Hotel Review / Listings

On the wizardofvegas.com/hotels page, I'd like to recommend that an asterisk be added to the names Venitian, Palazzo, Wynn, Encore, Flamingo and O'Sheas.

At the bottom of the page, say something like: * The stats listed are the combined stats, as reported to the Nevada Gaming Commission, for Venitian/Palazzo, Wynn/Encore, and Flamingo/O'Sheas. Inside these three pairs of facilities, you can easily walk from one to the other without realizing you're in a different facility. Additionally, each of the three pairs use casino chips interchangably.

It is only when they are sorted by one of the stats columns does the pairing become obvious - and only to people who realize that they are physically connected.

The chip thing is something that should be verified first.

Additionally, when sorting, retain the previous sort as a second sort. I.E. If I click on Poker, then Region, I'd like to see them sorted by region, but then sorted within each region by the number of poker tables.


On a somewhat related note, Foxwoods and MGM at Foxwoods tend to have some different rules and table minimums, but not only are the chips interchangable, they actually use the SAME chips. Foxwoods logo on one side, MGM on the other.

Can anyone verify the chip thing? That'll change my plans a little on my trip to LV in Oct.

Venetian and Palazzo use different chips. Wynn/Encore use the same chips. Flamingo and O'Sheas use different chips. I have my samples of the $1 chips in front of me to verify. Each time I am in the Encore, I look to see whether they have started using their own (different) chips, but no change as of my last visit in May.

As for the MGM/Foxwoods chips (which I don't have yet), there is a similar situation in Las Vegas. I don't know whether it is true for all of their chips, but the ones I have from Bally's and Paris are the exact same chip. They actually say the name of both establishments on both sides, with a different one emphasized on each side.

The reason I mentioned the chip thing, is because when I was at the Flamingo a few years back, I was surprised to see O'Sheas chips in play. It was only when I learned that not only are both Harrah's properties, but O'Sheas actually operates under Flamingo's license, that it made sense.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

... I was at the Flamingo a few years back, I was surprised to see O'Sheas chips in play....

That is a little bit surprising to me. I know that most casinos in Las Vegas will accept chips from other Las Vegas casinos, but they generally exchange them rather than letting foreign chips get into play. Perhaps adjoining facilities with the same owner operate differently. I would think it would make things more difficult for the dealers who are trying not to mix their stacks of chips -- I think the expression is "dirty chips" when a stack gets mixed.

I guess I should revise my earlier post to say that Venetian/Palazzo and Flamingo/O'Sheas have separate chips for each casino but that I have no first-hand knowledge of what restrictions they have on allowing the other casino's chips into play.

Yeah, what you're talking about IS called 'Dirty stacks'.


Perhaps I need to expand.

I only recall seeing $1 O'Sheas chips in play at Flamingo, and it was at a $1/$2 poker table. I mentioned it, and the dealer told me the ownership connection made it OK. I remarked that "That shit would never fly in A.C." He shrugged.

It was only recently, HERE, that I learned about the license connection.

And, there is a chance that the dealer kept the O'Sheas chips in the pot, and only raked Flamingo chips. But if it really isn't a problem, I don't see why he'd bother.

Then again, although the casinos have their own chips, the edge spots might be the same, so that the stacks would apear dirty....

O'Sheas does not have its own license, but it operates under Flamingo license. Slots-A-Fun previously had it's own license, but MGM gave it up and made it a division of Circus Circus a few months ago. Paris operated under Bally's license for many years, but they now have seperate licenses. Encore runs under Wynn license, and Palazzo runs under the Venetian license. THE hotel at Mandalay Bay operated under the same license as Mandalay Bay.

Hmmmm.... Except for the three pairs with the combined stats, I'm not sure the average tourist looking at that page cares whose license a casino is operating under. But its starting to sound like that hotel listing page needs another column, just to indicate whose chips are used and/or accepted there....

Quote: DJTeddyBear

...I only recall seeing $1 O'Sheas chips in play at Flamingo, and it was at a $1/$2 poker table. I mentioned it, and the dealer told me the ownership connection made it OK.

When I was in Vegas last week, I saw $1 AND $5 chips from all four casinos on the block (Harrah's, Imperial Palace, O'Shea's and Bills) in play at a poker table at Flamingo.

I didn't notice if the dealer kept the foreign chips in the pot, and rake only Flamingo chips...