John Mehaffey
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Articles by John Mehaffey
Primm Valley Resort Reopening Casino and Hotel Guide
Primm Valley Resort is back. Just 17 days after Terrible’s acquired the three Primm casino properties, the company reopened this casino, hotel, and sportsbook while beginning a larger effort to restore the long-neglected destination. Vegas Advantage visited Primm Valley Resort on reopening day, toured the property, and stayed overnight to evaluate the hotel and casino. A video preview is available at the end of this article.
Cheapest Las Vegas Table Game Casinos
Las Vegas has table game pit minimums for every budget. The cheapest live game is $2 double zero roulette at Jerry’s Nugget. The most expensive tables start in the tens of thousands in exclusive salons. Vegas Advantage covers all 68 casinos in the Las Vegas market that deal live table games. This data was used to determine the casinos with the cheapest Las Vegas table games. The information also helped determine the most expensive Las Vegas casinos for pit games.
Cricket - New Zealand's resilience and grit sinks England
By John Mehaffey NOTTINGHAM, England, June 29 (Reuters) - New Zealand demonstrated again on Monday the resilience and grit which make them such redoubtable opponents by defeating England by 160 runs in the third test despite being without two of the match winners from the side who levelled the series last week.
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Virgin Hotels Las Vegas Upgrades Games and Adds Locals Perks
Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, at the intersection of East Harmon Avenue and Paradise Road, made several player-friendly changes while adding many perks for locals. The moves improved several gaming offerings, while giving locals specials on drinks, food, hotel rooms, and more. Virgin joined the growing number of Las Vegas casinos with $5 blackjack. While this game is common in that neighborhood, Virgin offers two features that nearby casinos mostly do not.
Mesquite, Nevada Casino Guide
US Casino Advantage visited Mesquite, Nevada, on April 16, 2026. These are the live table games, electronic table games, and the best video poker we found at Eureka, Virgin River, and Casablanca. Mesquite is about 80 miles northwest of downtown Las Vegas. It is on the last few exits before the northwest corner of Arizona along I-15. Live table games start at $5. No Mesquite casinos have high-limit tables. Electronic table games in Mesquite include a selection of Interblock games.
Las Vegas Table Game Minimum Bets Increased 76% Since 2020
Players noticed major table game inflation in the years since 2020. Vegas Advantage has continuously tracked Las Vegas table game conditions since 2011, with recurring in-person surveys across every casino offering live table games. Our proprietary data proves what players have reported during the 2020s. Las Vegas table game minimum bets have increased at a rate far exceeding inflation at most casinos. Over 90% of Las Vegas casinos have increased minimum bets during that time.
Poker Table Game Variants: The Basics & What to Know
Poker table games have some of the lowest minimum bets in a casino. With the explosion of 6:5 blackjack and the disappearance of many craps tables, these table games have become a great option for players looking for value. However, there are several key points to keep in mind, including the requirement of needing more than the posted minimum in most cases to complete a hand. When a baccarat or roulette table has a posted minimum bet, that is exactly the lowest amount the player can wager.
Las Vegas Casinos Are Loosening Up Games
It is no secret that Las Vegas had a slow year in 2025. Visitation is down. Many issues are causing the decline. The one that gets talked about most is the decline in value at Las Vegas casinos, especially on the Strip. Many casinos have listened to these concerns and have acted on them. Total Access Club and Vegas Advantage Super Fan members had access to this article before publication.
How to Avoid Video Poker Handpays at the $2000 W-2G Minimum
The IRS will increase the W-2G minimum from $1,200 to $2,000 on January 1, 2026. Thereafter, the IRS claims it will raise the threshold annually with inflation. This changed the games that may be played without worrying about a tax form in 2026 and beyond. Casinos may need more time to adjust to the new rules. Others may intentionally keep the handpay at $1200 to encourage slop attendant tips, while not issuing a W-2G.
Blackjack Variants: Alternatives That Shake Up the Game
Blackjack is the most popular casino table game. About half of all tables are blackjack. These games can have a variety of rules within a casino, including the number of decks used, whether the dealer hits or stands on soft 17, if surrender is offered, and the number of times aces may be split. Players looking for options beyond these have other choices at many casinos that offer blackjack variants. Some are just a little different than a typical game, while others drastically change the rules.
ZorkFest 2025 Casino Comp Maximization and Video Poker Class
Vegas Advantage is excited to announce that we will host a video poker and casino comps presentation at ZorkFest 2025. The event will be held at M Resort in Henderson, Nevada, from December 5-7. The Vegas Advantage Casino Comp Maximization and Video Poker Master Class is on December 7 and is a special add-on package. ZorkFest is in its eighth year. Guests return annually to meet up with old friends and make new ones. The annual event combines travel loyalty programs with casino ones.
Green Valley Ranch Poker Room Returning to Action in 2025
After months of rumors, Vegas Advantage has confirmed the Green Valley Ranch poker room will reopen by the end of 2025. December is the favorite. When reached for comment, Station Casinos shared a statement from Ken Janssen, Green Valley Ranch’s General Manager and Vice President. “Poker’s home in Henderson is back at Green Valley Ranch,” Janssen said.
Pros and Cons of National Players Clubs
Players clubs are the key to getting casino comps. Some are better than others. Most casino players are members of at least one national loyalty club. These have positives and negatives. Casino players clubs are loyalty programs. Players must sign up for an account. This is done at the rewards center at the casino, which may be part of the casino cage. Large casino companies also have online registration. Once the player has the account created, a card is issued.
What to Do With Small Slot Tickets
The days of coin slots and video poker machines are nearly over. Las Vegas only offers about 200 of these coin dropper games. A few regional markets, such as Deadwood, South Dakota, and Central City and Cripple Creek, Colorado, still have a few. Otherwise, all machines print a ticket when the player cashes out. It may be used in a different machine or redeemed at a kiosk or casino cage. This is called ticket-in/ticket-out, or TITO for short.
Quadruple Zero Roulette Debuts on the Las Vegas Strip
Update 9/23/2025: Palazzo removed this game from the floor. Planet Hollywood recently added it. Players have joked for years about when quadruple zero roulette might appear in Las Vegas. That time has come. Palazzo on the Las Vegas Strip now has quadruple zero roulette on an electronic table game. However, the wheel does not have any actual zeros. Instead, it uses four gems that act the same as zeros when players make bets related to the 1-36 pockets.
Economics of Dealing Live Table Games
Las Vegas had 80 casinos with live table games in March 2020 when the pandemic closure was ordered. Today, 69 casinos in the market offer live table games. However, that number will drop to 67 when Golden Gate removes its pit later this month and Poker Palace closes at the end of September. This drop of 13 includes five casinos adding table games. Circa, Durango, Fontainebleau, and Resorts World opened new casinos. Slots A Fun brought live games back after a 15-year absence.
Cricket-India's Gill celebrates first series as captain with dramatic win
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A Rundown of Henderson, Nevada Casinos in 2025
Henderson is the biggest Las Vegas suburb. It is so large that it is the second most populous city in Nevada. Henderson casinos are different than Las Vegas ones. Most don’t have live table games. Many have small hotels or no rooms at all. Most customers live in the surrounding neighborhoods. Few tourists make it out to Henderson. However, consider making the area part of your Las Vegas rotation when visiting. Locals in other parts of the valley will find it is worth the drive.
How to Remember Good Video Poker Paytable Returns
Unlike traditional slot machines, players can determine a video poker game’s payout by looking at the paytable. In games without wild cards, the payback is usually determined by the flush and full house payouts. When a Jacks or Better is described as 9/6, that means a full house pays 9 for every one wagered. A flush pays 6. In most cases, the rest of the paytable is identical between all Jacks or Better games.
What’s Going on With Primm, Nevada?
Primm is a small casino market on the Nevada-California border along Interstate 15. It is a 30-minute drive south of the Las Vegas Strip. Primm boomed during the 1990s into the 2000s. California tribal casinos growing into destination resorts and mismanagement of Primm casinos caused Primm’s reputation to drop. While the Las Vegas tourism market grew over the last 10 years, Primm has become nearly deserted. In December 2024, Whiskey Pete’s closed after 47 years of operation.
Side Bets and Why You Should Avoid Them
Most live table games offer side bets. These are usually optional. However, a handful of downtown Las Vegas casinos require players to make a $1, $2, and sometimes $5 side bet on blackjack, Let It Ride, Three Card Poker, and pai gow poker games. A side bet is based on a different outcome than the main hand. For instance, a common blackjack side bet called “Perfect Pairs” pays the player a bonus when the hand starts with a pair. The payout is higher on suited pairs.
New Video Poker Games on the Casino Floor
Video poker often offers the best chances of winning in a casino. That is because of its low house advantage. It also offers low minimum bets. Traditional video poker games mimic five-card draw on a single line. New variants involve multi-hand games. The options are usually Triple Play, Five Play, and Ten Play. In these games, a player is dealt five cards. The ones the players want to keep are picked. These are held across all hands.
Video Poker Games Ranked by Variance
No two video poker games are alike. Each has a unique variance that increases the swings. Popular video poker games are listed below, ranked by variance from lowest to highest. The variance shown in each section applies to the best paytable available in Las Vegas. Lower paytables typically have slightly higher variance because they include more draws at larger hands that are unaffected by the lower paytable. The higher the number, the more volatile the game is.
Buffalo Bill’s Casino in Primm Closing
Update May 2026: Primm Valley Resort will close by July 4, 2026. Read about the reasons why Vegas Advantage thinks Primm failed here. Vegas Advantage has learned Buffalo Bill’s in Primm, Nevada, will close indefinitely on July 7, 2025. It will be the second Primm casino to close in recent months. Whiskey Pete’s ceased all operations on December 17, 2024. Primm Valley Resort will be the only open casino near the California state line along Interstate 15. It is across Primm Blvd from Buffalo Bill’s.
Unique United States Casino Markets Worth Visiting
Las Vegas is the largest U.S. casino market. Dozens more exist. This ranges from beach locations, to former mountain ghost towns to urban areas. Here are some of the unique American casino markets worth visiting. Atlantic City was the second jurisdiction with legalized casinos. While it has seen better days, gamblers should still check it out. Atlantic City has two distinct markets within its borders. One is on the Boardwalk.
How Much FanDuel’s New Illinois Fee Will Cost Players
Illinois increased its sports betting tax rate for the second time in as many years. The new tax adds a surcharge of $0.25 or $0.50 per wager, depending on the number accepted by an Illinois sportsbook. The rate starts at $0.25 per bet and increases to $0.50 after 20 million annual wagers. FanDuel announced today that it will add a $0.50 fee on every wager made in Illinois. The new policy goes into effect on September 1, 2025. Other Illinois sportsbooks are expected to make similar pricing changes.
An Introduction to Laughlin, Nevada Casinos
Laughlin is at the southern tip of Nevada along the Colorado River. It is in Clark County, just like Las Vegas. The two casino markets are about 1.5 hours apart by car. No commercial airport serves Laughlin. Charters operated by two casinos use the airport across the Colorado River in Bullhead City, Arizona. Las Vegas is the closest commercial airport. Laughlin is home to 10 casinos. Nine are commercial and clustered together. Another is a tribal casino about 14 miles away.
Casino Table Game Etiquette for Beginners
Casinos have rules for table games. Some are to protect the games, while others help make it comfortable and fun for all players. Beyond rules, there are expectations that the house and other players have that patrons will be polite and not create drama at the tables. These are more etiquette than rules. Here are some examples. Craps is the most chaotic table game. This requires players and dealers to work together to help make the game run smoothly. Here are some craps etiquette tips.
Casino Bucket List: One Player Shares His Goals
I have played casino games for nearly 30 years. I have 55 video poker royal flushes. Some were dealt, entirely redrawn, or sequential. I’ve had huge craps wins from both the Pass Line and Don’t Pass sides. When I entered my first World Series of Poker event, I cashed in 14th place out of 595 players in the 2005 $1000 Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo event. I was a professional poker player for about 15 years. I had blackjack steaks that made the house refuse to deal me more hands.
Multi-Hand Video Poker: Another Way to Play, Sometimes With Better Payouts
Finding good paytables on video poker variants is challenging. Most of the best video poker machines are traditional ones with one hand. Variants offer twists that include multipliers and three, five, 10, 25, 50, and 100 hands. Most offer lower paytables than traditional games. However, that is not always the case. The most common video poker variant is traditional multi-hand. Most casinos have Triple Play, Five Play, and Ten Play. Some have 25, 50, and 100 Play.
My Journey to Becoming a Casino Expert
If you’re not familiar with Flip The Switch contributor John Mehaffey, he has a rich and colorful history with gambling and being a writer around various casino topics. We asked him to share a bit about his history and how he became the expert he is today! Today, I am a Las Vegas resident known for my casino expertise. It took decades to get here. All forms of gambling, except charitable bingo, were illegal in my home state of Georgia until 1992, when the state lottery was approved by voters.
5 Card Pai Gow Launches at Harrah’s
Harrah’s Las Vegas installed a new game on April 17, 2025. The casino now offers 5 Card Pai Gow from Casino Gaming Development. 5 Card Pai Gow is in the back pit in front of the high-limit table room. The minimum bet was $10 during our visit. Harrah’s Las Vegas is the first casino anywhere to deal 5 Card Pai Gow. It is based on the traditional version of the game with a few differences. 5 Card Pai Gow uses a standard 52-card deck, meaning it does not have a joker. Players may not bank.
Las Vegas Poker Tournament Series Summer 2025
The World Series of Poker is just around the corner. Six casinos host major events from the end of May through July. Three have announced schedules, while three others have set dates but have not released details. Here is a breakdown of the different poker rooms with tournament series this summer. The events listed below are major ones, often with large buy-ins and fields.
A Drawback with Playing Slots on Video Poker Machines
Modern video poker machines often offer many different games. In addition to video poker, keno, blackjack, roulette, and slot games may be available. These machines may rate all that action differently in players card systems than when played on a machine dedicated to a single title. Many players clubs pay slot and tier points differently for video poker and slots. Rates may also differ for keno and electronic table games. Playing slots on video poker machines may hurt your rating.
BetMGM Deceives Players and Steals From Advantage Media
Update April 9, 2025: BetMGM deleted the article from Borgata’s website that was plagiarized from our work. We can also report that updates and deletions have been made to some of the content we covered in the video related to the company suggesting bad strategy that would cause players to lose faster. We hope the company continues cleaning up these sites. The original article is below. BetMGM, a licensed online gambling company joint-owned by Entain and MGM Resorts, has been controversial.
Blackjack Tournament Strategies
Blackjack is the most popular table game. Players compete against the dealer for the highest point total without exceeding 21. Like poker, there are also blackjack tournaments. While these are not as popular as in the past, casinos still use these as promotions for high-volume players. A few buy-in tournaments exist. There are many differences between cash blackjack and tournament play. A player can sit at a traditional cash game for as long as he or she wants.
Green Valley Ranch Offers Blackjack With 3/2 and 6/5 Payouts
Vegas Advantage visited Green Valley Ranch in February 2025 as part of our normal casino survey route. We discovered a handful of tables in the last pit to open with mixed blackjack payouts. These pay 3/2 on bets of $25 and higher and 6/5 on smaller bets. These tables use six decks and permit surrender. The dealer hits soft 17. The reaction was mixed when this was posted on X, formerly Twitter.
Parlay Versus Individual Bets: Which Pays Better?
Legalized sports betting has exploded in recent years. It is now legal in 38 states at retail sportsbooks, online, or both. Many different types of sports bets are available. The list includes straight bets, parlays, teasers, pleasers, futures, and props. Like with most other forms of gambling, the house advantage increases with the potential size of the payout. Straight bets are the most popular. That is when a player wagers on one specific outcome.
Las Vegas Speedflation Is the Next Shrinkflation
When manufacturers shrink a product without decreasing the consumer’s price, it is called shrinkflation. But what about when service businesses change the quality of your experience? Similar to the concept of shrinkflation, Las Vegas casinos changed many games to make them pay out worse than the original form. This includes 6/5 blackjack, triple zero roulette, and crapless craps. Offering these worse games at the same limits turned lower-limit players into the same value as high rollers.
Caesars Palace Poker Room to Reopen in Retail Area
Vegas Advantage has learned the Caesars Palace poker room intends to reopen on May 16, 2025, less than two weeks before the World Series of Poker, according to a source with knowledge of the plan. The new poker room will be in the Appian Way retail area. This corridor runs between two back sections of the casino. One end starts near the Bacchanal Buffet. The other side is at the Caesars Rewards players center near Gordon Ramsay Pub & Grill. The poker room will be by the Statue of David.
Rio Introduces Penn & Teller Casino Monte Table Game
Rio Hotel & Casino launched Penn & Teller Casino Monte on March 3, 2025. It is the first table game named after celebrities. Vegas Advantage was invited to cover the game’s introduction. Penn & Teller were the stars of the show. The game uses at least six decks. This allows unusual hands like a suited three of a kind. Penn & Teller Casino Monte is like a cross of Casino War and Three Card Poker. Players choose one betting spot out of the three marked P, &, or T.
Players Cards: How They Work and Earning Rewards
All major casinos and most small ones have a players club. These offer players many perks including slot points, free slot play, meal comps, and hotel offers. Most perks are based on play. However, some are given to new and inactive players to entice them to return. Players clubs are available at live and online casinos. Here are some of the ways to take advantage of them. Online casino players automatically enroll in the players club just by creating an account on the website.
Table Game Bet Sizes Versus Expected Losses
Las Vegas high rollers have always had access to better games than low-limit players. This may come in the form of better blackjack rules, fewer zeros on a roulette wheel, and different payouts on the baccarat banker bet. Video poker is another example where paytables often improve as the denominations increase. Slot machines can work the same way. The reasoning behind giving bigger bettors games with lower house advantages is related to the expected win per hand.
John Mehaffey's Five Favorite Las Vegas Casinos
I have lived in Las Vegas since 2010. My favorite game is video poker. I usually only take a shot at a slot machine or table game after a big win. Since I prefer video poker, the best paytables are important. However, there is more to it than just that. The casino must be inviting and friendly to keep me around. Each of the following casinos has both good video poker and great employees that help create a great experience.
Las Vegas Parking Fees in 2025
Parking fees are a new revenue stream for Las Vegas casinos. While downtown casinos have charged for parking for decades, Strip ones started charging in 2016. MGM Resorts was the first Strip company to try it, and most others quickly followed. Guests can find several ways out of parking fees. Most downtown casinos and a few on the Strip offer free parking to hotel guests and validate it for casino players. On the Strip, higher players club tiers receive free parking.
Best Pure Luck Las Vegas Casino Games
Some Las Vegas visitors do not want to learn strategies or think much during their gambling vacations. While many pure luck games have massive house advantages, some options do not require any strategy to receive the best return. Avoid the side bets in these games as the house edge is likely 10% or higher. Total Access Club and Vegas Advantage Super Fan members had access to this article before publication.
Las Vegas Resort Fees: How Much, What You Get and Can You Avoid
Resort fees are almost completely unavoidable at Las Vegas casinos. Of the more than 60 properties surveyed, only Binion’s, Casino Royale, Four Queens, Railroad Pass, and Skyline have no resort fee. These hidden costs have become controversial over the years. Guests often do not discover the fees until the checkout process. This makes it difficult to compare one hotel’s base price to another.
Sportsbooks Offset November 2024 Las Vegas Revenue Decline
Another F1 is in the rearview mirror. It is one of the most controversial events Las Vegas ever hosted. Tourism numbers were down across the board compared to the inaugural 2023 race, according to Nevada gaming regulators and the Las Vegas Visitors and Convention Authority. Comparisons to November 2022 are a mixed bag. Clark County full-service gaming establishments won $1.163 billion in November 2024. That was down 4.2% from November 2023 and up 9.5% from November 2022.
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