recommendations for a casino trip
November 28th, 2025 at 2:16:27 AM
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Next week I have a few days off, and I would like to travel somewhere, specifically Wednesday 12/3 to Sunday 12/7.
I would like to go someplace that is:
warm
not expensive
can smoke
and not:
Black Hawk/Cripple Creek (cold and no smoking)
Las Vegas (been there, done that)
Reno (been there, done that)
I like playing 99% video poker, and blackjack with good rules.
I could drive if it's not too far (e.g. Nebraska or Kansas) but I'm okay with flying. Flying to a city with good mass transit would be ideal.
I would like to go someplace that is:
warm
not expensive
can smoke
and not:
Black Hawk/Cripple Creek (cold and no smoking)
Las Vegas (been there, done that)
Reno (been there, done that)
I like playing 99% video poker, and blackjack with good rules.
I could drive if it's not too far (e.g. Nebraska or Kansas) but I'm okay with flying. Flying to a city with good mass transit would be ideal.
November 28th, 2025 at 3:48:53 AM
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Atlantic city? Pain in the ass to get to could be cold bad weather?
WInStar, biggest U.S casino smoking yes weather?
Pechanga? Good weather and if you drive there are six Casinos to the south within 50 miles
and six to the north within fifty miles. Two of which to the south are only 25 miles away
and are basically a couple miles from each other. Google maps check it out.
WInStar, biggest U.S casino smoking yes weather?
Pechanga? Good weather and if you drive there are six Casinos to the south within 50 miles
and six to the north within fifty miles. Two of which to the south are only 25 miles away
and are basically a couple miles from each other. Google maps check it out.
November 28th, 2025 at 4:01:28 AM
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It took me 15 minutes to even conjure up the name Tunica, Mississippi it's been so long since I thought about it.
But here's a map of casinos, pick a state, but don't come where the blizzard is, you'll get stuck.
https://www.americancasinoguidebook.com/map-of-us-casinos.html
But here's a map of casinos, pick a state, but don't come where the blizzard is, you'll get stuck.
https://www.americancasinoguidebook.com/map-of-us-casinos.html
November 28th, 2025 at 3:46:41 PM
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Flying anywhere next week is expensive.
I've narrowed it down to Grand Island, Nebraska (one casino) or Santa Fe, NM (several casinos).
Has anyone been to the one in Grand Island? I've been to Santa Fe, and I don't mind it, but going someplace new would be nice. The risk is that the pay tables suck, which I think is more likely when there's no competition.
I've narrowed it down to Grand Island, Nebraska (one casino) or Santa Fe, NM (several casinos).
Has anyone been to the one in Grand Island? I've been to Santa Fe, and I don't mind it, but going someplace new would be nice. The risk is that the pay tables suck, which I think is more likely when there's no competition.
November 28th, 2025 at 4:28:20 PM
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If you want good blackjack rules, there's no place like Pennsylvania. Can't recall if you can smoke, but I think you can in most places, and the VP is hit and miss like most places. It will not be warm.
Phoenix has some very good blackjack especially for counters. It will be warm. Being a SWA hub it's accessible.
Puerto Rico at least used to have some crazy beatable BJ games. Don't know much about the VP. You can smoke, probably including crack if you have it. It will be warm. Straight Bacardi Select over crushed ice, and you will forget you are not drinking Coca-Cola.
Flying someplace with one casino is a risky move. If you get douched out of there for some reason you won't have much to do.
Phoenix has some very good blackjack especially for counters. It will be warm. Being a SWA hub it's accessible.
Puerto Rico at least used to have some crazy beatable BJ games. Don't know much about the VP. You can smoke, probably including crack if you have it. It will be warm. Straight Bacardi Select over crushed ice, and you will forget you are not drinking Coca-Cola.
Flying someplace with one casino is a risky move. If you get douched out of there for some reason you won't have much to do.
November 28th, 2025 at 11:32:03 PM
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How about Biloxi?
Several casinos close together, some with good BJ conditions, and warm to boot.
The video poker is fairly typical: worse than years ago (anyone else fondly recall the 25¢ Full Pay Deuces Wild WITH a progressive Royal Flush at the Copa?), but not egregiously so.
I have not tried their public bus system, but it does exist. Neither have I used Gulfport airport, but it is close by.
If you play with a card, Harrah's (CET) or Beau Rivage (MGM) are easy room comps, often just a phone call away for established players.
Dog Hand
Several casinos close together, some with good BJ conditions, and warm to boot.
The video poker is fairly typical: worse than years ago (anyone else fondly recall the 25¢ Full Pay Deuces Wild WITH a progressive Royal Flush at the Copa?), but not egregiously so.
I have not tried their public bus system, but it does exist. Neither have I used Gulfport airport, but it is close by.
If you play with a card, Harrah's (CET) or Beau Rivage (MGM) are easy room comps, often just a phone call away for established players.
Dog Hand
November 29th, 2025 at 4:51:19 AM
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Why do people play video poker? I’ve never understood this game. Is it because they have a lower house edge? I always play table games with a progressive jackpot.
November 29th, 2025 at 4:55:38 AM
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Quote: acesideWhy do people play video poker? I’ve never understood this game. Is it because they have a lower house edge? I always play table games with a progressive jackpot.
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Lowest house edge.
Play for pts to gets perks of higher casino tier.
That used to be what i did for Caesar's Diamond Plus tier to get into the Diamond lounges for free.
Then after covid, they killed the lounges except for AC where apparently by state law all AC casinos must have a lounge
Harahh's Cherokee is (was?) the best for Caesars vp tier whoring
$5 single line 99.7% deuces wild at $10 coin-in per tier pt
Craps is paradise (Pair of dice).
Lets hear it for the SpeedCount Mathletes :)
November 29th, 2025 at 5:04:23 AM
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In the casino I often play, there is a sign posted on top of these 99% video poker machines, saying no comps points from playing these games.
November 29th, 2025 at 5:07:04 AM
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Quote: 100xOddsQuote: acesideWhy do people play video poker? I’ve never understood this game. Is it because they have a lower house edge? I always play table games with a progressive jackpot.
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Lowest house edge.
Play for pts to gets perks of higher casino tier.
That used to be what i did for Caesar's Diamond Plus tier to get into the Diamond lounges for free.
Then after covid, they killed the lounges except for AC where apparently by state law all AC casinos must have a lounge
Harahh's Cherokee is (was?) the best for Caesars vp tier whoring
$5 single line 99.7% deuces wild at $10 coin-in per tier pt
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That seems to describe playing the rewards system, not playing video poker.
Many video poker players like the chance to act (hold / discard) between placing a bet and resolving a bet. This wildly differs from many video keno players who pick their numbers or pattern once, and repeatedly slap the button until they hit or bust out.
Video poker is also fairly low stimulation; compared to other machine games, there aren't a lot of lights and sounds.
May the cards fall in your favor.
November 29th, 2025 at 2:33:18 PM
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Quote: acesideIn the casino I often play, there is a sign posted on top of these 99% video poker machines, saying no comps points from playing these games.
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That's not uncommon, you will find this on a lot of e-blackjack machines as well as not
allowing the use of free play.
November 30th, 2025 at 3:03:22 AM
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The local Caesar's casino gives 1 tier point for $5.50 of coin-in on video poker, $4 on slots. If I wanted to win 2500 tier points, it would cost $11,000 in coin-in. On 3X points day it would be $3,666,67 of coin-in. Whatever, I'm going to be out nearly $1,100 or $366 with a 10% slot loss on VP without a big win just trying to win a $25 dinner for points. I would need either 9,000 spins or 3,000 spins to get near those numbers. If I win 100 slot points, I can qualify for a U-Spin that may include points towards dinner, and that would require $550 of coin-in on VP and likely over $50 of loss and maybe get a $5-$25 in points rebate for food, if anything. I'm not sold on these comps, much at all. If I show up often enough, I might win $25 in points and get a free dinner. Maybe I'll win a drawing for a hot seat or something and get a $50 free play.
November 30th, 2025 at 6:40:59 AM
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In December, I really need to upgrade my player’s card to the next higher level, but I only have this one month to go. So, it looks like video poker is the way to go for it. If I play this game on a comp point multiplier day, then I should be able to do it.
January 25th, 2026 at 6:35:07 AM
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Update: I decided to drive down to Santa Fe, NM. I stayed at the Baymont Inn & Suites. It was a decent room.
I visited all five casinos north of Santa Fe, from the first one, Tesuque Casino, to the last one, Ohkay Casino. They all sucked, from a little to a lot. Not one of them allow smoking. Not one of them allow you to drink on the casino floor. At the least sucky casino, Tesuque Casino, I had to do one thing at a time -- play some 97% video poker, go outside to smoke, and visit the bar and sit there and not gamble, which I did just one time because I think that's dumb.
The other four have worse paytables and the last three appear to be frequented by the local methhead crowd. I wagered zero dollars at the other four casinos. I don't remember it being so ghetto and a rip-off the last time I was there (at least 10 years ago).
I visited all five casinos north of Santa Fe, from the first one, Tesuque Casino, to the last one, Ohkay Casino. They all sucked, from a little to a lot. Not one of them allow smoking. Not one of them allow you to drink on the casino floor. At the least sucky casino, Tesuque Casino, I had to do one thing at a time -- play some 97% video poker, go outside to smoke, and visit the bar and sit there and not gamble, which I did just one time because I think that's dumb.
The other four have worse paytables and the last three appear to be frequented by the local methhead crowd. I wagered zero dollars at the other four casinos. I don't remember it being so ghetto and a rip-off the last time I was there (at least 10 years ago).
January 25th, 2026 at 6:41:29 AM
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Now I'm planning a trip to Houston in a couple weeks and considering going to Lake Charles, Louisiana.
There appears to be three big casinos there -- L'Auberge and Golden Nugget next to each other, and Horseshoe (Caesars Entertainment) a few miles away. I have a Caesars Entertainment card but no VIP status (used to but didn't renew it). There's also two small casinos on the other side of town, which I could visit but only if I know they have great VP.
There appears to be three big casinos there -- L'Auberge and Golden Nugget next to each other, and Horseshoe (Caesars Entertainment) a few miles away. I have a Caesars Entertainment card but no VIP status (used to but didn't renew it). There's also two small casinos on the other side of town, which I could visit but only if I know they have great VP.
January 25th, 2026 at 7:24:57 AM
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I’ve played Sandia Resort & Casino many times. This is the best in NM.
January 25th, 2026 at 5:15:29 PM
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Quote: KevinAANow I'm planning a trip to Houston in a couple weeks and considering going to Lake Charles, Louisiana.
There appears to be three big casinos there -- L'Auberge and Golden Nugget next to each other, and Horseshoe (Caesars Entertainment) a few miles away. I have a Caesars Entertainment card but no VIP status (used to but didn't renew it). There's also two small casinos on the other side of town, which I could visit but only if I know they have great VP.
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KevinAA,
Louisiana has a HUGE number of "truck stop" casinos: these have ONLY video poker with a maximum return of roughly 92%. I think you must have counted two of these, because Lake Charles has only three "real" casinos, which you named. A fourth "real" casino, Coushatta, is located 30 miles northeast of Lake Charles in Kinder (rhymes with Hinder).
Oh, Louisiana also has a few race track casinos that have ONLY slots: one of these is located about 25 miles west of Lake Charles in Vinton.
Hope this helps!
Dog Hand
