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[Drewm]

So I'm ahead out to Vegas end of July staying at Aria and Mirage total 8 days ...

I have played at bellagio (outside VIP) planning to play vip room this trip...

Aria - I hear it's $200 min table is that right?
Wynn?
C.P.
Etc...
If anybody can share their experience and let me know which property offered good amenities in VIp room I would appreciate it.

[alrelax]

There is no 'best'.  Lots of personality and different aura's---so to say.  I will give you a short run down and all IMO and that of a few others I hang out with in Vegas.  Been there many times and as we already exchanged some PM's you know a couple of my hosts there, mention my name and the one at the Mirage is cool and he always takes care of me very well even if I don't stay there, he always give us $1,000.00 for the 5 $199.00 VIP personal tour escorted for the Secret Garden so the kids can play with the dolphins there, etc. I give other MGM places more play and he doesn't squawk about it and bust my chops. 

Anyways onward:  Here are my thoughts.

Tables are generally 100/10,000 on the strip.  CP/Bellagio/Mirage/Wynn and MGM Grand have the highest limits.  Generally 100/10k, 200/15k,/300/20k, or 300/25k-500/25k.  Some players will request a 1k/25k table to eliminate the wannabe's and the pain in the rear-end smaller players with their VooDoo shannegins, etc.  Tables off strip are generally $50/5k for a norm.  Some places like Red Rock out at the west end are great and beautiful, a little light on bac action but fun to play at, they do have a $100/10k in the high limit room there.  I personally like playing there.

Wynn.  Sucks, I personally hate it.  Susan Savage was my host there and she was there for a long time, she needs to move on---she is a B**ch ad a C**t, pure and simple.  Too many problems there.  Players are always wrong.  Some how the Wynn is super bad luck for baccarat players, I have a few close friends that will not ever go back there either and they never win as well.  Many logistical problems.  Charlie Ward who I knew for some time is now in Macau for his boss Steve Wynn so I really would never step foot on the property.  Among other things, they make you wait for your front money, both at the tables as well as cashing out, they really try a lot of psych stuff to get you pissed off, I really think that is their protocol??? 

Mirage.  They used to have a complete and separate Baccarat room which was right next door to their high limit room.  Now it is consolidated into their HL room which I think was a huge mistake. But it is not my casino, LOL.  I have not played there since they consolidated down.  Used to be lots of old school floor and dealers and very seldom every made a mistake and their attitude was, player is always right, satisfy the player---don't chastise or upset.  They were really laid back and lots of tables always open, lots, but I think it all changed now? Great staff.  All their restaurants suck except for japonis up in the front corner, great Japanese place!  The deli, right on the way in reminds me of being in NYC, but so darn nosiy and small.

T.I.  They keep changing it and they had some great action up until 2014, now might be back to okay??  Small HL and they tries hard.  Had a great host there for a while but he is gone now.  They have a hard time to compete against the Mirage and the B and the others around there.  They could have had something but they continually blow it and I personally think they rather cater to the low roller masses rather than the HL crowds.  There restaurants are pretty good.

Venetian and Palazzo.  They always have a lot of action and I am indifferent to playing there.  I used to have a great host there but he went to Southern California and I never responded to the host that took his place.  I stayed there a few times and although people rave about it there, I rather play elsewhere.  If I win elsewhere, I might pop in the Ven/P., with 5k or 10k and give it a shot for a shoe or two, but the place is too large for me to be comfortable in.

Planet Hollywood.  I used to be a regular player there and loved it.  But then they moved there high limit room from out in the Southwest corner of the place to smack in the middle of the main floor and right next to the s blackjack pussy cat tourist tables.  The HL for a good year had drapes from ceiling to floor, I heard now they have glass walls and they fixed it up some.  They lost most of their players and they had a great crowd of mixed players.  I love the property and their old school steakhouse (non celeb chef!!!) was great.  The Miracle Mile Mall attached is great!  Love it.  Lots of great places to eat and also shop inside.  My host was the director and I got whatever I asked for, they had the mentality there that if a player was a little light on his play---take care of him anyways---he will be back.  They never did nickel and dime like many of the places on the strip with comps. Now is probably a different story, might get back to norm and might not, I don't know??

ARIA and COSMO.  I used to pop in and they never had great action.  The players that went there were usually trying to show off for one reason or another.  Or, they had the younger new money crowd and between their drinking and their cocaine, the bulk of the players were fools.  But I have not been in those two places since Asian New Year of 2015. 

Bellagio.  Great room, great dealers, great private area in the back by the private saloon rooms, etc.  They do have a big 14 person table there and they used to let the players decide if the players took the shoe to deal the cards or if the dealer would Macau style.  Went there for years, my host was there since Steve Wynn built the place and he was top notch, now he is at Aria.  Sometime in late 2014 the Bellagio dealers and floor started to get a bit testy with the players.  Snapping and chastising players.  Not quite rude but not laid back and comfortable.  I don't know why they changed but they did.  Had some great games there and won lots.  Their Cafe Bellagio is probably the best 24/7 cafe on the strip!  Jasmine was our favorite Asian restaurant in a casino. 

C.P.  Hands down my favorite place to play!  Everything about it.  The dealers and floor people are 100% comfortable and experienced.  They stop problems before they happen.  They know what to do and when to do it.  The property is huge and that is a down side.  Takes forever to walk from one end to another.  But as far as playing, great.  Their Chinese place there sucks, they kill everything with sauce, load and loads of sauce.  Their cafe is okay, not bad not great.  Lots of places to eat.  Old Homestead Steakhouse is from NYC and I love it also.  In the HL they will call and ask how much front money or CL you have and then cut out exactly what you want within 30 seconds and put lamers in the commission box as to what went out on 'loan' until the pit clerk can get the proper paperwork ready.  Those are the nice old school touches among many other things.  My favorite place in Vegas.

All the other places like NY-NY, Excalibur, etc., all hit or miss and mostly $100/10k tables in their HL rooms. 

Tropicana. Is trying but it is a small HL with 2 baccarat tables only, might be some action-might not be. Two guys  that ran the Hilton (they used to have loads of the old school action prior to 2009 or so but that's all changed) are there now and they are 'right' and spot-on. They are trying to develop the HL and they are $100/10k, etc.  The cafe is good and their Italian restaurant up on the second floor is great.  I had some pictures posted in my blog from their Italian restaurant, we went their as invited guests back during Asian New Years of 2015.   

Mandalay Bay is hit and miss but has some good action most eve's.  I never stay there but they do have a following. 

Gold Coast and Plaza Station. They have tons of regular players with the majority being Asians.  Probably the most players in baccarat in Vegas.  Plaza station is a step above the Gold Coast.  Both places should still be at $50/5k, might find some $25/2,500/$5k tables. 

Rio. Is okay in their HL, stayed there quite a few times.  They also have 6 or 8 baccarat tables most people play outside of their HL room on the main floor, etc.  Not a bad place, just their hosts are strange and aloof even though they are put of CET, they by themselves, etc. 

Palms and Hard Rock. They have no higher than $5k tables unless you have huge CL's or FM's for some reason there.  They usually have action but the only times I popped in those places was off hours and don't frequent them enough to voice an opinion on them.

MGM Grand.  Huge high limit room.  Too big!  Been there many times, always seems aloof the dealers and the floor people.  Seems as though they barely speak to people.  I have never ever won there and just something about the place that feels like I walk into some huge shopping mall in a third world country, LOL!!!  I know some people that love it and they are Noir card holders and stay in the Mansion, etc.  I just think the players are cold there and not that friendly.  But you might feel different, try it???

SLS.  They have baccarat and they are trying.  I know some hosts there and have not been able to get back to Vegas yet, but I am interested in trying them, heard good things about them from some players that visited their High Limit room, etc.

Golden Nugget (Downtown).  Played there many times.  Yes it is downtown but old school.  The high limit was in the hallway, the same hallway that leads to the pool.  Lots of people walking by.  Had fun there with some players that were truly into the game, friendly and all that.  Not bad.  The table limits are either $50/10k or $100/10k, etc. 

Red Rock.  Out on the west end about 8 or 9 miles west of the strip.  Great property.  Great restaurants.  I love their high limit room and they used to have 2 baccarat tables there, both were $100/10k limits.  They also had a few out on the main floor, etc. Bowling alley has private suites which are over the top for eating and drinking and play bowling with your people or family!!!  Also they have a great movie theater there as well.  A little light on week day action in the baccarat but usually some people playing on weekends and holidays.  Great dealers and floor people, never a problem there.   

Hope that helps.  Again, all subjective and IMO.  But I have not been to Vegas for a little over 1 year now.

[Drewm]

Wow, great information!! When I usually go I never played Bacc there so I just didn't had right info matter fact I really didn't like gambling too much when I was in Vegas lol.. However since I play Bacc in more "serious" way now I will probably will be playing.
Thanks for great info again...

[Smoothie]

alrelax great post 

[VLS]

Wow, great information!!

alrelax great post 

Second & third that 

Thanks for contributing it

[ADulay]

Gotta agree.  Excellent write up.

Thanks.

AD

[from100]

Although will probably never have a chance to be there, I'm very enjoying reading this report!

Thank you Alrelax!

[marinetech]

excellent post. are you still planning on going in july?

[alrelax]

excellent post. are you still planning on going in july?

Trying to, but I have to be there for a business purpose third week of August.  I have a personal injury case there from several years ago and the defendant's attorney's just sent us a subpoena yesterday, so we set the date for the third week of August

[soxfan]

The Golden Nugget has always been my favorite stay and play joint but I do prefer the downtown vibes, hey hey.

[alrelax]

The Golden Nugget has always been my favorite stay and play joint but I do prefer the downtown vibes, hey hey.

Yep.  I got into many an argument with players about actually have been in a high limit room/pit that is smack in the aisle/walkway of a casino.  I love it! 

[alrelax]

Bump.

It goes along with the Mid-Strip and the EZ Bac questions asked lately.

[alrelax]

Actually, the 'BEST'? 

It is where there are at least 3 maybe 4 players that are seasoned to the game and ready to play.  They each have their M.M., Progressions and Holds down well.  They thrive and can capitalize on some good action and they all take their time, talk, and know the point when to pounce on it and when to cash out. They also tune everything out, the floor people, the dealers, the passer-bys, everything. 

That is the 'BEST' bac game and it doesn't matter if it's at The Gold Coast, The B, Planet Hollywood, The Tropicana or Sunset Station. 

[tdx]

If you are thinking of playing bac in vegas, this link may help.


http://wizardofvegas.com/guides/baccarat-survey/

Things constantly change in Vegas so you might call the casino first for the latest info...but the link can be a good head start.

[alrelax]

Lots of mistakes and wrong #'s in the post of WoV, etc. Trop is $10k max.  Wynn $25k max, PH no way 10 tables, Palms clearly $5k, Mirage $20k max, GN had $10k max (they boast always about the only downtown to offer $10k max off the street limits), Caesar's clearly $25k max off the street, and Bellagio $25k max off the street as well.