Frommer's Las Vegas 2004

THE CASINOS 227
The Rio All Suite Hotel & Casino This Brazilian-themed resort’s 85,000-
square-foot casino is, despite the presence of plenty of glitter and neon, very
dark. It has about the highest claustrophobia rating of the major casinos
and seems very dated these days. Its sports book feels a little grimy. The waitresses
wear scanty costumes (particularly in the back), probably in an effort to
distract you and throw your game off (all the more now that they are adding
“Bev-entertainment”—those poor waitresses are going to have to burst into song
and/or dance in between delivering your beer). Do not let them. The part of the
casino in the Masquerade Village is considerably more pleasant (the very high
ceilings help), though still crowded, and the loud live show here adds even more
noise. In the high-end slot area ($5–$100 a pull), guests enjoy a private lounge
and gratis champagne. There are nonsmoking slot and gaming table areas. The
Rio participates in the Harrah’s Total Rewards players club, allowing gamers to
earn points toward meals, cash back, rooms, and more that can be used at any
Harrah’s-owned casino. 3700 W. Flamingo Rd. & 702/252-7777.
TI at the Mirage We really loved it when this place was a casino set in Disneyland’s
Pirates of the Caribbean—or so it seemed. It doesn’t seem like a big
deal, the loss of those pirate chests dripping gold, jewels, and skulls with eye
patches, but with the removal of the theme, this is now just a very nice casino.
But it is that, so you should come here. Players Club members can earn points
toward meals, services, show tickets, and cash rebates at any of the MGM
MIRAGE hotels, including The Mirage, MGM Grand, and more.
There are nonsmoking gaming tables in each pit. A race and sports book boasts
state-of-the-art electronic information boards and TV monitors at every seat, as
well as numerous large-screen monitors. 3300 Las Vegas Blvd. S. & 702/894-7111.
The Venetian “Tasteful” is the watchword in these days of classy Vegas gaming,
and consequently, with the exception of more hand-painted Venetian art
re-creations on parts of the ceiling, The Venetian’s casino is interchangeable with
those found at Mandalay Bay, the Monte Carlo, and to a certain extent, Bellagio.
All that gleaming marble, columns, and such is very nice, but after a while it’s also
a bit ho-hum. Besides, this is Vegas, and we want our tacky theme elements, by
gosh. The lack thereof, combined with poor signage, may be why this casino is
so hard to get around—every part looks exactly the same. It’s not precisely claustrophobic,
but it can be confusing. Plus, there is no (at this writing) giant slot
machine. On the other hand, we made a killing at blackjack and my editor struck
it rich at the slots, so we have to love the place for those reasons. Another (less
personal) plus is that you can access the casino directly from the St. Mark’s Square
re-creation out front. The smoke-sensitive report that the ventilation system here
seems to be tops. 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. S. & 702/414-1000.
NORTH STRIP
Circus Circus This vast property has three full-size casinos that, combined,
comprise one of the largest gaming operations in Nevada (more than 100,000
sq. ft.). More importantly, they have an entire circus midway set up throughout,
so you are literally gambling with trapeze stunts going on over your head. The
other great gimmick is the slot machine carousel—yep, it turns while you spin
the reels. The Mandalay Resorts “One Club” offers slot/video-poker and table
players the opportunity to earn points redeemable for cash, discounted rooms
and meals, and other benefits at Circus or any of the sister properties such as