Virgin Joins the Near-Strip Value Gambling Boom in Las Vegas

_{Virgin Hotels Las Vegas has improved its gambling rules and odds while dropping the minimum bet for blackjack. (Photo courtesy of Visit Las Vegas)} 

Virgin Hotels Las Vegas is joining other near-strip casinos with improved gambling rules and returns. Over the past year, the casino has upgraded returns on some games while lowering the minimum bet on others.

Changes to the casino at Virgin started last year, after Mohegan Sun parted ways with the property that occupies the space of the former Hard Rock Hotel & Casino at Harmon Avenue and Paradise Road, just over a mile east of the Cosmopolitan and Planet Hollywood.

Slots, video poker, blackjack and craps have all seen improvements since Virgin opened in 2021. While Strip casinos continue to tout new high-limit slot rooms, Virgin joins a host of nearby casinos with lower limits and fair gaming rules.

New & Improved Gambling at Virgin

Virgin’s casino got off to a bumpy start when it opened with Mohegan Sun operating the casino. While an outside operator isn’t inherently bad, the property didn’t seem as focused on gambling as it did on not being “your grandfather’s hotel,” a campaign aimed at youthful exuberance.

As we heard frequently at G2E, casino operators are always fighting a battle between keeping existing guests happy while also being attractive to new ones. During “The Two-Lane Guest Strategy” session, panelists lamented that it can take 12 to 18 months for research decisions to hit the casino floor.

The changes at Virgin could be on that timeline. The casino now offers:

• Alll 3:2 blackjack
• $5 blackjack 24/7
• 98% returns on some slots*
• 10x odds on craps
• 100% returns on some video poker*

While all blackjack games pay 3:2, not all have a $5 minimum bet. Check the placard at the table. The slot and video poker returns being promoted are only for those specific machines.

There are a couple of caveats for the machine games. Similar to blackjack, video poker returns require perfect play. Every misplayed hand reduces the return to players. This is still a better place to start than a game with a 96% return.

Slot machines that have a progressive jackpot or pay more for a max bet require that wager for the promoted returns. For example, the 100% return on the $1 machine in the video above requires a three-credit, or $3, bet. This rule generally applies to classic reel slots and progressives, but many newer video slots offer the same return percentage at every bet size. Changing denominations is a different story.

Regardless of the nuance for the machine games, it’s great to see more casinos improve their gambling. Virgin is a legitimate contender for anyone looking for cheap gambling with fair rules without straying too far from the Strip.

Finding its Place Off the Strip 

Sometimes it takes a while for casinos to find their way. The Cosmopolitan was open for about five years before turning a profit. It’s now part of the MGM Resorts family and one of the most popular casinos in Las Vegas.

Every casino is different, and sometimes plans have to be modified to attract guests. Virgin is in the middle of that process now. Will it work? Time will tell.

After taking over the casino the first major change made was introducing its own loyalty program, Cherry Rewards. This was its first swing at focusing on local guests, a move that can be felt throughout the property.

While tourists may pay more for hotel rooms and dining, locals can keep the casino and some moderately priced restaurants busy with daily deals like happy hour when fewer tourists are around.

Virgin Now Offers Near-Strip Value

More than ever, near-Strip casinos are finding themselves catering to two different guests depending on the day. They cater to the local player daily while tourists mainly visit during the weekend.

Leaving the Strip doesn’t always mean a long trip. These casinos are about a five-minute ride away. Round-trip travel should be 10 to 15 minutes. For comparison, that’s how long a one-way ride to downtown casinos around the Fremont Street Experience takes. That’s a bigger chunk of travel time for someone only in town for a weekend.

Ellis Island, around the block from Horseshoe, is one of the closest near-Strip casinos. The casino has a history of great gambling and low prices even after expanding and upgrading the property.

Oyo, AKA Palette Las Vegas, is the closest to the Strip, doesn’t require a ride since it’s just across the street from MGM Grand. The casino also offers $5 3:2 blackjack.

On the other side of the Strip, Palms and Rio have been offering 3:2 blackjack for more than a year. Palms has a different culture than most Vegas casinos if you haven’t been in a while.

A host of near-Strip casinos like Palace Station offer fair gambling along with cheap eats and drinks.

One of the great things about Las Vegas is the casino options. Everyone has their favorite type of Vegas vacation.

There’s something to be said for the grandeur of Vegas Strip casinos, but sometimes the day calls for a little gambling and cheap eats, and that can be found a few minutes away.

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