What's the Gambling Like at the New Virgin?

What's the gambling like at the new Virgin?

This answer was originally published in the May issue of the Las Vegas Advisor. From time to time, we like to answer a question with content direct from LVA to give non-members a peek at the kind of in-depth reporting we do month in and month out for our members.

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On to the gambling at Virgin, which opened in March.

First, the casino is run by the Mohegan Tribe, based in Connecticut and owner-operators of the Mohegan Sun. However, they're not running Virgin as a tribal casino. Rather, they're operating under the umbrella of a publicly traded corporation, Mohegan Gaming Entertainment and the official name of the casino is Mohegan Sun Casino at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. For brevity, we're calling it the Virgin casino.

The blackjack games have various rules depending on the limits. Most are 6 decks, dealer hits soft 17, double allowed after split, resplit aces, and naturals pay 3-2 for a .6% casino edge against basic strategy. Minimums on a recent Thursday evening were $10 on all games. There are better games in High Limit, including a double deck dealt from a shoe, with a .4% casino edge and $100 minimum. We didn’t see any 6-5 games.

Other pit games include Three Card Poker, face-up pai gow poker, Free Bet Blackjack, and midi-baccarat. There’s also a Spanish 21 game.

Craps offers 3X, 4X, and 5X odds and has some rare betting options that you should avoid. One is a trio of modified field bets that include only some of the normal field numbers and have bigger payouts. The casino edge is 16.67% on all three options. These bets also have a “Dealer Envy” component: The dealer gets an auto-toke whenever the bet wins. It’s 20% of the payout, but doesn’t come out of the player win; the house pays it. Why would they do that? Because it incentivizes the dealers to push the bet and there’s enough vig in it to pay the commission. There’s also a complicated bet called a “repeater” that offers high payouts, but has a casino edge in the 18%-22% range, depending on the number. There’s one table of Crapless Craps, which we haven’t seen in Las Vegas in a long
time.

Roulette is double zero. There’s no live keno, bingo, or big six.

The best video poker schedules are 9/7/5 Double Bonus (99.11%) that’s available on the floor for dollars only, while 9/5 Double Double Bonus (97.87%) is the best you’ll find at the bar. Some 9/7 DDB (98.98%) and Airport Deuces (98.91%) for dollars are scattered around, but that’s it. It’s hard to believe that the market won’t force an improvement. The slots are what you’d expect — all the newer high-tech games. Don’t look for Double Diamond here.

The big flashy sports book that was built for Cantor at the Hard Rock is gone. The book is now in a much smaller space that’s supposed to double as an entertainment venue (we don’t see it) and is run by Vegas newcomer BetFred.

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Comments

Kevin Lewis Jul-15-2021

I don't see why...

...the video poker offerings should get any better. This isn't a locals' joint and the target clientele doesn't give a rat's rectum about good VP schedules. The market is drunken nimrods who don't care about the quality of the bets offered. That shows in Virgin offering some of the worst side bets ever seen in craps, and the worst roulette game ever seen, period. Until CET comes up with four-zero roulette, of course.

The only thing I find mildly surprising is the lack of 6:5 blackjack. Everything else is so shitty, though, I'm inclined to believe it's an oversight.

I can't fathom any reason to set foot in this joint.

jeepbeer Jul-15-2021

DDB

9/7 DDB 98.98% maybe you meant 9/6?

Kevin Rough Jul-15-2021

Not surprised

Mohegan Sun Pocono is the closest casino to my house.  I never go there.  While table game rules are set by the state, the comps on table games aren't good.  And the video poker tables are horrible. 7/5 JOB is the norm while they do have have 6/5 JOB.

Diane Crosby Jul-15-2021

Similar question

Similar to today's question -- What are the table games and slots like at the Circa?

O2bnVegas Jul-15-2021

my lack of knowledge

What is "Airport Deuces"?  Thanks.

Candy

Kevin Lewis Jul-15-2021

Airport Deuces

That game is Deuces Wild with a 15-9-4-4 pay schedule. It's identical to NSUD (Not So Ugly Ducks) except for five of a kind paying 15, not 16, and the straight flush paying 9, not 10. I believe it used to be called "Ugly Ducks," which led to the NSUD moniker for the improved game, which returns 99.73% as opposed to Ugly Ducks' 98.91%.

The reason it's called "Airport Deuces" is that not so long ago, it was such a shitty game, you would only find it in airports such as McCarran (long known for having the tightest slots in the universe). Now, it's actually the BEST game you can find in most Vegas casinos, including the Blushing Virgin.

rett98 Jul-15-2021

Virgin Casino

On my last trip in May 21 to Vegas we stopped in Virgin to see what is was like. Initial impressions were good. Variety of slots and denominations. Fresh looking and very bright carpet. Staff informative and responsive. I hasten to add that I may be a bit biased as I got a RF ($1000) on one of the VP machines at the bar. Only played about $20 before winning.

O2bnVegas Jul-15-2021

Thanks

Thank you, Kevin, for educating me about Airport Deuces.

rett98, I suspect most of us feel good about a casino where we've had a hit or two, especially the first time in.  Congrats on the RF!  Also, nice detail what you observed overall at Virgin.

Candy

Jetpilotrick Jul-15-2021

Bar top Slots

I real disappointment after the Hard Rock.  Only one bar with bar top machines.  The Mexican food joint, Casa Calavera, has a huge bar with no machines. VERY disappointing!  Used to spend a lot of time at The Pink Taco enjoying margaritas & chips and playing video poker.  I don’t think after the initial “checking it out”, it’s gonna be a real popular off the strip joint.  I think they’re trying to be too 
Hip.  Unfortunately we won’t be spending a lot of time at the Virgin unlike we did at the HRH.

Ray Jul-15-2021

Stayed there in June

I know the hotel itself has nothing to do with gambling, but we stayed there on our last trip West. Beautiful, and wonderful rooms. As far as gambling, I totally agree about machines (all the new types) VP, (seems like an afterthought, very few, and pay tables mediocre). When asked about the placed, I called it Hard Rock 2.0. They didn't need to be closed that long for all the remodeling if they weren't going to completely change the whole place. And the play seems to be better at the ex-Terribles Silver Sevens.

Robert Dietz Jul-15-2021

Sports Book

I can't believe they wasted the renovation of the sports book and went back to ground zero. I just never understand the seeming renovation for renovation's sake.

I spent considerable time in the Hard Rock over the years. They had some funky sports contests. The old coffee shop off-the-menu steak and shrimp special was great.

Jxs Jul-15-2021

Terrible gambling

The gambling is garbage and I find it hard to believe this place will last long in its current state.  That’s the reason this place is always empty. Not sure what Mohegan Sun was thinking turning it into a generic off strip casino with zero draw to the locals.

Roy Furukawa Jul-16-2021

Award

I think they should get an award for not having any 6:5 BJ with shuffling machines that close to the strip. Strip casinos it's the standard at most tables and I can't believe how many people actually sit at those tables that they might as well just give them their bankroll up front. Of course they can do that at Resorts World by using the cashless system that you have to pay for to use. smh

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Comments