I stayed at the Orleans in September and was given a renovated room, pretty high up. It was beautiful and I loved it. While I don't find the casino overly-smokey, it depends on when you play. The days certainly are less smokey than the evenings. As a non-smoker, I always seem to attract some idiot who decides to smoke like the world will end tomorrow. My last round of craps went this way:
I was down about $1k for the session (ouch!) because the table ran cold. I was the only player at the end of the table and was standing directly next to the stickman. Everyone fled the table and I thought I would too, but then some young guys went to the other end and I decided to keep playing because I am superstitious and they were first time players.
Things started to turn around and I started to recoup some of my losses. After 5 minutes, an older man walked up and asked how the shooters were doing. I said that things were still so-so and he bought in for $100 and stood to my left. He acted like he was an expert, keeping notes of each roll and going on and off on his bets all the time. He told me that he has a "system" and has never had a losing session. I just smiled and acted impressed.
I like players who are happy so I hoped things work for us both. My only problem was if he were any closer, I would have worried he was going to pickpocket me or ask me to marry him. They actually had a little sign on the table saying "no smoking" and I find they have that during the days at the Orleans for at least one craps table.
So of course the new player went up $20 and said was time to start playing the dark side after which he lit up a cigar. I don't mind smokers who are polite about it, but of course this jackass was puffing and creating a cloud like he was hailing a passing plane. I told him its a non-smoking table and he said "ok sorry".... which led him to just put the cigar in his left hand and still spew smoke surround the table. The dealers and pit boss did not care and finally asked him politely to blow his smoke away from me. I don't care if someone smokes, just don't blow it in my direction if there is no one to your left.
After 5 minutes of patience, I picked up my chips and moved to the other end of the table near the shooters. My friend smokey asked why I was being such a jerk. I normally just ignore comments like that but considering I am 6'4" and 250 lbs, I simply that it was was either move quietly or shove the cigar up his ass. That shut him up and the table workers did not say a thing.
Things went well and the shooter rolled for about 25 minutes. I made back all the session losses plus a couple hundred more. I was placing lots of bets for the boys, so they probably got about a hundred plus winnings as tips. I also tipped the shooter $25 which thrilled the hell out of him since he was playing $5 pass bets without odds. When I colored up, the pit boss said "nice comeback". I replied "Oh, I did not know you talked to players since you did not interfere when I was dying of smoke inhalation and kept pointing out the "no smoking" sign." He replied, "well it is no smoking but I don't like to enforce it because I don't want to offend players." So there, you have that to think about.....''
Anyway, thanks for letting me vent. Give the Orleans a try. Ask for the renovated rooms and you will be very happy. I really love it there and they treat you well.
By the way, I did finally notice all the prostitutes at the Orleans.... I don't know why I was blind before. They are all over the place and when I decided to go to breakfast one morning, I hopped in the rental card and went out the exit to the east of the casino. It was about 5 am ( I am on EST and cant sleep later than 4 am in Las Vegas) and as I approached the street I noticed 4 very attractive black women in sexy clothes. I just assumed that they were back from clubbing until I noticed that they were standing there and the bus went by. Then I realized they were hookers. Not for me, but just saying they were there every morning, as well as the women sleeping in the casino at the slots.
)
