Las Vegas locals are unique casino players. That gaming market is the second-largest in the country. Some players go to the closest place to gamble. Savvy ones find the best returns and promotions, and in turn build loyalty and players club tiers at those casinos. Here are some features the sharper Las Vegas locals look for in a casino.
Locals Never Pay for Parking
The first negative that scares away locals is paying for parking. While most Strip casinos give locals three hours of free parking, it still deters action from Las Vegas residents because if they are having fun, they do not want to have to leave or pay $20 for staying too long.
This is never an issue at locals casinos. Most downtown casinos have easy ways to get validated. The only way to get unlimited free parking at most Las Vegas Strip casinos is to hit a higher players club tier.
Cheap Dining Options
Locals want quick bites when playing at casinos. That gets them back in action cheaply and quickly. This is why so many locals casinos have food courts. Locals will not pay $50 for lunch or wait an hour to get it, nor will they be happy about $12 slices of pizza.
Food and Free Play Comps
Locals do not care much about free hotel rooms. They want free slot play and food comps. Many locals casinos offer a mix of both through players club tiers and mailers. Locals especially love casinos that pay slot points and food comps. Rampart is an example of this type of locals casino. Binion’s and Four Queens in downtown Las Vegas also do this. That is the old-school system that keeps loyal locals.
Emerald Island and Rainbow Club in downtown Henderson are the best locals casinos for free food comps. Higher players club tiers eat free once daily at Emerald Island and Rainbow Club. Slot points must be used for food, as free play and cash back are not options at these casinos. Another bonus at Emerald Island and Rainbow Club is the daily specials and cheap menu prices. Both casinos have the same owners.
Low Table Game Minimum Bets
Many local casinos, especially those far from the Strip, have low table game minimum bets. Jerry’s Nugget has the lowest, where players will find $2 double zero roulette, $3 Heads Up Hold’em, and $5 craps and 3/2 blackjack. Some off-Strip casinos like Ellis Island, Oyo, and Tuscany offer $5 table games.
Many locals play several days a week and cannot afford $15 tables, which is why so many casinos away from the tourist areas offer a better value in their pits.
Good Table Game Rules
Sharp locals will not play 6/5 blackjack and triple zero roulette. Most locals casinos do not offer these games. A vast majority of blackjack in the locals market pays 3/2. Most are double-deck games. Only three casinos in that market have triple zero roulette. All three also have double zero.
Many craps tables in the locals market offer 10 times max odds. Sam’s Town has 20 times odds for craps. This is better than the typical 3-4-5 times odds found on the Strip.
Great Video Poker Paytables
Video poker is far more popular among locals than tourists. This is the reason locals casinos have a disproportionate percentage of video poker to slots when compared to downtown and Strip casinos. Locals joints also have a large selection of video poker variants to keep these regular players engaged.
The best video poker games are usually found in the locals market. Most Station Casinos have 100% video poker machines. All have “Up to 99.7%” or “Up to 99.8%” machines. Boyd Gaming casinos in the locals market and M Resort also offer these games. Full-pay Jacks or Better is dealt at Rio. Emerald Island, Rainbow Club, and Skyline in Henderson, as well as Arizona Charlie’s Decatur, all have 99.5% or better games.
Promotions
The Las Vegas locals market is competitive. Casinos must offer more than just good, cheap games and food to get action. Many Las Vegas locals casinos offer a day of the week where seniors get special deals, like half off when spending points on meals, bowling, and movies. Point multiplier days are another perk. This is when a player receives five or ten times the normal slot points during a day, which can slash or even eliminate the house advantage.
Slot and blackjack tournaments are another way locals casinos get players in the door. New players often receive free play just for signing up for the loyalty club.
Good Bars and Bartenders
Like many gamblers, locals will give up a little bit of house advantage to play at a casino bar. Many create friendly relationships with bartenders. The same can be said of players on the floor and their cocktail waitresses.
The difference between locals casinos and others when it comes to bartop gaming is that the locals casinos still offer decent games. Many have 99% video poker options, like 8/5 Bonus Poker and 9/6 Double Double Bonus. These respectable paytables are often available in denominations as low as quarters and have progressive royal flush jackpots.
Locals also want a decent selection of alcohol. Nobody expects premium liquor. However, there is too much competition in the locals market to only offer well drinks and cheap beer. Most locals bars are happy to offer premium beer, many wine options, and call liquor.
Play Responsibly as a Local
Las Vegas locals have more gambling temptation than anywhere else. The area has about 1600 places to gamble. This includes grocery stores, gas stations, and laundromats. It is important to set time limits and take long breaks between sessions. The games will always be there 24 hours a day. Play as a hobby during spare time, not as a daily way to pass the time.
Although, as a Bostonian, I’m not exactly a “local”, but for the last 25 years or so I’ve only stayed at a locals casino when I visit Las Vegas. The rooms are more than adequate, the food is cheaper, and everything happens at a more relaxed pace – so everyone is generally in a happier mood. My trips are usually for 5 to 8 days, so I do get a rental car at the airport. Even with that factored in, a stay at a locals casino works out to be far less expensive than a stay on the Strip. The car also gives me the opportunity to go bee-bopping to lots of other casinos and Downtown also.
Some Vegas visitors naturally “progress” from the more touristy areas to the more locals spots after the initial Las Vegas novelty wears off, especially those seeking value. We certainly know of others who have a similar process to you!