1. Casino In Vegas
2. Comps In Vegas

Casino In Vegas

A set aside bank of slot machines can be found at this Las Vegas Casino, and when you sign up to their comp club you will be given an amazing $50 worth of free slot play on their range of slot machines. You will also be given a special fun book packed with valuable addition offers. Book Now at the Casino Royale and Hotel. Club Fortune Casino. If you play $25 and up at the tables.MLIFE and Treasure Island are your best bets for good gaming and fair comps. If you're a low rolling slots or video poker player.CET Total Rewards is a good program.

If you're like a lot of poker players who will be at the World Series of Poker this summer, you'll be seeking out the cash games not only at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino, but elsewhere in Las Vegas, too.

I thought it would be worthwhile to give players an idea of what to expect with regard to both the rake and comps offered at other Las Vegas cash rooms. I've put all of this information together in one chart below for your easy review when you go to Las Vegas. This way, you'll know the rooms that give you the best value while you play, showing you where you'll pay the least and earn the most.

Most casual players pay little or no attention to the cost of playing poker. But there is a cost, as we serious players know. It's called the 'rake' — the amount that the house takes out of every pot. Sometimes the rake is the difference between a player winning or losing money in a public poker room.

The lowest rake in Las Vegas at this time is $3 maximum per pot, while the highest is $5 maximum.

Not all rooms rake the same amount. The lowest rake in Las Vegas at this time is $3 maximum per pot, while the highest is $5 maximum.

Similarly, many rooms offer players compensation for playing poker in their casino. It's generally not nearly as much as they offer to players who want to play 'house advantage' games like blackjack, slots or craps. But it can add up, with some rooms paying considerably more in 'comps' than others.

Some poker rooms offer nothing at all to players, while others offer as much as $2 per hour. Most pay around $1 an hour or thereabouts.

At face value, it might seem like the rake and comps are too insignificant to make much of a difference. But think about this. A room that charges a $5 maximum rake is charging 25 percent more than a room that charges a $4 maximum rake. Similarly, a room that gives players $2 an hour in comps is paying 100 percent more than a room that pays only $1 an hour to its players.

Some practices regarding the rake are fairly standard from room to room. All rooms take out the rake at roughly 10 percent increments. Nearly all follow the rule that there is no rake if the betting ends before the flop (a.k.a., the 'no flop, no drop' rule).

In the chart below, I refer to the maximum or cap on the rake. Meanwhile the comps refer to the amount per hour that a player earns that can usually be used on hotel rooms, beverages and food. Some places also allow comps to be spent on other casino merchandise.

Keep in mind that just as rooms change the games they spread, they also change their rake and comps from time to time. If you want to be certain about the most current information about each room, I suggest you check with them directly beforehand.

One other note about the rake. Most rooms offer bad beat jackpots and/or other promotions. These promotions are nearly always paid for by the players with additional 'jackpot drops.' Though this money is returned to the players, it still comes out of the pot, and it may reasonably be considered additional rake by some.

I am not considering these jackpot drops when listing the maximum rake below, since promotions and drops change too frequently for me to be sure what will be in place when you play. That's something else to keep in mind, though, as you choose where you want to go play when venturing outside the Rio this summer.

*changing systems soon and will go to two tier comps, $1 or $2 depending on rating card.

_{Lead image c/o Kyle Peyton/Flickr, Las Vegas photo copyrights Moyan Brenn}

Ashley Adams has been playing poker for 50 years and writing about it since 2000. He is the author of hundreds of articles and two books, Winning 7-Card Stud (Kensington 2003) and Winning No-Limit Hold'em (Lighthouse 2012). He is also the host of poker radio show House of Cards. See www.houseofcardsradio.com for broadcast times, stations, and podcasts.

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Las Vegas isn’t filled with as many low stakes tables these days, nor do they hand out as many comps. It really is a shame because even low rollers should be able to find places to play.

This is discouraging to many low rollers. But there are still several casinos that offer low stakes and solid comps.

Vegas casinos know that low rollers comprise the bulk of gamblers. In fact, research by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority shows that Sin City visitors have an average bankroll of $541.

That being said, plenty of casinos in Las Vegas still cater to the low roller. And here are the 7 best Vegas casinos for those on a budget.

1 – El Cortez – 600 Fremont Street

El Cortez has become Vegas’ low roller mecca for three reasons:

1 – They have great blackjack.

2 – They have great craps.

3 – Their comps are very generous for low rollers.

You won’t be wowed by the appearance of this casino. But you’ll certainly appreciate the three points mentioned above.

El Cortez has $5 blackjack tables that feature a single deck, 3:2 natural blackjack payouts, and doubling down on any total.

These rules combine to offer an ultra-low 0.30% house edge, which is rare in Vegas – especially when dealing with a $5 game! Just don’t expect to count cards here because the pit bosses watch these tables like hawks.

El Cortez is just as generous with their craps action, where minimum bets are $3. You can back pass line and don’t pass line bets with up to 10x odds, which lowers the house edge to 0.184%.

It is also worth dropping by the El Cortez roulette tables. The minimum bet is $1.

Normally, casinos with low stakes offer next to nothing in comps. But El Cortez again proves to be an anomaly by offering generous rewards through Club Cortez.

2 – Boulder Station – 4111 Boulder Highway

Boulder Station is a great all-around low roller destination. Not only do they offer low stakes table games, but also generous payback and comps for machines.

You can play a $3 blackjack game here, which features 6 decks, 3:2 blackjack payouts, and the dealer hitting a soft 17. The house edge is 0.64% at the $3 tables.

The $5 game features 2 decks, 3:2 blackjack payouts, the dealer standing on a soft 17, and late surrender. These rules combine to deliver a 0.40% house edge.

Boulder Station also features the same craps game as El Cortez, where minimum bets are $3 and you can take up to 10x odds.

Where this casino really separates itself is in the video poker department. They have full-pay versions of Deuces Wild (100.76% payback), Joker Wild (100.65%), Double Bonus (100.17%), Loose Deuces Wild (100.15%), and Double Double Bonus (100.07%).

The Station Casinos loyalty program is one of the best in Vegas. It offers 3 points for every $1 wagered on most video poker and slot machines, giving you a 0.30% rebate.

Do note, though, that any machine with over 100% payback only delivers 1 point per $4 wagered.

Boulder Station is a serious rival to El Cortez in the lower roller world. The only areas where Boulder Station trails include the baccarat ($5 minimum) and roulette ($4 minimum) tables.

3 – Santa Fe Station – 4949 North Rancho Drive

Santa Fe Station offers a nice mixture of low stakes table games, including blackjack, craps, roulette, and Pai Gow poker.

The blackjack tables feature $5 minimum bets, 2 decks, 3:2 blackjack payouts, the dealer hitting a soft 17, and re-splitting aces. This game features a 0.46% house edge, which is close to the top tables at El Cortez and Boulder Station.

The craps games here feature 10x odds and a $5 minimum wager.

You can also enjoy an electronic craps game that features $1 minimum bets and 5x odds. This is great for machine players who want to experience craps away from the table atmosphere.

Here are minimum stakes for other games at Santa Fe Station:

• Baccarat = $10
• Pai Gow poker = $5
• Roulette = $4
• Three card poker = $5
• Ultimate Texas Hold’em = $5

Santa Fe is part of the Stations Casino network. This means that you can enjoy the same generous loyalty program described in the Boulder Station section.

You can also look forward to the same full-pay video poker machines that are featured at Boulder Station.

4 – East Cannery – 5255 Boulder Highway

Easy Cannery is a solid off-Strip casino that offers decent blackjack and craps action.

Comps In Vegas

The minimum blackjack bet is $5, and these tables feature 2 decks, double down on any total, and double down after splitting. The house edge is 0.46% on East Cannery’s $5 blackjack tables.

The craps tables feature a $3 minimum bet with 10x odds, which is the standard for top low roller casinos.

Pai Gow poker players will appreciate the EZ no-commission tables here. These games feature a 2.47% house edge, which is about as good as you’ll find for Pai Gow poker.

The video poker and slot machine action is okay, but nothing to boast about. However, the table game rules and house edges make East Cannery worth a visit.

5 – Red Rock Casino – 11011 West Charleston Boulevard

Red Rock is the most-luxurious casino on this list. It features a number of amenities, including a dozen restaurants, 16-screen Movie Theater, giant pool area, and nearby hiking trails.

They aren’t quite as generous with their low stakes gaming action as other Station Casinos properties. But Red Rock offers a nice combination of amenities and low stakes play.

If you don’t mind being away from the Vegas Strip, then Red Rock is definitely worth visiting for resort-minded low rollers.

Red Rock offers a $10 blackjack game with 2 decks, double down on any total, and double down after splitting. These tables feature a 0.46% house edge.

The video poker machines are very good at Red Rock. You can look forward to full-pay versions of Deuces Wild, Double Bonus, Loose Deuces, and Double Double Bonus. You won’t find a high-class resort with better video poker action.

This casino also features a poker room with $2/$4 no-limit Texas hold’em and $5/$10 Omaha.

The craps and roulette tables are okay in terms of minimum bets. But the craps tables only offer up to 5x odds.

6 – Texas Station – 2101 Texas Star Lane

Texas Station is the fourth Station Casinos-owned venue to make this list. And Texas Station is here because they offer good low roller blackjack, craps, roulette, and video poker.

This casino features three different blackjack games.

The best is the $5 minimum bet table, which has 2 decks, re-splitting aces, 3:2 blackjack payouts, and a 0.40% house edge. The $3 tables offer 2 decks, 3:2 blackjack payouts, no re-splitting aces, and a 0.64% house edge.

You want to avoid the single-deck tables because they have 6:5 blackjack payouts and a 1.70% house advantage.

The craps tables fall in line with the best low roller casinos because minimum bets are $3 and you can take 10x odds.

The roulette minimum stakes are $4, while the Pai Gow poker tables require a $5 minimum bet.

7 – Arizona Charlie’s – 4575 Boulder Highway

Arizona Charlie’s is a close rival to El Cortez when it comes to $5 blackjack games.

They have a double-deck game with 3:2 blackjack payouts, double down on any total and double down after splitting. These $5 tables feature a 0.34% house edge.

The craps game is another reason to play here because it features $5 minimum bets and up to 10x odds.

Be sure to join the Ace Play rewards program if you play here. This loyalty plan features several tiers and cashback that increases along with your status.

Conclusion

Las Vegas has been transitioning away from their reliance on gambling over the past decade. This means that most Vegas Strip casinos concentrate on their amenities, nightclubs, and restaurants first, then worry about the casino games.

But it’s nice to know that several casinos still value casino players, including the ones on a budget.

My favorite low roller establishment is definitely El Cortez because it offers the best low stakes blackjack and roulette action in Vegas. You can also look forward to plenty of comps, which only sweetens the deal.

Station Casinos has done an excellent job at creating a network of casinos that focus on gaming and low rollers.

You can always find good blackjack action at these casinos, while the craps is normally pretty good too. And the best part is that you can sign up for their rewards program and pick up comps at every Station Casinos venue.

As covered earlier, Red Rock is definitely the best option for those who want low stakes combined with the features of a largescale resort.

Also, keep Arizona Charlie’s Boulder and East Cannery in mind when looking to stretch your bankroll.