Casino Reviews

Well we just got an email from the Wynn casino in Las Vegas. They are offering us three free rooms at the Wynn casino or the Encore in Las Vegas. We have to stay on a Sunday through Thursday night. This is fine for us and the Encore in Las Vegas rooms are considered suites which are upgrades from the Wynn. Both are fantastic, and we are just so excited that we are getting these rooms for free. The cost of the room depends on the time of year and how busy the hotel is on any given week. A friend is staying at the same time as us. They are paying $149 a night which is supposed to be Casino Rate!

So with tax and everything that is almost a $600 value just in the rooms alone. It is nice coming to a casino knowing that you have already won and you are $600 ahead of the casino. So of course we are staying at the upgraded Encore for this trip and it is free! We will be gambling of course and may win or we may not. But at least we do not need to worry about paying for the rooms on this trip.

Encore in Las Vegas – Free Credit

But it does get better. They also are giving us $150 in free credit  which we can use at slot machines to play on and perhaps win some more money. Once at the TI or Treasure Island, we won $800 on our free play.

Booked our Stay

We have booked our stay in Oct and are planning our trip now. This is including the games we will play while we are there. We are also thinking about the restaurants we are going to go to and the shows we may see. Who knows we may end up spending all of our time in the casino playing the slots especially if we are lucky and win some money!

The Wynn and the Encore are sister hotels and casinos. You can play in either and use your red slot card to play, rack up points and perhaps earn more comp’s.

Shopping at The Encore

They are connected by a shopping mall which has many of the famous shops that only the rich can shop at and of course big winners at the slots or tables.

It is nice to browse but way beyond anything I want to pay for clothes and other things. The restaurants at either hotel are some of the best. We have yet to decide which one we will go to.  I am really looking forward to enjoying one of the best steaks you can have while in Las Vegas.

We have written reviews on both the Wynn and the Encore, which you may want to take the time to read. Click here for the Wynn and Click here for the Encore. Hope you enjoy and wish us luck!

We stayed at the new Aria City Center casino and hotel in May 2011. We like the hotel and overall complex, however it takes awhile to learn how to get around the entire area. This complex and we believe this is the correct word to use is huge. There are at least seven buildings complete with hotel, casino and a number of apartment style condo’s.

Contemporary is the key word to describe this casino, the hotel and really the entire property. For us, it was a bit too much, however everything is tasteful, elegant in a contemporary way and over the top with extras and overall design. The entrance to the hotel is off Las Vegas Boulevard and you end up parking in a parkade that is very secure and protected from the scorching sun.

Aria Casino Comp’s

We stayed at this hotel for two nights on a 2 night comp plan from our MLife casino card. I guess they wanted us to try the new hotel and casino since we had not stayed here before or even gambled here before. This is the value of the casino slot cards that most people do not even realize or get to take advantage off. We wrote about the Aria buffet on a previous post which we thoroughly enjoyed, so please check out this post as well. Comments are appreciated.

Slot Machines

There are over 150,000 square feet of slot machines space with all of the latest slots from penny machines to $5000 machines for everyone to try. They have some of the latest style machines with multiple lines and free games as well as some of the more traditional slots such as poker and keno.

We did not win at this casino so we are not as excited about it as we might be. We also found that the slot waitresses are not delivering free drinks as frequently as they used to. Seems that MGM has cut back in this area as they struggle to conserve cash and pay off some of the huge debt they have incurred at this complex and others that they have purchased.

Table Games

There are all of the traditional table games. Not much to say about them here. Nothing unique that we noticed about this area. Normally we will post the number of table games and kind of games, however the main web site for the Aria casino does not provide this information for the slots or for the table games.

Restaurants

There a loads of restaurants. We ate at the buffet one night and also at one of the restaurants along the casino floor. Very upscale and modern looking with the usual high prices for many of the casinos along the strip. Nothing too exciting to report about this restaurant. We enjoy the buffet very much, however the crab legs were cold. We like them warm and already split.

What We Liked

• Variety of slot machines
• Free drinks while gambling
• Buffet
• Pool area and spa free to hotel guests
• Hotel rates are very high unless you are there on a package or comp’d
• Covered garage parking
• Easy access from all highways
• Safe environment in the casino, hotel and parking areas

What We Did Not Like

• Although contemporary in design, there is too much of it and it comes off being a bit cold to the senses
• Slot waitresses stingy on the free drinks
• Not a warm place to spend time in terms of the feel of the place.
• We probably would not stay here again unless offered free rooms

Slot Player Card

They are part of the MGM Mirage slot players card system. Slot members can take advantage of benefits at many Las Vegas hotels, as well as sister hotels in Tunica, Biloxi, Laughlin and Reno.

If you have not taken advantage of slot player cards, there are a number of benefits that many slot players should consider. Free or discounted rooms, email mailing list of promotions, free or discounted meals, access to entertainment, and a tax report outlining your losses and wins for tax claim purposes.

Parking

There is ample parking at the Aria hotel & casino in a large parking garage beside the hotel. There is no surface parking that we observed. You can access the hotel from the garage via an elevator from all levels. The parking garage is also patrolled on a regular basis and it also protects your car from the weather.

Directions: Entrance Right on the Las Vegas Strip

For more posts about Las Vegas casinos and things to do in Las Vegas, click here.

Every time we go to Lac Leamy Casino in Gatineau , Quebec, we have noticed the boat dock at the casino. For those of you who have never been there, the casino is situated beside an old quarry which has been filled with water and connected to the Gatineau river. There is a huge fountain in the middle of this small lake. It shoots water up at least 150 feet if not more. You can look at the lake from the casino while playing the slots.

There is also a boat dock for people to moor their boats at while visiting the casino. They can enter what is called the Lac Leamy lake from the Gatineau river. Which also empties into the Ottawa River.  Boaters from all along the Ottawa and Gatineau river can complete their boating trip by spending the day at the casino, having dinner and even staying at the hotel which is also attached to the casino. There are always a few boats that are moored at the boat dock whenever we have visited the casino.

Lac Leamy Casino Boat Dock

Our journey to the casino by boat started on the Ontario side of the Ottawa river. Before heading to the casino we traveled up the river past the prime ministers home all the way up to the base of the parliament buildings.  We saw the boat locks which lift boats up to the level of the Rideau river. For enthusiasts you can follow the Rideau river all the way to Lake Ontario and from there travel the lakes or the St Lawrence river.

Once we were finished with our little boat trip along the Ottawa, we headed to the Gatineau and then into a small canal that takes you into the lake that partially surrounds the Lac Leamy Casino. There were about 10 other boats already at the dock when we arrived.  They had an interesting control device to prevent you from docking in the wrong location. They use motion senor controlled sprinklers to stop people from mooring in certain areas. It was a nice diversion when we were sprinkled with water on a hot day!

Visiting the Casino

Once we docked, we headed into the casino, wondering if they would let us in. We were in boating attire. My wife was wearing a bathing suit and a shawl that doubled as a really short dress. I guess they did not mind since we walked right past the guards and into the casino with no problems what so ever.

We had drinks and played for about two hours before heading out to our boat to begin the return trip. Our captain was nervous about traveling along the river in the dark. We left around 7 pm to give us lots of time to get back to our destination at the Rock Cliff boat dock on the Ontario side of the Ottawa River. A really fantastic day and a different way to arrive at the Lac Leamy Casino in Gatineau.

We were on a driving trip heading home from California and stopped at the Hardrock Hotel and Casino for a few hours to take a break, grab something to eat and check out this casino. It is right off the interstate #44. Easy to get on and off if you are only stopping for an hour or two.  Based on our observations this is one casino we want to go back to sometime when we are in the area. This hotel and casino also looked like it was under going major renovations and upgrades at the time we were there. I am sure it is now completed and looking wonderful.

While we did not stay long at this location, our first impression was very favorable and we will go back. We signed up for a slot card and now we have the 1-800 number to call for room reservations as well. We did not play enough this time to warrant any comp’s from the hotel, however perhaps next time we will be offered reduced room rates or food vouchers. Park in the surface parking area in front of the casino entrance. Easy access from all of the highways and easy access to the hotel and the casino are provided.

Hardrock Hotel & Casino – Slot Machines

There are over more than 2,100 of the newest and most popular electronic games like Mr. Money Bags, Triple Double Diamonds, Video Poker, Xerxes Queen’s Knight and Jungle Wild II.

Table Games

There are lots of table games including poker and blackjack. They also host a variety of tournaments and players can check in to see their standings on the local web site.  There are also tables set aside to teach people the rules of the various games .

Restaurants

There are six restaurants all with excellent food to fit your tastes as well as the time you have to grab dinner or just a quick bite. The restaurants are

• Wild Potato Buffet
• McGill’s on 19
• Champions Grill
• Toby Keith’s I Love this Bar and Grill
• La Cucina
• The Perfect Cup

What We Liked

• Variety of slot machines
• Free drinks while gambling
• Buffet
• Hotel rates are very reasonable
• Covered garage parking as well as surface parking
• Easy access from all highways
• Safe environment in the casino, hotel and parking areas
• Great stopover point if you are traveling along Interstate 44

What We Did Not Like

There are no real complaints about the Hardrock hotel & casino

It is a 4 star hotel in our estimation and quite adequate for our needs. Next time we pass by we will probably stay at this hotel and will offer more in-depth comments.

Slot Player Card

They are part of the Cherokee Star slot players card system. Slot members can take advantage of benefits such as

• Use your points like cash in our hotel, restaurants, lounges, gift shop and golf course
• Use points to buy drawing tickets for special events and promotions
• Redeem points for cash
• Get invitations to tournaments and special events

If you have not taken advantage of slot player cards, there are a number of benefits that many slot players should consider. Free or discounted rooms, email mailing list of promotions, free or discounted meals, access to entertainment, and a tax report outlining your losses and wins for tax claim purposes.

Parking

There is ample parking at the Hardrock Hotel & Casino in a large parking garage beside the hotel as well as surface parking. There is no surface parking that we observed. You can access the hotel from the garage via an elevator from all levels. The parking garage is also patrolled on a regular basis and it also protects your car from the weather.

Directions:

The address is 770 West Cherokee Street, Catoosa, OK 74015

From I-44 East Bound

• Take exit 236 (129th E Avenue)
• At bottom of ramp take a LEFT on 129th E Avenue
• Take a RIGHT on Pine St.
• Follow Pine St. to 193rd E Avenue
• Take a RIGHT onto 193rd E Avenue

From I-244 East Bound

• Take exit 15 (129th E Avenue)
• At top of ramp take a LEFT on 129th E Avenue
• Take a RIGHT on Pine St. Follow Pine St. to 193rd E Avenue
• Take a RIGHT onto 193rd E Avenue

Cherokee Hills Golf Club is located 15 minutes east of downtown Tulsa at Interstate 44 and 193rd East Avenue, exit 240

Havasu Landing Resort and Casino is located on the western shores of Lake Havasu at Havasu Lake, CA. We took a short video while we were there to show you just what this small casino looks like so you can judge for yourself whether you want to spend time going there.  Click on this link to see it = Havasu Landing and Casino and the marina immediately beside the casino is a really nice little village that I am sure booms in the summertime.

We visited this location in March and most places were closed due to the fact that it was winter, even though the day boasted a sunny 70 degrees. Even though most cottages and trailers were closed up tight the casino was still open and there were a few people there. This place is probably very busy during the summertime.

The Ferry from Havasu City

The ferry comes over once every 30 minutes from the Arizona side of Lake Havasu, Lake Havasu City. The lake Havasu casino is actually in California. Around lunchtime, quite a few people got off the ferry that brings people over from the east shore or Lake Havasu City and headed straight for the small restaurant. They must get a voucher for lunch along with their ferry ticket. You can sit in the restaurant right along the water and have a basic pub kind of lunch which is fine as long as you are not expecting more than that.

Casino Size

You can also sit at a small bar in part of the casino and look out onto the lake a well.  We are not going to do our standard review of this particular casino since it is so small. We do want to manage the expectations of anyone planning to go there. It is a very small casino with standard machines. We expected very low payout rates, although of course there is nothing to base this on other than they have no competition.

There are only two ways to get to this casino. One is via the ferry from the Lake Havasu side, while the other is via car from highway 95. You can make a day out of it by driving to Lake Havasu City, visit London bridge and then take the ferry over to the casino.

Would we Go Again to This Casino?

This is not a place we would recommend driving out of your way to travel to, however you can spend a very nice day visiting the lake and the casino while having lunch in the casino if you are in the area. If you are staying in Havasu city, taking the ferry over as well is a nice days outing.

If you have been to this casino and have comments, please leave them since our readers will appreciate the suggestions you may have.