Downtown and Craps Action

I've always loved downtown, and I've stayed down there exclusively on two trips.

The past few trips I've stayed on the Strip because of my love for Craps at The Quad. However, most of our poker play ended up being downtown at Binions, which was a nice surprise. I also understand there are some good tournament options at the Nugget.

My dilemma is Craps. I got ZERO vibe from any of the craps tables downtown. I like a lively table, and I LOVE the fire bet CET offers. I'm sure most tables downtown are around $5, so the budget is perfect. But has anyone had a really "fun" experience at a particular craps table? Maybe I just hit them on a bad night.

I love downtown for the lower table minimums and cheap eats. But I need lively craps. Looking to plan a trip for August/September.

Thanks for your advice!

 

Love MSS, the Cal and Fremont for craps. Usually a lively and fun Hawaiian crowd at each.

 

I am planning on hitting the California and MSS this trip but I had a blast at Binions on my last trip, great dealers, box"lady" was a laugh a minute and the other players were great to be around. I've played at 4 Queens and didnt care for it.

 

I don't spend much time DT, usually just one night a trip for 3-4 hours. I do love shooting Dice at Binions in the doorway though. While the table hasn't ever been overly "exciting" in my experience, but I like the atmosphere of being right near the entry, and the crew is always very competent (which can be a concern at some of the lower end joints) and friendly.

 

I like playing at the Golden Gate, Binions and Golden Nugget. I just got an offer at the Fremont and they advertised $3 craps - I may do that this summer.

 

But could you play 6&8 at a $3 table? I guess if they give back $0.50

 

Favorite place to roll the bones downtown is Golden Gate. Fun atmosphere, good dealers. 10X odds. Also like MSS as others have mentioned. El Cortez I liked last time there. Again, low limits. And the players were very interesting. Lot of fun.

Golden Nugget can get hopping. But not wild about the 3X-4X-5X odds. Even less wild about the rising table minimums at night and on the weekends. Drink service has been good when I've been there.

 

+1 on the Cal. Love the Hawaiians.

 

Lively, probably Fremont, or Cal or Nugget.

I also like El Cortez but might not be what your looking for.

 

The craps game at Binion's is not what it used to be back in its prime, but the tables are still often crowded with an experienced crew. I didn't play any craps Downtown on my most recent trip in March and don't have any more specifics.

 

Walked through the California casino a couple of weeks ago...11:00 in the morning....they had 4 craps tables going....each table was full...3 tables had $10 minimum and 1 table at $5 minimum. Lively crowd, lots of action.

 

Options Downtown

In the morning Craps at The Cal and Fremont is good. Afternoon at MSS and Binons is where you'll find me and night time at The "D" has always been fun.
El Cortex, Golden Nugget, and Four Queens seem to be the most boring.

 

Years ago the three dollar games used to pay half dollars with the 6 and 8, nowadays they just pay even money and hide their grins. I frequently stay at Four Queens and I would say that they have the most boring tables anywhere. My last trip the dealer picked up my winning line bet because he was looking at something across the room. El Cortez is cheap but not fun; way too many compulsive gamblers and dice counters. The D is loud, young, and full of inexperienced players.

The Golden Gate is my favorite when the table fills up. Binion's crews are very professional but I don't like the long tables. Never payed at MSS but I always see good crowds there.

 

That's my issue with playing DT or lower end joints like Casino Royale. There is a pecking order to casino staff just like the casinos themselves. The better joints attract the higher players, which attracts the best dealers because of the tips. While for many games this doesn't really matter, but for Craps, it takes a little more "talent" than the ability to count to 21. You have a lot of different bets, all with different payouts, and you frequently have many different players to track, who are all pressing and changing their bets. I've ran into several instances in these places like your experience above. When I have to watch the dealers like a hawk to make sure that I get paid, was paid the right amount, that my bets were pressed correctly, etc. it just becomes a pain in the ass. Then you get the ones who want to argue with you when you correct them.

Again that's why I personally enjoy the Binions crew. They've always been competent and reliable when I've been there and I like the atmosphere.

 

From my experience (2-3 trips DT a year for 15 years) the most lively games are at Binions, Fremont and Golden Gate.

Golden Gate has the louder music and atmosphere so it doesn't take that much action to get those tables going. The toughest tables to get on when busy can be at Fremont. I put Binions behind these two due to slower drink service. I've actually left the table to go buy my own dam beer at the bar.

More than once at The Gate the waitress brought us a round of beers without us ordering. I know she was collecting a tip from all 5 of us, but what better service can you ask for than to have a fresh beer arrive without asking. Funny thing, I still fell the need to finish the previous bottle.

MSS and The Cal are great places to play craps, they are just more subdued due to the older Hawaiians playing. Don't get me wrong I love playing there and with them, some of them take their craps shooting pretty serious. Often I feel like I'm there along for the ride making money, I pass the dice often. May not be the atmosphere your asking for.

 

My best memory is from rolling at the Golden Gate. Since the Fremont St stage is right outside & they have dancing drink girls there, the craps table tends to fill up and stay pretty lively. Very loud, and got a few obnoxious players in there, but awesome for the most part. Every time was between 6 p.m.-3a.m.

I have only played at Four Queens & the Old Fitz, but was too far on my way to really be able to form a coherent opinion. This next trip I'm staying DT for 2 days so I'll hit every casino & be better informed.

But the Golden Gate ROCKED, all 3 times I played there.

 

MSS. I almost got a Golden Arm award there last summer. 7 more minutes sigh...

 

Isnt it funny, or sad, how every casino downtown got a mention except for the Plaza!! That has to mean something about their management.

 

Haha I don't think 4 queens got a positive one.. And I'd have to echo how everyone has said the vibe is boring. And put my vote toward golden gate friendly crew and great vibe in the casino

 

MSS awards Golden Arm too? Thought it was only the Cal that awards Golden Arm.

Had a monster roll at the Cal in 2011. They had me clocked at 54 minutes or so. Double sigh...lol!

Anyway, good job on your monster roll. Hope you make it next time!