What's Your Most Memorable Vegas Casino Experience?

I was playing at the craps table at MSS. The table was lively and everyone was having fun.

I had my passline bet down, 10X odds behind it, and I had all the place numbers covered, ready to do some damage!

All of a sudden I heard an angelic voice, almost like a song behind me. "Would you like a drink?"

I turned around and stared into the most beautiful big brown eyes I have ever seen, and they were staring directly into mine, as if baring my soul for all to see. Her smile was bright and cheery and for a moment or 10, I stared with jaws agape.

A petite, lovely, friendly CW waitress. Not the snobby "I am beautiful" smug bugs that are pretty prolific all over, but a down to earth genuine service-oriented beauty.

After I used both my hands to shut my open jaw, I asked for a Corona with lime. She slinked away with a smile.

I turned to the table to find out there was a seven out. I watched the dealer sweep all my chips away, but I didn't despair. There still was a smile on my face as I put aside a couple of red chips, awaiting her return.

 

Three immediately come to mind:

1. First Vegas trip, 1982, walking through the Stardust; the first casino I’d ever visited.

2. My first stay at Wynn Tower Suites. I was absolutely blown away by their lobby and dedicated pool area.

3. The first time I saw Sinatra. This is probably my favorite Vegas memory.

Honorable mention: Early 80s at the Stardust playing roulette all night and winning north of $1k, a lot for me on my paltry Navy pay while in my early 20s. I finally decided to head up to my room at about 7:00 am but I was too amped up to sleep so I went to the gift shop and got a cigar and a magnum bottle of cheap champagne and made it back to my room. The only thing worth watching on TV, out of a measly five or six channels, was a Little Rascals marathon so I ended up getting completely hammered and laughing my ass off while smoking my stogie and drinking my bubbly straight out of the bottle…

 

Gambling wise, it was way back in mid-2000ish when I hit a $5000 hand-pay playing the $1 reel slots at Mandalay Bay. That's been my biggest hand-pay so far. It payed for my trip, as well as a future trip to Vegas. I also hit 2 hand-pays within 10 min of each other playing Top Dollar at the Monte Carlo (around $1200 each) which was a big surprise. I think that was at least 10 yrs ago.

I've also had a few of those "Only in Vegas" encounters too like the first time I was solicited by a working girl while playing slots at Caesars one morning. As I recall, that was during my second trip to Vegas. That's happen a number of times during my past trips so it not too surprising anymore. LOL

 

Went out in 1993 with my best friend, summer after i turned 21. We stayed at the Hacienda and wandered the Strip looking for cheap gambling. Wound up at Casino Royale mid-afternoon for some $1 blackjack. We played and played through the day and night enjoying the comped screwdrivers and Miller Lites. Stop for a meal? Of course not, and risk losing our coveted seats at the $1 table?

Highlight was seeing our first dealer who'd gone home for the night come back and find us still playing at the same lowly $1 table. Eventually we got tired and walked outside to find the sun had risen and people were starting their day. Being cheap 21 year olds, we walked all the way back to Hacienda and crashed for a long time with a hell of a hangover. Don't remember if we won or lost but we laugh about that night to this day.

 

besides the obvious gambling ones, my meet and greet with Wayne Newton ranks right at the top. Oh and in the early 80's i shared an elevator with Don Rickles at the Sahara.

 

Gambling - First solo trip when I was 22 and playing a slot at 2am at Luxor and winning over $4k. I was hooting and hollering, the casino was so dead that nobody cared. Always thought my first would have a crowd of bystanders

Celebrity? - Rode the elevator with Dog and his wife Beth back when he was popular due to his show.

Drunk - Celebrating my best friend sisters 21st at PH club where ladies get free drinks. My buddy and I were getting hooked up with drinks by his sister and her friends and got pretty hammered. I’m out on the dance floor enjoying the night when the music stops and lights turn on, I clearly say wtf loud when noticing who I was grinding up on and she slaps me saying you wish you can have all of this meat. I turn to the group where they’re laughing and my buddy was like bro you seemed happy so I didn’t want to intervene. We leave the club and head back to the room, but first my wise ass had to fall off the escalator 1/4 way down. I woke up fully clothed with the worst headache ever, never did I party like this again.

 

I can honestly say I never had any "memorable casino experience" in Las Vegas. I never had any luck, I never hit any big jackpots I do remember missing a $3K payout playing Keno at the Riviera. I played a 12 and a 13 came up. I did get $300, though. That was the closest I ever came to a "memorable experience".

 

Late 90s in AC. After not having much luck at craps when we got there on Friday, our fortunes turned for the better on Saturday. At some point we were at a $5 craps table at the old Claridge and the dice were hot and everyone was winning and cheering. They gave the notice that they were going to raise the minimum to $10 (no grandfathering in AC), but right next to it was a table they were about to open at $5. At the next seven out, EVERYONE at the table moved over to the other one. I was immediately left of stick and got the first roll, which was a seven. The table erupts in cheers and the dealer on our side places a $1 chip next to everyone's $5 bet. People are yelling "WHAT?", the dealer shrugs, and replaces the $5 chips with $1 ones. By then the whole side of the table is getting ready to kill this guy, and the pit boss says "you know he's messing with you" as the dealer takes the dollar chips and correctly places two $5 chips in front of each player. I had to give the guy a nice tip for that laugh!

 

The first time I took my mom to Vegas.

 

Gambling: On my first (maybe second) trip I hit a the top prize on a three reel. But, I was down to two coins so instead of like $50k I think I won $500 or so. Since that day, I refuse to spin a slot machine unless I qualify for the jackpot.

Food: B&B Ristorante. Had my first really nice Italian dinner and my first Barolo. Shared the meal with my brother and we still talk about it.

 

My first (and only, so far) hand pay. November last year, my wife and I were in Vegas for the first time after a hiatus caused by the pandemic. We were in Vegas for a week celebrating our anniversary and for the big actual day we had dining reservations at Lago, where I had put a request for a nice table with the greatest views, etc.

I got ready first and, while wife was getting dressed I told her I would get down to the casino to have a beer before dinner and wait for her. I got a seat at Baccarat Bar and, for the first time in my life, put some money into one of the bar top VP machines (I mostly play BJ and slots) and started playing, which I thought was a good idea to pass time and grab a free couple Coors light.

I was probably fifteen minutes in, held suited A, K, J (in spades), thinking nothing of it, and then, suddenly…well, you know the drill. $ 4,000 hand pay.

I was actually in shock, at first. I just stood there, sipping my beer. A couple os moments later, the bartender seeing me in awe, came over and asked “what did you do wrong over there? Broke the machine”? and cracked a big smile. The couple on my left just then realized what I had hit and started screaming and congratulating me, they were so happy for me.

I was still calm - trying to pretend “cool” at that point. I told everyone else at the bar I was just having a beer waiting for the love of my life to celebrate our 8 amazing years together and how happy I was having hit this in this exact moment.

My wife got there exactly when I was receiving the money. Everyone cheered us and wished a happy anniversary. I was so still shocked that I actually left $ 300 in the machine when we left to the restaurant (I remembered ten seconds later, of course, and the gentleman who had already taken my spot was very understanding and gave me 3 benjamins to account for what I had left in the machine).

It was a wonderful evening after that. What a feeling. I had lost badly the nights before (and lost also the nights thereafter, the total for the trip was very much in the negative on the gambling side), but I don’t think I will ever forget that moment.

 

I've had lots of great meals over the years, but one will always be the most memorable. Apologies to those that have read about this previously.
Buddy and I were running behind for a tee time. We ordered bacon and eggs with coffee without seeing a menu. When I went to the cashier to pay, I found out these were breakfast specials. Total bill was $1.76! Like I said, I probably won't forget that one.

 

Great stuff keep em coming!

 

I actually have two super memorial occurrences in Vegas, but I will only bore you with the first one.
I was a young airman on a trip to Nellis AFB. They had no aircrew lodging, so they put us in in a Caesars Palace motel.
After checking in we walked thru the casino on our way to our rooms, one of the guys I was with asked if anyone knew anything about craps. I said I knew all about it but had never played in a casino. We all went to our rooms and after a couple of hours I was in bed ready to sleep when a knock on the door and a couple of my crew mates wanted to go play craps. We had about 40-50 dollars between us to spend so off we go. A couple of tables were open as it was about 11-12 in the evening. The group decided I would play with our meager sum.
One table had a whole bunch of guys in black suits with a blonde on their side. As I was leaning overlooking into the table a guy asked if I wanted to get in there, so he and another guy moved over and little me put our small sum down for chips. The guy who let me in asked if I ever played before and I told him no. He said just do as I do, and you'll win. My group was looking in while I bet the pass line and something else, I don't remember. The guys at the table are laughing and having fun and betting hundreds of dollars. Lost my first bet and the guy on my left says bet 10 on the hard 8 and the pass line. He seemed to know what he was doing so I did and lost again. Following his lead, I bet like him with the last of the group funds. We lost again. The guy says to me you broke air boy, and I answered yes sir. He gave me a stack of green chips and said you have to bet more to play this game. Do as I do. Bet every bet he did and in less than an hour we had a couple of thousand dollars. I told him I had to go to bed, and I really appreciated his help as i gave him his stack of greens back.
He said keep them son I have a lot more were those came from. When we left in the morning, we saw all of them at the same table smoking big cigars and having fun. I will never have a better memory of Vegas

 

Only my 2nd time in Vegas, was there for a few days with a friend. He left the night before I did so I had an evening to myself to explore. Decided to hit up Hard Rock casino as that was the one of the few strip/near strip places I hadnt visited yet. I was told it would be a great atmosphere and alot of fun. Got there to find almost nobody and no atmosphere. Played BJ for $100 and left after losing it very quickly. Decided on a ride to Planet Hollywood where there would actually be something fun going on. Bought in at BJ and lost it in no time. Last night, down to my last hundred, sat down at a cheap BJ table to slow play and watch the dancer right in front of me. Proceeded to play for hour upon hour upon hour, drinking more Vodka Red Bull than should be allowed, tipping the dancer green chips for being my good luck charm. Finally decided to leave due to an early flight (now only a few hours away). At the cage I was asked if i wanted a "brick", having no idea what that was i said - SURE! Suddenly saw a wrapped stack being slid to me - $5000. Bank note still on it. WTF!! Turned my last hundred into 5 grand.
First thought - Holy Shit! This must be what UKFanatic feels like!! (seriously)
Second thought - Holy Shit! Im walking down the strip with 5 grand in my pocket... never walked so fast in my life, without looking at a single person.
Vegas has been my happiest place on earth ever since that moment. Anything can happen at any time.

 

In my own sick mind I love the juxtaposition of the the two stories. (if I have to explain I guess it is not funny). Back maybe 15 years ago GG was a lot more gritty than now. There was a tiny men's room with one closed stall and maybe 4 urinals. It was late night early morning and as usual I had been drinking a lot and had a couple of their famous shrimp cocktails. I wanted to use the stall but it was locked. I waited a while it was very quiet I heard nothing and wondered if it was really occupado. I bent down to peek under the stall and saw feet with pants around them and was about to give up when I noticed a hand on the floor. I knocked several times got no response. I went back in the casino got security to check it out. I sat at the bar and kept an eye on the situation. Two more security went in after about five minutes they all came out and one stationed himself at the door. after another 10 minutes or so two paramedis and two metro cops came running in. They were in the bathroom for 15 - 20 minutes. came out with a guy strapped to the gurney with a sheet over him. Metro got my name and story. everything went back to normal like it never happened.

 

That is a wild story. I was a patron of the GG back in those 99 Shrimp cocktail, piano player, tiny bathroom days. All among us were saddened when the piano was removed.

 

10-15 years ago I used to go to Vegas with my girlfriends who were much more into clubbing and the pool scene then gambling. This often meant my gamble time was the time between when the clubs closed and the pools opened. To save time, I usually walked right out of the club and right to the machines rather than go back to the room and change. Problem is, at 3 am a girl by herself wearing club clothes in a casino is apparently irresistible to every guy in the casino (pretty confident some of them also thought I was working….). I heard all kinds of lines during those days but I perfected the art of ignoring everyone and concentrating on the machine. The only time I was ever tempted to respond was this one time when, after about 10 minutes of trying to engage me in conversation, this guy goes “well, I have pizza in my room if you want to come up and have some.” I wanted that pizza so bad I actually thought about it for a hot second. Still makes me laugh to this day.

 

Way too many stories so I'll tell you two.

Playing dice at Tropicana at a hot table. when a bride and groom walks by. Shooter asks the bride "Aces or midnight?" and she says "Aces." He throws a black chip for aces and hustles another 100 from the players. That bride's eyes were humongous when she left with one hell of a present.

Did a guy's trip downtown and met a girl from South Carolina on a girl's trip. Things went well, we went up to my room and when we finished it was about 6AM. We decided to get breakfast at the Dugout even though we knew we looked like shit. First table I see is the guy I'm rooming with eating breakfast with a lady friend looking just as awful as I do. First thing my lady friend sees is her friend looking as awful as she does with my roommate. We joined them and laughed our asses off the whole time.

 

…not suitable for publication…