Tuesday, September 24, 2024

Is Vegas Losing Its Affordability?

 

                                                                    Bellagio 


Reading the comments from the band of ‘Green Day’ the lead singer trashed Vegas .I can definitely understand why an Oakland Raiders fan would be upset. That being said, I personally enjoy Vegas.However, having been going there since the late '80s, I've noticed a significant increase in prices. While I understand the impact of inflation, Vegas seems to take it to a whole new level.

Their rooms and comps are still competitive compared to other hotels, but the prices for everything else have skyrocketed.It's crazy to think that a poolside alcoholic drink can cost $38. Food prices are also significantly higher than in other destinations, making it a more expensive vacation overall.

Even if you're lucky enough to have everything comped, you're still gambling your money away. I understand the reasoning behind removing buffets due to food waste, but it catered to those on a budget. It seems like corporations are becoming increasingly greedy, prioritizing profit over customer satisfaction.

My last trip cost me $1000 per day, which is comparable to any other high-end resorts in the U.S. Vegas used to be a more affordable vacation destination, but that's no longer the case.

What’s your take on Vegas ? 

Vegas Reviews 





Monday, September 23, 2024

Bellagio Las Vegas: A Symphony of Luxury and Entertainment - Past and Present

 


Bellagio Las Vegas: A Symphony of Luxury and Entertainment




My recent stay at the Bellagio Las Vegas was nothing short of spectacular. It’s my third stay ! From the moment I stepped into the grand lobby, I am always captivated by the opulent ambiance and breathtaking “Fiori Di Como” designed by glass-blower Dale Chihuly featuring delicate transparent flowers with an array of colours. It goes without saying, the iconic fountains , choreographed to music, all in unison, will keep you mesmerized to the end ; it’s indeed a sight to behold. 






Of course Bellagio is not complete without mentioning the stunning Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. This indoor oasis is a testament to the hotel's commitment to creating a unique and immersive experience for its guests. The Conservatory is transformed four times a year to reflect the seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. Each seasonal display is a masterpiece of floral artistry, featuring thousands of plants, flowers, and intricate decorations.





The hotel's accommodations were equally impressive. My room was spacious, elegantly appointed, and offered stunning views of the Strip. The luxurious bedding ensured a restful night's sleep. The Bellagio's amenities were top-notch, with a world-class spa and fitness centre. 





We Indulge in an Italian-inspired experience at the Bellagio Pool Oasis. The newly renovated pool courtyard, modelled after the majestic Palladian villas of Italy, offers a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of Las Vegas. 





Dining at the Bellagio was a culinary adventure. We were fortunate to indulged in exquisite Italian cuisine at Lago by Chef Julian Serrano, as he’s retiring soon and closing his restaurant. I can honestly say we savoured the steaks at Prime Steakhouse, most specifically the 18 Oz Bone-in Ribeye. Prime truly rivals any other steakhouse in Las Vegas. They were truly exceptional. We also enjoyed a romantic view of the fountains while indulging at  Yellowtail Japanese Restaurant , offering a culinary journey that seamlessly blends traditional Japanese flavours. Their innovative dishes are a testament to their commitment to pushing the boundaries of modern Japanese cuisine.






Beyond the hotel's luxurious offerings, the Bellagio's location was ideal for exploring the Las Vegas Strip. Anyone familiar with Vegas, knows it’s within walking distance of numerous attractions, including the T-Mobile Arena, the High Roller, and close proximity to The Cosmopolitan and Caesars Palace.






In conclusion, our stay at the Bellagio Las Vegas was once again an unforgettable experience. The hotel's exceptional service, luxurious accommodations, and world-class amenities made it a truly special destination. I highly recommend the Bellagio to anyone seeking a luxurious and unforgettable getaway in Las Vegas.


Travelling Chef Bari

My wife and I have gone to Bellagio since 2010 - below and photos from then to now …Showcase your photos of Bellagio too ! 































Thursday, June 20, 2024

Vegas Slots Players Advantage - Slots Strategies

 

Hey there ! Traveling Chef Bari here. As my followers all know, I love everything Vegas ; it’s indeed my home away from home and helps me relax. 




In my blog today I’m going to talk about gambling and how it can be in your advantage if you play responsibly. Be it in Vegas or your hometown. That being said, we all know Las Vegas has up to 40 million visitors per year ; therefore the odds of winning in their casinos are better than in your home turf, due to the amount of players per machine. 

Nevertheless, before I talk about Gambling You must be aware of this disclaimer which I borrowed from Eric.

Disclaimer: 

This channel is intended for entertainment purposes only. Gambling can be addictive and may lead to financial, social, or psychological harm. We strongly advise viewers to gamble responsibly and within their means. If you believe you have a gambling problem, seek help from a qualified professional. This channel does not promote or encourage real-money gambling and is not responsible for any consequences that may arise from such activities. Viewers must be of legal gambling age in their jurisdiction and should be aware of their local gambling laws and regulations. Any information shared on this channel is for informational purposes only. 





Jackpot Judo 

Most recently I follow Jackpot Judo ; the creator, Eric, lives in southern USA and like most of us was having a hard time winning at the casinos , be it Vegas or home turf. That being said, frustrated from his losses, he began to do a ton of research on how to be a “smarter player”. In little time Eric became a successful responsible gambler with his winnings by “ Building his Bankroll “ first and moving on to high-limit slot machines. 


He decided to put his experience ( in real time ) on YouTube, showcasing his losses vs winnings, branding his YouTube Channel, “Jackpot Judo “ sharing with his followers (like me) as the Judo Family. Believe it or not, he now walks out of the casino with more winnings vs losses.  Not everyone is as kind as Eric is ; his goal is to share his experiences with Judo Family and having live “Meets and Greets” plus “group pulls” ( where everyone pitches in and then divide any winnings , if there is any ) . 


Eric is super kind and truly is the real deal , explaining and showcasing his real-time experiences at the Casinos. Due to his real time win and lose approach,  the Judo Family has increasingly grown with successful group wins since he first appeared on his YouTube Channel with over 86 thousand viewers. He’s indeed up there and a well notable Influencer throughout the slot gambling community. 


Most importantly he explains his strategies to help you give that edge on gambling. 


His strategy works with these key points   :

  1. Have a strict Payroll Budget ; once your lose that budget leave the Casino, no matter what. 
  2. Set a “ Real-Time” limit where you leave that slot machine. For example: you walk away after winning $50 to $100 ( preferably double your winnings) leave that slot machine and move on to next. 
  3. Look for only 3 Line , 5 Line , 5 credit max slot machines . ( Just so you know the Casinos purposely don’t have many. The Casinos rely on High Volatility Progressive Slot Machines and a ton of penny machines, where the casino simply makes ton of money from these kind). 
  4. The key is to find the 3 Line , 5 Line , 5 credit max slot machines ; all are low volatility with low payback, meaning they give back but smaller denominations ( denoms) . 
  5. With these lower payback it gives the player a small advantage and helps in “ building your bankroll “ . 
  6. If you’re lucky enough you can build up to $1000 on lower denoms. 
  7. IF you find your slot machine is giving out “dead spins”, meaning no winnings of any kind, move to next slot machine. You will know after 6 - 10 spins. 
  8. Only play with money you are willing to lose. Think of it as “Entertainment Money” where you know the outcome is losing all your entertainment money. 
  9. If you don’t have any entertainment money — stay away from the Casinos!
  10. NEVER EVER borrow money to play in the Casino ! 
  11. There isn’t any such a thing as  “quick rich “ schemes. Keep that in mind when playing in the casino. Remember- it’s gambling and the house ( casino) always has the advantage.
  12. Most importantly— PLAY RESPONSIBLY.



Ok. Now that you have a handle on what to do and NOT TO DO , below gives the favourite slots to play and the important strategies that may be in your cards for possible ( hopefully) success. Remember the casino has the upper hand and it is gambling. If you can’t afford to gamble, DO NOT GAMBLE! 




Vegas Slots 

Building Bankroll Slots : 


Look for 3 Line , 5 Line , 5 credit max slot machines. 


( Play $0.25 cents  X 5 = $1.25 max bet ( watch the bet lines and play only 5 X ) using $100 

OR

$1 denomination/ $5 max Bet  MAX BET can’t go past 5 Lines ; using $300 


First goal is to double your $100 / do not go under $100; if unsuccessful try another slots to do the same thing until you double your bet. Keep doubling until you reach $600 - $1000 ( preferably) 


IF you don’t get any kickbacks in a slot machine after 10 revolutions move onto the next one *


Put away half of your winnings and don’t touch it.


Head over to higher demos where you begin to “Chase Your Jackpot “ once you reach over $1000 


Watch for these SLOTS below 👇


Wild Red 7’s

Triple Hot 7’s

Diamond Jackpots 

Black Diamond 

Crystal Stars 

Blazing Gem

Black Diamond Platinum 

Mega Meltdown ( or Total )


Pinball


JACKPOT CHASING SLOTS ( After you build your bankroll) 


MUST HAVE AT LEAST $500 - $3000 Bankroll to attempt these slots 

Ideally $25 x2 denominations when Trying to hit Jackpot / $10 x 2 denominations on $500 Bankroll 


(Using $10 denominations and up x 2 ) ONLY 2 credit machines ! 

Low Volatility 

Double Diamond Deluxe 

Triple Stars

Top Dollar

Pinball

Medium to High Volatility 

Thunder cash

Eagle Box 

Grand Dragon 

Cleopatra Two

If you can find a single credit max bet machine ( $10 and up to $50 single bet ) 


Always Always Always : 

Use Players Cards when gambling ( they give points / comps / reward play, tier credits / etc)

Make sure bet high enough to play those progressive games ( ALWAYS PLAY THE BONUS ) 

Always Play the Highest Progressive Bonus Game *

Don’t forget to always do one or two back up Spins , (back to back spins after a win) 


PAY ATTENTION TO SLOT MACHINES WITH A “ MUST HIT BY” if it’s up — PLAY IT !

For example: ( Must hit by $500 - metre is at $450 and higher ) 


REMEMBER YOU ARE GAMBLING: The HOUSE ( Casino) has the edge and no matter how we try to win , the house always wins in the end. 





MATH OF SLOT MACHINES 


  • The Math behind a Slot Machine ( RNG )


First and foremost it’s all about RNG ( Random Number Generator) meaning on each spin the machine is generating ( cycling ) 1000’s upon 1000’s of random numbers per millisecond. 


The random numbers coincides with the virtual reel strip  you actually see ; example 7 7 7 or 🍒 🍒 🍒




Once you push the button, the random number has already been selected .  The machine is designed to tease you as if it’s going to hit on the jackpot, but rarely does. 


There are LOW VOLATILITY SLOT MACHINES and HIGH VOLATILITY SLOT MACHINES. 


LOW VOLATILITY SLOT MACHINES have a higher percentage ; such as 89 - 94 % 


HIGH VOLATILITY SLOT MACHINES have a lower percentage ; such as 75 - 83 %


That being said each machine is designed to even out to make sure the percentages are even out throughout the life of the machine. So that’s where you may hit a JACKPOT in a high volatility game and a nice smaller handpay in a low volatility game. 


Low volatility games generally gives out small sums ; however in “High Limit” room they will give out a descent Handpay.  


High volatility games have a long period of DEAD SPINS before they hit a reasonable JACKPOT or LARGE HANDPAY  ( Like the cartoon slots ; example: Piggies Game. 






Conclusion: 


Overall, you must understand that whatever amount of money you plan to play with at the casino, the chances are extremely high you will lose that money. Keep that in mind . Never play with money you can NOT afford to lose. 


Nevertheless, there’s that one chance you may come out winning. When you do win it’s the best feeling and you know how lucky you are. For every 20 players playing the same low volatility slot machine, only one player will come out with a successful win. Unfortunately, that one player didn’t maximize his winnings by playing max bet. 


On good days, every 200 players playing high volatility slot machine, only one will come out with any kind of winnings. Sometimes a HIGH VOLATILITY SLOT MACHINE won’t win anything for months. 

So, once again, the Casinos are far ahead when it comes to winning; Las Vegas won $8.9 billion at their casinos in 2023.  


Hope you enjoyed my latest blog on gambling and I am grateful to find Eric on his Jackpot Judo Channel and appreciate his strategies towards a better possible outcome. 


Please play responsibly.


And have fun ! 


Vegas Reviews 


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