Las Vegas - Lifestyle & Culture
Gambling
Of course, Las Vegas is all about the casinos and played sensibly, they're every bit as thrilling and glamorous as you'd envisaged.
Casinos have their own house coins in denominations of $1, $5, $25 or higher for big payout machines. Nickel and quarter machines take US coins. You can exchange cash for coins (both US and house coins) at the cashier's cage, at booths and with attendants. Casinos have their own chips in denominations of $1, $5, $25, $100, and up to $1,000,000 denominations! Chips are available from the dealer at the tables but you can only exchange chips for cash at the casino's cashier's cage.
Take your time. Watch how the tables work for a while before settling in and don't bet more than you could comfortably lose. Treat your stake money as your budget for the night's entertainment and you won't go far wrong. Also, quit while you're ahead! Chances are you'll win some, but lose more. That's why the casinos are so opulent - and why the hotels attached are often such good value too. The house always wins.
Remember though, gambling - whether craps, black-jack or any number of the other games - is just like any other sport. The more you practice, the better you get. Try to get a few hands in before you arrive, try playing on your computer at home or with friends. Or get some free lessons in Las Vegas - the Imperial Palace Hotel offers free gaming lessons to anyone using their casino. Trust us, Las Vegas is a lot more fun when you've a better idea how to play the tables!
Which casino should you go to? That's really up to you - there are casinos with row upon row of slot machines (but it's wise to know that, of all the casino's attractions, the odds on winning at a slot machine are way, way lower than on a table) and there are casinos favouring poker and craps.
Of the hotel casinos, the most lavish - and entertaining - are at Bellagio, Caesar's, Mandalay, MGM Grand and Wynn, each offering all the glitz, high-rolling excitement and ornate environments you could imagine and then some!
Nightlife
This is Las Vegas remember, so it all begins when the sun sets. Most of the attractions and shows on The Strip are based in the hotels, and of course, their casinos. Away from the slots, check out the water, light and music spectacular at the Bellagio fountains, the erupting volcano at The Mirage and the show at Treasure Island. Rain, Moon, Playboy and Ghostbar are just some of the hot nightclubs in town - you can usually get tickets from your hotel. The lightshow at Haze is phenomenal.
Las Vegas is a town that likes to party and should you have the energy (and the money) you can party the night away every night. Should you seek refined and sophisticated thrills, there are plenty of cocktail bars to while away the evening in. Try the sumptuous Aurora at the Luxor Hotel, Caramel at Bellagio or Evening Call at Mandalay. For a view to drink in every bit as enjoyable as the cocktails, 107 at The Stratosphere features the loftiest views in town.
From Disney's Lion King to Cher, the Chippendales and the Blue Man show to Cirque du Soleil's Beatles-themed 'Love' and Penn and Teller's thrilling magic show there are mega-shows to enjoy for everyone. Should you be interested, there are plenty of risqué 'adult' revue shows too! Ask at your hotel for ticket information, as they can usually get you the best deals.
Weddings
Of course, Elvis is always on hand (or any number of celebrity lookalikes) should you wish to tie the knot in Las Vegas. The town has plenty of wedding venues, ranging from the dramatic (atop the Eiffel Tower) to the Romantic (the glorious wedding chapel at Bellagio) and the plain kitschy; The Little White Chapel is the drive-in wedding chapel that famously wedded Joan Collins and Britney Spears. Marriage is a serious business in Las Vegas with 100,000 wedding licenses issued every year.