Analysis
Interestingly, the top three locals casino in our popularity contest were originated by Michael Gaughan, the son of legendary downtown casino mogul Jackie Gaughan. Today, only South Point is a Gaughan property; Boyd Gaming owns and operates the Orleans and Gold Coast now.
Boyd also owns the #4 casino, Sam's Town.
It's no suprise that Red Rock placed as high as it did in the top five; it's the flagship of Station Casinos' fleet.
We watched Ellis hold its own against the major locals casino companies. Early on, it placed third, then dropped to fourth, fifth, and sixth as the big boys edged ahead. Still, sixth place out of nearly 40 for EI is a testament to the strength of its offerings: the bargain steak dinner that's spent decades in the LVA Top Ten, the microbrewery, the barbecue restaurant, Metro Pizza, the fantastic drink coupon in the Member Rewards Book, and good video poker.
We thought the Palms (#9) and the Rio (#10) might've placed a little higher, though they were edged out by Green Valley Ranch (#7) and M Resort (#8), the former in the midst of Henderson and the latter in the fast-growing south end of the valley.
Station Casinos took six out of the next 11 places, giving it eight out of the top 21 finishers.
The rest of the locals casinos, from Aliante to Silver Sevens, from Jerry's Nugget to Klondike Sunset, have their fans, though not so much among the voters for this poll.
As for feedback from respondents, only four people wrote in -- all four about joints that we left off the list of choices, inadvertently (Emerald Island) or because we considered them too far off the beaten track:
"I visit Las Vegas 2-3 times each year, and often get a rental car. When I do, I always spend at least one day touring the county's local's places. I love going to the Hoover Dam (usually just to walk across and/or across the bridge), then on the way back, stop at various places along Boulder Highway. My favorite place to stop, Railroad Pass, isn't on your poll list! There's a certain charm to the small local casinos that the big Strip casinos, and even the smaller downtown casinos, are too big to match. A particular favorite feature of the small local's places are the times when I go to the cage to cash out totals as low as $300, and the cage girl has to call the pit before paying me."
"How could you have Eldorado and Rainbow and not have Emerald Island?? That place is always packed and the have a ton of Konami machines!! The. Ace is pretty good too!!"
"My favorite 'locals' casino is Virgin River Hotel & Casino, Mesquite."
"It's not a locals casino, perhaps, but we always stop at Buffalo Bill's in Primm. The kids love to ride the roller coaster and other thrill rides while the wife shops at the outlet mall. Me, I get a thrill from the Vault motion simulators."
This was the last poll in which the feedback needed to be emailed and copied/pasted in the analysis. From now on, you can add your comments in the boxes at the bottom of the page. Indeed, you can do so on this poll and we always welcome your comments.
The next poll is scheduled for this Wednesday April 5.
