• Craps Machine Laughlin Poker
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Casino at Don Laughlin's Riverside Resort: Play craps - See 590 traveler reviews, 152 candid photos, and great deals for Laughlin, NV, at Tripadvisor. The payback percentages for slot machines at all casinos in Laughlin are released as a matter of public record. Just click here to see a list of slot machine payback statistics for all Laughlin casinos. All Laughlin casinos are open 24 hours and, unless otherwise noted, offer slots, video poker, blackjack, craps, and roulette. Above: Interblock’s 3-Sided Center Display, 8-Seat “Organic Craps” Notice that the Interblock pictures have three dice in the bubble. The machine is designed so the casino can determine whether to set it strictly for craps (which uses two dice), or to include the game of sic bo (which uses three dice).

Laughlin Table Report
Part I

A man staggers into an emergency room with two black eyes and a five-iron golf club wrapped tightly around his throat. Naturally the doctor asks him what happened. 'Well, it was like this,' said the man, 'I was having a quiet round of golf with my wife when she sliced her ball into a pasture of cows.We went to look for it, and while I was rooting around, I noticed one of the cows had something white at its rear end. I walked over and lifted up the tail, and sure enough, there was my wife's golf ball…stuck right in the middle of the cow's butt.That's when I made my mistake.' 'What did you do?' asks the doctor.Well, I lifted the tail and yelled to my wife, “Hey, this looks like yours!'

Before I jump right in to how the tables are in this mini gaming Mecca, let us look at a primer on what Laughlin is all about.

vLaughlin, Nevada is a gaming destination about 90 miles south of Las Vegas.It’s on the southernmost tip of Nevada, right at the Arizona and California border.The Colorado River separates the three states at this point.

vBy the way, it is pronounced “Loff-linn”.

vIn 1966, Don Laughlin bought a long-bankrupt eight-room motel and bar.The nearest population-center was about 35 miles away.A couple of years later the Postmaster-General needed a destination name for this outpost on the banks of the Colorado River…and so Laughlin, with a 1968 population of 1, was born.

vThe Riverside Motel & Casino opened with 12 slot machines and 2 blackjack tables.Most of his original employees came from Bullhead City, Arizona or they made the then four-hour (now 90 minutes) commute back and forth to Las Vegas.

vIn ’67, The Bobcat Club (the current Golden Nugget-Laughlin) opened.

vAs more and more people moved to southern Nevada and western Arizona for retirement, Don Laughlin expanded the Riverside Hotel to it’s current size of 1400 rooms.

vThere was a building boom in the mid-‘80’s and very early ‘90’s that saw eight major casinos built.Everyone from Boyd Gaming with it’s Sam’s Town-Gold River Casino (currently the River Palms Resort), to the Flamingo Hilton-Laughlin, Harrah’s Del Rio and Circus Circus’ (now Mandalay Bay Resorts) own Edgewater Hotel and Colorado Belle Resort Casino built large gaming destinations.

vGreater Metropolitan Laughlin has a current population of 11,731.

vThere are now over 10,000 rooms and suites at these resorts, in addition to over 4,000 fully-serviced RV spaces for the retired continent-roving recreational-vehicle set.

vThere’s enough shopping to keep your wife AND your girlfriend happy for a little while at least.A 55-store Outlet Mall with the de-rigueur likes of The Gap, Polo, Reebok, Levi, Corning, Bass, IZOD, and a 9-theater cinema is right across the street from the casinos.Everything is within a 5/8-mile action-strip.

vAll of the casinos are within walking distance of each other, plus there is a water-taxi shuttle that stops at each casino.No need for taxis (although they are available) when you can hop on a pontoon-style open-air shuttle-boat.

vHotel rates range from $12 to $49 for first-class accommodation.There aren’t as many suites available in these houses, but all of the rooms are either river-view or mountain-view.

vThere are over 60 quality casino-restaurants that cater to all tastes and preferences.The ubiquitous buffet is found here in EVERY casino just as God intended.The best is Harrah’s and the Golden Nugget (no surprise), while the worst is the Colorado Belle and The Edgewater (again, no surprise as they are both part of the Mandalay Resort family (read “Circus Circus”)…corporate-slop “same-crap, different plate” low-quality buffets.

Craps Machine Laughlin Poker

vThere are really only two expensive restaurants in town, where a meal will run two of you in the $80+tip range.The Gourmet Room at the Riverside, and the Lobster Bar at Tarzans in the Golden Nugget are definitely fine high-end restaurants.

vAll the other restaurants in town are very moderately priced, and the quality is generally good to very good.

vComps are pretty much free-flowing at all of the resorts in this town.Even low-rollers will have their game-play rated MUCH higher here than at their Vegas counterparts. The difference between Laughlin and Vegas player-comp requirements is about the same as the difference between Strip-comps versus Downtown LV-comps.Expect moderate craps play here to get you good to excellent comp-treatment.I’ll comment specifically on each resorts comp policy in a moment.

vThe best comp-savvy houses are in this order:

vWater-sport activities are king in Laughlin because of the Colorado River at the front door of each casino. Jet-Ski (Waverunner and Sea-doo) and jet-boat rentals are widely available, as well as riverboat sight-seeing and dining cruises.There are several decent beach areas at Harrah’s, the River Palms Resort, and especially at the Avi Resort.

vThere is also a number of widely attended spectator/participant events like the “Hot August Nights” car show (similar to Reno) and River Run cruises; several off-road desert-racing events, hydroplane boat races, and a number of rodeo events.For the events where admission is charges, these are all easy comps for minimum casino-play.

vWeather is generally 10-to-15 degrees warmer than Las Vegas.In the summer, that can be a bad thing as temperatures get into the 120-to-135-degree range.Fall through Spring temperatures are in a more reasonable 70-to-85 degree range.

Craps Machine Laughlin Game

vGenerally the staff that you encounter in Laughlin is much friendlier than you’ll usually find in Vegas.Now this is all subjective, as I find that I am treated quite well no matter where I go, but I find a kinder, gentler, lower-key attitude here than in Mecca.As you travel from Los Angeles to Las Vegas to Laughlin, the down-home Western friendliness seems to increase exponentially.

vThe 5-million visitors here each year are generally lower-key and a little older than the Las Vegas Strip crowd, but that also means LOWER TABLE LIMITS and more SOLO-SHOOTING OPPORTUNITIES for Precision-Shooters.

Okay, that’s the primer on Laughlin.

One of the reasons that I play in Laughlin quite a bit is because of those last two points.The low table limits are especially attractive when my Precision-Shooting is less than precise; and the tables present a higher-percentage and frequency of solo-shooting opportunities.

Even on a busy weekend, and yes, I am also talking about holiday weekends, the tables in Laughlin are not that crowded.And if some of them are, you can simply seek out the higher limit $5 tables for some lesser-crowded conditions.Sure the 25-cent game at the Edgewater will be packed as it usually is, but just use the Riverwalk to stroll over to it’s next door neighbor, The Flamingo Hilton, and you’ll pretty much have the tables to yourself.

So let’s take a look at the playing conditions in Laughlin.We might as well start at the first casino that brought gaming to this part of the Colorado River:

Riverside Resort Hotel & Casino

The Riverside Hotel has decent playing conditions.Their tables are of the 16-foot variety, and their dealers are veterans of the green felt jungle.Expect to find $1 tables here most of the time.During busy periods, they may open additional tables at $2 minimums.I haven’t seen a $5 table here in quite a while, but I was told that they had one set at that level during the 2002 Labor Day Weekend.

Dice-setters are free to set the dice as they wish.There is absolutely NO problem at all.A courteous toke for the boys is always greatly appreciated.Generally the dealers toke-rate in Laughlin is about 70% to 80% lower than in Vegas, so ANY tokes are appreciated.Just don’t take too long to “school” the dice when you set them, or any social-goodwill that you’ve built up, will quickly evaporate.

What else can I tell you about this joint?While their pool is not that great, Don Laughlin has assembled an excellent car-collection.If you are interested in purchasing any of the cars, most display their sale price.So if you are interested in a concours candy-apple red, 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz 390 cu. in. 3x2 Tri-Power convertible for under $80,000; then this is the place.They also have antique slot machines and a variety of other historic casino collectibles on display.

A nice feature of this hotel is that most of the rooms, and all of the suites have fair-sized balconies.It’s nice to have an early morning coffee or late night libation overlooking the banks of the mighty Colorado on your own balcony.

I’m not a big fan of their buffet, but it’s an easy comp, as is their 34-lane bowling alley and 6-plex movie theater.Speaking of comps, their “USS Riverside” dinner cruise is a fairly easy comp for a bettor who normally spreads $15 to $35 on the layout.In addition, their headliner acts which run along the lines of Freddy Fender, the Kingston Trio, Ricky Van Shelton, Oak Ridge Boys, The Lettermen and Gallagher are also compable shows for $10 to $25 players.

Flamingo Hilton Laughlin

The Flamingo Hilton Laughlin (now just called The Flamingo-Laughlin) has short tables, and almost always has new table felt.Expect to find very professional dealers and pit personnel, and NO hassles for setting the dice.

They do get their fair share of medium-to-high rollers, and you will see them give extra service to these players.If the big-player wants the dice to move quickly, then expect the dealers to get the dice returned to you quickly.This is not the time to be fiddling with the dice.If you are not as adept as you should be in your dice-setting speed; then more AT HOME PRACTICE is required.Again, game speed is “big-player” dependant here, in a similar manner as it is in Atlantic City at Taj Mahal.

You can expect to find $2 minimums here, although there have been several times when the only table that is open is set at a $5 minimum.There doesn’t seem to be any logical reason to their variation of setting either a $2, $3, or $5 table, as it is rarely busy in here.When it is, you can expect their two main tables to be locked-in at $5.Like I said, their veteran dealers are highly-skilled and proficient, which means that they show extraordinary appreciation and accommodation for a consistent toker.

Their two main hotel towers are named The Arizona and The California Towers.Combined, they total 1900 rooms and 30 suites.I can tell you that the suites are in much better condition than their Las Vegas or Reno namesakes.I would think that the suites here get significantly less wear and tear from infrequent use.

A $10 to $25 base flat-bet player is considered a “medium-strength” player as far as player-hierarchy is concerned in this 60,000 square foot gaming-house.Full-suite RFB+++ from the Flamingo Hilton requires about $25 in action for 4 hours a day to warrant that comp.

Food here is comparable to the other two Flamingo Hiltons.You’ll find Alta Villa, the usual 24/7 diner (Lindys), the standard Hilton Buffet and the Beef Baron, just as you will in LV and Reno.

Current entertainment runs the “what-ever-happened-to” gamut of the Four Tops, Harvey Corman/Tim Conway, Neil Sedaka, Englebert, the Smothers Brothers and Kenny Rogers.Though not terribly exciting, entertainment-comps are quite easy to get for low to moderate play.

Colorado Belle

Colorado Belle is part of the Mandalay Resort Group which includes Luxor, Monte Carlo, and Excalibur in its family.Unfortunately, it also includes Nevada Landing and Gold Strike(in Jean, NV near the California border) in the same family.The Colorado Belle and it’s sister property in Laughlin regrettably take after the lower end CircusCircus and Nevada Landing side of the family a lot more than the Mandalay Bay and Monte Carlo siblings.That means that it serves the low-end of the market, and it cuts as many corners as it can.This affects nearly every aspect of your stay in this 70,00 sq. ft. gambling den.

On the good side of the equation, that means that they have good, cheap tables.Short, beatable tables and low $2 limits make this a good-payer. If they have more than one table open, you can expect at least one of them to have a $3 bet minimum instead of the standard $2 one.

The tables are predictable and consistent in their dice-reactions, and I have never had any trouble finding a sweet-spot that brings in the winnings.For Laughlin, I would have to rate these tables in third-place just behind the Flamingo tables for winning-potential.I rate the Pioneer tables as the current best in town.

However, lightly-experienced staff and 2X odds, may limit your fun factor at the Colorado Belle. They tend to get crowded on the weekends, with plenty of inexperienced players. They are trying to create a party atmosphere here, so you’ll find personable dealers who are pretty good at their job.There is almost always a $500 table limit in place, but if you ask nicely, they’ll usually raise the limit to $1000.This pretty much eliminates the risk of hitting your head on the table-max if you get on a super-hot roll.

Like I said, the dealers are all pretty friendly and with the amount of inexperienced players; they show a lot of patience, restraint and encouragement when it comes to dealing with players who has absolutely no idea what they are doing.I agree with their philosophy.Even though I prefer to play at empty tables, I encourage new players to join in and play the game.

We shouldn’t discourage new players from joining in and learning the game.They are the lifeblood of continuing availability of craps.The more we sneer and grunt at new players, the more that this game will die out.The grumpy old codgers who make the game look and feel as unwelcoming as they can, are turning new players off.Listen, it’s hard enough for a craps table to compete against the never-ending voracious appetite of the golden toilets that we call slot-machines.We should not add to their game-killing effect by discouraging newer or younger players.

On the bad side of the Circus Circus (MBG) ownership equation for the Colorado Belle, you have the food, the rooms and the generally slightly run-down feel to everything.Their 1200 rooms are in dire need of renovation, especially in the low-level Mardi Gras section of rooms and suites which sport decent-sized balconies right on the banks of the Colorado.

Their food is hit-and-miss.Okay, it’s mostly “miss” on the quality target, so I would take a pass on the buffet, diner and the Orleans gourmet room unless you are close to collapsing into a diabetic coma.This is not the place you would pick if it were to be your last meal here on God’s green earth.

River Palms Resort

The River Palms Resort is the 1000 room hotel-casino initially developed by the Boyd Group as “Sam’s Town-Gold River”.The early 1990’s bankruptcy of Sam’s Town was due in part to Boyd’s misunderstanding of the market.There wasn’t a solid local market for them to reach, and they refused to be involved with the lucrative overnight-junket markets from nearby Phoenix, Flagstaff, San Bernardino, Tucson and San Diego.This rare Boyd failure has become Laughlin’s gain.

River Palms is Laughlin’s biggest casino, so it never seems crowded even on the busier weekends.You’ll almost always find $2 or $3 tables, even during the holidays.They are dice-setter friendly, and their medium-length tables are decent enough to get some good consistency.But they WILL NOT usually raise their $500 max table-limit.At least they wouldn’t do that for a couple of higher-rolling compadrés while I was there.

I find that their tables are similar to those found at the Mirage in Vegas.The great thing about the River Palms tables is that the dice circulate the lightly-populated tables quite rapidly. The more you get to shoot; the more consistent your results should be.If that isn’t the case; then it probably is not the tables, and rather your shooting needs substantially more practice.

The rooms here are in very good condition, and all of the river-facing suites have floor-to-ceiling windows.While there are no balconies, which by this point, I gather you have figured out that I really like, the vista from the hotel tower is still outstanding.

The food on the other hand is mediocre at best.While I have never had a bad meal here, I haven’t had any outstanding ones either.Madeleine’s Lodge is their gourmet room and it has an up-market lounge attached to it.And while you shouldn’t expect 5-star dining, you’ll only receive a 1-star bill.

Speaking of comps.They are VERY generous for $10+ players.Full RFB+++ for players with a steady $15 to $30 of “spread” action will be granted.This is one of the few joints where they are approaching YOU to give you a comp before you have to approach THEM to ask for one.I really like that idea.

Entertainment is low-key, but their beach is first-class and you will find all the grown-up water-sport toys are available here.Yes, they are compable if you are a hotel guest, as is the only car-wash in town which is on their property.Now this is the only casino that I know of that will comp car-washes.

In Part Two of this article, we'll finish our Precision-Shooters look at the rest of the Laughlin casinos.

Until then, Good Luck & Good Skill at the Laughlin Tables...and in Life.

The Mad Professor

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Laughlin Table Report
Part II

Edgewater Hotel

The Edgewater Hotel-Casino is also in the Mandalay Bay Group like it’s other Laughlin sister, the Colorado Belle.What I said about the Belle goes doubly for this sawdust grind joint.

They have a couple of long 18-foot monster tables.Each table usually sports worn-out felt that occasionally is patched instead of being replaced. Even when they put on a 'new' felt, it is usually a used one from the Circus Circus tables in Las Vegas. I'm a firm believer in recycling, but this is taking it to the extreme. They even used to use large felt patches to cover-up the old CC logo. On a positive note, they usually have a 25-cent game during the week, and a $1 limit at most others. On busy weekends you can expect a $2 game to be spread. And YES, they are ALWAYS busy.

I have never seen them hassle any dice-setters.Hell, I even saw one player licking the dice and trying to stick them together with his saliva before throwing them, and they didn’t even hassle him.They do like to move the dice rather quickly since they need a lot of rolls to grind out a decent profit from those 25-cent bettors.

Expect to see a lot of older “system” players here with their notebooks.As well, you’ll see quite a bit of prop action in the middle of the table with a those quarter chips flying in on the one-roll prayers…I mean payers.

The tables have quite a few dead-spots where there seems to be potholes under the felt.If you slowly rub your hand across the Field box or the outer margin of the Pass Line, you will feel the uneven pits, ridges and gashes that are in the base material.

The Edgewater caters to bus tours from EVERYWHERE.There are day-trippers from Phoenix and Vegas, and overnighters from anywhere within a 400-mile radius.I refuse to stay here anymore.Even their suites are in bad need of refurbishment.

Food at the Edgewater is passable, but I can’t tell you anything else that is positive about it, so I’ll leave it at that.

I consider Harrah’s to be the McDonalds of the gaming world.Whether you are in Council Bluffs, Iowa; North Kansas City, Missouri; or Vicksburg, Mississippi, the gaming experience is pretty much the same.Oh, the regional accents will be different, but the product and presentation is generally the same.It is that sameness that makes regular fans of Harrah’s into loyal Total Rewards customers.Once you reach their Diamond, Platinum or even Gold status, the pre-comped room and food offers from a myriad of other Harrah’s locations usually pour in.

Harrah’s-Laughlin is one of the best deals going for just that reason.Their $3 table-minimums can keep you in the game longer, and assist in the accumulation of comp-points.Now, you already know that I do not advocate playing for comps.However, my attitude is that if you are going to play; then make sure that you are always being rated correctly.With Harrah’s you can frequently check exactly where you stand on the comp-hierarchy, and you know exactly what you are entitled to.

The dealers here are great in the usual Harrah’s tradition, and dice-setting doesn’t bring any untoward heat from the pit.Their three tables are of the 14-foot variety, and the felt is usually in excellent condition.You should be prepared for their smaller 11/16^th inch dice instead of the casino-standard ¾ inch dice.When you combine that with their larger pyramid backwall material, you may have to adjust your throw.This subject in covered in my, Adapting to Tables - Part II article.

On the other hand, the shorter table-length aids in helping to dial-in just the right amount of adjustment that you have to make.With 3x, 4x, & 5x Odds, the semi-busy tables provide somewhat regular shooting opportunities.

Some of their tables are dedicated for non-smoking, and are usually empty.That is a big plus for non-smoking Precision-Shooters.I haven’t seen any hassle for dice-setters at any Harrah’s property, and that again holds true for this one.

This 1600+ room hotel is consistently clean, upgraded and fresh.They have a larger number of top-floor suites which feature walk-out patios, which suit me just fine.It is the Harrah’s consistency that keeps its customer-base very loyal.I like the profit-consistency that their tables generate for me, without the overcrowded situations that are found at most of their other, more popular properties.

A word or two about their food.Any Harrah’s buffet is busy, again because of their Player Card (Total Rewards) program.Only about 1 out of every 4 patrons actually pays for their buffet with cash.Instead, point redemption is the order of the day (and night) at this non-stop feeding frenzy.You’ll find that the old William Fisk (original chairman of Promus Corp. and Harrah’s Inc.) Steakhouse has been renovated into the new Range Steakhouse in keeping in step with their other major properties like LV, Lake Tahoe, etc.I am not shy about recommending the Ranges’ Crab Cakes appetizer or their 24-ounce AAA-Porterhouse for you carnivores out there.

A couple of other things to keep in mind.Their parking garage is a fair distance from the hotel tower.If you are not into valet parking, then just be sure that the outside-temperature is below 130-degrees, otherwise it can turn into a Bataan Death March if you are humping luggage on the overland trail to the hotel.

As I said earlier, pre-comped freebie room offers keep this place rather busy.With a nationwide network of casinos to feed this place, it is one of the most consistently busy of the higher-end Laughlin casinos.While The Riverside stays full from it’s excellent marketing to near-locals and further (Denver 3 nights/$99) junket marketing, Harrah’s uses its Platinum and Diamond-level Total Rewards program to channel players from across the nation into Laughlin.

The Pioneer Hotel & Gambling Hall is a throwback to the old-style Vegas days of the early ‘60’s and ‘70’s.It’s not pretentious or gussied up like some bussed-in whore from out of state.She’s more like a home-town skank that everybody has had a turn with.Yep, she’s a little tired looking, and a little rough around the edges, but she’s got a kind heart and she knows how to cook.That pretty much describes the Pioneer.

Don’t expect to find fire-spewing volcanoes, pirate battles or gondoliers in canals.You’re in the wrong town buddy!This is where you’ll find 10x Odds and short, predictable craps tables that are equal or better than nearly any you’ll find on the Las Vegas Strip.If frequent throwing opportunities and $2 or $3 minimums are what you are looking for; then this is the place.

The dealers show tremendous appreciation for consistent tokers, and player-hassling is near-zero.If the tables are near-empty, the dealers become downright-cheerleaders for your Precision-Throwing efforts.Excellent attitude and very easy comps makes this one of my favorites on the Colorado River.Like other places in town, a $500 buy-in and $25 in “spread’ action will get you their complete run of the house.If you normally have $35 to $50 on the layout; then you qualify for their huge 1200 sq. ft. river-suites, gourmet dining at their ill-named Granny’s Gourmet Room, and a full golf-comp to one of their nearby associated golf courses.

For maximum bang for the buck, the Pioneer is the low-market comp-leader in this town.Also, if you are 'percentage-play-driven,' then in addition to 10X Odds, this place offers Field pays of triple (3x) on the 12.

This house also specializes in prompting you to return again and again.Besides full RFB+++ for moderate play, they use free tickets to Laughlin’s special events to lure you back.Events like the Laughlin Desert Challenge Off-Road races, the Weekend of Wheels Hot-Rod show, the Professional Bull Riders Championship, the Laughlin River Stampede, F-1 Outboard racing championships, the River Run bike gathering (millions attended, only three were killed), and Hot-Air Balloon festivals are all used to lure you back.It’s a well-oiled promotional machine, which retains that Old West hospitality in the process.

Ramada Express Hotel & Casino

The Ramada Express is the other low-market leader in this market.If the median age of the Laughlin visitor is mid-50’s; then the average age of clientele at the Ramada is between 60 to 95.I haven’t seen so many oxygen tanks since the mine-rescue operation in the coal-seams of West Virginia.There are so many motorized carts, scooters and wheelchairs, that negotiating your way through the casino can be like running with the bulls in Pamplona, only not quite as safe as that. FORGET about trying to get on the elevator when there is a back-up of 20 to 30 of these vehicles waiting in line.Take the stairs and thank God that you still are able!

This hotel-casino has positioned itself in the market to appeal to World War I, World War II and Korean War era veterans. From its American Heroes Museum to its “On The Wings of Eagles” military tribute; this property rightfully and respectfully caters to that demographic. Unfortunately, that demographic seems to relate to a specific psychographic that is less than friendly at the craps tables.The players here have the most consistently grumpy demeanor that I have ever found ANYWHERE in the world.Listen, I am no young pup or punk for that matter.I made my bones at a young age, and I respect older people, but I don’t take crap from anybody, and this place has and deserves a unique reputation among dice-setters.

Get a load of this.The dealers do not hassle setters at all.They are professional and courteous, and they certainly appreciate tokes; but the players are another story.First, they resent it if you toke the dealers because they say that you are making them (the non-toking players) look bad.They reason that tipping is not necessary and definitely not needed for dealers in any casino.

Then to make matters worse, the players start yelling if you set the dice.They start banging the palms of their hands against the inside backwall of the tables, and they start screaming at you to “stop f#%&ing up the dice, and throw them like a man, you f#%&ing idiot!”I’ve never seen anything quite like it.If it only happened once or twice, I’d pass it off as random acts of lunacy, but the dealers acknowledge that it happens here quite frequently.When I proceeded to generate some mega-hands; these idiots were still bitchin’, moanin’, and complainin’ about my throwing after 47 minutes (and 24 minutes, 28 minutes, and 35 minutes) with the dice, and they were on the Pass Line winning right along with me.They were like a flock of seagulls with their continuous shittin’ and squakin’.What a hoot!

On the positive side of the equation, they do have full 5x Odds, and a $2500 table max at the Ramada Express.Table minimums are usually in the $2, $3 or $5 range.

Comps seem to be very easy to get here, although I haven’t taken them up on too many of them.Their rooms are quite run-down, and I’ve never had the pleasure of one of their suites, so I can’t tell you about that particular subject.Their food is passable for retirement-home slop that you can eat through a straw.Don’t let me discourage you from giving the Ramada Express a try.Perhaps your experience will be better than mine.

If I told you that Steve Wynn acquired this property on a Poker bet, you’d probably think that I was kidding you.That’s pretty much how he got into the Laughlin gaming business about 22 years ago. He gambled for and won a defaulted mortgage that a banking friend of his held on the defunct Bobcat Club Motel.Wynn foreclosed on the property as the new mortgage holder, and proceeded to turn it into a mini-version of it’s GN-Las Vegas namesake.

The Golden Nugget-Laughlin has decent 14-foot tables, but they are not happy if you walk away with too much of their money. A 'hit and run' visit is a good play on their $2 tables. I only hit them once or twice on any given shift, and I try to keep each session win under the $750 mark.I also limit my buy-in to less than $500 (usually $300) so that the suits don’t immediately start “hawking” (closely watching) the game.If you are the only player on the table, and you have three to five suits watching the game, you know that they are concerned about not letting you get too much of “their” money. On the other hand, the up-market appearances of the GN keep most of the un-bathed riff-raff away from the tables, and solo-shooting opportunities are the norm rather than the exception.

Their Field-bet pays triple on the 12, which reduces the house-edge down to 2.8% on this bet.That is 1.2% BETTER than a Place bet on the 5 or 9.Think about that the next time you see “downtown” odds on the layout.

Let’s talk about comps for a moment.Yes, they are fairly easy to get if you lose a lot of money.However, for the skilled Precision-Shooter or the lucky random-roller who wins a fair amount of their money; then the comps are actually fairly difficult to get.They seem to resent winners.While they won’t discourage your dice-setting per se, they will use that “circling-vulture”, “we’re all staring at you to try to phase you” kind of intimidation.Hell, it’s not as bad as actually barring dice-setting, so I’ll live with it.The room and suite quality are on par with other MGM-Mirage family properties like Treasure Island and the LV-GN, and the food is also on that same level.

I’ll admit that I really like the Laughlin-GN for both playing and staying, but I am always mindful not to let them associate my face with the disappearance of too much of their money.

This Mohave Tribe casino is located on a reservation about 12 miles from the other ten casinos in Laughlin, Nevada. The word 'avi' means “money” in the Pipa Aha Macav language. They were obviously thinking of taking YOUR money, and keeping THEIR money when they came up with that name!

You’ll usually find $2 table minimums here at the Avi Casino, and they rarely raise them.There is the limiting factor of a $500 table max, but that shouldn’t pose too much of a problem unless you get onto a really hot roll.

They sometimes institute a “no dice-setting-with-short-throws” rule. However, it is unevenly applied and policed. In fact, depending on the Pit Boss on duty at the time, the policy may extend only to individual players.

Craps Machine Laughlin Casino

The last time that I was there, I was having tremendous success, and they didn’t hassle me one bit. On the other hand, over the course of the two days that I played, three craps patrons were unceremoniously banned from shooting. I was there for each occasion, and I can tell you that these three guys had next to no dice-shooting skill at all! Then what was the reasoning? It seems that if both dice don’t hit the back-wall of the table for two rolls in a row, without warning, they pass the dice to the next player in line. If it happens to the same player twice in one day, YOU ARE OUTTA HERE! Again, the policy is haphazardly applied at the whim of the Pit Boss or the Box-man, and totally without warning!

Oh, keep in mind that their Field bet pays triple (3x) on the 12.That cuts the house-edge in half.Like I said earlier, this makes the Field a “cheaper” bet than a Place bet on the “5” or “9”.Something to think about if you get to this desert oasis anytime soon.

Dealer attitude is pretty good, but staff in other non-gaming areas can be a little spotty.I’ll say this about it though, they have a huge and excellent beach area.If you are into water-sports like I am, then this is a high-speed jet-boating paradise.Because it is far removed from the other resort areas, this section of the Colorado is perfect for all-out high-speed runs over 100 mph.

Comps are fairly easy to get at the Avi, especially for low-season (off-season is June to September) full RFB.There really is no type of “+++” comp benefits other than their watercraft rentals or their Mohave Resort Golf Club freebies.While the casino is fairly small, (about the same size as Fitzgeralds Casino in LV), it never seems to get crowded or claustrophobic.

While they don’t have a lot of hotel rooms (about 300), their restaurants serve decent but unmemorable meals.

Regency Casino

The Regency Casino had closed its craps table the last couple of times I have been there, so there is really no point in covering what could best be described as a slots-only joint.

That’s all for now, so

Good Luck & Good Skill at those Laughlin Tables…and in Life.

Sincerely,

The Mad Professor

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