Are Vegas' best day behind us or yet to come?

This isn't remotely true.

 

I’m actually glad things cost more.....that means we have a real market economy. I get to make more $$$$$$$ at home.

 

I think once the Covid seems to disappear, Vegas will have a decent run. But, states continue to add gaming of all kinds. Why spend the additional money to go to Vegas but possibly once or twice a year. I think their visitors per year will drop somewhat but maybe gaming revenue will stay the same. It is not the fun it once was, for me anyway.

 

I’m catching up here, but I’d definitely say “behind us” and it’s really unfortunate I feel pretty certain. My impetus for going is fun, and I’ll still be going regularly so don’t get me wrong there.

But, in my roughly decade of going I have seen vp paytables, service of each dept at a property on AVERAGE, quality of booze, table game limit range, and free rooms (read, resort fees) all eroded. These are also each very important to me. Not to mention the little things like no hassle parking/valet, sidewalks that don’t force you thru casinos to slow you down, neon, and the rest that’s been disappearing. I can’t see any/all of that coming back.

This being said, it would take a lot more greed to make Vegas unvisitable for me, but I can’t believe that (and stick with me here) a generation Behind me will fall in love with a place where it’s so so big and ALL pay to play at every turn. There is just too much sprawl for everyone to capture $200 cases of beer at the pool, $19 martinis at the bar, and $45 a night fees on a hotel over and above the quoted rate. It’s just greed and it’s semi-sustainable given the love of Vegas though, so I blame no one in particular. I just know I loved the peak (for me) around 2012 of balance and it feels to be slipping away.

Thanks for reading! Feel free to disagree and rip me apart

 

Now you swear and kick and beg us
That you're not a gamblin' man

Then you find you're back in Vegas
With a handle in your hand

 

The pinnacle for me was in early 1999, enjoying a perfectly made strawberry daiquiri with a big ass strawberry on the side of the glass at the Bellagio, brought to me by a CW at the $5 blackjack table I was sitting at which was 3/2, S17, DAS, RSA, and LS.

I'm not sure if the comments on here should be seen as "gloom and doom." I think people who are answering the question are mainly doing so through their own prism as to whether Vegas is more or less enjoyable to them as it was in the past, and if they see any indication that conditions will be such that it'll make it again more enjoyable.

I think Vegas is still going to continue to be a relatively strong vacation draw, especially if you continue to have large amounts of people who have not yet been there who want to see it or those who go for work, once conventions come back. However, I do think Vegas to some degree relies on repeat visitors (probably like people who frequent this board), and I wonder if things are such where the number of repeat visitors is going to decline. I don't think Vegas will ever be in any danger of becoming "AC West" due to the volume of stuff to do in entertainment and restaurants that isn't easily matched anyway. But will degraded gambling conditions lead to people losing more than ever and getting the feel that they aren't having as much fun and making them think that it isn't worth it to return as often? Not to mention other irritants like high resort fees and paid parking?

 

Some good conclusions, but I've been going to Vegas since the 70's and, for me, I just roll with the punches. When I first started going, a $200-$300 bankroll was plenty. Then the mega-resorts (Mirage, Bellagio, etc.) started showing up, the bankroll went up and has gone up pretty consistently, although the Great Recession (08-10) was sweet because I never paid for a room and the gambling remained consistent—not much of a VP player so you may be right about that—I did see double deck and single deck blackjack go to hell with rapid shuffling and other negative rules put in place. I still drink for free, so that hasn't changed and just walking around is also free. Riding a cab and seeing the city is still cheap. Sitting at a Keno game is still fun. Doing the buffet will be back, hopefully. Watching people, still fun. But, hell, I get ya. I wish I was still playing craps at the Dunes in 1988.

 

Exactly! I'm 62 and I think today's gonna be great and tomorrow even better. There's a reason the windshield on your vehicle is so large and the rearview-mirror is so small... pay attention and enjoy where you're going. Las Vegas is NOT gonna become the Atlantic City of the west... it's just NOT. I've visited more than a couple hundred times since the late 80's and though I haven't been down for fun since February of this year, I can't wait to return. I've lived in Nevada for 37 years and I get more excited for a trip there than going anywhere else in the country. Las Vegas will be just fine and once again full of visitors soon.

 

Las Vegas is like me at 70.

My best days are behind me but I can still have fun.

 

The best is yet to come. There are too many smart people, (men and women) that have the knowledge and spirit to prevent Vegas from "withering on the vine"! Life is an adventure, what we have now with covid is just a bump in the road. Take it ez. GOLFCADDY1

 

As I read through this thread, I’ll add the regional and local casinos will lead the recovery for Big Momma, Vegas, unless the locals find away to drop the ball.

 

I can't help but think those of you who romanticize about how things were better when the good old boys from the mob ran casinos must also think that the Hell's Angels are just a playful group of misunderstood scamps who bring kids toys at Christmas and are unduly hassled by the police.....

 

Playing craps at The Dunes just sounds kinda bad ass.

 

It's certainly helping some of the companies stay afloat financially while Vegas is still pretty quiet.

 

It was pretty broken down by then, but it's where I learned to play craps. We were walking through and a guy offered us a tutorial. Little did he know he would create a monster.

 

I had my lessons at a 2:00 pm craps lesson at the Stardust when I was 21. Seems like a life time ago. I am still sad that I never stayed at the Stardust before they blew that old girl up. Stupid decision by the suits in the Boyd boardroom.

 

I think the best days are behind us, and it has nothing to do with Vegas itself. Vegas is far more amazing than it was decades ago. But for me, its no longer special or unique. Even as a New Jersey native Vegas used to have that special glimmer as the mecha of gambling in the US. From $8 Prime Rib to Extravagant Buffets. The amazing range of shows and concerts. The free flowing alcohol. The strip clubs. The party all night vibe. And most importantly the Gambling! Now there is nothing you can get in Vegas that you can't get elsewhere, and lots things have changed. Alot of the buffets are way overpriced and nothing special(and seriously time limits to all you can eat buffets?). Vegas Residencies are for performers who really should be retired. The most popular night clubs require either paying a megaton or knowing someone to get into without waiting hours in line. Even fresh out of college playing low limits the pit bosses and dealers treated me like I was important, now I doubt they'd said hi to a $5 BJ player.

I still go to Vegas due to the old days and to disconnect, but it just isn't all that special to me anymore.

 

Another thing is things like the old Binions 10 cent minimum 100x craps. Things like that were just fun, and the craziness of those 10c craps tables being right next to no limit craps tables. I doubt any casino would do anything like that these days.

 

JMHO,
all market pricing is based on supply and demand.
As someone that has been doing my best to go post re-open and support the front line dealers/bartenders/waitresses,
I don't much like the way next years offers are shaping up.

I'm planning to give it a good last run, then vote w. my wallet and take a pause..
Maybe it's seasonal, in my younger days I'd always be there pre x-mas around rodeo time because the best offers were then...
This being said from someone that booked our next trip ~3 days after our last trip ended.....

 

When were they running that 10 cent? that's a sub Bird game..
But I do remember loving mixing it up with the old school no limit tables.. some super random low to High Roller camaraderie.