Is Las Vegas your favorite gambling destination?

If given a choice between a gambling trip to Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Biloxi, Blackhawk, Reno/Tahoe, Tunica, Laughlin, New Orleans, Connecticut or any other U.S. destination renowned for its casinos, I would choose Las Vegas. I assume that this is a non-controversial statement on this forum: Las Vegas is #1, right?

Would you still pick Las Vegas over international gambling locations like Monte Carlo (near Southern France) or Macao (near Hong Kong)?

But as much as I love Las Vegas, I have to admit that hitting a winning streak on a craps table in Tahoe is every bit as exciting as hitting a winning streak in Vegas.

Winning works anywhere but Vegas is where I'd rather play.

"Favorite gambling destination" and "Favorite place to gamble" are different things.

My favorite gambling destination is Vegas.
My favorite place to gamble is Mohegan Sun, CT.

Then again, I haven't been to a lot of different destinations, or casinos. I'd like to go to Monte Carlo and Macao at least once, but I'd have to be blown away by the other tourist stuff available to make me want to return. And that's why my favorite destination is Vegas. I'm constantly impressed with all the stuff that I put on my Vegas "To Do" list.

My most recent additions are the Chuck Jones exhibit at Circus Circus, and "SPACE: A Journey to Our Future" exhibit at the Springs Preserve.

I found out about Chuck Jones from someone here, and Space from Anthony Curtis' Las Vegas Advisor. FYI: Space is only until May 13th if you're interested. I'm hoping to need to come to Vegas to have a meeting with a game distributor about Poker For Roulette before then....

I only gamble live in Vegas, these days. I bet sports online.

But I'm not sure when I'll be back. I'm less concerned to gamble as I was.

I have some difficulty formulating an answer that properly fits both my opinions and the question. I very much like Las Vegas as a vacation destination, not just for the gambling but for the "experience," including entertainment of many sorts. Once I am at a crap table, I'm not sure it matters much whether I am in Las Vegas, Tunica, Biloxi, Atlantic City, or wherever.

For a cheapskate like me, the travel expense becomes an issue. I can easily drive my wife and myself to any of the casinos from Mississippi to Indiana to New Jersey, but I have to buy plane tickets for us to visit Las Vegas, Reno/Tahoe, or other PST casinos. If I only want to gamble, I might prefer to save the airfare to spend on chips, but there is more to a Vegas Vacation than the gambling. There might even be a WoVCon.

I would like to try Tahoe during winter, to combine skiing with casinos.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

My favorite gambling destination is Vegas.
My favorite place to gamble is Mohegan Sun, CT..

Is it because of its proximity to your home? Why does Mohegan Sun beat out Foxwoods (and every other casino in your region)?

Quote: Doc

Once I am at a crap table, I'm not sure it matters much whether I am in Las Vegas, Tunica, Biloxi, Atlantic City, or wherever.

Basically true. Except not every jurisdiction allows free drinks. (Or real dice in the case of California Indian casinos.)

Quote: reno

Is it because of its proximity to your home? Why does Mohegan Sun beat out Foxwoods (and every other casino in your region)?

I live in Northern NJ. Its almost the exact same mileage to Mohegan Sun and A.C. The Sands in PA is my second choice favorite place to gamble. It's almost an hour closer to home, but it doesn't have the resort casino feel to it. It's what it is: an old factory, converted into a casino. Don't get me wrong. The did a nice job with it. But it still lacks something.

Between Mohegan Sun and A.C, my choice for a "destination" is A.C. simply because of the multiple choices once I'm there. But A.C. is in such a decline, that I'd rather just go to the Sands for the day, or Mohegan Sun for an overnight. But Vegas as a "destination"

For a single casino, for the casino itself, it's ammenities and gambling, I prefer Mohegan Sun. I might prefer something in Vegas, but I haven't spent enough time in any one of them to form an opinion.

Mohegan Sun is only a couple miles from Foxwoods, but it's continents apart in decor and vibe.
Read more about it in this thread I started a while back:
https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/off-topic/other-casinos/1918-mohegan-sun-vs-foxwoods-comparisons/

Quote: reno

Quote: Doc

Once I am at a crap table, I'm not sure it matters much whether I am in Las Vegas, Tunica, Biloxi, Atlantic City, or wherever.

Basically true. Except not every jurisdiction allows free drinks. (Or real dice in the case of California Indian casinos.)

Although I think I have played at all but two of the tribal casinos in Southern California (Golden Acorn in Compo and Quechan in Winterhaven), I had ruled out those tribal casinos in my earlier post by saying, "Once I am at a crap table...." Yes, free drinks can make a difference, but not much of one to me, since I don't consume alcohol myself. I'm more concerned with table minimums, the casino atmosphere (cleanliness, friendliness, non-rowdiness, etc.), and what else there is to do besides gamble.

Vegas when its not 110 in the shade. I won't even
go there when its hot now, too many other places
to go where you don't die everytime you go outdoors.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

I live in Northern NJ. Its almost the exact same mileage to Mohegan Sun and A.C. The Sands in PA is my second choice favorite place to gamble. It's almost an hour closer to home, but it doesn't have the resort casino feel to it. It's what it is: an old factory, converted into a casino. Don't get me wrong. The did a nice job with it. But it still lacks something.

MoSun is a former factory, too. It produced military products.

Quote: djtb

For a single casino, for the casino itself, it's ammenities and gambling, I prefer Mohegan Sun. I might prefer something in Vegas, but I haven't spent enough time in any one of them to form an opinion. Mohegan Sun is only a couple miles from Foxwoods, but it's continents apart in decor and vibe.

I haven't been to Adelson on the Delaware yet, but you're spot on about MoSun. They've done an excellent job with the physical plant.

Quote: SanchoPanza

MoSun is a former factory, too.

Really? The one in CT?

Even though I've never been there, based upon what's been going on elsewhere in PA, I'd believe it about the Mohegan Sun in PA. But CT? Really?

Quote: DJTeddyBear

I'd believe it about the Mohegan Sun in PA. But CT? Really?

You'll see the reason for locating along the Thames just upriver from the big base at Groton in this narrative:

"The Mohegans had partially terminated their reservation in 1861, because Mohegan overseers had permitted the theft and desecration of tribal land. By 1872 only the burial grounds and the Mohegan Church remained on the reservation roles, preserving approximately 150 acres. The Mohegans claimed the State of Connecticut had ignored the 1790 Trade and Intercourse Act, which protected Mohegan land rights.

In negotiations with the State in 1993, TCA and the Mohegans settled these centuries-old land disputes. The Mohegans dismissed its land claims and the State conceded the right of the Mohegans to seek economic independence on their traditional reservation through their choice of development. The Mohegans and TCA secured the option to purchase the 240-acre site of the United Nuclear Corporation (UNC), a dormant nuclear manufacturing facility located on part of the tribe's original reservation, and began to plan and design the casino." Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority

Las Vegas Convention Authority has not released the December visitation numbers, but Jan-Nov 2011 visitation has been 35,971,217. That is less than half a percent from the all time high in 2007 where Jan-Nov was 36,120,930 . The 2011 visitation is slightly over the 2006 numbers.

So depending on how the December numbers come out you can probably expect a press release that it was the second highest year, with outside chance of being either first or third.

The numbers are back to pre-recession levels, but the spending is not. That statement may be true three years from now.

Quote: SanchoPanza

You'll see the reason for locating along the Thames just upriver from the big base at Groton in this narrative:

"The Mohegans had partially terminated their reservation in 1861, because Mohegan overseers had permitted the theft and desecration of tribal land. By 1872 only the burial grounds and the Mohegan Church remained on the reservation roles, preserving approximately 150 acres. The Mohegans claimed the State of Connecticut had ignored the 1790 Trade and Intercourse Act, which protected Mohegan land rights.

In negotiations with the State in 1993, TCA and the Mohegans settled these centuries-old land disputes. The Mohegans dismissed its land claims and the State conceded the right of the Mohegans to seek economic independence on their traditional reservation through their choice of development. The Mohegans and TCA secured the option to purchase the 240-acre site of the United Nuclear Corporation (UNC), a dormant nuclear manufacturing facility located on part of the tribe's original reservation, and began to plan and design the casino." Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority

People say that's why the valet parking garage goes so far underground and no the chips don't glow in the dark. Prior to United Nuclear it was Olin Chemical.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

"Favorite gambling destination" and "Favorite place to gamble" are different things.

My favorite gambling destination is Vegas.
My favorite place to gamble is Mohegan Sun, CT.

Well said Teddy!

My favorite gambling destination is tough to narrow down... Vegas is the experience, but the gambling is kind of rotten. Tunica has great gambling, but is ONLY about gambling, which can get old if you're losing. Atlantic City has some amenities and good, but not great gambling options, with an ocean view and lousy service. I haven't been to any other "destinations" but outside of Tahoe, Reno and the odd SD and CO cities, I wouldn't say there are any other gambling "destinations."

If forced to choose, I'd probably play in Tunica, but if they had tiles, I DEFINITELY would limit my play there.

My favorite CASINO though is Horseshoe Southern Indiana. They have all my favorite games, good dining options (except for JB's cafe), a nice though not fancy hotel, and overall good service. There may be other aspects of casinos that I enjoy better, but they have everything I like. Cosmopolitan could be a close second, though.

Quote: reno

If given a choice between a gambling trip to Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Biloxi, Blackhawk, Reno/Tahoe, Tunica, Laughlin, New Orleans, Connecticut or any other U.S. destination renowned for its casinos, I would choose Las Vegas. I assume that this is a non-controversial statement on this forum: Las Vegas is #1, right?

Would you still pick Las Vegas over international gambling locations like Monte Carlo (near Southern France) or Macao (near Hong Kong)?

But as much as I love Las Vegas, I have to admit that hitting a winning streak on a craps table in Tahoe is every bit as exciting as hitting a winning streak in Vegas.

Taking your points from last to first, I also find that a hot table (or machine) is pretty much the same anywhere.

I'm sure Monte Carlo and Macao are nice, but since I know neither language and have little desire to learn, I wouldn't choose them.

I wouldn't choose Las Vegas either. If you gave me free plane tickets and accommodations to any major casino in the U.S., I would choose Reno. There are several reasons for this:

* The video poker is better (generally)
* The blackjack is better (generally)
* The slots feel looser
* The comps are easier
* The folks are friendlier
* Traffic is less of an issue
* Free shuttles to/from the airport are the rule, not the exception

There are, of course, several reasons why I don't go there all the time:

* It's more expensive to get to, compared to LV (but less so than it was even two years ago)
* The rooms are more expensive - especially on weekends (if you have to pay)
* The weather is unpredictable

I consider Vegas to be one of the most miserable places to play - especially if blackjack is your game.

If you want a low limit game, you're often limited to 6:5 garbage.

If you can afford a higher limit, most dealers seem to have a serious attitude problem, and the pit stares at you stone faced without saying a word. It's as if they assume that you are up to something just for knowing the proper basic strategy. If you get lucky and start winning, they really start sweating, even though the amount of your win is a drop in the bucket compared to the total revenue these places earn from gambling.

Cashing out more than $3000 is always a hassle. They want your ID and attempt to record a whole bunch of personal information they are not entitled to have. Many places will harass you for this information even if you present a player's card, which already has all the information they want.

If you play off-strip, in an effort to find friendlier people and better lower limit games, you're greeted with banners and employee name badges which read "We love locals". As soon as they learn you're from out of town, you realize that they may as well read "We hate out of towners".

While these statements are not universally true of all Vegas casinos, it's true for enough of them that the overall experience is pretty miserable unless you take some time ahead of time, or during your visit to scout out the handful of places which might offer a reasonably pleasant playing experience.