I understand many people are anxious to get out and gamble again, but this seems pretty ridiculous given that the pandemic isn’t over yet . . .

Things have been changing for years in Las Vegas.With so many options on there for the gambling fan, Las Vegas is no longer the only viable option out there. This is true whether you’re a high roller or a casual one-armed bandit. For example, you can go to these sites if you’re a high roller, so now there are more options to meet your needs. Sure, high rollers love junkets to Las Vegas and all of the fringe benefits that go along with it. But many guys just love the rush of gambling and the thrill of winning, and now people can get that whether they go to Vegas or not.

Las Vegas is now selling the overall experience and entertainment just as much as they’re selling gambling. You can see that with new spots like the Cosmopolitan which is the latest hot spot where the beautiful people like to congregate. It can be fun as hell, but that also affects the gambling crowd. It seems like the casual gambler is much less educated these days, so the casino plays around with the table games offered. They haven’t messed with craps much, but games like blackjack are manipulated with the decks and the odds. Ignorant gamblers don’t know any better, so they’ll sit down at a one-deck game thinking they have an advantage, but not realizing that the altered blackjack payouts are screwing them.

This is less prevalent in the high roller areas, as those gamblers are usually much more educated. But the casinos have been messing with the formula on the casino floor for so long that they’re chasing away the guys who aren’t quite high rollers but will come to Vegas with a $1,000 bankroll. If you mess with them too much, you lose them to other outlets, like online options or the casinos around the country. It will be interesting to see how the gambling experience continues to evolve.

When selecting a travel destination somewhere in the Western Hemisphere that provides casino gambling, most people pick the city of Las Vegas. With literally over a hundred casinos spread out over the city, there are many casino options for tourists. Some casinos stand out in comparison to others and area ideal venues to include in one’s travel itinerary.

Caesar’s Palace is definitely one of the top casinos found in Vegas. It is part of a large complex that includes a hotel and other buildings. Located right on the Vegas Strip, it is found between two other popular Vegas casinos, the Bellagio and the Mirage. Poker is definitely one of the top games played at Caesar’s Palace. In fact, it is the only Vegas casino that hosts a World Series of Poker event. Many visitors also flock to the slot machine when at Caesar’s. The reason for this is that the casino has had more million dollar prizes awarded from these slot machines than any other casino. Therefore, Caesar’s Palace is a popular choice for slot machine players. When visiting the casino at Caesar’s Palace, keep in mind that are other forms of entertainment attached to the casino. For instance, the Colosseum provides over 4000 seats for live entertainment. Since its opening, there have been numerous performances here by various artists.

One of the largest Vegas casinos is the MGM Grand. This casino has been part of Vegas’ casino landscape for over 40 years now. Given its long history, the casino has built up quite a reputation for itself. The casino floor measures a total of 171,500 square feet. Here, a special game is found known as Sigma Derby which may remind some of the online casino game of Royal Derby. However, Sigma Derby is a mechanized horse racing game. As many a ten people can make wagers on the five horses that are part of this race.

These grand hotel casinos are miles ahead of playing online. While the comfort of being at home is enjoyable for some, the full Vegas experience offers so much more.

Steve Wynn has an incredible knack for creating the ultimate high roller experience. Sure, some also blame him for the corporate culture that invaded Las Vegas with the introduction of the Mirage. I guess those people liked it better when the mob ran Vegas. Regardless of that, Wynn was the main guy that brought Vegas out of the tacky 1970s into the ultra luxury era. After the Mirage can Bellagio, which elevated the standard even further. After cashing out, then he decided to put his name on the building. The Wynn casino wasn’t that much of a leap beyond Bellagio, but it did plant itself as one of the premiere luxury spots on the Strip. If you’re a group of guys or high rollers ready to have a great time in Vegas, then you can’t go wrong at the Wynn.

But now Steve Wynn the person is back in the news, as his ex-wife is threatening his casino empire. BusinessWeek explains that “Elaine Wynn has asked a federal court for permission to sell the Wynn Resorts (WYNN) shares she was awarded in the couple’s 2009 divorce.” This is a problem as she’s a swing shareholder of the company. Even if she just sells half of her 9.6 percent stake, such a transaction could possibly trigger a series of events that would threaten Steve’s sway over his company according to the article.

It’s funny how little things like a divorce, even a $750 million divorce, can have such a potential impact on a place like Las Vegas. Not that any of us really care. There are so many places in Vegas to gamble.

Frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised if Wynn decided to start all over again. Now with Aria and Cosmopolitan, his Wynn casino is no longer the newest luxury hot spot on the Strip. The guy seems obsessed with setting new standards, so maybe all of this drama will lead him to create something new again. That said, the odds may be against that course of action. Vegas is so saturated right now with high end hotels, and the days of the whale from Asia seem to be gone with overseas competition. Still, we love new hotels, so who cares if it’s a financial success for Wynn. He can afford it, even after his $750 million divorce!

Las Vegas is still having some issues following the economic crisis of 2008. Things have changed a lot in the city, and as a result we saw a collapse in the local real estate market. While visitor numbers are creeping up, gambling receipts are still a problem as Macau attracts so many of the world’s high rollers.

You wouldn’t be able to guess, however, if you pay attention to the shows and the nightclubs. Celine Dion just signed a $100 million extension with Caesars. and now there is speculation that Britney Spears could easily top that figure if she completes a deal as well.

Meanwhile, the biggest, newest casinos are killing it. Places like Aria and the Cosmopolitan are packed with the beautiful people, while the hottest clubs are packing them in again.

So Las Vegas continues to evolve. It still attracts the big time poker players, so it’s a mecca for that sport. As more people play online, it just creates more and more players who want to test their skills in person against the best in Las Vegas. If the feds ever get their act together and set up a federal regulatory system for online poker, the popularity will probably explode even more, and that’s very good for Vegas.

The key, of course, is dealing with all the distractions when you get there. Of course we all want to live like a high roller, but living that life has its costs. The booze, the women and the all-night parties make it a lot harder to be effective at the poker table for long stretches of time.

So the real key is discipline. Are you serious about being a winning poker player, or are you more concerned with bringing a hot babe to the Britney Spears concert? These are the choices you have to make. Win first, and then enjoy the festivities.