why so much negativity towards the locals casinos?

My guesses as to the reason there is resentment against local casinos:

1. Most locals have a few acquaintances who have gambling problems, and they've viewed up close the lives and families that have suffered because of gambling. Often the bad guy in that equation: locals casinos.

2. Locals tend to adopt particualar casinos, make friends there, and regard themselves almost like family. And when the local casino downgrades their offerings, as most have, they don't view it as a business decision. They feel jilted, and take it personally.

Wow...I guess if I were a local I might have a different point of view. But as a visitor from the east coast, I love the locals casinos. This first time my wife and I went to LV we stayed downtown for the inexpensive rooms. While there we visited the Orleans (a locals casino I was told) as we saw it in many of the Travel Channel shows about LV. We loved the place. A few years later when we were taking the kids to the Grand Canyon with a couple of days stay in LV, we stayed at the Orleans and had a ball. A little more than a year and a half ago when my wife and I were going to LV for our 25th anniversary, she wanted to go back to the Orleans. As it was our 25th, I wanted to stay in a nicer place on the strip. We compromised and did three nights at the Orleans and then followed that up with three nights at the Bellagio. As nice as the Bellagio was, the truth is we enjoyed ourselves more at the Orleans. We were treated better, taken better care of, and, even though we're not anywhere near what you would consider high rollers, they comped us our entire stay, and, over a year and a half later, my room next month for me and two friends from work is comped along with a room credit for food. As an infrequent visitor I can't complain how I am treated by a locals casino. I could imagine that if I lived there and was in the casino on a regular basis and saw a drop off in how I was treated I might think differently.

since most people have casinos closer to their home now, why in the world would anyone fly to Vegas just to go to the locals casinos? I have been to some of them, Sams Town, Orleans, M, Red Rock, Silverton..I can get the same experience spending about $10 in gas round trip.

Karen - I appreciate your point, but as a table player on a budget, why would I travel to Vegas and stay at a place where the average minimum bet is 3x - 5x higher than another place that comps me? I come to vegas to golf, drink, see shows, and gamble. If I can do all of these things for less cost, why stay at some place like the Bellagio?

Sometimes I want to stay somewhere quieter without the glitz and crowds of the strip. Also, I disconnect better when I go out of town for 2 nights. The beds at Red Rock are super comfy and the rooms have large soaking tubs. There are excellent resorts, hotels, spas and casinos in my backyard. I relax better when I go out of town.

I think Joe and Sue nailed this one. I used to go to Vegas and stay on the strip at mid-level properties with good room offers. Now being laid-off twice in this economy I haven't been out in almost 5 years. I really didn't enjoy the local casinos that much. I never stayed there just visited for a coupon or out of curiosity. I went to Vegas for vacation.(sight seeing , shows and ofc some gambling)

I get a rental car for this very reason...it allows me to gamble and eat at the locals places which are better on the wallet...while also allowing me to see the sights and shows on the strip. Does the money I save from going to the locals places pay for the rental car? I dunno. Probably not - but it makes me feel better. Plus I just like exploring the city.

from your list, the shows are about the only thing I can't do at home. And if I were of the "I haven't set foot on the strip in 10 years" set. most shows would be off the table as well.

what does some place like Sam's town, for example, have to offer me for my vacation that makes it worth paying airfare vs getting in the car and driving for an hour. btw, I have plenty of $5 3:2 BJ, $5 craps and 9/6 JoB within an hour's drive

Your gambling joints chronicle the Western pioneer experience?

Mystic Falls Park

"Take a leisurely stroll in the park day or night in Mystic Falls Park at Sam's Town. The sound of a rolling waterfall compliments the soft chirping of birds in live trees reaching up toward the skylight ten stories above.

Suddenly, the serenity is interrupted with the urgency of a wolf's call howling from atop the waterfall. It's the beginning of Sunset Stampede. The mountain in the Mystic Falls Indoor Park comes alive as the Sunset Stampede chronicles the Western pioneer experience with music, lights and animation.

Fountains shoot eight stories into the air and the waters dance in the lights to a symphonic score recorded especially for Sam's Town by the Indianapolis Philharmonic Orchestra. "

yeah....I'd pay $400 round trip to see that.