The 5 worst casinos in Las Vegas 1 – Siegel Slots and Suites. We had the misfortune of having to stay here for a while and witnessed things I don't want. 2 – Stratosphere Hotel, Casino & Tower. This hotel is in need of refreshment. Just gut it and start over. 3 – Excalibur Hotel.
- Worst Casino In Las Vegas 2020
- Worst Casino In Las Vegas
- Worst Casino In Las Vegas Downtown
- List Of Casinos In Las Vegas
It doesn't take a genius to figure out that slot machines on The Strip are 'tighter' than the alternatives found outside of the Las Vegas Boulevard bubble.
And no, I'm not talking about individual machines set up to pay out less frequently by the casino overlords above. That notion of 'tight' and 'loose' slot gameplay has always been a myth passed around by uninformed gamblers.
Instead, I'm referring to the way casino operators with properties on The Strip carefully curate their slot machine selection.
Let's say Slot X offers a 95.50 percent payback rate, which you might know as the return to player (RTP) rate, while Slot Y and Slot Z offer paybacks at 93.25 percent and 91.10 percent, respectively. In this example, a casino on The Strip will have no problem whatsoever ordering hundreds of Slot Y and Slot Z, while only spreading a dozen or so of the Slot X machines.
- On our first trip to Vegas we checked out all the hotels and casinos we could. We went in Circus Circus, looked around, and have never set foot in there again. We went in Circus Circus, looked around, and have never set foot in there again.
- The Las Vegas Club is horrible. The Hotel is closed and only the casino and bar are open. They closed the parking garage. There is no place to eat.
The big corporate casinos on The Strip can get away with offering lower average payback rates because they have a captive audience of sorts. Over 40 million tourists visit Las Vegas every year, and when they get there, the vast majority will never leave The Strip. Knowing this, corporations like MGM Resorts, Caesars Entertainment, and Las Vegas Sands Corp. show no compunction about sticking it to their slot players with tighter machines.
On the other side of the spectrum, all of those casinos located far from the action on Las Vegas Boulevard have no choice. In order to attract customers and retain the loyalty of local regulars, off-Strip casinos must compete by taking the opposite tack. Mid-major operators like Station Casinos, Boyd Gaming, and others stay afloat by choosing a higher ratio of loose slots to balance out a handful of tight machines.
This strategy creates a higher overall payback percentage on average when you play slots in an Off Strip casino. As you can see below, using data compiled by the annual Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) survey of Las Vegas slot payback rates by region, playing away from The Strip always provides a more player-friendly experience:
Las Vegas Slot Machine Payback Percentage Rates (by Coin Denomination and Region)
1¢ Slot Machines
| Region | Average Payback |
|---|---|
| The Strip | 88.38% |
| Downtown | 89.15% |
| Boulder Strip | 90.38% |
| North Las Vegas | 90.88% |
5¢ Slot Machines
| Region | Average Payback |
|---|---|
| The Strip | 91.64% |
| Downtown | 93.40% |
| North Las Vegas | 95.29% |
| Boulder Strip | 96.21% |
25¢ Slot Machines
| Region | Average Payback |
|---|---|
| The Strip | 89.35% |
| Downtown | 94.25% |
| North Las Vegas | 96.41% |
| Boulder Strip | 96.13% |
$1 Slot Machines
| Region | Average Payback |
|---|---|
| The Strip | 92.43% |
| Downtown | 94.63% |
| North Las Vegas | 95.39% |
| Boulder Strip | 96.13% |
$1 Megabucks Machines
| Region | Average Payback |
|---|---|
| The Strip | 87.83% |
| North Las Vegas | 88.52% |
| Downtown | 89.07% |
| Boulder Strip | 91.35% |
All Slot Machines
| Region | Average Payback |
|---|---|
| The Strip | 91.47% |
| Downtown | 92.67% |
| Boulder Strip | 94.34% |
| North Las Vegas | 93.53% |
Nonetheless, not all off-Strip slot parlors are built the same way…
It got me thinking about all of the off-Strip properties that try to have it both ways, by marketing themselves as the 'home of loose slots' even though their machines are tighter than the baseline average for their region.
With that in mind, the list below serves as a warning for slot players, so do your best to avoid the seven worst off-Strip casinos where tight slots reign supreme.
1 – McCarran International Airport
For millions of visitors to Sin City, the first sin they'll commit is parting ways with even a single penny playing slots at McCarran International Airport.
In case you're close enough to drive to Las Vegas, and thus haven't had the 'pleasure' of seeing the airport up close and personal, the place is lined with slot machines in a scene straight out of a typical casino. At first glance, these slots can seem like a cool novelty, a welcome mat greeting new arrivals and letting them know they're in for a little something different.
And on the other side of the coin, when you're heading home and want to take one last crack at landing that elusive jackpot score, a few spins on the airport slots can't hurt, right?
Well, you should definitely consider the 85.02 percent average payback rate found on McCarran slots to be painful…
When compared to other off-Strip locales, the airport puts players at a disadvantage equal to 8 percent off their average payback. And even when sized up against The Strip, airport slots are 6 percent worse overall.
You're already going to face the indignities of modern air travel when passing through McCarran, so stay smart and don't add industry-worst slot payback to the pain.
2 – Rio All Suites Hotel & Casino
Best known as the site of the annual World Series of Poker (WSOP), the Rio All Suites Hotel & Casino is a place where life-changing fortunes are won dozens of times over every summer.
Unfortunately for gamblers who prefer the slots over Texas Hold'em, however, the Rio is relentlessly bad for reel spinners. Likely owing to its parent company Caesars Entertainment struggling through bankruptcy, management has made sure the Rio's slot selection spits out an average payback rate of only 88.72 percent.
To get a sense of just how bad that payback rate really is, consider this – only the Venetian (86.66 percent) and the Bellagio (87.42 percent) are worse for slot players, and those casinos are on The Strip. In terms of proper casinos found away from Las Vegas Boulevard, you simply can't do any worse than the Rio if the slots are your game of choice.
3 – Fremont Hotel & Casino
A member of the Boyd Gaming family found in Downtown Las Vegas, the Fremont has been an iconic fixture along Fremont Street since Sinatra and the 'Rat Pack' were strutting their stuff.
Sin City has changed a ton over that time, and most of the action has moved to The Strip, but Fremont is still considered to be a home away from home for many locals and longtime visitors. Even so, Fremont's slot selection still manages to offer the worst payback average of any casino in the Downtown district at 90.37 percent. To wit, the average for all Downtown casinos stands at 92.67 percent, so you're shaving more than 2 percent off your overall payback rate by spinning at Fremont.
4 – Main Street Station Casino Brewery Hotel
Folks who call Las Vegas home love the Station Casinos brand, which encompasses several reasonably priced venues found all over the city.
Main Street Station is typical of the Station Casinos concept, combining affordable fare with the best odds on table games and video poker. Unfortunately for slot players, Main Street Station found a way to mess up a good thing, as it's the worst of all Station casinos in terms of slot payback with a 90.56 percent average rate.
5 – Silverton Casino Hotel
One of the rare independent casinos still going strong in Sin City, the Silverton is a holdover from a bygone era of Las Vegas lore.
Even though its relatively new, having opened its doors in 1994, the Silverton looks and feels like it belongs in the 1970s in Nevada's other gambling locale of Lake Tahoe. The vibe is rustic and intimate, and you'll easily save a pretty penny eschewing The Strip to stay here.
On the flip side, however, those savings will be eaten up quickly playing slots at the Silverton, thanks to a lower than average 90.57 percent payback rate.
6 – Golden Gate Casino Hotel
The Golden Gate Casino first opened its gaming floor all the way back in 1906, making it the oldest casino in all of Las Vegas – and anywhere in America for that matter.
Golden Gate is a fixture on Fremont Street, surviving for more than a century while rivals came and went with the desert winds.
But while the $0.99 shrimp cocktails and classic coin-in pull-lever slot machines offer a certain sense of nostalgia, Golden Gate's slot menu gooses its owner's bottom line with a regrettable 90.64 percent payback rate on slots.
7 – Golden Nugget Las Vegas Hotel & Casino
Personally speaking, I still love to take a stroll through the Golden Nugget's iconic gaming floor whenever I'm in the Downtown district.
Everywhere you look is shining gold, and unlike many other casinos on Fremont Street, the Golden Nugget somehow manages to feel new again despite its age.
So, while I still enjoy visiting the old gal from time to time, playing slots at the Golden Nugget will always be a nonstarter in my book.
Conclusion
Visiting an off-Strip casino to score improved odds and an increased chance of winning has become a rite of passage for sharp gamblers. Many take pride in avoiding the money pit of Las Vegas Boulevard, choosing to preserve their bankroll by staying at a more budget-conscious casino instead.
And while that's all well and good, it can be all too easy to find yourself spinning slots in an off-Strip casino that still doesn't serve its players honorably. To help you avoid that fate, this list should serve as a guide to all of the off-Strip casinos that just aren't worth a slot player's time.
When you step foot on the famous Las Vegas Strip for the first time, the entire experience can be overwhelming, to say the least.
Everywhere you look is another amazing destination waiting to be explored. Within a short walk, you'll pass through the Parisian cityscape complete with a faux Eiffel Tower, the palatial estate of Roman emperors, and the hulking skyscrapers of New York City. Fountains are dancing in time to the song serenading street-side onlookers, couples are floating happily through romantic canals straight out of Venice, and the iconic neon lights surround you in sensory overload.
The sheer variety of amenities and attractions lining Las Vegas Boulevard make The Strip practically impossible to appreciate fully on your first try – or even your second or third. With 28 unique casino properties clustered so tightly together, and crowds numbering in the tens of thousands all trying their best to reach the next dot on the map, navigating The Strip is a tough ask for Sin City rookies and regulars alike.
Fortunately for readers, I've just returned from a unique opportunity to stay on The Las Vegas Strip for two weeks' worth of gambling, dining, shopping, and shows. Blessed with such an extended stay, and a burgeoning bankroll thanks to a fortuitously timed Wheel of Fortune jackpot on my first day, I decided to check out all 28 casinos on The Strip for myself.
That reconnaissance mission brought me to places I swore I'd never step inside. There were places with pleasant surprises that belied their 'Plain Jane' exterior, and awe-inspiring monuments to what mankind can achieve with unlimited money.
I came, I played, and I conquered. So to speak.
So, now I'd like to share my thoughts having returned home to real life.
Earlier on, I put together a list of the seven best Vegas Strip casino resorts. These properties were deemed the best of the bunch, in my book at least, and I strongly encourage every Las Vegas visitor to experience their delights for themselves.
That list was followed by seven more venues I classified as the Vegas Strip mid-tier contenders. These casinos were perfectly respectable, and in certain cases even preferable, in terms of their accommodations, casino environments, amenities, and non-gambling entertainment options, despite not making the top seven cut.
With exactly half of The Strip lineup now covered, it's time to dive deep into the seven casinos I've deemed the disappointing duds.
So, strap in and get ready for a full tour of the seven casinos on The Strip that simply failed to impress. With that said, however, these rankings are based solely on my subjective experience as a veteran visitor to Las Vegas. When you hit The Strip for your next adventure, by all means, make a point to spend a session at these venues and come to your own conclusions.
15 – MGM Grand
Here's the thing about the MGM Grand: this place wants to be a mega-resort casino like Bellagio and Caesars Palace so badly, but it's just not up to snuff.
Ambition isn't a bad thing in and of itself, but when guests are forced to pay top-tier prices for an inferior experience, that's where I draw the line. Part of the problem is MGM Grand's operators and staff seem to be stuck in the 1990s, an era when the iconic 'Lion's Roar' entrance and other cutting-edge features made the property one of The Strip's most preferred destinations.
But that was 25 years ago, and while MGM Resorts has sunk billions into luxurious alternatives like the Aria and the Bellagio, the company's flagship casino has struggled to keep up. From the rundown poker room running $65 daily tournaments, to rooms that lack even basic amenities like a mini-fridge to keep your baby's bottle cold, the MGM Grand is just lackluster across the board.
You wouldn't know it from the prices though, what with every bar, restaurant, and gift shop relentlessly charging exorbitant rates.
And on a final note, be sure to check the boxing and mixed marital arts (MMA) schedules before you book a night at the MGM Grand. When these sporting events come to town, this place becomes a madhouse, even by The Strip's standards for debauchery and drunken revelry. I already lived in a frat house for two years way back when, so struggling through crowds of dazed and confused fight fans all evening wasn't exactly my cup of tea.
16 – Treasure Island
Another relic of the 1990s 'boom era' of The Strip, Treasure Island doesn't seem to have changed much in more than two decades.
Well, it has changed in a few ways, but always for the worse…
Remember that full-fledged pirate ship show put on out front in 'Buccaneer Bay' back in the day? Well, if you don't, this was something straight out of Disney or Universal Studios, a swashbuckling adventure show complete with trained actors raiding a ship, fending off cannon fire, and making folks walk the plank.
Cool attractions like that used to be what made The Strip so special, because visitors who didn't come for the gambling could still feel thrills that can't be found anywhere else.
So, I was sorely surprised to find Buccaneer Bay a shred of its former self, with nothing going on except the slow spread of algae along the concrete floor. The huge wooden ships are still there, tucked away in a corner and growing barnacles by the day.
The whole scene is just really depressing, especially for folks who knew Treasure Island in its glory days.
Throw in an extremely generic rebranding effort—they call it 'TI' nowadays and the old pirate theme has been practically erased from existence—and I just can't think of a good reason to bring your bankroll to Treasure Island these days.
17 – SLS (Soon to be Sahara)
Hotel and casino in oklahoma. Between 1952 and 2013, the SLS of today was a true Las Vegas landmark – the Sahara.
I used to call the Sahara my home away from home whenever I was in Sin City. I have a special affinity for the old digs. That may color my low opinion of SLS, one of the most uninspiring casino resort names I've yet encountered. Supposedly, SLS stands for 'Style, Luxury and Service.' And while that trio of goals is certainly admirable, every casino on The Strip is supposed to offer all three in abundance.
SLS decidedly does not, so much so that many Las Vegas tourists don't even know it's a full-scale casino. Instead, most passersby mistake SLS for one of the few non-casino hotels in The Strip area, so they walk right by without even taking a second look.
Earlier this year, Las Vegas locals and regular visitors alike were thrilled to learn that the SLS would be renovated and rebranded as Sahara Las Vegas, so here's hoping the second edition can blend the old gal's unique charms with a modernized setting down the road.
18 – Luxor
Wash, rinse, and repeat…
And if I'm being honest, I really wish the housekeeping staff at the Luxor lived by that motto more than what I saw.
Yet another retread from the 90s that hasn't tried to keep up with the times, the Luxor is still coasting on its reputation from 25 years ago when it was the hot new property on The Strip. Nowadays, though, the Egyptian theme just feels played out and overdone, while the casino and amenities are barebones affairs throughout.
Remember that full-fledged pirate ship show put on out front in 'Buccaneer Bay' back in the day? Well, if you don't, this was something straight out of Disney or Universal Studios, a swashbuckling adventure show complete with trained actors raiding a ship, fending off cannon fire, and making folks walk the plank.
Cool attractions like that used to be what made The Strip so special, because visitors who didn't come for the gambling could still feel thrills that can't be found anywhere else.
So, I was sorely surprised to find Buccaneer Bay a shred of its former self, with nothing going on except the slow spread of algae along the concrete floor. The huge wooden ships are still there, tucked away in a corner and growing barnacles by the day.
The whole scene is just really depressing, especially for folks who knew Treasure Island in its glory days.
Throw in an extremely generic rebranding effort—they call it 'TI' nowadays and the old pirate theme has been practically erased from existence—and I just can't think of a good reason to bring your bankroll to Treasure Island these days.
17 – SLS (Soon to be Sahara)
Hotel and casino in oklahoma. Between 1952 and 2013, the SLS of today was a true Las Vegas landmark – the Sahara.
I used to call the Sahara my home away from home whenever I was in Sin City. I have a special affinity for the old digs. That may color my low opinion of SLS, one of the most uninspiring casino resort names I've yet encountered. Supposedly, SLS stands for 'Style, Luxury and Service.' And while that trio of goals is certainly admirable, every casino on The Strip is supposed to offer all three in abundance.
SLS decidedly does not, so much so that many Las Vegas tourists don't even know it's a full-scale casino. Instead, most passersby mistake SLS for one of the few non-casino hotels in The Strip area, so they walk right by without even taking a second look.
Earlier this year, Las Vegas locals and regular visitors alike were thrilled to learn that the SLS would be renovated and rebranded as Sahara Las Vegas, so here's hoping the second edition can blend the old gal's unique charms with a modernized setting down the road.
18 – Luxor
Wash, rinse, and repeat…
And if I'm being honest, I really wish the housekeeping staff at the Luxor lived by that motto more than what I saw.
Yet another retread from the 90s that hasn't tried to keep up with the times, the Luxor is still coasting on its reputation from 25 years ago when it was the hot new property on The Strip. Nowadays, though, the Egyptian theme just feels played out and overdone, while the casino and amenities are barebones affairs throughout.
19 – Cosmopolitan
The Cosmopolitan falling this far on my list was surprising even to me. Full disclosure, a particularly nasty front desk agent might've clouded my judgment just a bit.
Relatively new with a 2010 opening date, the Cosmo is all about high-class ambience and elite entertainment. Well, it's supposed to be anyhow…
When I learned that the Cosmo earned the 'Best Hotel in the World' designation by Gogobot in 2013, followed by the Condé Nast Traveller 'Top Hotels in the World' rating in 2015, I was excited to experience this one for the first time.
Unfortunately, the staff here seems to have bought into that status a little too much because they treated little old me like an outcast from the get-go.
Of course, I realize that this could've very well been a one-off deal wherein I encountered the wrong employees on the wrong day. Nonetheless, it's my list and I'm sticking the Cosmo here at #19. Nobody visiting The Strip should feel like they're asking for too much with the exorbitant price points and polished reputation advertised here.
20 – New York New York
One more on the 'it's the ‘90s calling' list, New York New York is a casino so bland and boring they named it twice.
To be fair, nothing at the New York New York is really so awful that I would warn readers to stay away. But on the other hand, nothing here is so worthwhile that I'd recommend a visit either.
Everything from the casino to the accommodations is standard fare – nothing more and nothing less.
But because the NY-NY tends towards the overpriced side of the spectrum, paying a pretty penny for 'nothing special' feels like more of a rip-off than other low-end venues on The Strip.
The only true selling point is how the New York New York provides a fun place for kids to enjoy their time in Las Vegas. A roller coaster and a full-scale arcade complete with carnival games will give the kiddos plenty of opportunities to pass the time.
21 – Excalibur
What can I say about the Excalibur without sounding too harsh?
This medieval castle-themed casino sticks out like a sore thumb, almost like a satirist was asked to render the most ridiculous concoction for gamblers to reside. The whole scene inside is tired and outdated.
Worst Casino In Las Vegas 2020
Unless you have children who are currently in their 'Knights of the Round Table' phase, coming to the Excalibur is a losing proposition for all involved.
Conclusion
Worst Casino In Las Vegas
Hey, you can't win them all, right? Every gambler who makes their way to Las Vegas and tests their luck learns this hard truth early on. It's especially applicable to the seven casinos listed above. These venues suffer from different drawbacks across the board, but the one common thread is a lack of effort.
When you know budget-minded travelers will continue to come, and your operation is strapped for cash in its own right, creating a world-class experience for guests just doesn't come easily. For that reason, I can't really blame these duds for disappointing, but I can also choose to bring my bankroll for The Strip somewhere else.
Worst Casino In Las Vegas Downtown
With more than a dozen competitors out there trying just a little bit harder (or going all out in some cases) to make it worth my while, I just can't find a reason to make repeat trips to these properties a priority.
List Of Casinos In Las Vegas
Check out part four of this series here.
