A quick drive from Summerlin throught Red Rock to Blue Diamond.
Navigation- Older Posts
- Twitter
-
Sponsors
Author Archives: Vegas Info
Online vs Landbased Casinos
May 13, 2016
What Are The Benefits Of Online Casinos?
While land based casinos have been popular with keen gamers for generations, online casinos, while being a relative newcomer to the gaming market, have really taken off over the last few years. So what is the argument for online vs landbased casinos? Why do so many people prefer gaming online to in a real world casino? What are the benefits and are there any drawbacks?
What Are The Benefits Of Online Casinos?
Convenience
Whichever way you look at it, online casinos are incredibly convenient and are ideal for those who enjoy playing their favorite games at all hours of the day and night. From shift workers to those who are fitting their hobby around their family and caring commitments, online casinos represent the best solution. Open 24 hours a day, there is complete flexibility compared to landbased casinos which have regular opening hours. There is also no need to actually leave the house in order to play, which makes online casinos the best or indeed only choice for those with restricted movement.
Comfort
Going to a landbased casino requires effort. Players are often required to dress up or to comply with a dress code. When they play at online casinos, there is no need to put in any effort. Players can enjoy their gaming from the comfort of their armchair or even their bed, and they can wear anything they like, from pajamas to sweatpants.
No Etiquette
When players use a landbased casino, they are obliged to comply with casino etiquette. This may make many players, especially those who are novices, uncomfortable which puts them off going to a real world casino in the first place. Online, there are none of these problems as there is no etiquette to comply with, no embarrassment and no awkwardness.
Bonuses and Promotions
Online casinos often offer a wide range of deals, bonuses and promotions for both newly registered and regular players. These can range from deposit match deals to free spins or cashback promotions. These promotions are not available in landbased casinos, so online players have a better chance of winning more money.
Choice of Games
Online casinos have an enormous selection of games to play. There are countless online casinos on the internet today, and some of the biggest and best like Royal Vegas Canadian Casino have a huge breadth of choice, from well known casino favorites to newer and less well known games. From games of skill to games of chance and from table games to card games, there is something for everyone and because the games are online, there is never a wait for a free machine or free spot at the table.
Technology
Modern technology means that online casinos offer games that are more exciting and fun to play than ever. With cutting edge graphics including 3D technology and amazing sound effects, playing casino games online is much more advanced and interesting than in a standard landbased casino.
Mobile
Unlike landbased casinos, you can take your online casino everywhere with you on a mobile casino app. This means that you can enjoy your favorite pastime anywhere at any time, even when you are on the move.
Disadvantages Of Online Casinos
When it comes to online vs landbased casinos, it is easy to see that there are many advantages to online gaming however there are a couple of advantages. Although online casinos are a lot of fun and some of the live dealer games do have a chat facility, you cannot really capture the atmosphere of a landbased casino, and if this is the part of the experience that you enjoy, you will not be able to get this from an online casino.
Pros and Cons of Sports Bettors Living in Las Vegas
March 26, 2016
Las Vegas Sportsbook
Of course there are many reasons for living in Las Vegas besides an affinity for betting on sports. That being said, there is no other place in America that can provide the amount of daily betting versatility that Sin City can. Let’s help to decide then if living in Vegas is a wise decision for a sports bettor by weighing the pros and cons.
Pros
Access to Sportsbooks
Obviously the main reason why a sports bettor would move to Vegas is for the proximity to actually being able to wager on games. You can place a bet legally at certain spots in Delaware, Oregon, and Montana but easily the mecca of sports gambling (in the USA at least) is Las Vegas. Professional bettors also have the advantage of visiting book to book to find variations in lines, creating the opportunities for a hedge bet or simply to get the best line on their coveted game. You can search for some of the best online games on the web but the most reliable way to make a wager in person is in Vegas baby.
Industry Paradise
Besides the actual wagering, Vegas is also the center of the sports betting industry for the niche itself. Local radio shows talk about the lines and feature betting angles on the games that you won’t find on a national level. Strip malls are filled with sports betting consultants offices (possible employment opportunities) and talking about the spread of a game isn’t taboo like it is in other parts of the country.
No Shortage of Places to Watch a Game
For those with wagers on multiple games at the same time there is no better way to enjoy the excitement than in the sportsbook with literally hundreds of TVs tuned to different games. Plus, people visiting and living in Vegas come from all over the world which is why you’ll find many team-centric taverns or groups of fans to cheer with adding to the enjoyment.
Costs are Generally Low
The general cost of living in Vegas is low with affordable rent and a bevy of transportation options. Inexpensive buffets can still be found if you know where to look and some sportsbooks even comp your meals if you wager extensively. Vegas was hit hard by the recession and the burst of the housing bubble which is now a benefit as many low-cost homes can still be had.
Interact With Fellow Gamblers
There’s nothing to create a bond with a stranger quite like having action on the same bet. One of the biggest gripes about people who move to Vegas is difficulty in finding regular friends because everybody keeps such crazy schedules. Spend some time in a sportsbook however and you’ll get to know other regulars who share the same passion in sports and betting as you do.
Cons
Finding Other Areas of Employment
Something that Vegas is still working on is creating a diverse market for employment. A majority of the jobs in Las Vegas are in the hospitality and tourist industry obviously – which isn’t for everybody. Then again, if you do your due diligence in researching sports bets and controlling your bankroll, you won’t need outside employment hopefully!
photo by: Baishampayan Ghos (http://www.flickr.com/people/ghoseb/)
Why Vegas trumps the opposition every time
February 23, 2016
Image Source: Searchrank.com
For gamblers who like to travel to a dedicated gaming resort, the question of how Vegas compares with rivals home and abroad is a serious matter. If gaming is important to you, where, how, how accessible and how hospitable a resort might be are important considerations. Here we’ll look at how Sin City compares with two great gaming rivals, one in the US and one overseas. We’ll look at Atlantic City and Macau – both of which make great claims to be at the very pinnacle of the world’s gaming industry.
Entertainment at its finest
But for all its serious gaming status, the title of “entertainment capital of the world” is something that Vegas’ city administrators also guard jealously. Shows and attractions along The Strip are on a scale and of a stature that arguably make them impossible to top. There is a whole lot more to Vegas than the casinos. Vegas and show business have a special relationship.
Whilst it is true there are headline acts in Macau and Atlantic City that draw from the showbiz A-list, Vegas is incontestably the major winner when it comes to this particular measure of a resort’s added value. The Las Vegas Entertainment guide reads like a Who’s Who of the biggest names from music and comedy, as well as world-renowned spectaculars such as Cirque du Soleil and magician David Copperfield. And, of course, there is only one place on earth where seeing an Elvis impersonator really makes sense. Vegas and the King go together just like apple pie and ice cream. It is a combination that simply can never be bettered.
Image Source: vegaselvis.com
That is not to say that you won’t be royally entertained if you do choose to take a stay in Atlantic City or Macau. In 2016, Atlantic City is, as always, hosting any number of shows and spectaculars, but the names on the list are not a patch on those appearing in the strip. They may boast Justin Bieber for a date in July, but that sort of star quality is largely absent from their regular residencies.
Macau’s orientation to a predominantly Asian clientele means that anyone visiting from the US is likely to be struck by a slightly different take on what constitutes family entertainment. The Crazy Happy dance show along with the show of secret fantasies that is Taboo reflect a very different cultural starting point.
Where the professionals choose to play
In truth, the gaming specifics are not radically different between any of the three destinations – you can only play one table at a time after all. But when the world’s foremost poker professional chooses Vegas as his base you can begin to appreciate the unique status that Las Vegas holds. Daniel Negreanu – poker’s all time biggest money earner – has won over $31 million in his career to date, and that figure is rising all the time. He could live anywhere he wants and he chooses to live in Las Vegas. There is no getting away from the fact that Vegas is – for all the tourist razzmatazz – the spiritual home of card players the world over. Vegas is where the professionals choose to play.
You can’t argue with the numbers
What counts as entertainment aside, there are some fairly incontestable numbers that point to Vegas being where it’s really at. For example, Macau boasts 29,725 hotel rooms spread across 73 different hotels. Figures for Atlantic City are less clear cut, although casino hotel rooms (which is not the full story) run to just over 13,000. And bear in mind that Atlantic City has been closing hotel rooms in recent years. By way of comparison, Vegas has over 62,000 rooms available along The Strip alone. In total, when you include downtown Vegas, the figure is estimated at more than twice that figure. In a business where size counts for a lot, those numbers tell their own story.
Of course Atlantic City does have the coast as a family attraction, and the same is true of Macau, but if an all-round feel good factor is the base-line requirement for an enjoyable trip, no amount of sandy beaches is going to make up for the extra sense of energy that a visit to Vegas can generate.
And Vegas is hardly short of extra-curricular attractions. With the Grand Canyon and the Hoover Dam within easy reach of The Strip, day-trippers and sightseers have all the scenery they could wish for.
Image Source: vegasgreatattractions.com
What gives Vegas the edge?
Macau may be turning over more in the way of cold hard cash these days, but much of that revenue is derived from specifically Asian games – Mahjong and slot games such as Pachinko. For an American abroad there is something altogether homier – and closer to home – about Vegas. Along with its rich history and the whiff of nostalgia that goes with it, Vegas stands as a uniquely American City. Founded against the odds in the heart of the Nevada desert, Vegas remains the resort town that any gambler worthy of the name would always head for first.
Lately walking across a casino floor in Las Vegas has become like walking through Hollywood history with so many slot machines that have been inspired by celebrities, movies and television shows. In fact, these kinds of slots are becoming increasingly common in Las Vegas. You can find anything from a Betty Boop to a Godfather-themed slot machine.
Even online casinos have many movie themed slot games that you can play. In general there are hundreds of games of all varieties with interesting free spins features for which many no deposit bonuses are offered to newcomers that want to try them without spending money. You can visit NoDepositMonitor.com and find a majority of them. Just to name the few that you can play online based on movies are ones like The Dark Knight, Bridesmaids, and The Six Million Dollar Man etc.
Slots are popular because they generate the biggest payouts. Millions and millions of dollars have been paid out by popular slots across Las Vegas through jackpots some of them as high as almost $40 million. Combine that with a movie themed slot and you got a massive crowd magnet. In fact, it’s not unusual to see a crowd gathered around a movie themed slot machine in Vegas. Anyway, here are the top 5 movie themed slot machines there.
The Hangover
The Hangover slot was released in 2010 by IGT in cooperation with Warner Bros. It was unveiled when the sequel came to the theaters starring Justin Bartha, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms and Bradley Cooper. This slot based on the already legendary comedy of four friends trying to have a bachelor’s trip to Vegas features a progressive bonus and interesting bonuses inspired by some of the most memorable scenes from the movie.
You can play the Deal in the Desert bonus, Mr. Chow’s Freaky Free Games bonus, the Wedding Chapel bonus and the Stun Gun bonus. The wilds are awarded when Mr. Chow randomly converts game symbols to wilds by entering the screen or when you land a mattress, tiger paw swipe, SUV or police cruiser symbol.
Sex and the City
When HBO’s licensing chief pitched the idea to IGT in 2008 of creating a slot machine inspired on the Sex and the City movie that was released the same year, IGT jumped right on the idea. After all, women love slots, and women love Sex and the City, so it’s perfect combination. The slot game hit the casino floors a year later and became an instant hit just like the people behind it predicted. The slot has 9 bonus rounds that feature memorable cut-scenes such as Charlotte showing of her engagement ring etc. There is even a bonus round where you can dress up the characters, plus Mr. Big congratulates you on each of your winnings.
Ghostbusters Slot Machines
The Ghostbusters
An old and legendary movie featuring stars like Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Sigourney Weaver recreated into a slot machine not long ago. Again, the manufacturer of this slot is none other than IGT. This movie has probably one of the best sing-along songs ever composed for a soundtrack. How can you not love it!
The slot machine features the famous characters like the entire team of the Ghostbusters plus the Marshmallow Man, the Slimer and the rest. The entire fantasy world is very nicely brought to the player. The game can be played on a booming MEGAfx Surround Chairs sound system and a 55-inch liquid crystal display! There are various bonus rounds like Bust them, How Psychic You Are, Pick a Slime and the Haunting Call Bonus while the familiar line play through the surround sound system: “Who ya gonna Call? Ghostbusters!”
Grease
Grease is a slot machine that was created by Bally Technologies, the biggest and oldest rival of IGT. This slot brings to life all the fun and frolic from the blockbuster film, one of the best teenager musicals. Naturally, you get to see Danny and Sandy in this slot machine but all the other friends too. Many slot games have been made over the decades based on science-fiction, action and fantasy, but the movie genre has been the most interesting for slot developers. Re-visiting iconic movies like Grease are always fun for slots players.
In the Grease slot machine you get to bet on your favorite Grease characters with well-designed symbols, and the entire game won’t disappoint because it imports all the important features from the movie.
Lord of the Rings slot Machine
Lord of the Rings
Did you think there was any chance that slots manufacturers would pass on the chance to cash-in on this mega hit? Of course not. This slot can be played in all of the major Las Vegas hotels and casinos. The minimum bet is 40 cents and unlocks mysteries and adventures from the Fellowship of the Ring part where you get to travel through Middle Earth with Frodo, Aragorn and the rest. In the meantime you have to tackle unlock bonuses and tackle villains. There are eight bonus games such as Uruk-Hai Battle, Gandalf’s Fireworks, Galadriel’s Stairway, Arwen’s Rescue, Isildur’s Sword, The Balrog, The Prancing Pony and Garden Heist.
Despite the fact that the odds of hitting a multimillion-dollar progressive jackpot on a Las Vegas slot machine are almost impossible, the truth is that it happens. Not to everyone, and not frequently, but it happens enough times for you to take a try yourself.
It seems that it happens even more frequently at online casinos. The biggest so far have been registered at Microgaming and NetEnt casinos, both unavailable to American players, where the biggest amounts paid out have been more than $20 million all of them won in the last couple of years.
You can try to find casino reviews of online casinos that accept American players, but you won’t find such big jackpots there and these are usually of low reputation. Maybe you can try using bitcoins, because more and more reputable online casinos accept bitcoins. It’s anonymous and no bank can block your transaction as explained at PureNetEnt.com.
Anyway, let’s see the biggest progressive jackpots in Las Vegas.
August 23, 2014 – $2.4 Million
The Lion’s Share slot at the MGM Grand is one tough slot machine known for not paying out a jackpot for more than 20 years until it was lit up by Walter and Linda Misco from New Hampshire in 2014. Just five minutes after they started breaking their $100 bill on this slot machine they won the $2.4 million jackpot. When asked what they will do with the money they said that they will pay for their grandchildren’s education.
The Lion’s Share 2.4 million dollar jackpot at the MGM Grand
February 19, 2012 – $2.9 Million
In 2012 a 26-year old U.S. Marine, Alexander Degenhardt was playing the Money Vault Millionaires Seven slot at the Bellagio on his day off from the Nellis Air Force base when suddenly he won nearly $2.9 million. He said he never won more than $200 on a slot machine, and this time he won a total of $2,882,808.32.
December 5, 2013 – $10,337,640
This jackpot was won on the Megabucks slot machine at the MGM Grand from the slot manufacturer IGT. Actually, the man that was identified as the winner of this jackpot was actually the executive producer of the movie “All American Christmas Carol” from 2013 with Meat Loaf in the leading role. The producer’s name was Mark Hodos.
April 22, 2011 – $10.6 Million
Two years earlier a jackpot lightning struck the same Megabucks slot machine made by IGT and an unidentified gambler took home $10.6 million. This slot machine was introduced in 1986 and had never paid out more than $10 million until it did for the first time in 1995 at the Gold Coast. This was the second time it did that at the Aria.
January 21, 2011 – $12.7 Million
Three months earlier the Aria celebrated another jackpot winner, this time a lady that was on her way to her room, but still decided to try her luck with a $6 bill before going to bed on the Megabucks slot. If she didn’t do it she would walk away to her room retire for the night without $12.7 million in her pocket. First she thought the slot machine broke down, but her niece assured her that she is a millionaire.
September 15, 2005 – $21,147,947
This is maybe the oldest jackpot winner ever, Elmer Sherwin, 92, who won $21.1 million on the Megabucks slot at the Cannery Casino in North Las Vegas. What’s even more fascinating is that this was his second jackpot on the same slot machine after he won another one at the Mirage in 1989 of $4.6 million. What he said after winning the second one was that his lifelong dream was to win the jackpot twice.
June 1, 1999 – $21,346,952.22
Imagine winning more than $21.3 million on the first spin! This is what happened to a 49-year-old business consultant on the Megabucks slot at Caesars Palace in 1999. He deposit $10 and after just one spin cashed in $21.3 million.
March 27, 2002 – $22,618,156.67
Covina, California, probably saw its first millionaire citizen after Johanna Huendl, 74, won $22.6 million on Bally’s Megabucks slot. She was on her way to a breakfast at her hotel and decided to spend $170 on this amazing slot machine that has made many millionaires. She first thought that she won only $2 million after misreading the flash sign.
Johanna Huendl, 74, won $22.6 million on Bally’s Megabucks slot machine.
November 15, 1998 – $27,580,879.60
This 67-year-old retired flight attendant from Las Vegas is only one in the long line of retired elderly slot machine players that became rich from playing Megabucks. This unnamed woman won the Megabucks jackpot in Palace Station after putting $300. She first intended to play with only $100, but changed her mind after which the slot rewarded her with millions. This was her second big jackpot. She won the Wheel of Fortune slot machine jackpot of $680,000 at Palace Station some years earlier. This was also the first time that the Megabucks machine paid out $20 million.
January 26, 2000 – $34,955,489.56
Being a Las Vegas cocktail waitress has really paid off for Cynthia Jay in 2000. She decided to play the Megabucks slot at the Desert Inn and won $34.9 million. However, after six weeks people fueled up the myth that bad things happen to jackpot winners because she was rear-ended by a drunk driver, which left her paralyzed and killed her sister. It’s one of the most notorious urban legends in Las Vegas.
Cynthia Cynthia Jay hit Megabucks at the Desert Inn and won $34.9 million.
March 21, 2003 – $39,710,826.36
And here is the biggest recorded so far, a $39.7 million jackpot won by a 25-year-old software engineer from Los Angeles. Do we even need to mention the game on which the jackpot was won? Anyway, the odds to hit this jackpot were 16.7 million.
