4 Las Vegas Casinos with Unique Gambling Experiences
4 Las Vegas Casinos with Unique Gambling ExperiencesAfter last weeks article about the 3 best budget friendly places to eat in Las Vegas I thought I would do something similar for casinos. These will be places that offer something a little different while you are gambling. This list will be focused mostly on table games.
The List
These are 4 places I enjoy gambling at in Las Vegas because they offer something unique that sets these locations apart from other casinos.
O’Sheas
O’Sheas is actually a part of The Linq casino but I will consider it separate for the list. Up until a few years ago O’Sheas actually used to be a stand alone casino but that was torn down to make room for the shops and restaurants that lead up to the High Roller. The new O’Sheas is a much improved version, the old one was pretty worn down but it did have it’s own charm.
What makes this location unique is that it has a local bar feel to it. They have 10-15 black jack tables, a large wood bar, beer pong tables, and live music. It is unique because this combination makes it feel like any other bar but it happens to offer blackjack as well.
The original O’Sheas was one of the first, if not THE first, casinos to add beer pong into the gambling area. You can buy the pitchers at the bar for around $20 a piece.
I can’t think of another casino that offers live music while you gamble. On the nights they don’t have live music they have a DJ working.
Ellis Island
I discussed gambling at Ellis Island briefly during my budget restaurants in Las Vegas article. What makes this place unique, besides the $5 tables, is that the dealers dress up as famous people in the evenings. They even used to offer lip sync performances in between dealing but a reader alerted me to the fact that it no longer happens. Hopefully they bring it back.
Ellis Island also gives away prizes to people who hit certain combinations while playing blackjack. If you hit the suited blackjack of the day (diamonds, spades, hearts, clubs) then you win a free growler from their brewery. That is like a $15 win on top of getting paid on a blackjack!
Ellis Island also allows you to spin their prize wheel if you pull three 7’s for a 21. You will most likely win a Ellis Island hat or shirt etc.
Those extra little bonuses, as well as the dealers dressing up, make this place unique. Don’t forget to grab a $8.99 steak dinner while you are there!
Golden Gate
Golden Gate casino is located on Fremont Street. It is actually the oldest and smallest hotel on the Fremont Street experience. This may be my favorite casino to gamble at in Vegas because everyone always has a good time here. It is less serious than casinos on the strip and it has lower limits as well.
What makes it really unique though is that every dealer takes a turn dancing in the center of the pit. While a ton of casinos have party pits etc with loud music and dancing I can’t think of very many others that have their dealers do it.
I do think this is what makes this place more enjoyable. The dealers seem to be more fun, more outgoing, more lively when dealing. I think taking a turn dancing actually gets their endorphins pumping and puts them into a good mood. I have rarely, if ever, had to deal with an angry dealer there…which is unique, especially in Las Vegas.
Golden Nugget
If I am being honest the Golden Nugget is my favorite hotel in Las Vegas…it is too bad their players program is seriously lacking. It is the nicest hotel on Fremont Street as well.
The regular part of the casino is very nice but it is pretty much like everywhere else. The truly special part of this hotel is it’s pool. More precisely I should say the Shark tank in the middle of the pool. And wouldn’t you know they have a few tables out at the pool which you can gamble at.
The best time to go is in the evening when the pool has been shut down. It is a little bit cooler and you get a nice breeze from the waterfall. And you can turn around and stare at the Sharks swimming while waiting for the new deck to get cut!
Conclusion
I think these are 4 great, unique options for card players in Las Vegas. Each one offers something a little bit different and there should be something for everybody.
What do you think is the most unique place to gamble in Las Vegas? Let me know in the comments section!
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I almost always stay on Fremont exclusively when I go to Vegas. Sigma Derby at The D is pretty cool. If you play video poker, Main Street Station gives you a scratch card to win up to $5k (most win $2) with every 4 of a kind. Regarding the Golden Gate, the basic rooms are pretty awful but they built a new “tower” with sixteen suites about 5 years ago that are really nice.
What do you think about the recent boom that Fremont has experienced? I miss how it was still somewhat of a hidden secret 10 years ago. It seems as busy as the strip when I head down there now. I do love walking Fremont around 8 in the morning though when everyone has left…pretty amazing!
It’s mostly for the better. A lot of it is because of Derek Stevens, who bought The D (formerly Fitzgerald’s), Golden Gate and is building a new hotel on the old Las Vegas Club site. Some of it is also because Zappos is down there now and cleaning up some really crappy areas. They are becoming ‘Strip Jr’ though with their rising prices and resort fees, which is kind of disappointing. It’s still a better value, but as you said – not as much as 10 years ago.
Good post. I like gambling on Fremont much better than the strip. Minimums are lower, it’s easier to get a drink, comps tend to be easier, and if you don’t like your luck in a certain spot, it’s easy to stroll to another. For just plain fun, the Golden Gate is tough to beat. The Golden Nugget by the pool is interesting, but can be windy and the blackjack odds are pretty bad.
That is true – I think 6 to 5 out there but the atmosphere is hard to beat 🙂
Uh, Fremont, not Freemont!
I have to disagree about the O’Sheas renovation. I loved the old O’Sheas. It was worn down, but it had novelty and character. It used to have dancers above the pit that would throw down mardi gras beads at you. The casino opened up to the street and the tables nearly spilled out onto the walkway. It had predictably low minimums for gambling. I also used to love Bill’s GH&S, for many of the same reasons. The new O’Sheas remains a nice change from everywhere else on the strip, but it’s still *so much* like everywhere else on the strip. Indeed, it’s hard to find anything that isn’t like everything else nowadays on the strip. My favorite places anymore are the Margaritaville annex off the Flamingo and the Harrah’s craps table near breezeway entrance that has the bar with the Dueling Pianos.
Thanks Steve made the edit 🙂
The old O’Sheas had it’s charm for sure. The craps tables basically out on the street did add excitement!
Nothing will stay old for long on the strip….except maybe Stage Door Casino lol