People Downtown Are... Different

I decided to book a last minute trip downtown because I didn't want to have the obligation to play I have at Caesar's properties (where I stay almost exclusively). My normal haunt is Paris. This trip was at The D.


Gaming: I play 6-7 hours of craps rated at $100 (even numbers $25, $30, never press; $10 line + max odds). Additionally, I played 5-6 hours of 8-5 BP. Special note: the quarter machines next to the William Hill 'book upstairs were at $1450 for a royal as of yesterday morning. I ended out having a little over $300 taken off my bill... they're actually refunding a portion of my deposit. I didn't know they do that.


Dining: Only thing special was the steakhouse at The D. Andiamo. It was fine, but that's all. My medium rare steak had a few blue/purple spots (undercooked) and the piece of meat (Prime Rib) was tough. The coconut cake was disappointing, seemed to have been taken out of the fridge just prior. That said, the King Crab portion was very generous (Oscar), while they skimped me on the Bearnaise. My expectations are high though, Gordon Ramsay's place at Paris is still the best I've had.


The people:

The rodeo was in town. Considering I was downtown, you had a bunch of stupid cowboy stereotypes. This one was calling his friend on the other side a bitch, but said friend was right next to a woman who was shooting. I'm pretty sure the woman thought he was talking to her.

The average person was significantly more drunk than you find center strip too... like every session (60-90m sessions) I could point to at least one person at my table that casino personnel would have been justified in throwing out. Guy A was inconsistently betting on the field, to the point that he took Guy B's field winnings more than once. Later on, guy B was flat out stealing guy A's wins. Guy A was drunk and maybe on meth, so I don't label it as stealing. He also didn't follow my advice on craps (he asked) - so I don't consider him particularly smart either. Guy B was fully aware of what he was doing.

Sigma Derby was almost always packed, I didn't partake.


Verdict: A side interest of mine this trip was to see what downtown had to offer. Despite the common knowledge that downtown is where "it's happening" - I wholeheartedly disagree. I'll stay at Paris with all of the upper middle class aging couples.

Special edited note: Go Falcons. My last leg of a $200 5 way teaser. It represents "even" to me.

Downtown is "happening" in spite of the casinos, not because of them.

I was not a fan of the Downtown area last time I visited. It felt like a cheap knockoff of Vegas that you would find in a tourist town in the Midwest rather than actual Las Vegas.

How about Fremont Street from 1988.

https://youtu.be/GzgdNAE9w-M

If you are into Craft Beer, DT is the place to be. Many great local options compared to limited corporate choices on the strip.

Despite it coming off like useless whining, I think downtown pre-FSE was much better. It might just be that it was new to me in the late 80s, but there were fun little casinos right next to each other, playing was very affordable, and there were loads of neat offers with a couple dozen places competing for your dollar.

I didn't bother with the Strip the first dozen times I went to Vegas. Usually stayed at GN. Stayed at Binion and Fitz once each, both kind of run down even then, but not scary.

That ship has sailed, of course. Downtown is ok now, but I too prefer the Strip these days. I did like staying at the D and would again. Very good value and easy RFB comps. Only real objection is the music is painfully loud in the casino.

Doubt l'll stay at GN again; think they're on their 4th set of owners since I started there 30 years ago, and gone a step down each time. (Not necessarily in amenities, but in cleanliness, food quality, and attitude of the people staffing them).

I spent some time downtown, but I'm too old for what is going on there.

If you go near downtown, I think you need to visit the arts district and the pawn store that is on TV or the Gambler's Museum near the Downtown Grand.

Pizza Rock is nice.

If you go for "The D" I'd like to think you're looking into history of the place from before it was the place it is now, or because there's a tribute band playing nearby that you are interested in.

The summarize downtown based on gambling action and the steakhouse at the D is definitely a recipe for disappointment. It'd be like someone staying at Bellagio hoping for 10x craps with $3 minimums like they are used to at the El Cortez. Two different worlds.

I still love downtown because I am a low roller gambler.
Lots of 25cent 99.54% and better all over downtown at lots of casinos
I never play video poker on the strip
When I play BJ. I will only play at my favorite BJ casino. The El Cortez. Single deck, BJ pays 3 to 2. Low 5 buck min. What's not to like.
Will be playing BJ there next week. Counting cards but just a low roller 5 to 20 spread for fun.

Next week, staying on the strip, eating on the strip seeing shows on the strip
For gambling, I'll be heading downtown where I feel I have a fighting chance to win.

When I was there in July, I drove downtown to go to the Neon Sign museum.

I was sitting at a red light and accidently made eye contact with some crazy homeless looking guy while I was looking around and he ran over to my car and spit on my windshield.

10/10 would go downtown again

Quote: gamerfreak

When I was there in July, I drove downtown to go to the Neon Sign museum.

I was sitting at a red light and accidently made eye contact with some crazy homeless looking guy while I was looking around and he ran over to my car and spit on my windshield.

Just another day in DT Vegas.

Quote: Boz

Just another day in DT Vegas.

That might be part of why it was better 30 years ago. Unpleasant people weren't allowed to just wander around spitting on random tourists. I probably don't want to know what they did with / to them back then, but I didn't feel unsafe or approached by unwelcome or aggressive people when I was walking around, even at night. I'm more cautious now, but the last time I was there, I was under the canopy at 3 or 4 am a couple times, and it was more pleasant than trying to navigate the mess at 10 or 11pm.

He was probably going to try to warsh his car for a few bucks.

Hugo's Cellar is worth the trip downtown in my humble opinion.

Quote: prozema

Hugo's Cellar is worth the trip downtown in my humble opinion.

+1

Pretty much only thing worth going to downtown for

I'm sure there are some "gems" downtown but surviving the 'crazies' to get to them can be an ordeal.

I too remember the old days when downtown had small buffets but much better quality ones than the Strip had, And just about every casino had some "specialty" item: shrimp cocktails being the most notable. With a casino on each corner, walking was a matter of a few feet. Downtown Dealers aspired to work at Caesars but were still capable and competent employees. Yeah, the players were occasionally a bit "less couth" than on the Strip but it was no big deal. And I guess the dealers could be a bit "less couth" too but it was not so blatant.

Quote: Ahigh

If you go near downtown, I think you need to visit ... the Gambler's Museum near the Downtown Grand.

Gambler’s Museum?
Did you mean the Mob Museum?

Quote: DJTeddyBear

Gambler’s Museum?
Did you mean the Mob Museum?

Yes, thank DJTB.

Last time I was in Vegas I went to the Strip
exactly once. The other 7 days I was DT.
The Strip always makes me feel like it's an
ordeal for me, to put up with the airheads
and the lookey loo's. And the vast distances
between everything.

DT has everything I could want in about 4
blocks space. It's laid back, it's comfortable,
it's easy to take. There isn't a single thing
the Strip offers that I want, and plenty
I don't want. An over abundance of what
I hate about Vegas.

Let us try to be honest. Some crazy homeless person can spit on your car anywhere in the world, especially in high traffic modern day Mega Cities.

I have to agree that downtown LV has changed over the years and outside on Fremont Street it is a complete Zoo. What do you expect when the City allows every Casino to build large Bars selling somewhat cheap drinks to the different people that the title of this thread calls them. The city allows dancers that look like hookers to jump on top of these bars and attract more business and it seems to be working on the younger generation. A few years ago the City allows any "Street Performer" or Pan Handler or any type of hustler that wants to hold a sign saying anything they want it to say and ask for money. I think the law or rule is that they can't directly ask for money but they can hold up a sign basically saying anything and I mean anything. A few guys and gals hold up signs saying obscene things to the public and that seems to be allowed according to the letter of the law for some reason. A few years ago they decided to hold a lottery drawing for the circles for the workers of the street to be able to hold business like they do in Santa Monica and other places that approve of this type of behavior. Next you have other Rap or Hip Hop performers blasting the music as loud as they want to at all hours and saying anything they like and it seems to be allowed under the law as well. I have seen Metro just hanging out watching the show making sure nothing gets out of hand. The last point about this is that according to the law it appears that it anyone is allowed to pass out and sleep right up against the Casino on the sidewalk and nothing can be done. I have seen Metro and Casino Security on occasion wake up the individual and move them along but many times they just let it go these days. I do not vote or sign petitions but if they would put up something for us taxpayers to change the way things are run or allowed downtown I might have to get involved. This is all happening on the outside of the Casino and doesn't really matter that much to me in general. I do find it bothersome when I have to weave my way in and out of the herd to go from one Casino to the next but in the long run it really doesn't matter because I am there to take advantage of the free money downtown which is still a plenty.

Now that I have finished that rant or observation let us get into the meat of downtown and why I am happy that most of you are against it. This is because I find no problems with downtown for generating free money and anything else I want. Hugo's Cellar is great but not the only Gem downtown. I was just at the Redwood Steak House a few hours ago and I took two friends with me. We ended up getting a comp for 250 and we went 37 cents over that amount.

I have to admit the food and service was spot on! We had Oysters on the half shell, Sashimi 2 ways, an amazing Crab Bisque that is 10x better than the Lobster Bisque at Hugo's, my other friend had the Onion Soup and was happy, a very nice Spinach Salad which was big enough for us 3. I had the Prime Rib on the Bone that was 24oz and 2 inches thick perfectly cooked, Crab Legs for one friend and the Rib Eye for the other. We ordered 4 side dishes which was mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, asparagus and cream corn. All the sides were perfect and that is rare for me to find nothing wrong with the food. Double Espressos for desert along with Bread Pudding and Rum Raisin Ice Cream topped everything off. Plenty of Left Overs to box up and a nice Christmas Tip of 30% just because. The room has been remodeled awhile back for those who don't know and I really enjoyed the room and the lighting. A really nice evening in my mind.

Now let me think about some of the other decent places downtown to eat. Plenty of them really and if you know what to play you can eat at all them for free but you should tip 15% at minimum IMO. This is because downtown you have enough easy action to play small or medium and eat for free and IMO the Casino pays for your Tips in the long run. Two places to eat Oxtail Soup, Top of Binions is just as good as Hugo's Cellar, Second Street and Tony Romas is above average as well and can be completely comped. Ice Cream place at the Cal upstairs is a nice treat. Nothing wrong with Vic and Anthony's at the GN if you get comped, and it is still possible to play at the Plaza with +EV and eat at Oscars and feel like your Ace Rothstein. If your slippery enough you can play at the El Cortez and enjoy the food for free as well. For goodness sake you can play the Downtown Deuces without a card and be over 101% if that is something you want to do.

Plenty of choices for good or better than good gamble downtown. I would suggest this is for players who live here and can play daily or at least monthly but just for starters you can play at the 4 Queens and Binions with a decent card and mail. The nice thing is they don't care for the most part which means no heat whatsoever. Plenty of Bar Progressives at the 4 Queens to scout and play when over 1% flat. The best thing is about downtown is that they have about 20 progressive machines that you can constantly scout and play when they are 2% to 10% winners. If you really want to nit it up you play quarters, halves or dollars on Video Poker and just earn a modest living with virtually no paperwork and scout these other progressives and play them when they are at the correct number and just collect your paycheck. You should be able to find an average of 1 per month which equates to 2500 a month or 30k per year.

I am happy that most of you on this forum and in general have abandoned DT LV. I gave up on the Strip many moons ago so it is only fair you give me DT. Thank You all Very Much!

I also forgot to mention that a few places downtown are real old school in that you can show huge losses. In fact you can win every year but show that your losing and this helps in that you will get plenty of the freebies that the ploppies get. In fact I would say that you will look more like a ploppie than a ploppie if that makes sense?

Quote: IcheckraiseU

I am happy that most of you on this forum and in general have abandoned DT LV. I gave up on the Strip many moons ago so it is only fair you give me DT. Thank You all Very Much!

Good post, and don't worry, they won't
now go flocking DT. Been going to Vegas
since 76 and have never liked the Strip.
It bores the crap out of me, is inconvenient,
and populated by people I have zero in
common with. And it's only gotten worse
over the years. DT has never let me down,
and the Strip always does.

Quote: EvenBob

Good post, and don't worry, they won't
now go flocking DT. Been going to Vegas
since 76 and have never liked the Strip.
It bores the crap out of me, is inconvenient,
and populated by people I have zero in
common with. And it's only gotten worse
over the years. DT has never let me down,
and the Strip always does.

I agree with you. I also have read on this forum that players have recently in the last few years been on monster plays downtown making huge scores. It is no secret that the last two Tax Days were winners and I believe the LVC/Plaza gave the AP world a chance to get plenty of double royals and a free Bankroll to never go broke. I heard that even after the double Royals they still had enough going on to make it profitable to play. Downtown has plenty going on for the local gambler to just win and never look back. During the Plaza Royal bonanza Binions had started up the 3 swipes a day which was glitched up for 3 years or so and was worth 3% in cash and who knows how much in food. I guess the Strip is giving it away for players in the know but in my experience downtown is still a paradise.

Quote: IcheckraiseU

but in my experience downtown is still a paradise.

A big problem I have with the Strip is
I spend too much time just moving
moving around. DT I can be in another
casino is 60 seconds. On the Strip I
need logistics planning. Just walking
around in the casinos is terribly
time consuming. I don't got to Vegas
to spend half my time getting from
one place to another. I'm there to play.

DT I can shoot up to my room in a few
minutes from anyplace I am. On the
Strip it might take 45 min and I'm
exhausted when I finally get there.

I've read some good perspectives on the pros and cons of downtown. I'll offer some more. Although I am I would not consider myself an AP I recognize the value and return of behind my gambling adventures. Since my wife joins me each time I come to Las Vegas we try to balance the 'good gamble' with the fun. However, she is not as concerned about seeking out the best gamble as I am. Downtown offers low limit gambling with opportunities for decent odds and paybacks, especially with video poker. It also offers the full menu of games with easy access to parking, hotel rooms, and affordable restaurants. Heck, you can still find coin-drop machines.