Thanksgiving Day In Casinos

Just curious - on Thanksgiving - I see 3 possibilities

1) No one is there
2) Way too busy
3) Just like your average weekday/weekend

I am planning on going to Reno and was wondering what to expect. So what's it usually like in Vegas or Reno?

I'll go with door #1.

My experience has been #3, but that's just two Thanksgivings and we were on the strip both times. Maybe it was a little slower around the eating hours now that I think of it ...

I can't speak for Thanksgiving or Vegas...

Each year, being the good Jews that we are, my brother and I and the wives, and another couple go to AC or CT for Christmas. It seems like all we see are Jews and Asians as well as Christians with no family. In general, not busy at all - but with a matching reduction of staff, so it may be hard to find a seat.

As a local, the Wizard should know much better than I would. I have only been in the area twice around Thanksgiving (visiting from the east coast in 2005 & 2006), and I wasn't in town on Thanksgiving Day either time. Once I didn't arrive until Sunday, and the other time I was there earlier in the week but dropped down to San Diego for Thursday and Friday nights.

I do have a couple of friends whose extended family has a get together in Las Vegas almost every year at Thanksgiving. They are not from that area, and I'm not really sure why they choose that weekend to visit there. I did meet up with my friends the two times I was there the same weekend. From what my friends told me, I would have expected Thanksgiving Day to be more like a typical weekend (Fri/Sat), but I think the locals (if they actually go to the casino on holidays) would be much more reliable sources.

I've been in Las Vegas on several Thanksgiving holidays, and have found that Thursday is very empty. The weekend is busier than average, as folks come out of their turkey comas. The outlet malls are nuts with "Black Friday" shoppers. Avoid them on Friday if at all possible. Be advised that many show are dark, so call ahead if there is something special you are interested in.

Quote: Ayecarumba

I've been in Las Vegas on several Thanksgiving holidays, and have found that Thursday is very empty.

I've been to Vegas and local casinos on the Day and its always dead as a doornail, very depressing. Especially Vegas.

During the several years that my whole family lived in Vegas, we drifted away from the mom-cooks-a-turkey routine, and had a big dinner out at one of the locals' casinos instead. Someone else cooked the food and washed the dishes, which was the primary appeal for the mothers involved :)

It seemed as if the casino was deserted until about 3 PM, when things started picking up, and by 6 or 7, it looked like a typical weekend. I would imagine being stuffed with turkey meant that people had to stop and rest at a slot machine. I was kind of surprised at just HOW busy it was, but then I realized that Christmas Day was the single busiest day for Vegas casinos, so why shouldn't the same factors work on Thanksgiving day? Also, these were locals' casinos--we didn't ever go to the Strip to eat--so for all I know, the megatoilets could have been deserted on Thanksgiving Day (and oh, yeah, the sportsbooks were always hopping on Thansgiving Day).

I am going to be there for the week. Any suggestions for a "decent" fair priced dinner. I have been looking and most appear to be way overpriced.

Quote: likeplayingcrapsandbj

I am going to be there for the week. Any suggestions for a "decent" fair priced dinner. I have been looking and most appear to be way overpriced.

The various Stations casinos each have several restaurants. The cheapest option would be the coffee shops or the buffets, which all have Thanksgiving menus, and will let you get away for under $20. The mid-range eateries will also have Thanskgiving prix fixe meals, with prices varying according to the "level" of the eatery. The Broiler at Palace and Boulder Stations has always served a good holiday meal.

I would also recommend checking out the Orleans and South Point. Both of their "Prime Rib" restaurants offer a "traditional" Thanksgiving meal, and those restaurant's normal fare is excellent and very reasonably priced, so I would expect the same of their holiday menus.

As always, as in just about everything you do in Vegas, stay the hell off the Strip, and you won't get ripped off. Seek out the locals' joints for a better deal.

Quote: mkl654321

The various Stations casinos each have several restaurants. The cheapest option would be the coffee shops or the buffets, which all have Thanksgiving menus, and will let you get away for under $20. The mid-range eateries will also have Thanskgiving prix fixe meals, with prices varying according to the "level" of the eatery. The Broiler at Palace and Boulder Stations has always served a good holiday meal.

I would also recommend checking out the Orleans and South Point. Both of their "Prime Rib" restaurants offer a "traditional" Thanksgiving meal, and those restaurant's normal fare is excellent and very reasonably priced, so I would expect the same of their holiday menus.

As always, as in just about everything you do in Vegas, stay the hell off the Strip, and you won't get ripped off. Seek out the locals' joints for a better deal.

Thanks, I was thinking one of the stations or maybe spend the money and try the M. I keep hearing good things about their regular buffet so maybe Thanksgiving will be outstanding.

Quote: focd

Just curious - on Thanksgiving - I see 3 possibilities

1) No one is there
2) Way too busy
3) Just like your average weekday/weekend

I am planning on going to Reno and was wondering what to expect. So what's it usually like in Vegas or Reno?

I was thinking about this just today as this year it will be just me and my parents as the siblings somehow are on the same rotation with their respective in-laws. Not going to Vegas, but here in PIT it might be something to do. My guess is they would be dead during the day then pick up in the evening.

A few years back I went on Christmas Day with a co-worker as neither of us had family in AZ and were fairly bored. I was not up for seeing a movie and then see how much of "A Christmas Story" I could take. This was the last Christmas before the crash. Well, one-hour wait to go over Hoover Dam each way. Casinos PACKED. It was almost as if everyone got my same idea at the same time. I had heard Christmas was dead and then it boomed by New Years Day. Big mistake at least in 2007.

Quote: mkl654321

... but then I realized that Christmas Day was the single busiest day for Vegas casinos.

I have to call you out on that. I don't have any figures, but I find this very hard to believe.

Quote: mkl654321
... but then I realized that Christmas Day was the single busiest day for Vegas casinos.>>

Since when? I was there on Xmas day in 2005 and it was a ghostown, sagebrush was blowing down The Strip..

Quote: Wizard

I have to call you out on that. I don't have any figures, but I find this very hard to believe.

I found it very hard to believe, as well, but I've been told that by at least a dozen people over the years, most of whom were in a very good position to know what they were talking about. I worked a couple of Christmases many years ago, and the pattern I mentioned for Thanksgiving day seemed to prevail then: deadsville until mid-afternoon, then really, really busy.

I suppose that the number of people in Vegas for whom this is simply a holiday is considerable, and then the ranks are swelled by all the persons who want to eat a restaurant meal instead of cooking. As I said, I also find it hard to believe, but perhaps if you count the sheer number of visitors (as opposed to total action)...

I'm going to ask some dealer friends about this and get back to you. But Christmas busier than New Year's Eve, Valentine's Day, or the Super Bowl ... that is just nucking futs.

The famed and rather ill-defined Dead Week in Las Vegas refers to, I believe, the week prior to the one containing Christmas. And even that "dead" of Dead Week is clearly a misnomer. The casinos are not ghost towns that week. I think its more a combination of shopping obligations, financial obligations and the tendency to schedule a trip for the holidays rather than just prior to a holiday.

There are always whimsical flows to a crowd. How many of you have seen a bar jam packed on one News Year's Eve and utterly deserted the next New Year's Eve? I think most casinos have a guy who used to be known as "The Pencil" who would handle dealer rotations and Early Out requests. Now the functions of The Pencil seem to have been merged into other positions but this would be the best information as to what crowd flow and game desires are like on holidays. Dealers know they will often be working weekends and holidays, but just what games are in demand and just how many dealers are needed probably tends to be highly variable.

Oddly enough, it seems that in Florida the ailing Day Boat industry does enjoy a good "bounce" on Holiday gambling cruises, but they usually offer a bit of a special buffet those days as well. Some of the games on the Day Boats are available by special request since they don't schedule a qualified dealer under normal conditions.

In Las Vegas, I doubt Christmas is such an astoundingly crowded day. It may be more likely that the crowds are simply noted that day with a bit of surprise since gamblers may expect a light turnout but find that others are just like them and are showing up on Christmas day to gamble as well as enjoy a Christmas meal with no fuss. I imagine a great many wives might envision a big dinner on Thanksgiving with friends and family but when they envision the logistics and the pots and pans, they may indeed opt for that Thanksgiving Day Special Menu at the Casino.

Quote: mkl654321

It seemed as if the casino was deserted until about 3 PM, when things started picking up, and by 6 or 7, it looked like a typical weekend. I would imagine being stuffed with turkey meant that people had to stop and rest at a slot machine. I was kind of surprised at just HOW busy it was, but then I realized that Christmas Day was the single busiest day for Vegas casinos, so why shouldn't the same factors work on Thanksgiving day? Also, these were locals' casinos--we didn't ever go to the Strip to eat--so for all I know, the megatoilets could have been deserted on Thanksgiving Day (and oh, yeah, the sportsbooks were always hopping on Thansgiving Day).

MKL,
True, while Christmas is busy for some reason (Make a Mass and Hit the Tables kind of thing), Mike is correct. From what I've noticed as a dealer over the years, the two days that dwarf it are:
1. New Years Day - Hands down!
2. Super Bowl Sunday - with all the Sports book run-off.

Holidays in general get more action, but New Years and the Super Bowl are THE "Jam-Cram" action days in casinos, and I think slot and table revenue for those two days will show this.

I know we're talking about Las Vegas, but the casinos in Niagara Falls are DEAD on Christmas Day and busier than normal on Thanksgiving and very busy on Thanksgiving weekend. Alot of Americans make the trip to Canada over that weekend.

Here is what my friend Larry has to say. He is a dealer at Circus Circus.

Quote: Larry

Christmas is usually above average busy, maybe not quite as busy as a normal weekEND, but certainly more busy than recent week DAYS. Week DAYS lately have been a real drag. Interesting too... Christmas is usually over staffed with dealers and there is usually heavy traffic from Asian players.

Quote: Wizard

Here is what my friend Larry has to say. He is a dealer at Circus Circus.

I just realized that an assessment of how busy a full-service casino is would include those persons who come to the casino for a meal, but never stop to gamble a dime. Christmas and Thanksgiving being traditional pig-out days, that may increase VISITATION, but not gambling activity.

So maybe it's a question of what do you mean by "busy", when you're talking about a hotel-casino that has many non-gaming facilities.

Quote: mkl654321

So maybe it's a question of what do you mean by "busy", when you're talking about a hotel-casino that has many non-gaming facilities.

You're the one who said, "I realized that Christmas Day was the single busiest day for Vegas casinos." Note you didn't say "hotel-casino." I don't deny the buffet will be busy. However, even if we look at total warm bodies under the roof, I would still wager to say Christmas doesn't even make the top 10.

Speaking for the Mississippi casinos, specifically the ones in Tunica, I will tell you that Thanksgiving is an SRO day, while you can hear your echo on Christmas.

I went to Tunica last Thanksgiving, thinking that I'd have the place to myself. Not so. There weren't a whole lot of out-of-town tourists, but by 2pm all the locals piled into the casinos and people were left waiting for an open slot machine or for someone to go broke at a table and vacate a seat. It was a madhouse all afternoon and night.

I've been to the casinos on Christmas Eve and it was just the opposite. It was just us and the waitresses and dealers.

Quote: Wizard

You're the one who said, "I realized that Christmas Day was the single busiest day for Vegas casinos." Note you didn't say "hotel-casino." I don't deny the buffet will be busy. However, even if we look at total warm bodies under the roof, I would still wager to say Christmas doesn't even make the top 10.

I don't differentiate between "casino" and "hotel-casino" in Vegas, although there are certainly many smaller casinos that don't have a hotel attached. So amending what I said to "Vegas hotel-casinos", I wonder just what hotel occupancy is on Christmas Eve/Christmas Day. Every single room offer I've ever gotten, with maybe one or two exceptions, has excluded Christmas Eve and Christmas Day--so my presumption was that they expected high occupancy on those days, and didn't want to give any freebies. If Cousin Ferd and Aunt Mathilda come bopping into town, why not put them up at the Mirage and let them see the Strip, rather than clearing out the kids' room and making them sleep on the couch...

I wonder if there are any actual day-by-day visitation figures we could check this against. I think the proper litmus would be total visitation, as in, bodies through the door+bodies in the hotel.

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Quote: Wizard

Christmas is usually over staffed with dealers and there is usually heavy traffic from Asian players..

I've noticed the same thing on Thanksgiving and Christmas...a lot more Asian players than usual. Apparently Thanksgiving is a good day for them to come to the Casinos.
Of course, I'm only speaking about Reno, as I have spent the last few years holidays there.
New Years DAY though, I'm not so sure about...usually NYE is the BIIG crowd, then as it gets later it dies off (PEOPLE die off, lol)

Quote: TIMSPEED

I've noticed the same thing on Thanksgiving and Christmas...a lot more Asian players than usual. Apparently Thanksgiving is a good day for them to come to the Casinos.
Of course, I'm only speaking about Reno, as I have spent the last few years holidays there.
New Years DAY though, I'm not so sure about...usually NYE is the BIIG crowd, then as it gets later it dies off (PEOPLE die off, lol)

When we made our Christmas Eve trip my co-worker mentioned how many Asians there were at Hoover Dam and how Asians seem to like such tours. Maybe the Americans were hanging out at the Liberace Museum?? Anyways, the Asian Trend was present at the casinos as well. Not remotely a scientific method, but the Asian Crowd seemed way above its share of the population.

I see this happening for two reasons. First, the new year in Japan is a fairly big deal and the celebrations go a week to two. Second, unless they have converted to Christianity, why would an Asian Visitor to the USA care about Christmas one way or the other? Other than what is open, why would they care? Would be similar to if I worked for a Jewish person and they asked me to cover for them on Yom Kipur. Sure, why not?

Can we be sure that it's not pretty much the same number of Asians, but just that, since the rest of the crowd is so much smaller, it just gives the appearance of more because the percentage is greater?

Quote: AZDuffman

why would an Asian Visitor to the USA care about Christmas one way or the other?

Our family eats at the same Chinese buffet every Xmas day and its always packed. The owner says its his best day of the year. Must be that movie thats doing it, the one with Ralphie.

Quote: ItsCalledSoccer

Can we be sure that it's not pretty much the same number of Asians, but just that, since the rest of the crowd is so much smaller, it just gives the appearance of more because the percentage is greater?

That would be possible except the Christmas I was there (again I admit this is anything but scientific) every place was packed.

This reminds me of the Elena Kagan hearings:

When Graham questioned her about the Christmas Day bomber, Kagan started to answer seriously until he cut her off, asking her instead what she was doing on Christmas Day.

"Like all Jews, I was probably at a Chinese restaurant," Kagan said. -- Source: http://www.politico.com/blogs/politicolive/0610/Kagan_I_spent_Christmas_at_Chinese_restaurant.html.

I was at the M last New Years Day and it seemed like I was in a Macau casino.

On my most recent trip of las vegas in this year, I was stay in My favorite place is Nikki Beach Club,this is may thanksgiving day in vegas in casino.
Café Nikki will make its debut on the Las Vegas Strip as a perfect complement to Tropicana Las Vegas Hotel and Casino. The menu offered at Café Nikki is a blend of American cuisine and flavors inspired by international dishes, and the ambition of the food makes it a worthwhile culinary journey.In general, you can't say anything bad about the place. The decor was nice and the waiters are very friendly and polite. The food was good.It was good food and the service was great, but it just didn't quite hit the high notes for me.

Just to clarify, Nikki Beach Club opens this coming April 28th. According to their website, they're giving away a $60,000 high roller package to one lucky person. All you have to do is "GET ON THE LIST."

It's free so sign up if you're so inclined.

Quote: benbakdoff

Just to clarify, Nikki Beach Club opens this coming April 28th. According to their website, they're giving away a $60,000 high roller package to one lucky person. All you have to do is "GET ON THE LIST."

It's free so sign up if you're so inclined.

Geez I will be in LV on May 4th. My guess it would have folded by then.