Earlier this year, I noted that 62% of visitors to Las Vegas pay the full rate for hotel rooms. Moreover, only 13% of visitors to Las Vegas stayed in complimentary rooms last year. 

This is according to the annual Las Vegas Visitor Profile. The number doesn’t change by much annually, and it’s a good reminder that this is a small community of people looking to get the most out of their rewards. 

Amazingly enough, less than 10% of visitors in Las Vegas last year redeemed rewards for discounted hotel rooms through casino rewards programs. That’s bananas to me, but I’m always looking for a deal.

Another casino rewards data point that hasn’t changed at all over the past decade crossed my desk this week.

Only 5%-10% of casino rewards members are part of the highest tiers like MGM Gold, Platinum, Noir, or Caesars Seven Stars. Less than 20% are mid-tier like Caesars Diamond. 

In other words, 80% of casino rewards members never move beyond the lowest tier. 

This isn’t a Las Vegas thing, and it’s not new. The number hasn’t changed since I started covering the casino industry.

I came across the info when writing about the Golden Hour promotion for the Conservatory and Botanical Gardens at Bellagio last week. Every month for the rest of the year, except for November, there will be one day when MGM Rewards Gold members and above can enjoy the gorgeous display without the crowds and sip on complimentary drinks.

It’s a pretty cool perk for upper-tier members. Of course, MGM launched this alongside The Watering Hole, where guests can buy drinks. It’s not a “deal,” but the price for a crew of four isn’t crazy for 90 minutes of booze at a luxury resort.

I don’t want to rehash what I wrote about MGM’s move to monetize the free amenity and use it as a perk for the elite rewards members. Today, I’d rather look at using TravelZork to get the best out of casino rewards.

Getting The Most From Casino Rewards At TravelZork

We all want to get the most out of rewards, and there are many ways to learn how to do so in the TravelZork family. Sometimes the podcast covers important topics like understanding earning tier credit, theoretical loss, and actual loss. 

Every week, in addition to news, Hurdy Gurdy Justin shares real-life examples of getting the most from gambling as it relates to casino rewards. Most of what he covers is a must-read for gamblers looking for the games that will reward players the best.

Lastly, the TravelZork Facebook Group discusses the good, bad, and ugly of the miles and points world. Like Justin, the members are boots on the ground and often have up-to-the-minute rewards info not found anywhere else. 

Next year, the community will gather for ZorkFest. Community members will mingle with points and miles experts who focus on everything from casinos to travel and everyday life. 

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Author Ben Rosenthal describes many Slot games found in positive states (thanks to previous players not playing with an advantage) where certain symbols are present and will trigger better returns. Savvy players can also notice a certain “build” or “accumulation” on the machine (such as higher reel placement or more ways to win) that justifies spinning, whereas in another state the game would not offer an advantage. A positive state machine does not guarantee short-term profit (there’s always risk and variance), but over the long run, playing with an advantage yields actual profit.

As someone who almost never plays Slots, unless I have restrictive freeplay that cannot be used on Video Poker, I’m very intrigued by this book. I’m primarily focused on miles, points, loyalty program statuses, and travel, and I also value casino statuses that now could be attained through advantage Slot play rather than online gambling and credit card spending.

Of course, status-earning methods can be used together, but it’s possible that advantage Slot play can be a primary method of gaining casino status without sacrificing expected value that is usually lost during Slot play. Some advantage Slot plays may only last for a handful of spins, but others can take up to 200, 300, or more spins (if you can handle the variance and are properly bankrolled). These machines, which usually require more spins, can present good opportunities for Tier Credit earnings, especially when playing during multiplier days.

In the past, I have heard mentions of advantage Slot play, but never pursued the topic (or found the information gathered in one place). Now, with online gambling being more difficult to scale (I wrote about some of this here) advantage Slot play is even more appealing.

Consider ordering Ben Rosenthal’s new book ‘Breaking the Slot Code’ and signing up for his companion site: SlotSlayers.com, where an Emperor membership also gets you a copy of the book. The website features more examples in addition to what the book offers, videos of actual Slot play, message boards, and more. Alternatively, you can order direct from Las Vegas Advisor.

Add advantage slot play to your arsenal of ways to find edges, whether through gambling, credit cards, or loyalty programs.

As always, gamble responsibly and intelligently.

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First, the major one. The Las Vegas Monorail offers an affordable solution to navigating the bustling Strip, providing a convenient and eco-friendly alternative to traditional transportation methods. This article delves into the history, features, and impact of the Las Vegas Monorail, along with other notable monorail systems in the city, highlighting their significance in the urban landscape of Sin City.

A Brief History

The Las Vegas Monorail began as a modest project in 1995 when the MGM Grand-Bally’s Monorail opened to the public. Initially, this system was a shorter version, connecting the MGM Grand Hotel to Bally’s (now Horseshoe) Hotel and Casino (which also used to be the MGM Grand but that’s a story for another time). It quickly became evident that the demand for a more extensive and integrated transportation network was high, leading to the expansion and modernization of the system.

In 2004, the Las Vegas Monorail we know today was officially launched. This $650 million project extended the original route, creating a 3.9-mile track that stretches from the MGM Grand to the Sahara Avenue Station. The modernized monorail incorporated advanced technology and design, positioning itself as a cutting-edge transportation solution in the heart of Las Vegas.

Features and Operation

The Las Vegas Monorail operates seven stations strategically located along the Strip, including the MGM Grand, Horseshoe/Paris Las Vegas, Flamingo/Caesars Palace, Harrah’s/The LINQ, Las Vegas Convention Center, Westgate Las Vegas, and Sahara Las Vegas. This route enables visitors and locals to easily access key destinations, reducing the need for taxis, rideshares, and personal vehicles.

One of the standout features of the Las Vegas Monorail is its commitment to sustainability. The monorail is an electric system, producing zero emissions during operation. This eco-friendly approach not only reduces the city’s carbon footprint but also aligns with global efforts to promote green transportation solutions.

The Las Vegas Monorail is not 24 hours as one might expect so read up on the hours of operation below:

Monday: 7 am – 12 midnight
Tuesday: 7 am – 2 am
Wednesday: 7 am – 2 am
Thursday: 7 am – 2 am
Friday: 7 am – 3 am
Saturday: 7 am – 3 am
Sunday: 7 am – 3 am

Pricing options are simple enough. If you buy your ticket(s) at the station it’s full fare. If you buy online it’s an e-ticket and they send you a scannable version on your phone.

Free Monorails in Las Vegas

In addition to the main Las Vegas Monorail, two other monorail systems serve specific resorts and attractions along the Strip, and they are FREE!

The Bellagio, for instance, operates a free tram service connecting Bellagio to ARIA, The Shops at Crystals, and Park MGM. This tram is a convenient option for guests and visitors, providing a quick and scenic route between these major resorts. This leaves out Cosmopolitan which MGM didn’t own at the time, but there’s a walkway now from Bellagio to Cosmopolitan.

Another notable system is the Mandalay Bay Tram, which connects Mandalay Bay to Luxor and Excalibur. This tram offers a seamless connection between the three properties, making it easier for guests to explore the various amenities and entertainment options each resort offers.

Economic and Environmental Impact

The various monorail and tram systems in Las Vegas have had a substantial impact on the local economy and environment. By providing reliable and convenient transportation options, these systems have enhanced the overall visitor experience, encouraging longer stays and increased spending in the city. The ease of access to major attractions, hotels, and the convention center has made Las Vegas a more attractive destination for both tourists and business travelers.

From an environmental perspective, the monorail systems play a crucial role in reducing traffic congestion and emissions. The reduction in the number of vehicles on the road has led to decreased air pollution and noise levels, contributing to a cleaner and quieter urban environment.

Future Prospects

The future of the Las Vegas Monorail and other tram systems looks promising, with potential expansions and technological upgrades on the horizon. Plans for extending the main monorail route to the Harry Reid International Airport and other key locations are being discussed, which would further enhance connectivity and convenience for travelers.

Conclusion

The monorail systems of Las Vegas are more than just modes of transportation; they are symbols of progress and modernity in a city known for its extravagance and allure. By providing efficient, eco-friendly, and convenient solutions to navigating the Strip, these monorails have become integral parts of the Las Vegas experience. As they continue to develop and expand, they will undoubtedly play pivotal roles in shaping the future of transportation in this iconic city.

The post Las Vegas Monorail: Maps and Prices for 2026 appeared first on TravelZork.

    

If a company shares anything it wants people to be aware of 48 hours before the weekend, it will be published and forgotten five days later. This week is especially slow with July 3rd being a bank holiday. 

On the bright side, I was able to file this a few hours early, so you’ll have something to read over the weekend. 

Enjoy the long weekend and Happy Independence Day to those who celebrate. 

Las Vegas started celebrating America 250 last month. Stay up to date here.

Of course, Las Vegas is the centerpiece of Grucci’s nationwide fireworks shows for America 250. Read more here.

Holiday news dump: BFA Law is investigating Barry Diller’s $48.30 per share offer to acquire MGM Resorts International. See the press release here.

Tailgate Social at Mandalay Bay (AKA Stadium Swim on the Strip) has an all-day $100 all-you-can-drink deal for dudes. It’s less for women. Read more here.

Hard Rock is proposing a 2,000-capacity theater to go along with the 5,000-capacity theater already planned. Read more here. 

I expect one of the 20 or so bars or restaurants will have a smaller entertainment venue like Barbershop at Cosmopolitan or other similar concepts around town.

This is the first major addition I’ve seen since plans were first presented to the Nevada Gaming Control Board a few years ago. You can read about that here. 

Breaking News: The Bellagio Conservatory display is beautiful! See below and read about it here.

MGM Rewards Gold members and higher can get free booze at Golden Hour. This is normally $500 for four people (see the press release). See the tweet here.

MGM Resorts will report earnings on July 29. Maybe we’ll hear some info about the People deal by then. If you’re not familiar, read about it here.

Earlier this week, I joked that I’ve become a real estate guy covering all the vacant plots of land on the Vegas Strip. Developers purchased land for an arena across the street from Mandalay Bay that would include private jet parking for Mr. TravelZork and his pals. Read more here.

On the topic, Bob Iger (former Disney CEO)  is one of the interested parties in owning the Las Vegas NBA team. Read more here.

Bill Foley, owner of the Vegas Golden Knights, is officially in the running to own the team. This has always made the most sense to me because he and MGM own T-Mobile Arena, and this would give them an excuse to upgrade the venue. Also, nobody would have to build a new arena that will likely be empty for half the year. Read more here.

Wynn’s 3-day Revelry food event is back. Read more here.

Caesars already announced it will take over operations of the Westgate SuperBook. Based on this month’s Nevada Gaming Control Board agenda, it looks like it will technically be operated by William Hill. See the agenda item here.

In the last Vegas News, I mentioned how Bally’s has to poo or get off the pot about building their portion on the old Tropicana site. I dove a little deeper into the topic, and the plan to do nothing is still in effect. If they ever start the hotel towers and casino, neither will open until well past 2028, when the A’s are supposed to open the stadium. See the past seven days of construction below and read about it here.

I got word that my credentials for G2E were approved. I’ve been going for 15 years but still get excited when I see the message. Drop me a message on the socials if there’s anything you’re curious about.

Boyd Gaming will report earnings on July 23. I look forward to 10 minutes about the company and 50 minutes of them deflecting questions about purchasing Caesars casinos. 

Celine has a new residency in Paris! France. She also recorded music in Las Vegas. Read more here.

You may remember that when Palms opened under current management, we reviewed the property twice. The regular Ivory Tower room review was the low-rolling visit and the Ivory Tower suite review was for the high(er)-rollers. I recently spoke with the GM about how San Manuel’s tribal culture has made the experiences, then and now, great. Read more here.

The sportsbook at Rio is finally getting a facelift. See the tweet here.

More breaking news: Las Vegas is the best city for conferences. Read more here.

Gold Spike was sold to real estate developers. There’s no word on plans or if $5 Sexy Blackjack will return. Read more here. 

Caesars has deals! Read more here.  

The LVCVA and Las Vegas nightclubs have a deal for people turning 21. Pass this deal along if you know anyone hitting the milestone. 

When I turned 21, I was “forced” to drink a bottle of Thunderbird, Mad Dog, Boone’s, and a 6-pack of Labatte’s Ice before we went out to celebrate. Never forget.

There are only two casinos left with coin-operated slot machines. Read more here. 

Five Guys at the Plaza won’t open until at least the fourth quarter. See the tweet here. 

Red Rock Resorts is reporting earnings on Aug. 4. There are a few news items that should come from this call but I can’t talk about it right now. 

Station Casinos turns 50 this month. Read a little bit about it here and here.

Boxing and Mike Tyson are coming to the Sahara later this month. Read more here.

Dating in Las Vegas is expensive. Read more here. 

The new Pac-12 will hold its basketball tournament in Las Vegas. Read more here.

Avelo Airlines is now flying to Las Vegas from McKinney Airport in TX. Get info on the low-cost airline here. 

Before filing this, I received a press release with some info about Circa’s At Par promotion. “Circa, the D and Golden Gate’s Currency Parity Program Generates More Than 75,000 Canadian Visits, $15 Million in Slot Coin-In and 7,500 Hotel Room Nights Since Debuting in January 2026.”

I’m not sure if that’s good or bad, but nearly 1 million people have flown Air Canada and WestJet to Las Vegas so far this year, according to LAS data. You can read that here.

Outside of Vegas: Ember Entertainment is a rewards program for online casinos and others outside of Las Vegas, but there’s some connection with Palms. Read more here. 

Lastly, wish Mr. TravelZork a Happy Birthday. He and the boss celebrated in Las Vegas last weekend!

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As well as being faster and more secure, this method of funding gambling accounts allows for an extremely high level of geographical mobility.  If you want to obtain the best bonuses and loyalty offers around the world, using Bitcoin and other tokens is a smart move for the following reasons.

A Travel-Ready Bankroll

Cryptocurrencies provide a simple way for players to gamble online and in virtually any part of the world that they travel to. When playing online, it’s simply a question of copying the casino’s wallet address and sending the right amount of tokens there from your wallet. The deposit goes through almost instantly, although each currency’s network has different block processing times that determine the transfer speed. 

If you’re planning on playing in physical casinos around the world, the growing number of crypto ATMs gives you instant access to your funds. Some of the major resorts in Las Vegas have Bitcoin ATMs right there next to their casinos. In other places, you should plan ahead to see where you need to go to find an ATM you can use.

While you can’t buy chips directly with BTC in Vegas, you can use digital funds to pay for food and entertainment in many establishments. El Salvador is an interesting place for Bitcoin users who love to place some bets. Since BTC has been legal currency here since 2021, local businesses, including casinos, need to accept it. This allows you to use a Lightning Network-enabled wallet to pay the cashier for your chips.

As well as being highly convenient, this gives you the advantage of separating your casino funds from your everyday credit card spending. This leaves you free to gain travel miles and other benefits on your card.

Bigger Online Welcome Bonus Potential

The most noticeable advantage of creating a crypto-first online casino bankroll comes from the fact that the incentives may be larger. One of the key reasons for this is that online casinos bypass the high processing fees that are involved in payment methods like credit cards, allowing them to boost their deals.

By accepting a variety of digital currencies, casinos can then decide how high to push the welcome offer. This example of slots welcome bonus for new players reveals that using digital tokens increases the deal to 200%, up to $3,000, with 30 free spins on a selected slot. This is an improvement on the standard welcome bonus of a 100% match,  going up to $2,000, with 20 free spins.

It’s worth noting that this deal doesn’t just work with Bitcoin (BTC). While the biggest token is widely used in gambling, you can also choose the likes of Litecoin (LTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Tether (USDT). The same bonus applies in each case, so it’s just a question of considering which coin suits you best in terms of speed, potential volatility, and other factors.

This look at high volatility slots shows how you can play slots that offer big rewards, but that may have longer non-winning streaks than others. By combining your slots strategy with your crypto strategy, you can work out exactly how volatile you want this experience to be.

Enhanced Financial Privacy and Security for Travelers Who Love to Gamble

Traveling and gambling leads to an interesting lifestyle that could take you across the four corners of the globe.

However, not everyone is comfortable using their main card for paying in all of these different places. Whether you worry about the security aspect or crave a higher level of privacy, the option of using crypto provides a smart solution.

With the pseudo-anonymous nature of the blockchain, it’s easy to move your money across the globe safely and without leaving a long paper trail at your bank. Don’t forget that using your credit card while traveling can also lead to it being blocked if your bank decides to investigate what it sees as suspicious activity.

Using one of the leading cryptocurrencies effectively puts an extra layer between your bank account and your casino activity. It’s not going to affect your enjoyment or your possibility of claiming casino loyalty rewards, but it will help put your mind at ease, and potentially make your travels smoother.

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The Tier Credit Math

A recent Reddit post detailed Caesars Rewards Poker Tier Credit earnings, noting a rate of 34 Tier Credits per hour for $1/$3 and $2/$5 blind cash games. Relying solely on poker play to earn Caesars Rewards Diamond status, a player would have to play more than 400 hours of poker in a calendar year. This could be reduced with Caesars Rewards credit card spending, online gambling, hotel stays, and other forms of gambling.

However, playing poker with Caesars Rewards, using a player’s card, can come with significant opportunity costs because poker play hurts your rating, assuming you are involved with other gambling, like playing video poker or blackjack during Tier Credit Multiplier promotions. Typically, casinos don’t favorably view poker play when it comes to return offers — free play, room offers, show tickets, food credits, and more — so mixing other forms of gambling with poker would likely hurt players’ overall ratings in the casino’s eyes.

The Rating Problem

In addition to ratings likely being negatively impacted, the rake at Caesars Rewards games in Las Vegas is, percentage-wise, higher compared to some other rooms in Vegas. Caesars Palace Las Vegas takes a 10% max rake up to $6 in both $1/$3 and $2/$5 blind games, which is particularly punishing when pots end around $60 during or after the flop.

In other poker rooms, the $6 rake is usually taken when the pot reaches $100 or $150, and of course, this is much better for players than Caesars Palace taking $6 when the pot reaches $60. America still loves math — and less rake. Worse yet, Horseshoe in Las Vegas takes an additional $2 promotional drop, and these promotional drops are almost always minus expected value in the long run, especially with more money coming out of players’ stacks, limiting the amount of money won and wagered in all-in situations.

Better Paths to Diamond Status

Instead of playing 400+ hours of poker with Caesars Rewards and relying on that to gain status, gamblers could instead focus on 10x Tier Credit Multiplier promotions while playing video poker, giving up a small amount of house edge that should later be offset by waived resort fees, other status benefits, and return offers. Poker enthusiasts can go to other Las Vegas rooms that charge less rake and don’t tank their ratings in the casino’s eyes.

If you really want to play poker at Caesars Palace for some reason, even with the higher rake considerations, it’s probably best to play without your player’s card, unless poker is your only form of gambling.

As always, gamble responsibly and intelligently.

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However, there’s much more information available in this report. For example, it includes how much money casinos spend on complimentary expenses. This isn’t available in the monthly reports.

Last year, the Vegas Strip and downtown Las Vegas casinos had more than $3 billion in comp expenses.

Mainstream media gets caught up with net income, which is affected by accounting methods and tax rules. I’d rather look at specific items in the report that reflect the visitor experience.

When it comes to TravelZork, that means looking at comps. These are detailed as both income and expenses.

The latter provides a more accurate picture of what comps cost a casino. The report shows how much money casinos spent on comps for hotel rooms, food, beverages, and other amenities, such as show tickets and spa treatments.

Their expense is a more accurate representation of the actual value you’re getting. For example, a room night might cost the casino $50, but the retail rate could be 10 times that price on the Vegas Strip. 

Let’s take a look at the Las Vegas Strip area and downtown casinos, since that’s where most tourists stay. Again, these figures reflect the casinos’ cost, not the retail value.

Comp Breakdown Comparison

Vegas Strip area casinos are typically more expensive than those elsewhere, so don’t get tied up with the dollar figures. The percentage of comp expenses paints an interesting picture.

Las Vegas Strip (~$3.0B total comp value)

• Rooms: $1,716,006,653 — 57.0%
• Food: $586,505,707 — 19.5%
• Beverage: $574,656,754 — 19.1%
• Other: $124,907,437 — 4.2%

Downtown (~$162.8M total comp value)

• Rooms: $64,102,590 — 39.4%
• Food: $28,247,944 — 17.4%
• Beverage: $57,705,430 — 35.4%
• Other: $12,768,653 — 7.8%

Comp rooms are always at the top of the list for visitors looking to save money when visiting Las Vegas. It also shows the difference between the two touristy areas of Las Vegas.

The majority of tourists stay at hotels on and around the Las Vegas Strip. It makes sense that room comp expenses account for a larger share there than downtown, which attracts more locals visiting throughout the week.

Caesars often touts occupancy rates of 95% or higher. While the company doesn’t disclose how many of those occupied rooms are complimentary, the Gaming Abstract shows that room comps remain one of the industry’s largest promotional expenses. This could be an easy expense for Tilman Fertitta to reduce when he takes over Caesars.

Another difference between the Strip and downtown casino expenses is beverages. Downtown casinos spend almost as much on comp drinks as they do on hotel rooms.

Moreover, comp drinks cost these casinos roughly twice as much as comp meals. That’s kind of amazing, but it’s not too surprising given downtown’s reputation as a popular destination to partyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.

The comp expenses support what many of us see when visiting Las Vegas casinos on the Strip and downtown.

It also shows that Strip casinos devote the largest share of their comp expenses to hotel rooms, while downtown casinos spend a much larger share on beverages. This isn’t groundbreaking news, but it supports the way many TravelZork readers see Las Vegas comps.

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Every two weeks, we track the casino and travel loyalty moves worth knowing: comps, tiers, points, miles, lounges, cards, status matches, program changes, and the perks that actually matter.

Casino loyalty comes first. Then travel loyalty. Because for TravelZork readers, the real game is where casinos, hotels, airlines, credit cards, and status all start talking to each other. 

Why Wyndham Rewards Deserves Attention

The new Wyndham Rewards Earner Premier credit card can be a great option for gambling & miles and points enthusiasts, especially since Wyndham has high-value hotels in Las Vegas. Use Wyndham Rewards points, earned from spending on this new credit card, to book properties like Desert Rose and Desert Blue on weekends, avoiding resort fees and not paying potentially high weekend rates.

Wyndham Rewards has now become more appealing thanks to a new credit card offering an up to 120,000-point welcome bonus, 25% off Wyndham points bookings, decent earning rates, and valuable benefits, including statement credits on streaming services, programs like Grubhub, and wholesale club memberships.

Why This Card May Be Worth Keeping

After the first year, this card is likely worth keeping even without a second signup bonus because cardholders receive a 30,000-point anniversary bonus, a free night worth up to 30,000 points after staying five nights in a calendar year, and the same benefits from year one.

I’ve stayed multiple times at Desert Rose and Desert Blue in Las Vegas, booking low rates with Wyndham points. Previously, I used a different Wyndham credit card giving 10% off points bookings, and I am now eager to apply for this new card, getting 25% off points bookings. 

A Practical Las Vegas Strategy

Desert Rose is a short walk or rideshare to MGM Grand, and Desert Blue is behind Rio, offering a way to combine cheap Rio stays with nights at Desert Blue – staying during the week at Rio and using Wyndham points at Desert Blue during weekends.

Additionally, if you accumulate many points through spending on this card (earning 4x points at grocery stores, buying prepaid and gift cards), Wyndham Rewards members can transfer Wyndham Rewards points to Caesars Rewards at a 1:1 ratio. Transfers are usually capped at 30,000 points a year, but some higher transfers are sometimes available. Use Caesars Rewards comps for cheap weekday stays, if not staying at other properties.

For a deeper dive into the new Wyndham Rewards Earner Premier credit card, listen to the newest episode of my Hurdy Gurdy Travel Podcast:

Sorting the Signal From the Static

Loyalty programs keep changing. Some changes matter. Some are noise. Status Signals is here to sort the signal from the static.

Check back every two weeks for the next edition of Status Signals powered by TravelZork: The Casino and Travel Loyalty Wire. 

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Sorting Las Vegas casino data is both a hobby and work-related. The Nevada Gaming Control Board recently released its annual Gaming Abstract report for every casino area in the state.

While the Las Vegas Visitor Profile shares information from a small sample, it has legal accounting information from the casino operators. Both are useful for different reasons.

I broke down some of the most interesting information from the report here. There isn’t too much surprising to me because I’ve been reading this report for a decade, but I’ll share a few nuggets here. 

Hotel rooms generated more revenue than gambling on the Vegas Strip. Gambling was number one downtown, and the rest of the town was somewhere in the middle.

I skipped the net income information like most outlets because any good accountant can legally fudge the numbers to look as good or bad as they like. Anyone who does their taxes should understand.

I’ll dive into comps in the future. Regardless of the report, it’s always surprising to see how few people use comp rooms and how little casino operators “spend” on them. 

Let’s get to the less nerdy Vegas News! 

Sigma Derby moved from The D to Golden Gate this week. People love this game, so I used it as an excuse to write about it and stopped by for the moving parade. 

It was the kind of cartoonish spectacle that feels lost in the past. Check it out below.

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The Rocky Horror Picture Show is coming to the Sphere next year. There are no details, times, or dates when it will run, but you can read about it here.

Sphere also dropped news that it has made $400 million in ticket sales from The Wizard of Oz. Read more here.

Last year, I wrote about the turnaround in the Sphere’s business and technology. Read about that here.

I look forward to the next earnings call that will shed a little more light on how the venue is doing financially.

A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned Bally’s didn’t have any news on its Las Vegas property, where the Tropicana once stood. This will obviously eventually be an issue sooner or later.

Last week, the A’s hosted numerous media outlets to show progress on the MLB stadium under construction. It looks like they’re done playing nice about Bally’s because there are numerous outlets saying something similar to “Bally’s might never see the project through,” similar to the NY Times. 

At some point, Bally’s will have to poo or get off the pot. In the meantime, here’s a time-lapse video of the past seven days of construction on the A’s stadium.

Circa is the first Las Vegas casino accepting cryptocurrency for sports bets. Read more here. 

Circa and The D keep dropping promos. A recent post on social showed one that looks familiar: “Bring your boarding pass to Circa’s Club One Desk within the first 24 hours after landing to receive $50 in Match Play!” Stay up to date here.

There’s also a deal to stay at The D for two nights at $100 total. See the tweet here.

For some reason, there’s a WSOP store at Paris Las Vegas. Read more here.

Penn and Teller extended their run at Rio for another three years.  Read more here.

The Palazzo will have 275 new suites later this year. Read a press release that tells a nice story but has no information here, and see the equally useless website here.

I finally made it to the Vanderpump Hotel for the Grand Opening. I bailed before the party because I don’t like events with a lot of people. Besides, I really just wanted to see the changes to the property. 

The new V is pretty much a lavender C. It’s pretty much what I expected when I was saying goodbye to The Cromwell. 

This is for the hotel folks: Treasure Island is now part of the Handwritten Collection. If this means anything to you, read more here.

There will be a hot dog eating contest at New York-New York on July 4. Read more here.

The LVCVA put together a guide of World Cup watch parties here.

A chef at Casa Playa at Wynn won a James Beard award for being the best in the southwest. Read more here. 

Ghost is the official energy drink of The Venetian. Haven’t noticed this in casinos before. Read more here.

Circus Circus has deals! Read more here.

A couple more items from The Mirage have made their way to the Neon Museum.

Coin-operated slots are out at The Cal. See the tweet here.

In N Out at BLVD, across from Aria, is now open. Read more here. 

Rio is waiving resort fees for group bookings. Read more here.

The Museum of Ice Cream is open at Area 15 if you’re looking for something different. Read more here.

Everyone’s getting into the roundup game. You can see one from MGM for the summer here. 

The Las Vegas PWHL (women’s hockey) team doesn’t have a name yet, but you can get started buying tickets here. 

Outside of Vegas: VICI is looking outside of casinos and getting into the Club Med game. Read more here.

Last and least, congrats to former TravelZork podcast guest Tim Lawson on Now You See Me Live coming to the MGM Grand. You can watch the podcast below and read more here.

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The post Vegas News | Sigma Derby Moves, Bally’s Continues To Stall and Rocky Horror Sphere Show! appeared first on TravelZork.

    

A recent discussion on the TravelZork Facebook group centered on a gambler claiming his casino offers “got destroyed” after he played ‘Bubble Craps’ at an in-person casino in Atlantic City. He says he bet as he usually would in a traditional Craps game, but got unfavorable treatment.

The bets in both games may be the same, but the casino will likely not value a ‘Bubble Craps’ player as much as a traditional Craps player because electronic Craps games, one commenter noted, are not as favorably rated compared to table games.

A Faster Game Can Mean Greater Losses

Besides the lower return offers or ratings “getting destroyed,” I think ‘Bubble Craps’ is a far worse game to play, even if the return offers were similar to those of table games. Due to the fast electronic nature of the game, ‘Bubble Craps’ players likely make more wagers per hour compared to traditional Craps, increasing their expected losses per hour.

Consider a crowded, social, alcohol-fueled, ‘action’ Craps table of large bets where people are making high house edge side bets, slowing down the pace of the game compared to a fast, quiet, low action game of maybe 3-4 players. The ‘action’ table might have something like 60 to 100 rolls per hour compared to a low-action table that might have around 150 rolls per hour. If I just want to play the pass line and have a social experience while getting rated with my player’s card, I want the action table. I am exposed far less, not wagering as much, and the game is going slowly, reducing my level of risk.

‘Bubble Craps’ might get around 150 rolls per hour, significantly increasing the number of wagers made per hour. Even though the house edge remains the same, the amount wagered significantly increases, and the gambler is expected to lose more money per hour. There’s simply less waiting around in ‘Bubble Craps’ as people buy in, make many bets, dealers make change, dealers change shifts, people roll dice off the table, etc. Traditional Craps naturally slows the pace of the game, while ‘Bubble Craps’ makes for a faster game.

More Risk, But Fewer Casino Rewards

We have the makings of a terrible scenario where gamblers incur more risk, wager more, and, in the long run, lose more money on ‘Bubble Craps’ compared to traditional Craps. Worse yet, ‘Bubble Craps,’ according to the Facebook commenter, “destroyed” his casino return offers.

You might think ‘Bubble Craps’ should offer a higher rating or better return offers, since the casino makes more money per hour from the wagers on this game than from traditional Craps, but there’s, once again, injustice in gambling. According to the Facebook commenter, he didn’t even receive a similar rating or return offer compared to traditional Craps.

Where Is the Value?

I mainly look for value and stacking promotions where possible, so online Blackjack and in-person Video Poker are usually my games of choice, especially when there is bonus free play, Tier Credit multiplier promotions, and the house edge is small.

Personally, I can’t see any value in playing ‘Bubble Craps,’ a game starting with a house edge of around 1.36 to 1.41% (please don’t make high house edge side bets, increasing the house edge) and offering poor return offers or ratings. Even worse, I would likely place more wagers per hour, paying the casino more than I would with traditional Craps.

To me, playing ‘Bubble Craps’ would be like renewing a $300 annual fee credit card when I could instead keep a $99 annual fee credit card that has the same benefits. Some players might appeal to the ‘fun’ of ‘Bubble Craps’ or prefer a less social game, but that comes at quite a cost. I’ll take my money elsewhere or just play a Nintendo Switch 2 game in my hotel room.

Before feeding the bubble, make sure it’s feeding you back.

As always, gamble intelligently and use credit responsibly.

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The post Bubble Craps: Similar Game, Worse Value appeared first on TravelZork.