What constitutes one casino being "better" than another has been the subject of debate for years in articles, chat rooms, and man-to-man discussions. There’s really no way to definitively choose a best casino—or even determine if one is better than another—for everyone, because different people value different things to varying degree. The author of this question apparently considers gambling odds to be the most important factor in ranking casinos. However, someone else might place a higher value on the plushness of the hotel rooms, the restaurant selection, the show options, the club and pool scenes, or the shopping, to name a few.
Muddying things further, making these comparisons, even within their respective categories, involves a lot of subjectivity, not to mention additional levels of opinion and utility. While one guy might think the sushi at MGM’s Shibuya is superior to the Orleans’ Koji, another isn’t so sure and definitely can’t justify paying three times as much at the former (while a third doesn’t even like sushi).
And even though a comparison of gambling odds appears to be cut-and-dried, there are different considerations for different players. Yes, if you’re specifically comparing 25¢ or $1 video poker schedules at MGM and Orleans, then Orleans is clearly the better choice. But that doesn’t mean that players who want to gamble at higher levels will also find their best options at Orleans (and they almost certainly won’t). Same when you consider the nuances involved in playing higher-stakes table games. So choosing a better choice in general isn’t something that can be accomplished with complete accuracy. But when the question is more specific, it’s easier to make assumptions and assign values. Here’s the answer to your question.
The reference in the QoD was made in connection to comps for sports bettors and makes the assumption that the best way to rate them is by their value in the marketplace. If the market price of a room or a meal at one place is greater than at another, then that’s ostensibly the more valuable comp. Rooms, meals, shows, etc. are typically cost more in the marketplace at MGM than at the Orleans, and it also takes more action to get them. Hence, MGM is rated above the Orleans or a similar Coast (Boyd) property within this context.
NOTE: Sports-betting expert Frank B answered the original question on 9/6/14 and Las Vegas Advisor members can read it in the QoD Archives. Non-members can access similar information on many sports-gambling subjects at LVASports.com, which Frank B oversees.
