- Worst Casino In Las Vegas Downtown
- Worst Hotels On Vegas Strip
- Worst Casino In Las Vegas 2020
- Worst Casino In Las Vegas Strip
- Best Place To Gamble In Vegas
By now, most of the gamblers who visit Las Vegas every year know the Strip is a tourist trap of sorts. Sure, you’ll enjoy world-class dining options and an endless array of entertainment, but casinos there are notorious for goosing up their own house edge.
The traditional 3:2 payout for landing a natural 21 in blackjack is watered down to a 6:5 rate, more than tripling the house’s inherent edge in that classic card game. Roulette players will almost never find single-zero European wheels.
As for the slots, players have long reported that machines found along Las Vegas Boulevard are typically “tighter” than elsewhere in Sin City. The idea of tight and loose machines is actually a myth, but tight and loose casinos are quite real.
With that in mind, I put together a list of the seven worst casinos for tight slot machines on the Las Vegas Strip, which you can read down below.
Having grown up in Las Vegas, I think the worst casinos are the Dotty’s, Molly’s, and Jackpot Joanie’s. All they have are slot machines. 23 – Mandalay Bay. I really wanted to love the Mandalay Bay, one of the last casino resorts to open its doors in The Strip’s glory days of the ‘90s. But even as one of MGM Resorts’ supposed crown jewels since 1999, the Mandalay Bay remains stuck in the past in all the worst ways.
If you’re planning on gambling outside The Strip, no worries! I also hit the worst tight slots off the Las Vegas Strip, so be sure to check out it to give you an idea of all your options.
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A Quick Look at the Numbers
How do we know these are the tightest slots casinos on the Strip? Well, thanks to the payback percentage surveys conducted by the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) every year, you’ll see that our recommendations are based off of fact.
Las Vegas Slot Machine Payback Percentage Rates (by Coin Denomination and Region)
1¢ Slot Machines
Region | Average Payback |
---|---|
The Strip | 88.38% |
Downtown | 89.15% |
Boulder Strip | 90.38% |
North Las Vegas | 90.88% |
5¢ Slot Machines
Region | Average Payback |
---|---|
The Strip | 91.64% |
Downtown | 93.40% |
North Las Vegas | 95.29% |
Boulder Strip | 96.21% |
25¢ Slot Machines
Region | Average Payback |
---|---|
The Strip | 89.35% |
Downtown | 94.25% |
North Las Vegas | 96.41% |
Boulder Strip | 96.13% |
$1 Slot Machines
Region | Average Payback |
---|---|
The Strip | 92.43% |
Downtown | 94.63% |
North Las Vegas | 95.39% |
Boulder Strip | 96.13% |
$1 Megabucks Machines
Region | Average Payback |
---|---|
The Strip | 87.83% |
North Las Vegas | 55.52% |
Downtown | 89.07% |
Boulder Strip | 91.35% |
All Slot Machines
Region | Average Payback |
---|---|
The Strip | 91.47% |
Downtown | 92.67% |
Boulder Strip | 94.34% |
North Las Vegas | 93.53% |
Below, you’ll find the seven worst places on the Strip where tight slots are the norm, based on each venue’s overall average payback percentage rate.
1 – The Venetian
Owned and operated by billionaire ghoul and anti-online gambling pariah Sheldon Adelson, the Venetian is the centerpiece of his Las Vegas Sands Corp.
And while Sands isn’t as invasive as fellow casino corporations MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment, which collectively own most of the properties along the Strip, Adelson’s greed still seeps through into every aspect of the Venetian. That includes the slot parlors, where players are up against the steepest climb anywhere on the Strip by virtue of an atrocious 86.66% average payback rate.
For comparison’s sake, that figure is nearly 5% worse than the Strip’s overall average of is 91.47%. And remember, the average is already lower than everywhere else in Las Vegas. So, unless you’re playing slots at McCarran Airport (85.02%), you simply can’t find a worse place to play slots anywhere in Sin City than the Venetian.
2 – Bellagio Hotel and Casino
Worst Hotels On Vegas Strip
Like the Venetian, the Bellagio disguises its intentions by using ornate marble floors, vaulted ceilings, art exhibits, and gold plating to make visitors feel in awe of their good fortune.
And while staying at the Bellagio is certainly a true luxury experience, gambling here is a losing bet based on the slot selection’s 87.42% payback average. Don’t be fooled by the expansive offerings, which include more than 2,300 machines for one of the Strip’s largest slot lineups.
Quantity doesn’t beat quality in this case, so while you’ll likely find all of your favorite games here, the Bellagio carefully balances them with tight machines to ensure its property-wide payback rate is as low as possible.
This is likely because the Bellagio’s corporate overlords at MGM Resorts have studied the numbers in and out, so they know their average guest has enough expendable income to weather the storm. In other words, if you’re wealthy enough to afford a week at the Bellagio, maybe you just won’t notice that the slots there are among the tightest in town.
3 – Mandalay Bay
Another property owned by MGM Resorts, the Mandalay Bay is a curious inclusion on this list. Other than the gold-plated windows that give off a distinctive vibe, the Mandalay Bay isn’t exactly on par with the Venetian or the Bellagio in terms of luxury accommodations.
Even so, this eminently average casino still tries to gouge customers with a low 88.87% payback rate on slots.
You might save a few bucks trading out your Bellagio reservations for a Mandalay Bay stay, but the slot gameplay here is still just as awful.
4 – Caesars Palace Las Vegas Hotel and Casino
The flagship property of Caesars Entertainment is, obviously, Caesars Palace. It’s one of the original monuments of Las Vegas excess found on the Strip.
And sure enough, Caesars Palace is home to the award-winning, world-class Bacchanal Buffet, a thriving poker room, and top-notch amenities across the board.
![Worst casinos in las vegas Worst casinos in las vegas](https://mystuffshared.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/westgate-copy.jpg)
If it wasn’t for that pesky 89.05% average payback rate on slot play, I’d probably stay here every time I head out to the desert for a little fun. Unfortunately, that payback rate is far too low to be considered competitive, so do yourself a favor and consider Caesars Palace the perfect place to shop, eat, and catch a show—but never to spin the slots.
5 – The Mirage
I used to love the Mirage back in the 1990s, when famed tiger tamers Siegfried and Roy wowed audiences nightly and the poker room was home to World Champion pros.
Things have changed though, as they always do. Today, the MGM Resorts-owned Mirage is widely considered to be “middle of the road” fare for casinos on the Strip. Everything at the Mirage is just “meh,” right down to the 89.30% average payback rate for slot players.
6 – Treasure Island
Another holdover from the ‘90s glory days, Treasure Island (or “TI” after a disastrous rebranding effort) was sold by MGM Resorts to billionaire Phil Ruffin in 2008.
And like any billionaire worth his salt, Ruffin quickly set to work stripping his new acquisition for parts, swapping out loose slots for tight machines that combine for an 89.32% average payback.
Today, the Treasure Island experience can best be described as a bargain basement affair, with Ruffin showing no qualms about underserving his customers to better serve himself.
7 – Harrah’s Las Vegas Hotel and Casino
Last but not least, Harrah’s is one of the “middle of the road” offerings under the Caesars Entertainment corporate umbrella.
Everything here is fine, no better and no worse, which seems to be what Harrah’s is all about.
I might pass through while looking for a decent meal, or maybe some shopping with the wife, but I wouldn’t be caught dead competing against Harrah’s low 89.325 average payback for slots.
Conclusion
The Strip deserves its title as the world’s gambling capital, and without it, Las Vegas would still be a dusty outpost seldom visited by outsiders. Neon lights, superstar entertainers, and unique tourist destinations combine to make strolling down Las Vegas Boulevard a once-in-a-lifetime experience for newcomers.
On the other hand, corporatization has turned the Strip into a money pit for budget-minded visitors and sharp gamblers alike. Casino max reviews. When you know the score regarding payback percentage comparisons, playing slots at the well-known casino resorts listed above simply doesn’t make financial sense.
1. Tropicana
One of the oldest hotels in all of Las Vegas, tourists have regularly described Tropicana as dusty and dilapidated. Previously regarded as one of the most popular spots in the 80s and 90s, since then its reputation has taken a downward spiral due to a lack of upkeep of the premises and other more promising hotels being opened in the last couple of decades have taken its place. This has led to the Tropicana falling further down the totem pole. The service has been described as very slow and the food has headlined many bad reviews of the hotel. The Tropicana would be a poor choice for any tourist.
2. City Center Motel
This hotel is located next to a large Vegas nightclub leading to many customers reporting noise complaints that they have no control over. Other reviews of this hotel have mentioned the state of the rooms and their cleanliness with one reviewer saying, “The food was terrible, and my room hadn’t been cleaned after the previous residents had left a couple of days prior”. Due to the large grounds, City Center Motel is situated in, many reviewers also claimed that the entrance was difficult to find when they first arrived. Overall this hotel is definitely one to stay far away from.
3. Diamond Resorts International
Don’t let the name of this hotel fool you. The owners of Diamond Resorts have been regarded as some of “The biggest crooks in Vegas” by more than a few reviewers. The hotel complex is rundown and old, many of the rooms need major redecoration. However, the vast majority of complaints are about the staff. According to forum posts, customers have said, “They will try and steal your money with poor promotions and extras that just aren’t worth it”. With rude staff and bad conditions within the grounds, Diamond Resorts International definitely deserves to end up on this list.
4. Stratosphere Hotel, Casino and Tower
Apart from this hotel’s iconic design, there isn’t much else for this establishment to be proud of. One of the biggest problems with this hotel is the long check-in time which can exceed up to an hour, many customers have also complained about being given the wrong room after they have already booked. The inside of the building is old and dark and many of the rooms are in dire need of redecoration. Although it is regarded as one of the most iconic hotels in all of Vegas alongside giants such as Caesars Palace and the MGM Grand, it falls relatively short in comparison.
5. Excalibur
Excalibur is definitely one of the oddest-looking hotels in the Las Vegas strip and looks like something, a child might have designed. Numerous allegations have been made that staff in this hotel have stolen money from customers leading to a large scandal back in the 2000s. Numerous rat infestations have been discovered in recent years causing mass hysteria in the castle-like grounds. All of this makes it one of the most cringey places to visit in Las Vegas. Plenty of negative reviews have left the reputation of Excalibur as one that should be avoided at all costs due to poor upkeep of the premises, bad food and very noisy rooms due to night clubs in its close proximity.
6. On the Vegas Boulevard Hotel
A big downside with many of these hotels is the immediate surroundings. Some are situated near loud nightclubs or motorways/main roads. None, however, find themselves as unfortunate as On the Vegas Boulevard Hotel due to the fact that there is a 24-hour porn and sex shop directly opposite the grounds which finds itself very popular at certain times of the night. There have also been numerous poor reviews complaining about bed bugs and a lack of cleanliness in most of the rooms. This hotel also has little to no disability access, so they automatically cut out a potentially large segment of customers. This is definitely one to avoid.
7. Luxor
Another unfortunately titled hotel, Luxor is named after the ancient Egyptian city with a magnificent pyramid design becoming another icon of the Vegas skyline. However, this all fails to mention the terribly designed interior with long dark hallways and a general lack of cleanliness. It ends up being the complete opposite of Luxurious. Many of the electronics are severely outdated, the air conditioning is nonexistent and is very noticeable in the high-temperature state of Nevada. This hotel is definitely a major letdown for many tourists when considering its icon status and amazingly designed exterior.
![Casinos Casinos](https://www.newcasinos.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/tropicana-las-vegas.jpg)
8. The Plaza
The Plaza may offer high-quality entertainment and its food is regarded as some of the best in all Vegas hotels. It still suffers from similar problems that many other hotels on this list face. The bedrooms are poorly decorated and sporadically cleaned, the internet provided is very slow, and also, the ceiling is far too low in many parts of the hotel leaving you feeling claustrophobic in your own room. Also, The Plaza is located in downtown Las Vegas which is known to be one of the roughest areas of the whole city and many muggings and general disturbances have been reported. You’re better off in a nicer part of town.
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9. Westgate
Westgate finds itself low on many lists of Vegas hotels due to its very poor location, it sits in the middle of multiple elevated motorways making you feel like you are in a shady motel on the freeway. It isn’t near many casinos and doesn’t have a good quality establishment of its own. All the restaurants within the hotel are franchises and many complaints to do with the food come from a lack of originality and exoticness as you could find these places almost anywhere. With a high price tag per night, Westgate simply isn’t worth the hassle.
10. Palms Casino Resort
For many, the Palms Casino Resort is regarded as the worst hotel in all of Las Vegas. Many customers have complained about the unnecessarily long list of rules which includes things like:
- No food and drink inside rooms.
- Very short breakfast and dinner windows.
- Only 30 minutes of free Wi-Fi per day for each device.
This along with their notoriously poor customer service has led to it garnering a very negative reputation in Las Vegas and even West America. One of its only redeeming qualities the KOAS day and nightclub was forced to close just a couple years after it was opened, KOAS nightclub forced to close. With very expensive nightly rates, it just simply isn’t worth it and anywhere else would be better.
Our Conclusion
Worst Casino In Las Vegas Strip
As you can see, there are lots of places in Las Vegas that might not live up to the glitz and glamor that the city is known for. While we do love the city and think that there are lots of great options, it’s not the only place that you can gamble. If you are in the USA, read our guide to gambling in the States to see what other possibilities are open to you.
Best Place To Gamble In Vegas
If you are based internationally, then you could have a look at our lists of the best slots casinos, top online blackjack sites or recommended roulette casinos for alternatives to making the trip to Nevada.