Blackjack on the Strip

I'm going to Vegas in a few months and staying at the Mirage. I'd like to be able to play $5 hands with reasonable rules, but I'm guessing the Mirage is not the best place for this. Does anyone know where on the Strip I could find cheap, decent blackjack tables? Thanks.

I'm not sure about their regular blackjack games; but the Stratosphere had Double Exposure tables at the $5 level back in March. I haven't played there, but have read/heard that the Stardust, the Sahara, Circus Circus, and the Tropicana all have low-limit tables. Again though, I don't know about their rules. I heard the Stardust was a real "sweat shop" though.

There appeared to me to be some low-roller joints across the strip from the Mirage; but I think most of the decent games on the strip are higher limit, especially if you're looking for single-deck games, as opposed to shoe games.

I can only speak to the Sahara. I played there on a 6-deck game with a $3 minimum one morning. While playing, they upped it to $5 but grandfathered those already playing for $3. DOA, H17, DAS, RSA. A little over a .60% house edge.

Actually I came out pretty good there. I had a blue chip buy ($40 for $50 in chips). When I lost the last blue, I was up around $125. Part of that was a "double" coupon that I use on a $10 bet that I won.

The high line mega casinos on the strip we went into did not have any $5 tables. This included, Bellagio, Wynn, Caesars, Venetian, etc. Some of the older casinos along the strip did have 5 dollar tables, but all had the dealer hitting soft 17 along the strip. Downtown had the best rules, but was a little hardcore for us. I had stated in a previous post that the station casinos seemed to have the best value for us. Good games, good food and a sense of cleanliness and safety. We are country folk and I get nervous in the cities walking around with my bankroll. Nothing has ever happened, but at night time whether you get a couple blocks off the strip or downtown, the neighbor hoods seem tuff to us. We are off to Biloxi in a couple weeks. Should be a fun weekend. Never been there before.

Well, you are correct. There is a lot more "atmosphere" Downtown <LOL> You are cool there if you stick to Fremont street between Fitzgerald's and Plaza. Get any further toward Las Vegas Blvd (the Strip street) and it gets pretty seedy. Same if you trapse over another block to where Gold Spike, El Cortez and Lady Luck are located. California Club is on that street also, but is on the corner across from Main Street Station. There is only one intersection between California Club's entrance and the rear entrance to Las Vegas Club so it's "safe". There is a sky-walk across Main Street between California Club and Main Street Station.

Downtown is safe. It's where we always stay. Either at Plaza or Las Vegas Club. We've never had even a scare. However, you will get the occasional panhandler begging for money for car repairs or rent or food. That just adds character to the historical area.

Now, if you REALLY want atmosphere, head down to El Cortez around 11pm. Be sure and carry a bazooka with you and several fully armed wingmen! Actually, I doubt that you would have a lot of trouble walking down there. I've gone in the daytime but wouldn't walk it at night.

That area around the El Cortez does get pretty seedy. It doesn't get much better inside the El Cortez either, if my lone experience there is any indication. "Dump" and "dive" are the two words I would use to describe the place that I have since learned is known as "The Sweaty Spaniard."

I went to the El Cortez on my last trip in search of $2 tables. I found only $5 tables; and they backed me off for counting after just fifteen minutes and $50 in profits. The really funny thing is that I wasn't counting. I was playing a progression, and the biggest spread I used was from $5 to $25. They don't seem to like anyone winning, and it appears they prefer the old guys carrying oxygen around with them or arriving in wheelchairs to gamble their government checks.

My only other experience downtown was at Binion's Horseshoe. It isn't fancy by any means; but I enjoyed it and felt safe.

Bama21, I've played them all downtown. I'm not on oxygen yet, but I guess the grey-beard gets me a pass at most of those dives <LOL> I've played every casino on Fremont St. But I always return to Plaza when I want to really get into a Blackjack game. I'll knock on wood when I say that I've not been backed off from any of the casinos down there.

All joking aside, I much prefer the "character" of Downtown versus the Strip. Better games and much more convenient when you desire to change casinos. It's like a shopping mall of casinos versus a city of mega casinos! While everything on the Strip (with a very few exceptions like Barbary Coast and a couple of others) is all Glitz and Glamor, the experience on Fremont is far more nostalgic. Nostalgic fits my disposition much better.

Mikeaber, from my experience, I agree with you about preferring the downtown area to the strip, and for most of the reasons you quote. I intend to play a lot more down there on my next trip. I'll just be staying away from the El Cortez. But I do want to try some of the others.

Monte Carlo has the best rules, though with the MGM buyout you may not be able to find a $5 S17 game anymore. Aladdin frequently has $5 games, as do Excalibur and Luxor.

Just got back on Friday the 5th from spending a week in Vegas. Didn't get to play much, but I did do some scouting along the strip. Actually found a couple of five dollar six deck tables at the Bellagio and the Luxor. In both cases they were using a shuffle machine with fair rules - DOA, DAS and they were packed. The Sahara had some three dollar tables going, but they were changed to five bucks about 2:30 in the afternoon. Played some there (at three a hand) and wound up losing ten dollars. Flamingo had 5$ tables as well as Harrahs, but Harrahs had their Mind Play computers and the Flamingo their machine shufflers. The IP and O'Sheas were five and up. Watched some of the dealers at the IP and pen looked OK on the two deck pitch games. Most of the mega resorts were 10 and up, but it seems that you just have to look around as they change an awful lot.
Downtown, I was only in the Golden Nugget where five and up was the norm (heavy on the up) and the Golden Gate-three bucks a hand on the six deck during the day, five and up on the two deck pitch. Played a little three buck a hand at the Golden Gate and wound up ahead by about six dollars.
All in all, I can't wait to go back.

Tom

I have always heard about the $2 games and the $3 games; but I've never actually seen one in Vegas. I guess I just wasn't at the right place at the right time. If 2:30 was the cut-over at the Sahara, I might have just missed the games by not playing much in the mornings.

Hi, new member here. I also got back fom Vegas last week. Stayed at the Venetian. Played there, as well as the Mirage, TI, and Caesar's. Of those casino's, Caesar's had the best rules. There were some $10 tables there with S17 and late surrender. Of the other's I played at, they all had H17. I only saw TI using the shuffle machines, while the other's were dealer shuffled.