Is Las Vegas relevant any more?

[MisterV]

Given the availability of tribal and non-tribal casinos I no longer feel the need to travel to Las Vegas in order to gamble.

I haven't been to sin city for years now; I last came I believe before resort fees and parking fees were rampant on the strip; air fare and car rentals were reasonably priced then.

How things seem to have changed, and it surprises me that so many people still visit and gamble there.

The powers that be must be doing something that appeals to folks, but I just don't see it.

Covid killed, at least for awhile, the clubbing scene with its obscenely profitable bottle service etc.; maybe it will come roaring back?

Whatever, the old girl has a habit of reinventing herself to adjust to the times; I wonder what the next phase / adjustment will be like?

What about more family friendly activities, e.g. something like an air-conditioned indoor Disneyland?

[Desertrunner]

I wrote this in another thread, Vegas needs to get back to it's roots of cheap food, cheap hotel rooms and free drinks. The corporate CEO greed has killed the whole scene. Need to get rid of charging for ice in the drinks, parking, etc. Whatever they do, it has to be better and cheaper than the indians in California.

[MisterV]

I agree.

But given that the other gambling alternatives are in place, what is it that still induces folks to come to Las Vegas instead of gambling locally?

It's mystique, maybe?

[MaxPen]

I ask myself why people come to Vegas all the time. I know I wouldn't. Especially if I lived in California.

I live the best Vegas Strip has to offer too. I don't even appreciate it or get it when it is free. I certainly wouldn't pay for anything they have to offer.

The only way I see people raving about the dining on the Strip is if they are from some desolate Midwestern town with a Pizza Hut and Denny's as their only option.

Once you get off the Strip, if you know where to go, then Vegas is better than any other place in the nation to live for all the variety and opportunity it has to offer. Especially with it's one day drive radius that is available.

[The Boz]

And yet V, Vegas survived without you. And Covid didn’t kill shit other than being closed for the couple months, only those like you who gave up years of their life out of fear stopped enjoying Vegas. The numbers in mid to late 2000 were fine considering no foreigners, yes it was a different customer but the city was full on weekends.

I semi get your question and I don’t have the exact answer, but it still draws me in because it’s Vegas. As someone who travels for leisure at least once a month, Vegas is Vegas. Not just for the gambling, I agree that’s everywhere, but for everything it has to offer. And the memories of past trips.

I’ll be there in the very near future and my plans include old favorites and some new stuff. Breweries and bars I love, and seeing the friends we made with the employees that work in these places. Hitting Area 15 because it’s new and sounds cool to me. Sure it’s all overpriced but you can’t take it with you, and honestly I don’t care.

Vegas is Vegas and until someone comes up with something to match it, Vegas has something for everyone. It’s why occupancy is running well over 90% on weekends and at times close to 100%.

[kewlJ]

As far as recreational/tourist? I don't get it either. The strip is just another touristy rip off over-charging for every little thing, watered down drinks, food, rooms. Far more shopping opportunities than gambling opportunities now. Why do people go to some tourist destination to shop? The stores aren't unique. Even the higher end stores. Then you buy all kinds of over-priced cloths and crap and lug it home on the airplane?

Now if anyone is interested in gambling, recreational or whatever, the strip has some of the worst rules and odds in the country. It amazes me how many out-of towners still seem to have no idea that Vegas is more than just the strip and/or downtown.

So when I moved here, I was in my late 20's and was drawn to the strip area, nightlife and all that. Lived a block off the strip behind Bally's. After 3 year that grew old and when I sold my condo I moved away, 8 miles west of the strip. Suburban setting. During that time, I like many that live in Vegas never or very rarely even visited the strip. When my partner passed away, my brother and I decided to buy a condo together and he, being younger than I wanted to do that whole strip area thing and atmosphere, so that is where we are. And with covid, I started playing some on the strip on busy weekend type periods where I could play higher stakes to make up for playing less. Especially with masks required which provide cover. But with things getting back to normal, I could be content to never or rarely set foot on the strip again.

For a blackjack type AP (card counter, maybe hole carder), Vegas is still a good opportunity. There just are so many games in close proximity, something no other location has. And there are some good games and opportunities still. Not on the strip of course.

As far as living here, there are a couple benefits MaxPen didn't mention. The cost of living is much lower than most places. If you are coming from California or one of the big east coast or even Midwest cities, the cost of living is much, much lower. Home prices and rents have shot up over the past couple years as they have everywhere, but still lower than most places which have shot up even more.

And then there is the airport. I don't travel a lot, but The Vegas airport is really easy compared to most other places. Rarely a line more than a few minutes at security. Lots of flights almost everywhere. I know one AP that moved here just for the easy travel connections (he says). He claims not to even play here anymore. Just lives here and travels.

[kewlJ]

One other thing: People bringing kids to Las Vegas and the Strip. What the fuck is that? Every time I flew home to Vegas from somewhere, the plane is full of people with kids, like they are heading to Disneyworld or something. Why do people think Las Vegas is any kind of place for kids? Must be horrible for the kids.

[The Boz]

Agree with KJ on the kids, never understood it. Has to be selfish parents that can’t away on their own justifying doing what they want to do saying Vegas is “kid friendly”.

I do think KJ and Max are somewhat biased because it’s their home. It’s just another city to them and where they work. I’m the same way in my home in Florida, which is a tourist town, especially now with Spring Break going on. People everywhere, traffic is bad and it’s a pain to get anywhere. At times it’s quicker to walk to my local places than drive. Living here I don’t get the attraction but a hell of a lot of people are having a great time. And now I’m the local they ask questions to at the bar.

[mcap]

I can see the appeal if you’re a drunk, or a binge drinker, and like to gamble. Particularly downtown. Some states don’t allow comped alcohol, stop serving at reasonable times and actually enforce not serving visibly intoxicated patrons on the gaming floor. Easier transport options when drunk. Lots of drunks and bingers in the US.

Cheap flights and comped hotel rooms. Multiple times when not booking flights too early visiting home for the holidays I’ve stopped through Vegas for a day or two then fly from there back home, ends up being several hundred cheaper than just going the direct route.

[tableplay]

One other thing: People bringing kids to Las Vegas and the Strip. What the fuck is that? Every time I flew home to Vegas from somewhere, the plane is full of people with kids, like they are heading to Disneyworld or something. Why do people think Las Vegas is any kind of place for kids? Must be horrible for the kids.

"Mommy, why does that stinky man keep trying to hand people post cards with naked ladies on it" ?

[Desertrunner]

Once you get off the Strip, if you know where to go, then Vegas is better than any other place in the nation to live for all the variety and opportunity it has to offer. Especially with it's one day drive radius that is available.

Brother, you just defined why i want to move back and live there.

[AxelWolf]

I wrote this in another thread, Vegas needs to get back to it's roots of cheap food, cheap hotel rooms and free drinks. The corporate CEO greed has killed the whole scene. Need to get rid of charging for ice in the drinks, parking, etc. Whatever they do, it has to be better and cheaper than the indians in California.

Who now has old style Vegas comps, cheap food, room etc? If you're looking for cheap drinks in California or most any Indian joint, good luck, they all charge about $6-$8 per shot gambling or not. No free drinks at most Indian joints. Cheap crappy cigarettes if that's your thing.

Sure, you can go to various places for less and get the same gambling experienc, but people come to Vegas to get the Vegas experience and you can't get that anywhere else. Perhaps close, but no cigar. FYI I think Vegas It's a great place to Vacation/Visit , and AP, but for.me... I't a shitty place to live when compared to many places.

[accountinquestion]

I wrote this in another thread, Vegas needs to get back to it's roots of cheap food, cheap hotel rooms and free drinks. The corporate CEO greed has killed the whole scene. Need to get rid of charging for ice in the drinks, parking, etc. Whatever they do, it has to be better and cheaper than the indians in California.

Who now has old style Vegas comps, cheap food, room etc? If you're looking for cheap drinks in California or most any Indian joint, good luck, they all charge about $6-$8 per shot gambling or not. No free drinks at most Indian joints. Cheap crappy cigarettes if that's your thing.

Sure, you can go to various places for less and get the same gambling experienc, but people come to Vegas to get the Vegas experience and you can't get that anywhere else. Perhaps close, but no cigar. FYI I think Vegas It's a great place to Vacation/Visit , and AP, but for.me... I't a shitty place to live when compared to many places.

I was charged $60 for 2 drinks at Rio. I forget if they were double titos or not. Haha! Not even the Strip. could have gambled for them but didn't care. Drinks are premium on Strip if you don't happen to be gambling at that exact moment. lol.

Paying for parking in parkuing lots that used to be free !

Resort fees are bullshit !

Horrible odds!

Maybe restaurants shutdown!

Same fucking food court is any of the 2 big chains. At least give a subway option...

I'd love to see El Diablo/MGM take a loss for their greed. The incessant nickle and diming, although apparently I get my resort fee waved with Gold at MGM. A few places I can table game downtown. Last time I was doing some $500-1k betting at a dump casino downtown.. I'm going back there. Will I drink or not? Not sure. I'll have some fun though.

Literally the only thing good are the comped rooms. The food service if very meh. If you are hanging out alone, you're kinda second class if you take up a table at their steakhouses. Maybe I need to do reservations more often. The clientele are very meh.

TBH I have 5x more fun at my home casino. I have to pay for drinks but they're cheaper than if you pay for them in LV. Really though only thing LV has are some old school table games in some places. Home casino is better in every way.

LV just lost it when gambling is available within hours of every major city in this country. Once the conventions started to die off seems like it really hurt.

With their house rules you're pretty much guaranteed a loss 90% of the time unless you're playing black chip or something somewhere that still does 3:2 or single 0.

[Tasha]

I was basically called an Idiot for suggesting that Covid was the final fork in Las Vegas. In my defense, Las Vegas was being considered basically just as bad as Downtown Detroit or Los Angeles and there were reports of the Glamour of Las Vegas being a relic of the past. Also when I wrote that, the Vaccines hadn't yet been readily available and I supplemented my claim by pointing out that MOST States have at least one Casino in them and Las Vegas is no longer one of two Gambling places in America. The other place is Atlantic City. For a long time, you could only Gamble in a Casino in either Nevada or New Jersey. Now, about 47 States have at least one Casino, so Las Vegas or New Jersey are no longer the sole places that have Casinos in them. I also pointed out that MANY people aren't going to Las Vegas to Gamble in Casinos, but are going for Nightlife such as Nightclubs and Shows such as Magic Shows and Concerts which you can basically find anywhere in the U.S. I stood corrected when the Vaccines became readily available and Las Vegas came back in a big way, as if it were 2019 again.

[The Boz]

I was basically called an Idiot for suggesting that Covid was the final fork in Las Vegas. In my defense, Las Vegas was being considered basically just as bad as Downtown Detroit or Los Angeles and there were reports of the Glamour of Las Vegas being a relic of the past. Also when I wrote that, the Vaccines hadn't yet been readily available and I supplemented my claim by pointing out that MOST States have at least one Casino in them and Las Vegas is no longer one of two Gambling places in America. The other place is Atlantic City. For a long time, you could only Gamble in a Casino in either Nevada or New Jersey. Now, about 47 States have at least one Casino, so Las Vegas or New Jersey are no longer the sole places that have Casinos in them. I also pointed out that MANY people aren't going to Las Vegas to Gamble in Casinos, but are going for Nightlife such as Nightclubs and Shows such as Magic Shows and Concerts which you can basically find anywhere in the U.S. I stood corrected when the Vaccines became readily available and Las Vegas came back in a big way, as if it were 2019 again.

Because you ARE an idiot and much worse.

Did you reply to Dan’s private messages? You are scheduled to be a guest of honor on the 10th Anniversary episode of his radio show this week.

Don’t let everyone down, they are counting on the interview with you. Perhaps the first member of your family to ever be on a national broadcast, this is your big moment. Don’t let your fans down!

[accountinquestion]

I was basically called an Idiot for suggesting that Covid was the final fork in Las Vegas. In my defense, Las Vegas was being considered basically just as bad as Downtown Detroit or Los Angeles and there were reports of the Glamour of Las Vegas being a relic of the past. Also when I wrote that, the Vaccines hadn't yet been readily available and I supplemented my claim by pointing out that MOST States have at least one Casino in them and Las Vegas is no longer one of two Gambling places in America. The other place is Atlantic City. For a long time, you could only Gamble in a Casino in either Nevada or New Jersey. Now, about 47 States have at least one Casino, so Las Vegas or New Jersey are no longer the sole places that have Casinos in them. I also pointed out that MANY people aren't going to Las Vegas to Gamble in Casinos, but are going for Nightlife such as Nightclubs and Shows such as Magic Shows and Concerts which you can basically find anywhere in the U.S. I stood corrected when the Vaccines became readily available and Las Vegas came back in a big way, as if it were 2019 again.

Because you ARE an idiot and much worse.

Did you reply to Dan’s private messages? You are scheduled to be a guest of honor on the 10th Anniversary episode of his radio show this week.

Don’t let everyone down, they are counting on the interview with you. Perhaps the first member of your family to ever be on a national broadcast, this is your big moment. Don’t let your fans down!

Why are you such a prick towards Tasha? Pick on someone at least as smart as you.

[MisterV]

If Tasha chooses to participate I'd call in and ask "Is your refrigerator running? It is? You better catch it."

[kewlJ]

The other 2 major attention whores UNKOOL1( BJ) and MichelD( losing high roller) have their own reasons.

Well, you are correct that I have no interest in that....at least at the moment while an active player hoping for another 10 years? I was asked by Munchin to do GWAE like 6-7 years ago now. As much as I respect Munchkin I turned that down for the same reason. GWAE has gone on to have at least two dozen other professional card counters type BJ players on since then, many with similar stories to mine, starting small, low level, building up BR ect. So at this point my story isn't really anything special. AND the mathematics of card counting isn't really in question, except by a few morons, so that isn't relevant.

I do have a few techniques and things that I do that are a bit special and different than other players approaches but I have talked about some of those when I want. And that is the thing. I share from my experiences, what I want to share, when I want to (sometimes delayed from the actual event or experience). So I wouldn't want to be in a position of being asked things by Munchkin that I didn't want to answer at present time based on identifying and longevity concerns. I like to make that call.

Now the other person you mentioned, and if it is who I am thinking you meant it to be, you have a wrong first letter of last name, which may or may not be confusing to some.

But lets face it the Mdog person, I believe you to be speaking about, the big thing is his math doesn't work, and some of the claims made simply are not the way Las Vegas or the Casino industry works, high roller or not. So it would be more than fair for someone like Dan Druff, Munchkin or someone with such a platform to interview him and ask those questions that he just refuses to answer on forums, instead attacking those that ask these legitimate and pertinent questions.

I brought this up in the here earlier this month (maybe Feb 2) and there was brief discussion about asking Dan Druff or Munchkin if they would be interested in such an interview. I even PMed Druff knowing that he rarely reads this forum. I finally heard back from him just yesterday, 4 weeks later asking if this was still being discussed? (I have no idea why he couldn't have looked for himself). But I responded that discussion seemed to have ended. I don't know if that means Druff has some interest in interviewing Mdog or not. Doesn't really matter as I doubt Mdog is going to agree to an interview with someone like Druff or Munchkin that would ask the questions that he doesn't want to and can't answer. That dog fella probably would want some sort of legal agreement signed stating they couldn't ask certain questions. That seems to be the way this person operates.

[monet]

How are women supposed to get respect when they wear tops like this??
I see it on every news and news entertainment channel.
Makes no sense to me unless some fashion designer is Fucking with them lol.

[monet]

Better Video...

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