Most Las Vegas tourists stay on the Strip. It offers an experience no other city has. Many also visit downtown, which is another unique destination. What gets overlooked is the rest of Las Vegas.
The locals casino market, suburban restaurants, neighborhood parks, and attractions outside the urban core offer a very different experience, and often a much better value. Tourists who venture away from the Strip can find better gambling, lower minimum bets, cheaper food and drinks, and fun outdoor activities.
Looser Gambling Games
Most Las Vegas visitors know that the locals market offers the loosest gambling games. Most blackjack pays 3:2. Triple zero roulette is nearly nonexistent. Craps odds are often up to 10 times.
Locals casinos are full of 99% video poker games. Most Station Casinos have 100% video poker machines. Major Station Casinos and some Boyd Gaming properties have “Up to 99.8%” machines. M Resort has these, too. South Point has hundreds of video poker machines with 99.5% or better video poker games.
Lower Minimum Bets
Off-Strip casinos have much lower minimum bets than Strip casinos. For example, Palms and Gold Coast have $5 craps 24 hours a day. Rio has $3 craps nine hours a day, and is often $5 at other hours. Oyo and Ellis Island often have $5 craps.
Virgin, Palms, and Ellis Island have $5 3:2 blackjack 24 hours a day. Oyo, Tuscany, and Silver Sevens have $5 3:2 blackjack when the pits are open, which is usually about 12-16 hours a day.
Double zero roulette is also often $5. I have seen live $5 roulette games at Gold Coast, Rio, Oyo, Silverton, South Point, Tuscany, and Virgin in 2026. Many casinos deeper in the locals market have it for $5 or less. Jerry’s Nugget deals $2 double zero roulette.
Cheaper Food Options
Las Vegas locals casinos have many inexpensive food options. Food courts are often available with pricing that is similar to what is found in malls, as opposed to the Strip, which is more like airport pricing.
This does not just apply to casinos. Las Vegas suburbs are like anywhere else. A collection of quick-serve chains and locals favorites is scattered throughout the Las Vegas valley. Many of the best restaurants are independent ones near neighborhoods, not tourist destinations.
A locals favorite is at The Martine near Summerlin. On graveyard shifts and all day Sunday, guests may order a $15 filet mignon with sides. A drink must be ordered to qualify. It may be a soft drink or alcoholic. Like most other locals bars, The Martini also has a traditional happy hour with food deals.
Low Drink Prices
Casino bars near the Strip typically offer cheaper base drink prices than those on the Strip. PT’s Pubs have cheap drink prices, which become 50% off during two daily happy hours: 5pm to 7pm and midnight to 2am. All Station Casinos, including Wildfires, have $1.99 margaritas with an option to make it a double for $2 more. Those casinos also have $3 Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob Ultra, Michelob Ultra Zero, Jameson, Crown Royal, Jack Daniel’s, Jim Beam, Hennessy VS, and Patron.
South Point has $2 domestic bottled beer specials during football games. M Resort has $5 Flecha Azul Reposado Tequila, Aspen Vodka, Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon, Remy Martin VSOP, Woodford Reserve Bourbon, and The Glenlivet 12 Single Malt Scotch. Silverton’s Flare Bar has $2.50 pints of Pacifico and Modelo. Rio has $3 drink specials for its players club members. Most Las Vegas locals and off-Strip casinos have happy hours at restaurants.
Many parks in and around Las Vegas
Las Vegas has many public parks throughout its metro area. Some have connecting walking trails. The five largest parks:
- Clark County Wetlands (east Las Vegas valley)
- Floyd Lamb (far northwest)
- Lone Mountain (far northwest)
- Sunset Park (just southeast of airport)
- Craig Ranch Park (North Las Vegas)
If you want to walk around neighborhood parks, like those in Summerlin and Green Valley, most are open to the public. The exceptions are usually behind gates.
The outlying areas have many more outdoor activities. The options include Red Rock Canyon, Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, and Valley of Fire.
Downtown Las Vegas
Downtown Las Vegas is also considered off-Strip. It is its own casino market. Twelve casinos are in downtown Las Vegas. Unlike the Strip, it is all walkable. The furthest distance between two is seven city blocks. Each of the 12 casinos is different and worth a visit. The gambling downtown is mostly better than on the Strip, even for low-rollers. Comps are easier to get. Food and drinks are typically less expensive.
One Locals Activity to Avoid
While locals taverns have great happy hours, the bartop machines have the same poor paytables as the Strip. Stop by for a cheap bite to eat and a beer, but avoid the bad video poker and keno games. The happy hours are designed to get potential players in the door. It is best to play at other venues.
Grocery stores and gas stations have similar setups. The paytables are usually identical to taverns, but are sometimes even worse.
For even more options on what to do while in Vegas, check out our recommendations of five museums to visit.
