I rarely go to the strip at all except for shows or events. I prefer to gamble downtown. The higher limits at the mega resorts are designed for one thing only: to shear as many sheep of their bankroll as quickly as possible.
I avoid the "carnival" games like the many blackjack variants, especially if blackjack pays 6 to 5 vs 3 to 2.
Do some research before going. There are a ton of blog and YT advisors online that list the table limits and games available.
The strip on any given weekend has been notoriously expensive. After COVID reopening, they started making that limit level the daily norm. I couldn't get rated at MGM years ago because I wasn't playing at least $200/hand on one of the poker games. Downtown, they rate you every time you sit at a table no matter what level you're playing.
The rating will be based on the "action" you give them. More action = higher rating. No sense in being arrogant and insulting as if the player is going to start betting more just for comps!
I had a friend rely on comps. He gave up because it was too much work to maintain his status. That he was at the tables for like 14hrs a day easily. His game was Bacarrat. He said he rather pay for his room.
I get some comps, but Mrs. CMO gets way more because she's a slot player.
Post-COVID many casinos upped their table mins. That's why I was surprised to be downtown and there were no $5 tables. They were $10. On many occasions, Freemont even let Mrs. CMO bet $3 min bet on the craps table cause they had the $3 special during X hours of the day. These times are gone for now sadly.
We went in Dec 2021 and Jan 2022 and it was empty in downtown. So empty that I was the only one on the craps table at Freemont. Usually they got a few tables full of people playing at all hours of the day. NYNY shut down their craps table due to no players. I have never seen zero craps table at a place like NYNY. And at 4 Queens, there were 2 of us. But usually Queens is not as busy as Freemont.
Outside was busy, seems like people go there to hang and drink thank gamble. At least Freemont valet is still free.
And Wynn doesn't even have $15 tables anymore. Same with Aria. Which is why I was surprised to see Cosmo with $15 tables still. Greens chips are too rich for my blood.
Freemont street has been having issues for a year now. After a certain time they have metal detectors set up on the street entrances. But 1 could easily go thru the hotels to bypass these. It isnt illegal to CCW a firearm, its just their rules.