I’m sitting in LAX on my way home from Vegas. Stayed at the park mgm. Years ago I enjoyed going to Vegas play the 1 cent and 5 cent slots and had a ball, cheap grindz. Those days are gone the place is filthy, people rude. You need an electrical engineering degree or be fucked up on booze to play the machines now and know what the fuck is going on. Unless you want to sell your first born for a good dinner the food is lousy. $5 for a bottle of water in the ABC store.
Nope nope nope…..never again. Vegas can rot……

Park is the only smoke free hotel on the strip. But they're much smaller compared to other casinos. I've noticed since Covid, the smoke smell isn't as heavy as before.  Like 98% less.  And I dont' see many smoking too. The newere machiens take some getting used to, but you can get the hang of it. Ways vs lines is the biggest thing. But a slot machine player is like someone who uses cruise control in a car.  A table player is someone who drives their car with no cruise control. As for slots, you just press the button and wait.

Yep.  Vegas has changed and for many people it's not for the better.  And rude people.  I forgot to emphasize this when I griped about the changes in Vegas.  There are rude people everywhere in our lives but it seems Vegas has a magnet that draws the rude people in droves.  It definitely is on the uptick.  In my opinion it's the under 30 crowd that is really getting out of hand.

I dunno.  Maybe it was that advertising slogan "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.....".

It kinda gave people license to get crazy and obnoxious.

I don't have the urge to visit anymore.  Vegas has crossed the line by its incessant rip-off nickel and diming of every little f*cking thing you do there.

I haven't noticed that people are more rude. But my impression is based on 15 years or so.  IDK what Vegas was like in the 90's and 80s. 

I do notice the demographics. Like during major holidays like Thanksgiving and Xmas, it's more Asians and Indians as they don't celebrate those holidays as much as non FOB type people.  Then if you go to a casino and there's a rapper concert, then the demographic is more blacks. If you during the pool party hours then it's 20-30's crowd of all races.Mostly liquired up and staggering walking people.  On a plus side, you see girls walking around in their bikinis on the casino floor.  But some places like the Wynn ban this, so I've seen a tall blonde girl in heels and she had to go to the Wynn store to buy a tshirt to cover up.

During the reopening days of covid, the demo was ghetto people as the casinos gave comps to everyone cause they needed the revenue.  Wynn quickly stopped this as there were lots of fighting by big groups of blacks on the casino floor. The next by hispanics.

Cruises sounds like a viable alternative.   

It's pretty hard at the current moment with my wife and I since we started babysitting the grandson and great-grandson.  But eventually they will go off to pre-school.

Maybe then we can start thinking of alternative places to go and do.

I've seen so many over the top buffets in Manila on YT that I cannot believe I'm thinking of going all the way to the Phillipines just to eat at their buffets......

I've noticed that there are diff types of cruises.  So be very aware of that.  Like there are some that have a black heavy demographic and this may not appeal to you.  Same ones have fights often, refer to my vegas comment above about the Wynn.

Then there's swingers cruises, gay cruises, etc...

But generally, if you go cheap, you get cheap people and shit food. Not worth it IMO. 

Vegas youtuber Danny the Medic just came back from a free cruise using his Vegas comps and i wouldn't go on it. 

I've noticed that there are diff types of cruises.  So be very aware of that.  Like there are some that have a black heavy demographic and this may not appeal to you.  Same ones have fights often, refer to my vegas comment above about the Wynn.

Then there's swingers cruises, gay cruises, etc...

But generally, if you go cheap, you get cheap people and shit food. Not worth it IMO. 

Vegas youtuber Danny the Medic just came back from a free cruise using his Vegas comps and i wouldn't go on it.

It always depends on the cruise line company and the level of service you are paying for.  MSC owns an island which makes it outside the jurisdiction of surrounding governments.  That's one cruise that allows you to gamble while in port.  Most have to be in international waters to open the casino, and they have to close it down when approaching waters owned by some nation.

O'Brian's channel has some tours of the ships he's been on and some of the amenities.  He offers video and opinions of the food, drinks, hospitality and features.

i've never been on a cruise, but once I start, I'm sure i'll sample a few to compare the experiences.  Anything else relies on others' experiences, comparisons and opinions. 

It's all a matter of taste and the relative impressions you personally formed about the cruises you've sampled yourself.  I mean, some people would rather not stay in a downtown hotel/casino because they're partial to the high end rooms at places like Bellagio and Mandalay Bay.  Others may prefer the value of a downtown hotel since they spend their waking hours gambling, eating, seeing shows, etc. 

It's okay.  If you're watching your budget, you're probably going to appreciate less expensive options which someone with a huge wallet might not ever consider.

It always depends on the cruise line company and the level of service you are paying for.  MSC owns an island which makes it outside the jurisdiction of surrounding governments.  That's one cruise that allows you to gamble while in port.  Most have to be in international waters to open the casino, and they have to close it down when approaching waters owned by some nation.

O'Brian's channel has some tours of the ships he's been on and some of the amenities.  He offers video and opinions of the food, drinks, hospitality and features.

i've never been on a cruise, but once I start, I'm sure i'll sample a few to compare the experiences.  Anything else relies on others' experiences, comparisons and opinions. 

It's all a matter of taste and the relative impressions you personally formed about the cruises you've sampled yourself.  I mean, some people would rather not stay in a downtown hotel/casino because they're partial to the high end rooms at places like Bellagio and Mandalay Bay.  Others may prefer the value of a downtown hotel since they spend their waking hours gambling, eating, seeing shows, etc. 

It's okay.  If you're watching your budget, you're probably going to appreciate less expensive options which someone with a huge wallet might not ever consider.

If u thought the slots in Vegas were tight, the cruise ship ones are tighter.

If u thought the slots in Vegas were tight, the cruise ship ones are tighter.

Then it's a good thing I don't really enjoy slots. 

Slots are really boring IMO, but it can be a good break from a losing BJ or craps session.

The slots in Vegas normally advertise a 90-98% return rate.  But, that doesn't mean YOU will only lose at most 10% of your bankroll.  Someone at some point will hit a jackpot that everyone else paid for.  So, how loose or tight slots appear to be doesn't mean much.  I've done well on slots, and I've played machines that took my money without giving a single bet back out of 30-50 spins.  Slots are about timing.  There's no real strategy to it.  You choose a machine, you hit the button to start, and you hopefully get more back than you put in.  Once in a while i get one that pays out more often than the others in that casino, but usually it's just right machine at the right time.

Some states and reservations, Nv included, set minimum and maximum rates of return on gaming machines.  Some states set percentages based on the type of machine/game, and others go by area within the state.  Since we are discussing Vegas:

1¢ Slot Machines
The Strip – 88.33%
Downtown – 88.96%
Boulder Strip – 90.53%
N. Las Vegas – 90.79%

5¢ Slot Machines
The Strip – 91.96%
Downtown – 93.32%
Boulder Strip – 96.30%
N. Las Vegas – 95.24%

25¢ Slot Machines
The Strip – 89.34%
Downtown – 93.91%
Boulder Strip – 95.77%
N. Las Vegas – 96.27%

$1 Slot Machines
The Strip – 92.34%
Downtown – 94.12%
Boulder Strip – 95.49%
N. Las Vegas – 95.62%

$1 Megabucks Machines
The Strip – 87.31%
Downtown – 86.40%
Boulder Strip – 87.61%
N. Las Vegas – 86.98%

All Slot Machines
The Strip – 91.84%
Downtown – 92.22%
Boulder Strip – 94.26%
N. Las Vegas – 93.34%

https://www.americancasinoguide.com/info/slot-machine-payback-statistics#California

Anyway, I don't play slots enough to plan ahead so I only hit the casinos and machine types that have the highest payout rates.  Those rates are evaluated and calculated during each calendar year,   As long as the rates meet the regulatory minimums, you never know if it's just barely meeting the minimum or if it's hitting closer to the upper 90's -- not until the current year's rates are calculated.  Just because they hit 95% last year is no guarantee it's not closer to 85% this year.  A good marketing ploy would be to take a hit one year setting the returns to 98%+, then sheering the sheep flocking to your place the following year hoping to take advantage of those "loose" slots.  By the time anyone figures out the rate is closer to 85%, it'll be too late.

I'm not a fan of slots, but I did get hooked on Buffalo Gold Slots the past few trips.  Of course it was because I got lucky and hit big a few times on them.  Gotta admit the bonus rounds are fun.

But the excitement soon went away when the variance turned for the worse and all I did was feed it hundys, one after another.  That was no fun.

I like to play video poker, though.  There is some skill and knowledge you can put to use to up your chances of winning something worthwhile.

Don't ask me why I love craps.  There is no logic to why that is so.  I've lost way more times than I care to remember.  I think it is the memory of the big wins that keep me going.  Like this past trip.  All it takes is one good session at the table and all the memories of the losses disappear.

I should try at least one cruise to see if I like it.  I definitely know I will avoid the Carnival and Disney type cruises.  The most appealing cruise I'd like to try is an Alaskan cruise.  Relaxing on a balcony room or on deck on the lounge chairs while watching beautiful scenery pass by leisurely is what is interesting to me.

And I definitely want to visit Japan, Okinawa, and Korea for their festivals like the winter one in Sapporo, and Spring and Summer festivals where we harvest rice and eat with the villagers.

I only play slots a little cause there's no way to win $10,000 on a $3 bet on a table game.

I keep track of my p&l for each game and slots I ususally lose $1K a trip.

Even though slots are supposed to be tighter now than they were 10 years ago, I get more bonus games in the past few years than before.  Before I would get zero and I stopped playing slots for a few years.

I only play slots a little cause there's no way to win $10,000 on a $3 bet on a table game.

I keep track of my p&l for each game and slots I usually lose $1K a trip.

Even though slots are supposed to be tighter now than they were 10 years ago, I get more bonus games in the past few years than before.  Before I would get zero and I stopped playing slots for a few years.

The slots with bonuses have increased, especially in the video slots.  People become "programmed' to keep playing until they get that bonus, which means putting more and more money in.  Unfortunately, the most common outcome is you spent more trying to play the bonus than the bonus gives back.

Wheel of Fortune machines can become addictive trying to get the bonus spin.  i've hit the $1K bonus several times with less than $100 played on a dollar machine.  I've also gotten the highest bonuses on quarter machines, which is normally $250.  I believe I'm ahead, as I try to walk away with at least what I put in or lose no more than I initially put in.  Limit the losses, and walk away without giving it all back.

That's the trick.  People can be $200 or more up, then play it all back down to zero trying for the bonus.  They see the credits as "ammo" for shooting at the bonus target, not as actual money in their hand.

I've played machines for 5-10 spins and walked away after doubling my money so many times, I can't count.  Once at Luxor, as a demonstration to a friend's dad, I put $100 in a high limit $5 per spin machine.  Less than halfway through my $100, i hit a small pay reel.  The next spin I hit a bigger one.  I cashed out with over $350.  I don't think I played it for more than 2 minutes while my friend was in the cashier line to redeem his ticket.

Slots are luck.  You pick the right machine at the right time, and you make money.  Pick the wrong one, and you'll feel like everyone playing around you is winning yet you can't even get a 2 credit cherry to hit on a 3 max credit machine! 

One megabucks winner went to Vegas on almost every weekend since it was a short-ish drive from CA.  I believe the story is, he was in Caesar's Palace and was on his way out to the parking garage.  He still had a few $1 tokens in his pocket, so instead of cashing them in, he stopped at a megabucks machine.  He only had enough tokens for one 3-credit max play.  He wound up a multi-millionaire that night all because he played the right machine at the right time.

This is where owning multiple properties is the advantage. You may win $500 at 1 place and then lose it at another.  Then add in if on vacay and you win say 1K on day 1, you're not going to stop gambling the rest of the week.

So for someone who lives there, they can just go home.  Even if they were at the casino for only 5 minutes.  That's what I would do if I lived there.

How many times have I lost $100 while waiting for mrs. cmo to take a piss before we leave the casino. So our running joke is that her piss cost me $100.

1 thing that I never believed in is the above chart about the holds/house edge on slots/tables.  IMO, basing it on an "infinite" amount of play you only lose like $4 for every $100 is BS.  MOre people lost it all, so they should factor it not on infinite, but some other more realistic time of play.  But that won't look good for the casinos as the house edge would be like 97% and not 3 %.

With regard to people playing with "house money", I've noticed poker players def think the opposite.  Any money won is no longer "house", but it's my money. I just lost "my money".

My sister in law and her husband just got back from Vegas.  Her husband won a handpay on a $2 Double Gold slot machine.  He wouldn't tell us the amount of his handpay and for the life of me I can't figure out why.  But according to his pic he sent us I figured he won about $1600.

He won it toward the end of their trip.  He also mentioned that he "only" lost half of his bankroll this trip and that he can live with that.  "Only" half....?!  Gee, if he didn't win that handpay he would have been up sh*t creek.

Another thing I noticed about the changes in Vegas is how the slot machines operate nowadays.  Like CMO mentioned there are more bonuses now when you play machines.

However, I've experienced earning bonuses after putting in several hundys only to win a paltry 38 bucks or so.  But the way the machine shows all the bells and whistles and visuals you'd think you won the mega-bucks, LOL!

My sister in law and her husband just got back from Vegas.  Her husband won a handpay on a $2 Double Gold slot machine.  He wouldn't tell us the amount of his handpay and for the life of me I can't figure out why.  But according to his pic he sent us I figured he won about $1600.

He won it toward the end of their trip.  He also mentioned that he "only" lost half of his bankroll this trip and that he can live with that.  "Only" half....?!  Gee, if he didn't win that handpay he would have been up sh*t creek.

Another thing I noticed about the changes in Vegas is how the slot machines operate nowadays.  Like CMO mentioned there are more bonuses now when you play machines.

However, I've experienced earning bonuses after putting in several hundys only to win a paltry 38 bucks or so.  But the way the machine shows all the bells and whistles and visuals you'd think you won the mega-bucks, LOL!

i've kind of stayed away from the video slot machines.  Some of the penny machines actually cost $3-$5 per spin if you cover all the combinations which you normally have to play in order to win the bonuses.  So, when you hit a low-end win on the penny slots, you often wind up winning less than your bet amount.

Having said that, my daughter's first trip to Vegas showed me you don't need to know what you're doing on video slots.  She put $100 in her first machine ever, and she cashed out with over $2,000!  She came over to where I was, showed me the ticket and asked, "Is this real money?"   

That was at the Hard Rock casino where we'd just eaten lunch at the Pink Taco.  I played some BJ, cashed out ahead and was starting to look for her.  I gave her $500 to play as a birthday gift (Happy 21!).  The next day at the Golden Nugget, she played that same machine (has howling wolves on the tiles), and won another $600.

I'd like to say all her gaming went as well, but she wound up spending some of it on "tuition" learning how to play the table games.

The hand-pay thing wasn't as prominent then as it is now.  The casinos used to only collect tax info if you cashed out $10K or more.  Now from my reading, you have to fill out that info for wins over much lower thresholds the IRS decided:

Report gambling winnings on Form W-2G if:

The winnings (not reduced by the wager) are $1,200 or more from a bingo game or slot machine;
The winnings (reduced by the wager) are $1,500 or more from a keno game;
The winnings (reduced by the wager or buy-in) are more than $5,000 from a poker tournament;
The winnings (except winnings from bingo, slot machines, keno, and poker tournaments) reduced, at the option of the payer, by the wager are:
$600 or more, and
    At least 300 times the amount of the wager; or
    The winnings are subject to federal income tax withholding (either regular gambling withholding or backup withholding).

https://www.irs.gov/instructions/iw2g#idm140175815431712

I've cashed out at BJ for between $1,600 and $2,000.  If I flat bet $25 every hand, that's $7,500 I can cash out without triggering an IRS form.  if i played $100 hands, the tax forms would apply after cashing out with at least $30,000.  The threshold changes as it's a multiple of your bet.

Looking at the IRS site, the 300 times your bet amount rule should apply to craps, baccarat, roulette, Heads-up Texas Hold'em, and other table games.  Bingo, slots, keno and poker tournaments have their own rules.

The withholding requirement can get complicated.  In short, "Regular gambling withholding doesn't apply to winnings from bingo, keno, or slot machines, nor does it apply to winnings from other wagering transactions if the winnings are $5,000 or less."

It's common now for any slot pay over 1200, you fill out the and get the W2G.

For tables, there are none, unless you hit a special bonus. When I got my royal flush for Ultimate TX Holdem, the "blind" paid 500:1.  So my $10 bet won me $5K. I had to do tax forms just for that $5K payout, not the other bets that I won on in the same hand.  The trips paid me like $400 and the other 2 bets paid even money. But my W2G was only for $5K.

That's why I don't like bubble craps, they can track and will hand pay you.

Not related to old Vegas, but something interesting I found out.

Their legislative session is every odd year.  So they don't meet annually like how HI does.  I think this is good as it keeps BS laws off the books.  Every year, HI finds stuff to ban or make into law that isn't needed.

Also, their politicians don't make an annual salary. Since the session is 120 days, they basically get 120 days worth of pay.  So almost all still have a regular job.  This keeps them in check to the people and their needs.   They also have little to no staff as it's not in the budget, so any bills, they really have to spend time creating or handed to them by their constituents. 

Vegas has a Preemption when it comes to gun laws. County ordinance cannot be stricter than state law.  Example: City and County of Honolulu passed sensitive places before the state did. This woudln't be allowed in NV as it's more restrictive than the non-existant state law at the time. The only exception is the public library in NV and it's counties.  The purpose of preemption is to not inadvertly make someone a criminal cause they crossed county lines.

This year, NV has 5 anti 2a bills presented and 5 pro 2A. The only ones still alive are the under 21 for rifles and you can self red flag yourself. No AWB or mag bans. And since they fall under the 9th, it's possible that Alan Becks lawsuit will hit the 9th before the NV one if it's challenged for the under 21.

Not related to old Vegas, but something interesting I found out.

Their legislative session is every odd year.  So they don't meet annually like how HI does.  I think this is good as it keeps BS laws off the books.  Every year, HI finds stuff to ban or make into law that isn't needed.

Also, their politicians don't make an annual salary. Since the session is 120 days, they basically get 120 days worth of pay.  So almost all still have a regular job.  This keeps them in check to the people and their needs.   They also have little to no staff as it's not in the budget, so any bills, they really have to spend time creating or handed to them by their constituents. 

Vegas has a Preemption when it comes to gun laws. County ordinance cannot be stricter than state law.  Example: City and County of Honolulu passed sensitive places before the state did. This woudln't be allowed in NV as it's more restrictive than the non-existant state law at the time. The only exception is the public library in NV and it's counties.  The purpose of preemption is to not inadvertly make someone a criminal cause they crossed county lines.

This year, NV has 5 anti 2a bills presented and 5 pro 2A. The only ones still alive are the under 21 for rifles and you can self red flag yourself. No AWB or mag bans. And since they fall under the 9th, it's possible that Alan Becks lawsuit will hit the 9th before the NV one if it's challenged for the under 21.

Interesting.  And more common sense and productive.

Hawaii's way of doing things is just so people can have jobs.  Never mind if it (the job) is needed and definitely no regard given to staying under budget.

If over budget just create a new tax.

If the federal government plans to cut funds, instead of the state looking at how to streamline services they immediately look at tax codes and rescinding the income tax reductions.  Something they implemented just last year.  Talk about Indian Givers.

Interesting.  And more common sense and productive.

Hawaii's way of doing things is just so people can have jobs.  Never mind if it (the job) is needed and definitely no regard given to staying under budget.

If over budget just create a new tax.

If the federal government plans to cut funds, instead of the state looking at how to streamline services they immediately look at tax codes and rescinding the income tax reductions.  Something they implemented just last year.  Talk about Indian Givers.

Hows this, NV gets to elect their AG also.  Compared to here where the governor appoints one and then they go thru the senate/house committees.  NV's AG wasn't 1 of the 26 who submitted to support the Wolford lawsuit to SCOTUS.

Hows this, NV gets to elect their AG also.  Compared to here where the governor appoints one and then they go thru the senate/house committees.  NV's AG wasn't 1 of the 26 who submitted to support the Wolford lawsuit to SCOTUS.

FYI for anyone curious -- list of 26 states asking the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) to intervene and halt Hawaii’s unconstitutional gun ban which prohibits the carry or possession of firearms in designated “sensitive” places, including bars and restaurants serving alcohol, parks and beaches, banks and financial institutions, and other areas.

25 State Attorneys General
1-Alabama
2-Alaska
3-Arkansas
4-Florida
5-Georgia
6-Idaho
7-Indiana
8-Iowa
9-Kansas
10-Kentucky
11-Louisiana
12-Mississippi
13-Missouri
14-Montana
15-Nebraska
16-New Hampshire
17-North Dakota
18-Ohio
19-Oklahoma
20-South Carolina
21-South Dakota
22-Texas
23-Utah
24-West Virginia
25-Wyoming
Plus --
26-The Arizona Legislature

There are several Vegas vlogs lamenting how Vegas is getting more and more expensive and that your dollar value in all aspects like entertainment, gambling, dining, and transportation has diminished.

And now reports show reduced visitor numbers and profits.

Good.

Cry me a river, all you shareholders.......

Vegas has always been known to roll with the punches and change.  Got my fingers crossed that hopefully changes will again tilt in favor of the average visitor.

There are several Vegas vlogs lamenting how Vegas is getting more and more expensive and that your dollar value in all aspects like entertainment, gambling, dining, and transportation has diminished.

And now reports show reduced visitor numbers and profits.

Good.

Cry me a river, all you shareholders.......

Vegas has always been known to roll with the punches and change.  Got my fingers crossed that hopefully changes will again tilt in favor of the average visitor.

The problem is that it isn't a huge dip like 10%.  The whales and others with the disposable income are feeding their gaming numbers. Myself included.  We're going this month and I plan to spend lots on food. Going to Bacchanal that is $90/person. Tao prob about $400 tab. Anthonys STeakhous brunch which is $100/person. Din Tai Fung for 4 and prob spend about $250. Genting buffet which is $68.88/person.  Luckily, we got comps, so I am saving $4K just on the room. Then add in my gambling budget of $5k, which is what I'm willing to lose.

Casino's don't really give a shit about the other revenues like restaurant and booze. Gaming is their bread and butter, then hotel stay income, so until that drops, things won't change.  My sister in law during the F1 weekend made only like $45 in tips at a fancy, high end club as a bartender.  Clubs are dead and many tables instead of someone paying $20K to get, they're being given away for free. Which means less tips cause the guy who's spending $20K on a table would usually tip more.

But on a positive note, Station Casino's are bringing back their "retro menu". $1.99 shrimp cocktail, $9.99 steak, etc...I think they're playing the cheap food card to bring in gamblers.

Genting buffet?

The problem is that it isn't a huge dip like 10%.  The whales and others with the disposable income are feeding their gaming numbers. Myself included.  We're going this month and I plan to spend lots on food. Going to Bacchanal that is $90/person. Tao prob about $400 tab. Anthonys STeakhous brunch which is $100/person. Din Tai Fung for 4 and prob spend about $250. Genting buffet which is $68.88/person.  Luckily, we got comps, so I am saving $4K just on the room. Then add in my gambling budget of $5k, which is what I'm willing to lose.

Casino's don't really give a shit about the other revenues like restaurant and booze. Gaming is their bread and butter, then hotel stay income, so until that drops, things won't change.  My sister in law during the F1 weekend made only like $45 in tips at a fancy, high end club as a bartender.  Clubs are dead and many tables instead of someone paying $20K to get, they're being given away for free. Which means less tips cause the guy who's spending $20K on a table would usually tip more.

But on a positive note, Station Casino's are bringing back their "retro menu". $1.99 shrimp cocktail, $9.99 steak, etc...I think they're playing the cheap food card to bring in gamblers.