ChumpChange
ChumpChange
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April 23rd, 2026 at 3:53:57 AM permalink
Some YouTubers visit Park MGM:
Abby Gambles (Abby Poker) and friend visit the high limit room for some impromptu black jack.
Limits are $100 to $10,000. With a Reserved For Video table they are getting $25 minimums.
Playing Buster Blackjack and I CAN’T LOSE!!!


24 Hour CHALLENGE at PARK MGM Las Vegas - Norma Gelli
Last edited by: ChumpChange on Apr 23, 2026
ChumpChange
ChumpChange
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April 23rd, 2026 at 3:58:27 AM permalink
What's the difference between the MGM and the Park MGM?
AI Overview
Park MGM is a smaller, modern, 100% smoke-free, and recently renovated property focused on upscale dining (Eataly), while MGM Grand is a massive, bustling mega-resort known for its expansive pool complex (lazy river), extensive entertainment, and larger, varied room types. Park MGM is often considered trendier and more central, while MGM Grand offers more classic, massive Vegas-style action.

Key Differences Summary
Atmosphere/Health: Park MGM is completely smoke-free; MGM Grand is not.
Size/Layout: MGM Grand is enormous, which can be overwhelming, while Park MGM is smaller and more navigable.
Renovation: Park MGM (formerly Monte Carlo) was fully renovated ($550M+) recently.
Pools: MGM Grand has a famous, massive pool complex with a lazy river. Park MGM has smaller, more relaxed, boutique-style pools.
Dining: Park MGM features Eataly and high-end options like Bavette's. MGM Grand offers a wider variety, including many casual options and food courts.
Location: Park MGM is located centrally near T-Mobile Arena and connected to Aria. MGM Grand is located on the south end, connected to The Signature.

Usage Examples & Synonyms
Choose Park MGM (or "The Park", "the smoke-free one") for a fresher, cleaner, smaller, non-smoking experience, or if you want to be closer to Aria/Cosmopolitan.
Choose MGM Grand (or "The Grand", "the one with the lazy river") if you want more entertainment options, huge pool days, or a more traditional, high-energy Vegas experience.

What Users Say (Forum Perspectives)
On Reddit, users generally praise Park MGM's non-smoking policy, but some note the rooms can be smaller with "low-profile" beds compared to the vast choices at MGM Grand.
On TripAdvisor, it's often noted that while Park MGM is nicer in terms of cleanliness and food, MGM Grand's pool area is superior.
On Facebook, some users prefer the "big resort" feel of the Grand, while others find it too crowded and noisy.

Both are managed by MGM Resorts, meaning you can often link your accounts and use the same rewards cards.
******************************************
Park MGM was formerly known as the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino. Opened in 1996, the Monte Carlo was a popular, conventionally themed Las Vegas resort before undergoing a massive $550 million renovation and rebranding between 2016 and 2018 to become the modern, boutique-style Park MGM.

Key details about the transition from Monte Carlo to Park MGM:
Themed Change: The Monte Carlo was designed with a classic, "white-city" French theme, which was completely replaced by a more neutral, modern, and "homey" aesthetic.
Renovation Scope: The transformation involved a top-to-bottom makeover, including new rooms, a new lobby, updated pool decks, and new dining options like Bavette's Steakhouse and Best Friend.
Iconic Features Replaced: The property famously hosted magician Lance Burton for many years in its 1,200-seat theater. The theater was later rebranded to the Park Theater (now Dolby Live).
NoMad Integration: The top floors of the hotel were reconfigured into a separate luxury hotel experience, NoMad Las Vegas.
Location: The property remained in its original location between New York-New York and the CityCenter complex (connected to ARIA).

The transition marked a shift in Las Vegas away from heavily themed, opulent properties toward more contemporary, high-end, and minimalist designs.
smoothgrh
smoothgrh
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April 23rd, 2026 at 4:16:30 PM permalink
My parents and I thought we were being fancy when we stayed at the Monte Carlo in 1996.

It was really just a gussied up middle-class property. Fun times, though!
100xOdds
100xOdds
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April 23rd, 2026 at 8:39:45 PM permalink
Quote: smoothgrh

My parents and I thought we were being fancy when we stayed at the Monte Carlo in 1996.

It was really just a gussied up middle-class property. Fun times, though!
link to original post


Monte carlos was the 1st vegas casino i played live poker in.
it was 2/4 limit with half kill.
I had no clue what i was doing. i had 9 high flush and i raised. Ace high flush only called because there was a straight flush possible. Doh!

I was sad when Monte carlos closed their poker room.
And i was SHOCKED when MGM closed the casino to build Park mgm. Monte carlos was a perfectly good mid lvl casino.

Incidentally, this post reminded me of the Aria hotel problems next door to Park MGM.
A tower in the new CityCenter complex had structural defects (2008) half way through the build, which resulted in lawsuits galore. It was settled out of court in 2014. The unfinished bldg was dismantled floor by floor the next year.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Harmon

Thx to your post, I now have resolution of it.
Also, 2008 was almost 20yrs ago. geez.. I'm old. Soon, i'll be eligible for social security. (I'm waiting till 70 though)
Last edited by: 100xOdds on Apr 23, 2026
Craps is paradise (Pair of dice). Lets hear it for the SpeedCount Mathletes :)
AutomaticMonkey
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April 23rd, 2026 at 9:27:53 PM permalink
Quote: 100xOdds

Quote: smoothgrh

My parents and I thought we were being fancy when we stayed at the Monte Carlo in 1996.

It was really just a gussied up middle-class property. Fun times, though!
link to original post


Monte carlos was the 1st vegas casino i played live poker in.
it was 2/4 limit with half kill.
I had no clue what i was doing. i had 9 high flush and i raised. Ace high flush only called because there was a straight flush possible. Doh!

I was sad when Monte carlos closed their poker room.
And i was SHOCKED when MGM closed the casino to build Park mgm. Monte carlos was a perfectly good mid lvl casino.

Incidentally, this post reminded me of the Aria hotel problems next door to Park MGM.
A tower in the new CityCenter complex had structural defects (2008) half way through the build, which resulted in lawsuits galore. It was settled out of court in 2014.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Harmon

Thx to your post, I now have resolution of it.
link to original post



I used to play blackjack at the Monkey Carlo, back when you could walk into any casino on the Strip and find playable blackjack. They would let me play indefinitely. They had a really good 24 hour restaurant too. And they had a name that was synonymous with gambling, why would anyone want to give that up? They call it "Park MGM" and I don't know what that is. Is it a theme park? Is it a parking garage?

But absolutely nobody making the decisions at these properties wants mid-level anything anymore. They don't want to run a place where a regular guy can have good food, a good drink, and a good gamble. Then they blame everyone but themselves for the results.
100xOdds
100xOdds
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April 23rd, 2026 at 9:44:42 PM permalink
Quote: AutomaticMonkey

(re: Closing Monte Carlos casino)
And they had a name that was synonymous with gambling, why would anyone want to give that up?
They call it "Park MGM" and I don't know what that is. Is it a theme park? Is it a parking garage?
link to original post


Same.
Around that same time Mgm tore down the Boardwalk casino next door, which had a roller coaster.
So i thought Park mgm was going to be a bigger amusement park to replace it.
Last edited by: 100xOdds on Apr 23, 2026
Craps is paradise (Pair of dice). Lets hear it for the SpeedCount Mathletes :)
ChumpChange
ChumpChange
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April 23rd, 2026 at 9:58:36 PM permalink
I saw Abby Gambles (Abby Poker, Abby Merk) and friend playing baccarat in another video that came out later in the day and she was crinkling up the cards while peeking at them. I couldn't finish watching that video because I find the practice disgusting to a deck of cards. I've read that people can be escorted out of the casino for doing that. What's she going to do? Roll the cards up for joints?
Again, she was at Park MGM at a high limit table of $100 to $25,000; but with a Reserved For Video table they got $25 minimums. I'm more scouting out where I'd go if I had several $5K buy-ins to bring to the high limit rooms. I'm liking this place, and it's smoke free. With all the restaurants costing at least $50-$100 for a single meal, I couldn't afford that unless my minimum bet was $100. Rooms are $100-$500+, again I'd need to make that up with comps or wins. I'm sure locals can make a cost-free day of it if they win and not be in the high limit room. But tourists coming from far away are going to need some serious wins to pay for the vacation.

Abby also had a session at the craps table. She was learning the rules from the pit. At the very least she should have played a home game to learn the rules before picking up the dice for the camera. Her enthusiasms for the game were barely enough to overcome her lack of knowledge of the game, but she kept rolling 7's with $64 across and $10 on the line and some kind of odds she made up along the way. She's going to go broke quick playing like that. She's trying to win $25K playing poker and she's testing the waters on other casino games including slots now. This is her life now. I fear she is going to lose her bankroll quickly playing like this. But maybe she set aside just a few thousand to try new stuff out.

If I was a local, I'd be ready with $500 buy-ins for $15 BJ tables and $1,000 buy-ins for $25 BJ tables. Baccarat tables typically have a $50 minimum around here, so it'd be a $2K buy-in. For craps, it really depends on what strategy I'm going to use, and if I was going with $15 on the DP with $60 odds minimum bet but I will go higher (a boring game, I know), I'd start with $3K and try to triple my money and stay under $10K cash-outs.
Last edited by: ChumpChange on Apr 23, 2026
DRich
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April 25th, 2026 at 2:01:51 PM permalink
Quote: smoothgrh

My parents and I thought we were being fancy when we stayed at the Monte Carlo in 1996.

It was really just a gussied up middle-class property. Fun times, though!
link to original post



I always thought the same thing, Monte Carlo hotel was very average.
You can't know everything, but you can know anything.
DRich
DRich
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April 25th, 2026 at 2:03:30 PM permalink
Quote: 100xOdds

Quote: AutomaticMonkey

(re: Closing Monte Carlos casino)
And they had a name that was synonymous with gambling, why would anyone want to give that up?
They call it "Park MGM" and I don't know what that is. Is it a theme park? Is it a parking garage?
link to original post


Same.
Around that same time Mgm tore down the Boardwalk casino next door, which had a roller coaster.
So i thought Park mgm was going to be a bigger amusement park to replace it.
link to original post



Wow, that is a flashback. I haven't thought of the Boardwalk casino in 20 years. I believe they had a 24 hour buffet that I was never brave enough to try.
You can't know everything, but you can know anything.
smoothgrh
smoothgrh
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April 25th, 2026 at 11:22:15 PM permalink
Quote: 100xOdds

Quote: AutomaticMonkey

(re: Closing Monte Carlos casino)
And they had a name that was synonymous with gambling, why would anyone want to give that up?
They call it "Park MGM" and I don't know what that is. Is it a theme park? Is it a parking garage?
link to original post


Same.
Around that same time Mgm tore down the Boardwalk casino next door, which had a roller coaster.
So i thought Park mgm was going to be a bigger amusement park to replace it.
link to original post



It wasn’t until my second visit to Vegas that I realized that the roller coaster was just a facade!
ChumpChange
ChumpChange
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April 26th, 2026 at 1:19:02 AM permalink
I saw a recent video by Xposed, the high roller maniac of online play, at the Park MGM. He brought $500K and had $40K bets on Baccarat. I'll assume his buy-in was enough to get him above table limits of $25K and up to $40K.
There were $2K chips added to the count for the vig on his spot number on each Banker win. I'm sure there's a better way to phrase that but I don't know at the moment. Soon there were $5K and $10K and $20K chips exchanged in the vig box. The vig adds up, and he was on a losing streak, down over $200K. So just when do you settle up the vig due? After each shoe? He played both Player and Banker on alternate hands and was just getting losing hand after losing hand, but he did come back to even one time.

He went over to the black jack table and was betting 2 or 3 hands of $30K each, so it was more than the $10K limit. He was frustrated at that table and went back to Baccarat. He did not make side bets on Baccarat but the table had the Tiger bets MDawg mentioned a few days ago. I'll have to find a video of someone playing those to see how it goes.

A part II video by Xposed should be out soon. But he was mostly depressed and disgusted by his losing streak in part I. He can't destroy a TV while he's at the casino like he can at home or swear profusely at the online dealer verbally. So him calming down to anything resembling brick and mortar play is a terrible risk for him and the people around him.
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