place to stay and you can see the new Las Vegas secret to success.
We all know masochism and casino gambling go hand in hand.
We all know masochism and casino gambling go hand in hand.
"What, me worry?"
February 20th, 2018 at 9:35:08 AM
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If I am in Reno, it means I am passing through on my way to Lake Tahoe. There are more attractive things nearby.
It’s like asking “Why Las Vegas over Mesquite?”
It’s like asking “Why Las Vegas over Mesquite?”
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication - Leonardo da Vinci
February 20th, 2018 at 10:21:29 AM
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Yeah, but as land values rise hundreds of those South Lake Tahoe nudists are forced to move.Quote: AyecarumbaIf I am in Reno, it means I am passing through on my way to Lake Tahoe. There are more attractive things nearby.
Seriously, casinos are everywhere now and there is no need for long flights, airport lines and indignities, etc. just because better casinos can be available, local is "good enough". People still dream of Vegas, know that a 'better deal' is available in Reno but if they can get to a nearby casino in twenty minutes, why aim for the ultimate?
February 20th, 2018 at 10:36:26 AM
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I'm still trying to understand why the paradise on the River known as Laughlin attracts roughly one percent of the number of visitors Vegas does.
I guess life just isn't fair.
I guess life just isn't fair.
The older I get, the better I recall things that never happened
February 20th, 2018 at 10:56:20 AM
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Quote: FleaStiffYeah, but as land values rise hundreds of those South Lake Tahoe nudists are forced to move.
Seriously, casinos are everywhere now and there is no need for long flights, airport lines and indignities, etc. just because better casinos can be available, local is "good enough". People still dream of Vegas, know that a 'better deal' is available in Reno but if they can get to a nearby casino in twenty minutes, why aim for the ultimate?
For people who have no idea of the value of the plays, staying and playing the local tribal casino may be a wash. If their money doesn't last very long, it's not twice the fun.
Sanitized for Your Protection
February 20th, 2018 at 11:52:28 AM
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I'm from Alaska and have no casinos/gambling besides pull tabs and bingo halls. I play poker, video poker, craps, and blackjack, typically in that order. My Vegas trips typically coincide with a poker event in town at the same time. We'll be down there next month for the WSOPC stop at Planet Hollywood along with March Madness madness. We have several guys in our poker group that go to Reno for golf tournaments throughout the year so I should make it at some point.
February 20th, 2018 at 12:56:35 PM
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Oh ghad, I'm going to agree with MWM!!!Quote: WatchMeWinSimply put... The reason is because Vegas is ...well, IT'S VEGAS BABY!!
In essence, vegas has grown bigger than just a place to gamble. There's an electric feeling in the air (for tourists) with all of the massive hotels and casinos, all of the glitz and glamour, and it's just something you don't get in other gambling venues that offer more value but are smaller and less attractive. There's something about knowing you're in a town with HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of other visitors all looking to have fun and a good time.
Another words... It's Vegas, baby!
Playing it correctly means you've already won.
February 20th, 2018 at 1:17:19 PM
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Quote: billryanI'm still trying to understand why the paradise on the River known as Laughlin attracts roughly one percent of the number of visitors Vegas does.
It could be because the casinos are really hospice facilities in disguise.
"What, me worry?"
February 20th, 2018 at 1:44:55 PM
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The Atlantis hosts a WPT event during March Madness. Crazy time of year down here as far as poker and college hoops.
February 20th, 2018 at 2:00:04 PM
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Quote: RomesOh ghad, I'm going to agree with MWM!!!
In essence, vegas has grown bigger than just a place to gamble. There's an electric feeling in the air (for tourists) with all of the massive hotels and casinos, all of the glitz and glamour, and it's just something you don't get in other gambling venues that offer more value but are smaller and less attractive. There's something about knowing you're in a town with HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of other visitors all looking to have fun and a good time.
Another words... It's Vegas, baby!
Yea Yea Yea....
The new tag line for Vegas, or AC should be ... ' Welcome to Vegas/AC, All Vices Accepted!'
'Winners hit n run... Losers stick around'
February 20th, 2018 at 2:00:41 PM
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Quote: WatchMeWinYea Yea Yea....
The new tag line for Vegas, or AC should be ... ' Welcome to Vegas/AC, All Vices Accepted!'
.....if you only knew....!
'Winners hit n run... Losers stick around'
February 20th, 2018 at 4:33:10 PM
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Quote: MrVIt could be because the casinos are really hospice facilities in disguise.
Actually, that would be a better description of a bingo parlor. You get a seat when the old fart sitting in it dies of old age or lung cancer that is caused by all the smoke inside.
"I should have bet black." - Winston Churchill .
February 20th, 2018 at 4:59:48 PM
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The one time I went to Laughlin the patrons were so old and rickety that I assumed the casinos gave out comped Depends and Ensure instead of buffet passes.
"What, me worry?"
February 20th, 2018 at 6:10:38 PM
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Why Vegas?
Shows and concerts. For example, next weekend, I will be in Vegas. I love comedy. I can see Seinfeld, Bill Maher, Andrew Dice Clay, Tom Green, Rich Little, and have a choice of numerous comedy clubs. Foo Fighters are in town. For shows, I have the Cirque sets for high end. Elton John is playing. The Golden Knights are playing a Canadian team next Friday night. In Reno, you might get a headliner at the Atlantis or Silver Legacy but it's rare. I always take in a show in Vegas.
The strip is safe. I can walk (or take a monorail/Uber) from Mandalay Bay to the Wynn (2+ miles) and have 20 different (yet like, I know) different casino experiences from the top end to the bottom end of the strip. Downtown Reno is rundown. I can take the Deuce downtown for the Fremont Street Experience. Then I can leave.
The nightlife is very strong, if you like clubs and watching young women in tight clothing (or less), then you will have a blast. Most casinos have a good nightclub.
Food is eons better, as you can pick restaurants from world-class chefs. Or you can eat at Ellis Island. Or you can do both. You don't get that in Reno. Food is a major reason why I enjoy Vegas.
The casino hotels are icons. Most of the pools are better. It's hotter earlier.
Flights are cheaper in general, though Reno is a two hour drive for me.
The tradeoff is that the gambling on the strip generally stinks. But you can play Pai Gow (same rules), play 3:2 blackjacks (higher limits), and all of your favorite table games. You can take a 5 minute walk to Ellis Island to get your 99.5% VP at all denominations. Downtown offers good VP as well, or you take the free shuttle from the Fashion mall to Red Rock or a bus from CZR to the Palms. So there are games if you know where to look.
Shows and concerts. For example, next weekend, I will be in Vegas. I love comedy. I can see Seinfeld, Bill Maher, Andrew Dice Clay, Tom Green, Rich Little, and have a choice of numerous comedy clubs. Foo Fighters are in town. For shows, I have the Cirque sets for high end. Elton John is playing. The Golden Knights are playing a Canadian team next Friday night. In Reno, you might get a headliner at the Atlantis or Silver Legacy but it's rare. I always take in a show in Vegas.
The strip is safe. I can walk (or take a monorail/Uber) from Mandalay Bay to the Wynn (2+ miles) and have 20 different (yet like, I know) different casino experiences from the top end to the bottom end of the strip. Downtown Reno is rundown. I can take the Deuce downtown for the Fremont Street Experience. Then I can leave.
The nightlife is very strong, if you like clubs and watching young women in tight clothing (or less), then you will have a blast. Most casinos have a good nightclub.
Food is eons better, as you can pick restaurants from world-class chefs. Or you can eat at Ellis Island. Or you can do both. You don't get that in Reno. Food is a major reason why I enjoy Vegas.
The casino hotels are icons. Most of the pools are better. It's hotter earlier.
Flights are cheaper in general, though Reno is a two hour drive for me.
The tradeoff is that the gambling on the strip generally stinks. But you can play Pai Gow (same rules), play 3:2 blackjacks (higher limits), and all of your favorite table games. You can take a 5 minute walk to Ellis Island to get your 99.5% VP at all denominations. Downtown offers good VP as well, or you take the free shuttle from the Fashion mall to Red Rock or a bus from CZR to the Palms. So there are games if you know where to look.
-----
You want the truth! You can't handle the truth!
February 20th, 2018 at 8:16:48 PM
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Quote: MrVThe high resort fees, the parking fees, and the weak comps from the strip casinos all fuel the masochist in me; coupled to the cost of air fare, a rental car and a place to stay and you can see the new Las Vegas secret to success.
We all know masochism and casino gambling go hand in hand.
I stayed at the Legacy last week. It was about $70 a night, plus a $20 resort fee, and a $3 Reno "Tourism Surcharge". Rental car was 30 bucks.
I liked where I stayed. It was confusing to me at first how the Eldorado, Circus, and Legacy are all connected. I had trouble at first figuring out which casino I was in at any given moment.
Regular flights out of Fresno were expensive, but there was usually a bargain if you book a week in advance. Like $350 round trip. Not bad at all. But it was my first trip to Reno and I thought it would be fun to take the train. That was a mistake, very uncomfortable.
I posted a short trip report elsewhere. Not much detail.
'Emergencies' have always been the pretext on which the safeguards of individual liberty have been eroded.
February 20th, 2018 at 8:27:08 PM
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Quote: RomesOh ghad, I'm going to agree with MWM!!!
In essence, vegas has grown bigger than just a place to gamble. There's an electric feeling in the air (for tourists) with all of the massive hotels and casinos, all of the glitz and glamour, and it's just something you don't get in other gambling venues that offer more value but are smaller and less attractive. There's something about knowing you're in a town with HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of other visitors all looking to have fun and a good time.
Another words... It's Vegas, baby!
A lot of the young crowd goes there just for the music and dancing.
I went to Reno to see if it might be a viable place for me to grow old. But I'm thinking, what happens if it falls apart even more in another 10-20 years and I'm stuck there with lousy gambling opportunities, and a walker. It just can't hold up to Vegas, and I don't think Vegas will allow itself to die. Vegas will fight to stay alive no matter how the country changes. It will reinvent itself or do whatever it's got to do to stay, Vegas.
Still, I do want to return to Reno, but this time stay longer and get a better look. There was a charm to it.
'Emergencies' have always been the pretext on which the safeguards of individual liberty have been eroded.
February 20th, 2018 at 8:29:56 PM
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Quote: MrVThe one time I went to Laughlin the patrons were so old and rickety that I assumed the casinos gave out comped Depends and Ensure instead of buffet passes.
Mickey had some good stories about Laughlin.
'Emergencies' have always been the pretext on which the safeguards of individual liberty have been eroded.
February 20th, 2018 at 8:35:43 PM
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I understand the entertainment and dining aspect of Vegas. It's A+, no better place in my opinion, and I understand it's an attraction for the tourist.
But I'm asking the members on this forum who are primarily gamblers, not tourist, many who are AP's, who are expecting to receive free food and lodging, and trying to win. Why Vegas? Again, unless you like to play live poker, or you are really a high roller who has a host who will take care of you, , I think you may have better success gambling in Reno and certainly stretch your dollar farther with the casinos.
But I'm asking the members on this forum who are primarily gamblers, not tourist, many who are AP's, who are expecting to receive free food and lodging, and trying to win. Why Vegas? Again, unless you like to play live poker, or you are really a high roller who has a host who will take care of you, , I think you may have better success gambling in Reno and certainly stretch your dollar farther with the casinos.
February 20th, 2018 at 8:37:58 PM
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When I first started going to Vegas in the 90s, the philosophy of most casinos was to make money on gambling, and most everything else was a loss leader.
Rooms were cheap, food was truly cheap, and alcohol was free.
Then casinos realized that everything could be used to extract a profit, including parking.
People say Vegas has great food. I respectfully disagree. Vegas foods masks as good food, but it’s mostly gimmicks and celebrity chefs exploiting their name recognition with mediocre but overpriced food. Instead of just chocolate cake, the exact same cake is now Midnight Gonache Butter Creme Mudslide Indulgence Cake by World renown chef Ramone at $25 a slice for a limited offering, please order in advance (so we can microwave the center to make it warm and faux fresh and then spread icing on it).
Case in point are the Vegas buffets. Here in Texas, we have the new redesigned Golden Corals that that are on par with most of the Vegas buffets. Only difference is they cost $10. The same buffet in Vegas would be about $30.
Most of the more expensive Vegas buffets that are highly rated, like at the Wynn, Cosmo, Venetian, etc, are huge rip offs, and the food is marginal.
Golden Coral should do a stunt where they move in a Golden Coral buffet to a LV casino and tell people that it’s a high end buffet that costs $40. No one would be able to tell the difference.
And then the gambling has all gone downhill, with 6:5 BJ, low odds craps, etc. Casinos no longer compete on gambling promotions. Many casinos, like the Strat used to advertise 100x odds and 100% return slots. Double deck BJ with stand on 17 rules were normal. Nowadays, not even the Casino Royale has 100x odds.
I really see no reason to go to Vegas nowadays.
Rooms were cheap, food was truly cheap, and alcohol was free.
Then casinos realized that everything could be used to extract a profit, including parking.
People say Vegas has great food. I respectfully disagree. Vegas foods masks as good food, but it’s mostly gimmicks and celebrity chefs exploiting their name recognition with mediocre but overpriced food. Instead of just chocolate cake, the exact same cake is now Midnight Gonache Butter Creme Mudslide Indulgence Cake by World renown chef Ramone at $25 a slice for a limited offering, please order in advance (so we can microwave the center to make it warm and faux fresh and then spread icing on it).
Case in point are the Vegas buffets. Here in Texas, we have the new redesigned Golden Corals that that are on par with most of the Vegas buffets. Only difference is they cost $10. The same buffet in Vegas would be about $30.
Most of the more expensive Vegas buffets that are highly rated, like at the Wynn, Cosmo, Venetian, etc, are huge rip offs, and the food is marginal.
Golden Coral should do a stunt where they move in a Golden Coral buffet to a LV casino and tell people that it’s a high end buffet that costs $40. No one would be able to tell the difference.
And then the gambling has all gone downhill, with 6:5 BJ, low odds craps, etc. Casinos no longer compete on gambling promotions. Many casinos, like the Strat used to advertise 100x odds and 100% return slots. Double deck BJ with stand on 17 rules were normal. Nowadays, not even the Casino Royale has 100x odds.
I really see no reason to go to Vegas nowadays.
February 20th, 2018 at 8:50:28 PM
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Quote: klimate10
I really see no reason to go to Vegas nowadays.
Exactly, I think for the average gambler, even for an AP, it's getting tougher.
I will disagree with you on the Buffet's. You cannot compare the Golden Corral with the buffet at the Wynn or Bellagio, or other 5 star resorts. I do agree that there are many average buffets in Vegas & even here in Reno where the Golden Corral is better.
As a frequent flyer, I can arrive at the airport 30 minutes before my flight, and I can be at my gate in under 10 minutes. Never had to wait more than 3 minutes going through security. Try doing that at Mccarran.
February 20th, 2018 at 9:28:03 PM
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You can live cheaply in Reno and there are good neighborhoods in and around the city with low crime rates. We were going to move there 7 years ago but we didn't.
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You want the truth! You can't handle the truth!
February 20th, 2018 at 9:30:36 PM
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Quote: klimate10When I first started going to Vegas in the 90s, the philosophy of most casinos was to make money on gambling, and most everything else was a loss leader.
Rooms were cheap, food was truly cheap, and alcohol was free.
Then casinos realized that everything could be used to extract a profit, including parking.
People say Vegas has great food. I respectfully disagree. Vegas foods masks as good food, but it’s mostly gimmicks and celebrity chefs exploiting their name recognition with mediocre but overpriced food. Instead of just chocolate cake, the exact same cake is now Midnight Gonache Butter Creme Mudslide Indulgence Cake by World renown chef Ramone at $25 a slice for a limited offering, please order in advance (so we can microwave the center to make it warm and faux fresh and then spread icing on it).
That's pretty much not true. I understand how you believe Golden Corral is equally as good as most Vegas buffets. The Golden Corral Buffet is $12. Regular Las Vegas buffets run about $28. And there are some excellent dining options on the strip in Vegas, and yes, most are overpriced.
Quote:
And then the gambling has all gone downhill, with 6:5 BJ, low odds craps, etc. Casinos no longer compete on gambling promotions. Many casinos, like the Strat used to advertise 100x odds and 100% return slots. Double deck BJ with stand on 17 rules were normal. Nowadays, not even the Casino Royale has 100x odds.
I really see no reason to go to Vegas nowadays.
Fair enough.
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You want the truth! You can't handle the truth!
February 20th, 2018 at 9:42:27 PM
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Quote: VegasriderI understand the entertainment and dining aspect of Vegas. It's A+, no better place in my opinion, and I understand it's an attraction for the tourist.
But I'm asking the members on this forum who are primarily gamblers, not tourist, many who are AP's, who are expecting to receive free food and lodging, and trying to win. Why Vegas? Again, unless you like to play live poker, or you are really a high roller who has a host who will take care of you, , I think you may have better success gambling in Reno and certainly stretch your dollar farther with the casinos.
Since I have no experience in Reno except one short stay, it's still a mystery to me where the money comes from for an AP VP player. One can look at vpfree2 and see what most Vegas casinos give in terms of free play and comps. By trial and error, I have spent enough time there and know enough people to share info with so that I know how the Vegas joints are with mailers. Not so with Reno, I'm in the dark about mailers. And if you look at Reno casinos on vpfree2, most of them are vague, saying that so and so depends on theo, the weather, and pretty much try to guess. I can't imagine that a place like Peppermill or Atlantis would let you keep hammering them as a local when playing their excellent paytables and give you any kind of good mailer, not for long anyway. Of course, the same can be said for Vegas. It's well known that Stations will get tired of winners eventually and de-mail you, and a place like South Point will even de-card you. lol That's one reason I like progressives, go ahead and take my card, I don't care, just don't 86 me.
'Emergencies' have always been the pretext on which the safeguards of individual liberty have been eroded.
February 20th, 2018 at 10:04:30 PM
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Quote: bobbartopMickey had some good stories about Laughlin.
Some, I'll assume, were even true.
The older I get, the better I recall things that never happened
February 20th, 2018 at 11:51:28 PM
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Back in the day, I think they had the idea to make it seem as if you got value from your playing and your money by allowing people to last longer. Simple, you play longer, keep coming back, and they can grind you down for even more money.
It's as if they thought/knew, at least at the time, if they gouged you too bad you wouldn't come back. Nowadays, it seems as if they think it doesn't matter how fast they rape you. They just want the money as fast as possible from as many people as they can get NOW, and worry about getting you back in the door later, if not, they probably think there are enough people to replace you.
Who knows if their strategy will work? In the short term, it seems as if people will pay anything. Only time will tell. When will they just make gambling the official pass time?
What does everyone think casino business will look like 20 years from now?
It's as if they thought/knew, at least at the time, if they gouged you too bad you wouldn't come back. Nowadays, it seems as if they think it doesn't matter how fast they rape you. They just want the money as fast as possible from as many people as they can get NOW, and worry about getting you back in the door later, if not, they probably think there are enough people to replace you.
Who knows if their strategy will work? In the short term, it seems as if people will pay anything. Only time will tell. When will they just make gambling the official pass time?
What does everyone think casino business will look like 20 years from now?
♪♪Now you swear and kick and beg us That you're not a gamblin' man Then you find you're back in Vegas With a handle in your hand♪♪ Your black cards can make you money So you hide them when you're able In the land of casinos and money You must put them on the table♪♪ You go back Jack do it again roulette wheels turinin' 'round and 'round♪♪ You go back Jack do it again♪♪
February 21st, 2018 at 4:47:51 AM
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Quote: AxelWolfBack in the day, I think they had the idea to make it seem as if you got value from your playing and your money by allowing people to last longer. Simple, you play longer, keep coming back, and they can grind you down for even more money.
It's as if they thought/knew, at least at the time, if they gouged you too bad you wouldn't come back. Nowadays, it seems as if they think it doesn't matter how fast they rape you. They just want the money as fast as possible from as many people as they can get NOW, and worry about getting you back in the door later, if not, they probably think there are enough people to replace you.
Who knows if their strategy will work? In the short term, it seems as if people will pay anything. Only time will tell. When will they just make gambling the official pass time?
What does everyone think casino business will look like 20 years from now?
Once the boomers die off casinos are dead.
February 21st, 2018 at 6:14:16 AM
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Splitting an already fine hair?
Its a question of Abstraction. We say "Vegas" but that can be Big Strip, Little Strip or Downtown. (NLV too but if any casino there sneezes, the stats change).
We say Geritol Country as a euphemism for Laughlin but the traffic is miniscule and what motorists there are tend to be sober. Darn few crazies anywhere in sight.
We say 'food' or 'dining experience' but that embraces a wide range of options. Buffets are at times lavishly displayed but just how many of those 72 pieces of strawberry shortcake do you intend to eat? If presented with 44 desert options or 144 desert options... well, you get the idea. In my youth I preferred the small downtown buffets because of the unlimited milk that was not available on the Strip. A weird and trivial item but for me it was relevant.
Gambling? Sams Town is overall pretty good, has carts, standby oxygen, craps (particularly that All Tall Small stuff) but many wives want The Venetian for opulent style even if its slots are lowest in town. Instead of a bargain in every casino, its a bargain here and there depending on what is important to you. This means shuttles, time, etc. but its all available. Heck, even for those who want to do darn fool things like exercise can go to Red Rock and climb walls or ride horses. Probably a better chance of getting a bargain at random in Reno but in Vegas you can seek out a bargain.
Vegas casinos feature "the buzz" and Vegas as a town has a buzz all its own. Behavior changes when people enter a casino and it changes when people enter Vegas.
Its a question of Abstraction. We say "Vegas" but that can be Big Strip, Little Strip or Downtown. (NLV too but if any casino there sneezes, the stats change).
We say Geritol Country as a euphemism for Laughlin but the traffic is miniscule and what motorists there are tend to be sober. Darn few crazies anywhere in sight.
We say 'food' or 'dining experience' but that embraces a wide range of options. Buffets are at times lavishly displayed but just how many of those 72 pieces of strawberry shortcake do you intend to eat? If presented with 44 desert options or 144 desert options... well, you get the idea. In my youth I preferred the small downtown buffets because of the unlimited milk that was not available on the Strip. A weird and trivial item but for me it was relevant.
Gambling? Sams Town is overall pretty good, has carts, standby oxygen, craps (particularly that All Tall Small stuff) but many wives want The Venetian for opulent style even if its slots are lowest in town. Instead of a bargain in every casino, its a bargain here and there depending on what is important to you. This means shuttles, time, etc. but its all available. Heck, even for those who want to do darn fool things like exercise can go to Red Rock and climb walls or ride horses. Probably a better chance of getting a bargain at random in Reno but in Vegas you can seek out a bargain.
Vegas casinos feature "the buzz" and Vegas as a town has a buzz all its own. Behavior changes when people enter a casino and it changes when people enter Vegas.
February 21st, 2018 at 7:08:00 AM
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There is definitely a buzz in Vegas, not much in Reno.
February 21st, 2018 at 7:33:06 AM
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Quote: AxelWolfBack in the day, I think they had the idea to make it seem as if you got value from your playing and your money by allowing people to last longer. Simple, you play longer, keep coming back, and they can grind you down for even more money.
This reminds me of an old TV commercial. I can't remember what they were selling but I always remembered this
HUSBAND: Come on Honey , I only have 3 days to win a bundle.
WIFE: But Dear, even if you win a bundle, you will still be down 6 bundles!
February 21st, 2018 at 4:32:34 PM
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I have the casinos in Blackhawk, CO in my backyard. There's about 15-20 of them.
Good hotels: Nope. Only 3 of them even have hotels and two of the three only have one floor,
Good betting limits: Nope. CO mandates that the max bet is $100.
World class chefs: No way.
Shows and entertainment: Not one casino has anything or anyone.
That should be answer enough.
The only upside of CO vs. Vegas is that you can win consistently at poker because you're playing against a bunch of local yokels and not in the big leagues with people who collude against the tourists for a living.
Good hotels: Nope. Only 3 of them even have hotels and two of the three only have one floor,
Good betting limits: Nope. CO mandates that the max bet is $100.
World class chefs: No way.
Shows and entertainment: Not one casino has anything or anyone.
That should be answer enough.
The only upside of CO vs. Vegas is that you can win consistently at poker because you're playing against a bunch of local yokels and not in the big leagues with people who collude against the tourists for a living.
Last edited by: Lucca3927 on Feb 21, 2018
"I should have bet black." - Winston Churchill .
