Best Casino for a new local?

Hi everyone,

I'll be moving to Vegas sometime next year since my job is HQ'ed there.

I was curious since I've heard locals generally don't go to the strip.

I have highest status with Venetian/Palazzo and mid level with Palms due to Yaamava in Socal.

Should I ditch these in favor of like a Red Rock or Green Valley casino etc?

 

It depends, what do you like to play? For video poker, South Point. They also have a lot of Bingo events, if that's your thing.

 

lots of local casinos-----would find one close to where you will live that has a decent restaurant as well as the games you like to play------then get established with a players card-----

 

I'll just throw out there that a lot of locals hang out at Aria, if you're interested in the Strip -- due to the residential population centered around that complex (Waldorf is about 50% residential, Veer is 100% residential, and Martin/Panorama across the street is also 100% residential), there are a lot of regulars there. But otherwise, I very much agree with @Sonya, it depends on what you're looking for and where you are. Personally, I find both South Point and Red Rock to be a bit too big for a locals place. I'm a big fan of Silverton, personally, though their food is only okay.

 

I have no experience, not having lived in Vegas, but it seems that it could be fun to make a nice long list of the locals casinos and check a couple out each week. Then you can assess service, dining, pay tables etc. it’d be a fun way to settle into the new home town.

 

Almost exclusively slots with a little bit of blackjack.

I guess I can also scope out multiple properties and see which vibe/restaurants there that I like the most. Which would you say has the best rewards program? And do they status match to like a Venetian or Palms status?

 

I like the Rampart. But you know you are going to check all of them out anyway, so you can decide for yourself. When you move to Vegas, that's one of the things you do.

Unless you don't have a car that is.

 

I wouldn't put my hopes on Stations. They have changed significantly in the last few years and a friend of our who lives in Summerlin near RR is pretty annoyed with what they've done to the rewards program for locals. He has a high status and doesn't even get food credits and minimal FP. Although we, as out-of-towners, love to stay at RR and GVR, we're now looking more closely at places like Aliente (Boyd). As said, it all depends on what you want from a casino.

 

Come on, is anyone that crazy?

 

If Venetian/Palazzo is your jam, I'm guessing the locals spots with the strongest comp programs such as South Point might not appeal to you as much just based on vibe/atmosphere.

I feel like Red Rock and Green Valley Ranch would be good matches. Though as mentioned, Stations does appear to be making some changes for the worse.

I'll throw M Resort into the mix here. I did a one-night stay there about a month ago, and I really liked it. Nice atmosphere, great restaurants, good selection of slots, and reminds me quite a bit of Aria with the decor.

One factor you didn't share is what area of the city you'd be living in (if you're comfortable saying so). None of these recommendations will do much good if you have to drive some crazy distance to get there every time.

Silly question... any reason why you wouldn't want to remain at Venetian/Palazzo if you're comfortable there anyway?

 

As an out of town/state person, I started at the Venetian since they started giving me solid tournament free night stays for slots. As a local, I'm also going to be probably toning down the slot play so I don't go broke haha.

I'm not married to the Venetian, they were just giving me free nights/tournament while back comping all my food which is nice when I am staying 3-4 nights.

Plus I kinda heard as a local, you just don't go down to the Strip as much. I have no idea what part of town I will end up in once I move (mostly working from home, but have to be in the office a couple times a year which is in North Las Vegas). I would prefer to be living either near Summerlin, Peccole Ranch, Spring Valley, Southern Highlands, or maybe up in Centennial.

 

It really depends. That's 100% preference -- while it's true that the stereotypical local attitude is "nah, the Strip is for tourists", there are definitely locals who hang out on the Strip, not counting those who work there. I can't speak for anyone but myself, but several years in, I still love seeing the Strip.

But, regarding comps, just bear in mind that if/when you update your contact info, getting coded as a "local" can kill off your Strip offers. MGM, in particular, doesn't really do anything for me even though I'm platinum.

 

Agreed with above, stations really sucks in terms of comps, facilities and games are generally good but man they are stingy.

M Resort is my go to, they are slightly above average in terms of comps and really doesn't have major weakness in any other aspects.

Many locals like to go to Silverton and South Point but I don't really like them.

 

you don't state if your preference is table games or VP.
I would think that eventually a lot will depend on where you settle, and what are your closest gaming options.
Anthony Curtis, whose LVA newsletters and weekly you tube videos have been a source of good information for years, recently gave a rousing shout out for good food and vp options to the Emerald Island and the Rainbow Club in downtown Henderson.

 

I am no local, but I know it's not true.

 

He literally said a couple posts above that he plays "almost exclusively slots with a little bit of blackjack."

 

I think the biggest thing is that the Strip tends to be expensive. This is true for any city with tourist attractions -- going up to top of the Space Needle is expensive too, and certainly not a place where Seattle locals hang out, but they do visit. A better example would be NYC, where locals visit even places like Per Se, but nobody is going to the Columbia Circle mall on a random weekday just to see the sights. I think it's similar to the Strip in that locals visit, but most aren't going out to Bellagio to eat at Picasso and play $50 blackjack every night.

 

Me. Visiting since mid 80s and never rented a car. Started on the strip, moved DT, and now off-strip with one foot out the door. Never had an interest in jumping around, even back in the younger days. This is true. Couple of years ago I stayed at Sam’s Town, it was for five days. I entered the property on a Saturday pm and the next next time I even stepped outside was Thursday when I checked out. I’m boring.

 

Sorry, that was meant to be a joke -- I've lived here for some time now, still don't own a car, and @azlefty (among others around this board) knows that.

I've done the exact same thing in the past, to be honest. I once spent four days at Mirage between a bachelor party and a wedding, and other than the pool I don't think I went outside once. I've had trips where I've gone days on end without leaving Aria, save for maybe a trip to CVS or taking the tram to Bellagio for a dinner. After hopping around on earlier trips, I eventually settled down and started treating most properties like cruise ships, which is easy enough to do when you've got a dozen restaurants on-site!