Gambling: The Lifeblood of Las Vegas
I'm not going to suggest what games to play or where to play them. Everyone seems to have their own opinions about what makes a good game or good place to play. I will suggest some ways you might improve your returns, however.
Lot's of people have opinions this subject. I do too, but I don't want to go there. I will just touch on a couple of points that affect you as a Las Vegas resident. First, if you are against gambling in general, perhaps Las Vegas is not the best city for you. The revenue from the casinos is what makes the city possible. Some of the benefits of gambling are low taxes, above average services, and a vast number of good paying jobs. Second, if you have an addictive personality, use caution. I know a couple of people whose lives have been seriously damaged by a gambling addiction.
If you have moved, or are planning a move to Las Vegas, I will take it on faith you know a bit about gambling. You are, after all in a city that offers more gambling and betting services than anyplace on earth. There are many great books and internet sites (and a larger number of bad ones) on all aspects of betting. I will not duplicate their efforts here. Instead, I will just touch on some key points, so you may have a better chance of being a winner.
The best gambling strategies all focus on games you can win over the long haul. Yes, there are some. Really. It's requires a huge amount of study, and a great understanding of the game you choose, but it can be done. If you really want to see if you can make money gambling, stick to these. Poker: The house doesn't care if you win at poker, because the house isn't the one who pays you. They take their cut as a rake or time charge while you play. It's the money from the other players, minus the house cut, that goes to the winner. If you want to be a consistent winner, you must not only be better than your opponents, you must be good enough to overcome the take out. In tournaments, made popular by the explosion of coverage on TV, the house charges an entrance fee to cover their costs. For example, I sometimes play in a small tournament that has a $100 entry fee. My total cost is $115, with the $15 going to the casino. Sports betting: This is another situation where the money won is provided by the other bettors after the casino takes it's cut of the handle (total amount bet). You have to be very good at picking to overcome this. Many years ago I actually made money for part of a year betting horses. So why did I stop? It was a grind. I spent seven or eight hours a day studying statistics, and making selections. If I missed a day, it took twice as long the next day. And that didn't count time at the track or OTB. Blackjack: If you have the mind for it, you can give yourself a very small advantage in blackjack. Three people I know did very well this way. The problem is that the casinos are free to bar you, if they think you are counting cards. All three are barred. Offsetting that, playing a good basic strategy will keep the casino's edge quite small. Video Poker: There are a few (very few) video poker machines in Las Vegas that pay out more than 100%. Using the correct playing strategy, you should be able to win over the long term. I have yet to meet anyone who has done so.
All other casino games. I don't care what books you see, or systems you try that claim you can make millions on roulette, or retire by picking keno numbers according to their plan. It ain't gonna happen. All those two billion dollar hotels displaying hundreds of millions in fine art, didn't get built because somebody slipped up in their math. The odds at all games, other than those mentioned above, are in favor of the house. They range from fairly small (about .18% if you can find 10x odds at the craps table) to truly astounding (about 40% in some keno games).
Although the edge is much smaller at the craps table, the action is very fast. You could easily burn through several hundred dollars in a few minutes if your luck runs bad. On the other hand, you could spend a nice relaxing afternoon playing keno, and spend far less, even if you didn't win at all. ...or you could play poker.
The casinos in Las Vegas are very strict about minors. The legal gambling age in Nevada is 21 years old. You must have a valid current picture ID. A recent visitor from New York did not renew his driver's license before leaving. It expired on his 21st birthday. Although bartenders were willing to accept it, it was no good on the gaming floor. If you are going to play regularly at any one casino, or casino chain, sign up for the player's card. Although not heavy gamblers, my wife and I have enjoyed many free meals over the years just from playing poker. There are other benefits as well. The points can usually be used in the casino shops to buy just about anything. You will also receive notice of special events, and discounts offered. Some of the discounts are quite good. At least one local casino chain allows you to use your points for slot play, which, I suppose, is one way to get their money back. Good Luck!
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