Vegas Online - Hotels, Casinos & More

The Orleans Hotel and Casino is large enough to offer all of the superb amenities of the Mega-Resorts, but is small enough that one doesn’t risk loosing the kids. Families can enjoy the spirit of Mardi Gras all year round at this colorful hotel, where suite-style rooms welcome visitors with comfort and luxury.

The Orleans offers 1,426 beautifully appointed rooms and suites featuring the ultimate in luxury and comfort. Our oversized rooms are actually “Petite Suites” with separate sitting areas. The Orleans’ exquisite one and two-bedroom suites provide all the conveniences of home. Spectacular views face the glittering Las Vegas Strip or the sweeping mountain panoramas surrounding the Las Vegas Valley.

Amenities include a sparkling oval pool where the kids can enjoy a dip in the cool waters as well as the Spa Orleans and Fitness Center, a tranquil place where adults can take a little time to pamper themselves between trips to the casino.

Adults can also enjoy some alone time thanks to the Kid’s Tyme Child Care Center, designed for children ages 2 1/2 to 12, and kids love the center’s jungle gym, arts and crafts activities, and movies.

There’s plenty of entertainment at the Orleans Hotel and Casino as well. Top-name entertainers headline at the hotel and one Friday night each month, the best in boxing comes to the hotel, with great matches enjoyed by sports fanatics of all ages. The Orleans even boasts a 70-lane bowling center.

Amenities: 70 Lane Bowling Center Whether you’re bowling with friends or a league, the Orleans Bowling Center is your best bowling bet. Century Orleans 18 This 18-plex movie theatre has 4,810 stadium style seats and state-of-the-art digital and THX certified sound systems on all screens.

Kid’s Tyme Child Care Center is open 7 days a week, for children 2 1/2 to 12 years of age. The center features a magnificent jungle gym, movie room, arts & crafts, interactive play and much more.

Spa Orleans and Fitness Center Spa Orleans offers eight luxurious treatment rooms, each with beautiful views of the sparkling blue swimming pool; three comfortable Tanning Beds, a Steam Room, Jacuzzi, state-of-the-art Fitness Center and full-service Beauty and Barber shops. Separate Spa facilities are provided for men and women, and privacy is always assured. Complimentary beverages are served to every Spa Orleans guest. Open seven days a week with varying seasonal hours.

The Orleans Showroom The 827-seat Orleans-style showroom features theatre-style design and technically superior sound and lighting system which ensure a sensational entertainment experience for guests of all ages.

The Time Out Arcade features the latest and greatest in video and interactive games for every member of the family and is open 7 days a week.

The Flamingo Hotel and Casino, a landmark on the Las Vegas Strip since 1946, was Bugsy Siegel’s desert dream hotel. Visitors easily recognize the sign out front of this famous destination and inside, the hotel is glittery yet warm and inviting for families.

The hotel’s more-than 3,600 rooms can accommodate most visitor’s wishes, including those with special needs and those who prefer non-smoking rooms. Guest rooms are large and most have been recently renovated. Amenities include four separate pools, set in a 15-acre tropical garden where kids can frolic in the warm Las Vegas sun. Two hot tubs are also nearby and cabanas are available for rental. The Spa and Fitness Center is perfect for a daily workout, a relaxing massage, or invigorating sauna.

Surrounding the rose garden are lush grounds and walking paths that take you on an expedition through live African penguins, Chilean flamingos, Mandarin ducks and Koi fish swimming in ponds under three-story-high waterfalls. Adding to the resort atmosphere are the tennis courts, swimming pools and a world-class health spa. The Spa at the Flamingo features facilities for men and women with saunas, exercise rooms, whirlpools, massages and more. The Garden Wedding Chapel is set in the hotels garden area and offers a choice of full-service packages.

Restaurants at the hotel offer a huge variety of culinary delights. Conrad’s Steakhouse. The finest steaks and seafood are served in a steakhouse so romantic and elegant, you’ll want to savor every moment. Pink Ginger offers Pan-Asian cuisine Hamada of Japan. Voted “Best Japanese Restaurant” by Zagat, guests will enjoy a variety of Japanese delicacies such as sushi, as well as meat and seafood dishes.

Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville. The cuisine is a reflection of Jimmy’s travels throughout the Caribbean. The ambiance is total FUN. Casual dining experiences are also available for visitors with kids although children with more sophisticated tastes will certainly enjoy a meal in one of the hotel’s “fancy” restaurants.

Excalibur Hotel and Casino is an experience of Camelot in Las Vegas. From the moment that guests walk across the drawbridge and over the moat into the sparkling white castle that is the hotel, they are transported into the long-ago world of King Arthur and his knights. Kids and adults alike love the fantasy world that this hotel brings to its guests and many visit year after year. The Excalibur Hotel Casino features 3,991 spacious rooms, all at fantastic values.

Many of the rooms have unobstructed and unparalleled views of the Las Vegas Strip. Relax in royal splendor in these beautifully decorated 351 square foot rooms. Enjoy a glorious rest in a king sized be that comes with the Standard King room or in one of two queen sized beds that come with the Standard Queen room. Decorated in warm, comforting tones with hardwood furnishings, these spacious rooms invite each guest to relax and prepare for their next royal adventure. Non-smoking rooms are available on request. Rooms feature Remote control color TV with cable, voice mail, PPV movies, iron and ironing board, air conditioning, AM/FM clock radio, hair dryer, shower with full vanity, spacious closet and 24-hour room service.

Entertainment at Excalibur Hotel: Tournament of Kings Dinner Show, an original musical production adapted from the legend of King Arthur, is presented twice each evening at 6:00 and 8:30 p.m. The $1 million production boasts medieval flair, jousting, invading armies, dragons, fire-wizards, and dinner. This dinner show spectacular is performed in the newly remodeled King Arthur’s Arena, a 900-seat theater-in-the-round style arena. Guests will enjoy cheering for their favorite king while eating the savory fare the medieval way…sans utensils!

Attractions: The 100,000 square foot casino stays consistent with the theme and boasts hundreds of slots and video machines, varied table games, keno, poker, and a race and sports book for interactive wagering. The younger set, however, will race to the first floor full of carnival games at the Fantasy Faire Midway and will certainly enjoy the Tournament of Kings, a jousting dinner show with dragons, fire-wizards, and of course, hearty food.

The Court Jester’s Stage features puppetry, juggling, and music throughout most of the day. The Medieval Village is filled with dozens of shoppes, four restaurants, a food court and strolling entertainers. The entertaining Jester’s Stage is on this level as well as Merlin’s Theater featuring Australia’s “Thunder from Down Under” and “Catch a Rising Star.”

Pool Area: Nevada’s warm and sunny climate helps to make Excalibur’s two swimming pools a popular gathering area. The pool area comfortably holds 800 guests and features two heated pools, a 25-seat spa, waterfalls, water slides, 35,000 square-foot deck space, and a shaded dining area. A snack bar and cocktail bar are open daily. Pool hours vary by season.

The Sahara Hotel and Casino has been attracting families to Las Vegas since its opening in 1952. This hotel was largely responsible for building Las Vegas’s entertainment industry, attracting such celebrities as Ann-Margaret, Johnny Carson, and the Beatles.

The rooms emphasize comfortable accommodations and a variety of television viewing options. All rooms include voice mail and message service; electronic door locks; iron and ironing board; hairdryer; king bed or two double beds (based on availability) and non smoking rooms (based on availability) Alexandria and Tunis rooms are equipped with central heating and cooling. Some Alexandria tower suites include parlor area with wet bar and balcony access with views. Tangiers rooms are equipped with an individually controlled heating and cooling system. The suites have a parlor area that typically includes desk space and a wet bar.

Today, Sahara is still a favorite stomping ground for many who visit Las Vegas and enjoy the excitement of this hotel built in Vegas’s early days of growth. Moroccan in style, the hotel features a spacious casino, the amazing Speed roller coaster, good food, and a number of entertaining variety shows and concerts for all ages.

Visitors can enjoy elegant dining in a lush setting at the House of Lords, taste the international flavors of the Sahara Buffet, watch stock car races while they dine at the Nascar Cafe, or visit Paco’s for a little taste of South of the Border. A 5,000 square foot pool at the Sahara keeps the kids cool while 8 private cabanas shade the adults from the hot Las Vegas sun. Children love romping in the circular fountains and a poolside snack bar keeps them well-fed and watered.

Caravan Coffee Shop (24 hours) - The Caravan Coffee Shop serves as a relaxing place to come when you just need a break from all the excitement! Whether you’re in need of some delicious coffee to help you stay awake on those late nights or a little something to satisfy those hunger pains, the coffee shop is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week to serve you.

Sahara Buffet - This 900-seat buffet is located within a casual setting.

NASCAR Cafe - The new 75,000-square-foot NASCAR Cafe features exciting stock car racing entertainment along with an all-American menu. The NASCAR theme encases the entertainment complex. Giant projection television screens equipped with surround sound feature NASCAR racing, driver profiles and the latest NASCAR news.

SPEED - The Ride is a state-of-the-art roller coaster launched from inside the NASCAR Cafe entertainment complex in the Sahara Hotel and Casino. Designed by renowned attractions company, Premier Rides, SPEED is powered by Linear Induction Motors (LIM), utilizing electromagnetic force to accelerate the coaster to top speeds almost instantaneously.

SPEED slingshots out of its launch site and over its first hill. A steep drop follows as passengers travel 25 feet below the surface through an underground tunnel before propelling them back above the ground and then through a breathtaking loop. The coaster then accelerates from 35 mph to its fastest speed of 70 mph in just two seconds, as it zips through the Sahara’s 192-foot-tall marquee before curving around the porte-cochere and up a steep incline - - stopping 224 feet above the ground. SPEED then carries passengers through the same exhilarating path in reverse.

Las Vegas Cyber Speedway - At the NASCAR Cafe in the Sahara Hotel and Casino, car-racing fans can turn their high-speed driving dreams into reality at the Cafe’s 35,000-square-foot Las Vegas Cyber Speedway. Mounted on hydraulic bases, the cars, 7/8 the actual size of authentic stock cars and Indy cars, are equipped to provide the most realistic, simulated race car driving experience available. The simulators are outfitted with 10 adjustable performance parameters that drivers can customize to their own needs. The realistic sight, sound and motion is achieved by a 20-foot, wrap around screen which projects an authentic visual replica of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway or a road course down the Las Vegas Strip.

Actual gambling machines have been around for over 115 years and have been popular ever since they were first invented. The first gambling machine was developed by Sittman and Pitt in 1891 in the Amercian city of Brooklyn. The symbols they used were playing card faces and payouts were based on poker hands. The 50 symbols were on 5 drums which would spin when a player placed a nickel in the machine and pulled the lever. The first machines did not pay out cash, instead the prizes would be goods from the bar that the machine was located and were based on how good the poker hand was.
An automatic payout system was not possible due to the wide range of poker hands that could produce a winning combination. Typically the Ten of Spades and the Jack of Hearts were removed from the drums to put the odds more in favour of the machine. These were key cards as they make an appearance in wider range of winning hands, e.g straights.

The first slot machine as we know it today was the, Liberty Bell which was developed by a Charles Frey in Amercian city San francisco in 1899. This new machine had 3 spinning reels which featured 5 symbols which were diamonds, hearts, spades, horseshes and a Liberty Bell. The machine was simplier and therefore enabled Fey to work out an automatic payout mechanism. If you hit 3 bells in a row on the payline that would win you the Jackpot prize of 10 nickels. If you won nothing it was termed “Jack”.

Classic cherry and melon symbols come about from an early slot machine which had prizes of different flavoured chewing gums which has pictures of the flavours on the actual reels.
Another classic symbol, the BAR was the logo of the Bell Fruit Gum company.

The first electro-mechanical slot machine was developed by Bally Manufacturing in 1964 and was called Money Honey. This was the first machine in over 50 years that started to move on from Feys orginal invention. Internally the machine replaced springs and levers with electrical components and for the player the outward changes really added to the gaming experience with multiple coin play and higher jackpots. The use of the electricity allowed exciting slots noises and flashing lights. Overnight the slot machine had become a whole lot more exciting and appealing to alot more people.

Bally Manufacturing continued to lead the way in the development of slot machines and in the mid 1970’s introduced a a Dollar Slot Machine which casinos arranged in carousels and bigger jackpots. Until now slots had been consider secondary gambling games for the casinos, with the table games considered primary profit games. This was now changing as the slots become increasingly popular.

In 1980 a new company called Sircoma produced a video poker slot machine. At first players were untrusting of the video aspect as they could not actually see the reels spinning. However they soon become very popular and still are today both in live casinos and online.

In the mid 1990s slot machines started accepting bills so players no longer needed to get change in coins to play, this meant more time at the slot machine and actually playing the slot even easier.

In 1992 Bally Gaming invented a slot machine which had multiple games for the player to choose to play from just the one machine.

In the late 1990s a slot machine was produced that introduced a bonus feature and another chance to win money aside from the spinning reels. Players would then then look forward to the next bonus round in the hope of winning the bonus jackpot.

Nowadays we are heading towards a cashless slots with the introduction of tickets or cards onto which cash can be placed the winnings. Some slots operate with touch screen technology and others have easy to use help menus.

The popularity of slots is exploding on the internet as software providers are coming out with new variations weekly for the casinos and many games now having amazing bonus game features which also offer great prizes. Many of these games are luck based, but proving popular are some skill based bonus games.

More and more people around the world are gaining access to high speed internet and at the same time access to online casinos who offer many online slot variations. Many of these players have never been to a real live casino, but can still enjoy the thrill of the spinning reels and hittinga winning combination.

Slots will no doubt be advancing and improving both in the live casino and particularly online for a quite a few years yet.

According to Legal Slots, the term slot machines was originally used for all automatic vending machines as well as for the gambling devices, it was not until the 20th century that the term became restricted to the latter. A “fruit machine” is one British term for a slot machine. The one-armed bandit is another popular nickname.

Charles Fey & Liberty Bell

The first mechanical slot machine was the Liberty Bell, invented in 1895 by car mechanic, Charles Fey (1862–1944) of San Francisco. The Liberty Bell slot machine had three spinning reels. Diamond, spade, and heart symbols were painted around each reel, plus the image of a cracked Liberty Bell. A spin resulting in three Liberty Bells in a row gave the biggest payoff, a grand total of fifty cents or ten nickels.

The original Liberty Bell slot machine can still be seen be at the Liberty Belle Saloon & Restaurant in Reno, Nevada. Other Charles Fey machines include: the Draw Power, and Three Spinde and the Klondike. In 1901, Charles Fey invented the first draw poker machine. Charles Fey was also the inventor of the trade check separator, which was used in the Liberty Bell. The hole in the middle of the trade check allowed a detecting pin to distinguish fake nickels or slugs from real nickels. Fey rented his machines to saloons and bars based on a 50/50 split of the profits.

Demand for Slot Machines Grows

The demand for Liberty Bell slot machines was huge. Fey could not build them fast enough in his small shop. Gambling supply manufacturers tried to buy the manufacturing and distribution rights to the Liberty Bell, however, Charles Fey refused to sell. As a result in 1907, Herbert Mills, a Chicago manufacturer of arcade machines, began production of a slot machine, a knock-off of Fey’s Liberty Bell, called the Operator Bell. Mills was the first person to place fruit symbols: i.e. lemons, plums, and cherries on machines.

How The Original Slots Worked

Inside each cast iron slot machine there were three metal hoops called reels. Each reel had ten symbols painted on it. A lever was pulled that spun the reels. When the reels stopped, a jackpot was awarded if three of a one kind of symbol lined up. The payoff in coinage was then dispensed from the machine.

Age of Electronics

The first popular electric gambling machine was the 1934 animated horserace machine called PACES RACES. In 1964, the first all-electronic gambling machine was built by Nevada Electronic called the “21″ machine. Other all electronic versions of gambling games followed including ones for dice, roulette, horse racing, and poker (Dale Electronics’ Poker-Matic was very popular). In 1975, the first electronic slot machine was built by the Fortune Coin Company.

The first mechanical slot machine was the Liberty Bell, invented in 1895 by car mechanic, Charles Fey of San Francisco.

Centrally located, the Stratosphere Casino, Hotel and Tower is at the top of the Las Vegas Strip and the closest Strip property to Downtown Las Vegas and the Fremont Street Experience. The Stratosphere is just 1.3 miles from the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The Stratosphere features 2,444 spacious rooms including 220 luxurious suites, all at fantastic values. Many of the rooms have unobstructed and unparalleled views of the Las Vegas Strip. Each spacious room features either a king size bed or two queen size beds and a wide array of amenities: a remote control color television with cable and pay channels, AM/FM clock radio/alarm and a hair dryer. In addition, non-smoking and wheelchair-accessible rooms are available.

A wide range of services are offered to each Stratosphere hotel guest. There is 24-hour room service with a huge selection of food and drinks for every appetite. A gym is located on premises to help guests maintain their fitness routines. Services ranging from car rentals to dry cleaning are offered through Guest Services. Business needs such as faxing and next day delivery are offered through Business Services. A dynamic and professional concierge staff is on site to help assist with guest needs great and small.

Dining Top of the World - Located more than 800 feet above the ground in the Stratosphere Tower, the award- winning Top of the World Restaurant offers a dining experience like no other. Awarded “Best Gourmet Room” by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the Top of the World features culinary delights served in an elegant atmosphere with unparalleled views of Las Vegas as the restaurant revolves 360 degrees in one hour. Courtyard Buffet - The Courtyard Buffet has been upgraded to feature the latest in display cooking along with expanded food sections and a larger dining area. Hamada Village - For freshly prepared Asian cuisine, Hamada Asian Village offers a 24-seat sushi and noodle bar, table- side cooking on teppan grills, tempura, steaks, sake, beer and famous dishes from Chinese cuisine. Outstanding food and superb service have rewarded Hamada with the Best Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar in Las Vegas award by readers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Entertainment:

Stratosphere’s Broadway Showroom features the best in award-winning entertainment_ Afternoons, Viva Las Vegas takes the stage as Las Vegas’ longest-running daytime production. In the evening, American Superstars showcases tributes to today’s and yesterday’s hottest stars including Elvis Presley, Christina Aguilera, Madonna, Charlie Daniels, Michael Jackson and Ricky Martin. The Images and Top of the World Lounges provide current live entertainment to satisfy those seeking after hours dancing, as well as smooth soulful sounds.

Attractions:

The Tower At 1,149 feet, the Stratosphere Tower is the tallest freestanding observation tower in the United States and the tallest building west of the Mississippi River. From the observation decks, lounge, restaurant, meeting, banquet and private dining rooms, guests enjoy panoramic views of the Las Vegas Strip and the surrounding valley.

Thrill Rides:

The Big Shot and the High Roller Thrill seekers can experience the ultimate in excitement over 100 stories above the ground on Stratosphere’s two thrill rides, the High Roller and the Big Shot. The High Roller roller coaster is the world’s highest roller coaster as it takes riders around the outside of the pod. With 32 degree angles the High Roller literally takes riders over the edge. For those craving the ultimate rush, the Big Shot launches passengers 160 feet in the air in a mere 2.5 seconds to experience 4 G’s of force, and then drops them back down to the launching pad at 0 G’s.

The world’s largest pyramid is on The Strip, guarded by the mythical Sphinx and outlined by ethereal strobe beams which climb the angles of this futuristic complex. Feel the soothing hands and waters of the Oasis Spa, as you revel in the hedonistic pleasures of ancient Egypt where pharaohs ruled the fertile Nile Valley of the sun god Ra. Part the waters in four shimmering pools, shop in an Egyptian bazaar at the Giza Galleria, and marvel at the groundbreaking multi-sensory entertainment of Blue Man Group.

Accommodations:

In the main Luxor hotel pyramid building, there are 2,526 rooms and suites. All rooms have sloped walls and banks of windows with views of The Strip and surrounding mountains and a door that opens to overlook the pyramid’s interior atrium. There are 1,950 additional rooms in the adjacent tower just north of the pyramid. The rooms are accented with wooden furniture that’s etched with Egyptian characters. Many adults come to this hotel for the 100,000 square foot casino but stay and bask in the glories of the Oasis Spa, known for its relaxing and innovative spa treatments. Kids, however, will love the gigantic IMAX Theater and the 2-story video arcade, full of today’s newest games and some old favorites as well. The whole family will want to explore the re-creation of King Tut’s tomb.

Dining:

The hotel has seven restaurants. Isis, named one of the top 10 gourmet rooms in the U.S. by the “Best of the Best” Restaurant Guide, features the finest in continental cuisine and special dishes; Sacred Sea Room, the freshest seafood prepared in an extensive variety of styles from American, Europe, and the South Pacific; La Salsa, the best Fresh Mex on the Strip; Luxor Steakhouse, serving USDA Prime Aged Beef; Hamada of Japan offering traditional sushi in a contemporary setting; Pyramid Cafe, just about anything you want; Papyrus, Cantonese, Szechwan, and other specialties from the Pacific Rim; Pharaoh’s Pheast Buffet, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner; Nile Deli, full kosher-style deli with oversized sandwiches for the hearty appetite.

Fun:

The pool complex houses five pools and four spas. You can be pampered at the Oasis Spa. Pharaoh’s Pavilion has a variety of attractions. King Tut’s Tomb and Museum is an accurate reproduction of Howard Carter’s 1922 find, often called the most significant archaeological discovery of modern history. The burial chamber and treasury room feature more than 500 replicas of mummies, Egyptian furniture, a chariot, pottery, baskets, jewelry, linens and other artifacts. Other Pavilion features include Pharaoh’s Theater, home of “Midnight Fantasy”; the IMAX Theatre; “In Search of the Obelisk” motion-simulator ride; and Games of the Gods Arcade.

1. The Basics: Start with knowing your odds. From here on out, we will assuming that you are playing a no surrender/no double down table. Basically, this step works on any table whether it is a single deck or a show table. That is because it works simply based on odds.

Here is the method. Memorize the chart (click on image). The best way to do this is to get a friend and a deck of cards. Familiarize yourself with it ahead of time. Then practice your brains out until you know every single corner of the table. It looks intimidating but, it’s no harder than learning you times tables and even a 10 year old can do that!

2. Card Counting: Once you have MASTERED step 1, now it’s time to get real good. From here on out, do not play a table with a split shoe (also known as half-cut or the Big C), That means that they shuffle up 8 decks and then take 4 out. It ruins the odds. The more people that are at the table, the better.

Before we discuss betting, let’s look at ‘The Count’. Count in your head (I can see you counting! Knock that off!) starting at zero. Every time a 2 through 7 comes up, subtract one in your head. For an 8 or 9, do nothing. For a 10 through Ace, add one.

Now, every time a new hand is dealt, consult the number in your head. Ready to memorize another table? Consult this table to know how to bet. Your starting bet must be 4 times the table minimum. That means that on a $5 table, you start at $20. Your bets can be anywhere from $5 to $200. If you have to sit out, call someone on your cell phone so you can stay near the table (you will have to get up though) and count cards as they come up. If you have to go away, then you can either choose to stay and bet the table minimum or wait for a new deck to come.

Any time the cards are shuffled, start all over.

3. Dependant Play: Think your hot stuff? If you follow step 2 and you aren’t a good actor, you will get nailed and banned from the casinos. They will probably catch you if you are winning too. Here’s how to do it then.

Player 1: Play the table minimum. Follow the chart from table 1 to the T. Bet the table minimum or 2x that. No more, or this won’t work. Keep a good count. When the count gets to 6 or higher, signal the other player to take a seat. Come up with something good so the dealer doesn’t see you and do not let it be known that you know this person for the ENTIRE time that you are in the casino.

Player 2: When you see the signal, take a seat. Bet half the table max or a little more. Do not bet the max or it will alert the pit boss. Keep your bet 100% consistent until the dealer has made his way through the rest of the deck. Then take a walk. This person has a pretty easy roll so it is OK to have a drink with you (not too much though). That calms the dealer because usually card counters won’t drink at all.