Casino Stops

Mesquite has a decent place to stop, right off the freeway. There is a small parking lot (it used to be much bigger, but for some reason they have a lot of it barricaded off right now) and it is just across the street from the Virgin River. Also the Eureka is right across the side street.

IMHO, gambling is better at Virgin River, and FOOD is much better at Eureka.

 

Heck man you don't have to tip the bartender 20 bucks to drink for free, you drink for free as long as you are playing. Bartenders in gaming casinos usually appreciate a buck whenever they bring you a free drink, but they don't expect a big tip unless you hit a big jackpot as they understand most will end up losing money. Most of their money is made from the jackpot winners.

I have been a craps dealer here in Vegas for 5 years and truckers have a fairly decent reputation for being good tippers. The Wild Wild West here in Vegas is known as a 'sleeper' job, which in dealer speak means that it is a joint that nobody would ever suspect as having a good tipping crowd, but does. The dealers there make good money from some of the more generous truckers. Having been in there a few times, I ran into quite a few non-tipping truckers, but its not because they were stiffs, its because they just didn't know that dealers make a living off their tips and didn't know how to tip a dealer. Once they learn, they are almost always George (slang for good tipper). Tipping your dealers is not just a decent gesture, it will benefit you as well, as your dealer will always recommend the best plays and strategies to a tipper, but will gladly watch a stiff make bonehead moves till he loses his butt. Also, despite what the general public believes, the dealers genuinely DO want you to win and not the casino (unless you are stiff). 90% of their income comes from tips and not from the minimum wage that all casinos pay their dealers. As with bartenders, dealers don't expect you to tip if your losing, but if you are on a hot streak and don't take care of your dealer they will generally become quite rude. You don't have to be overly generous. If your betting say $5 bucks a hand and winning, just place a dollar chip in front of your betting circle (thats how you tip a dealer) every once in a while, and that is often times enough to see a personality transplant happen in that dealer right before your eyes.

Even with the best strategies in place you WILL lose over the long run (unless your a card counter, buts thats a whole other post). If you are playing poorly, you will lose a lot and fast and could see paychecks disappear. Players that play with proven strategies in place will generally be able to stretch their money and enjoy the free drinks and have a good time. If you want to be this type of player but don't know how, just tip your dealer $5 before you ever start playing and let them know you need lessons on the best way to play that game. That $5 WILL save you thousands. Of course you will save thousands more by never setting foot in casino. After 5 years, me personally, the last place I want to be on a break is inside a smelly noisy casino

 

My wife and I enjoy stopping at different casinos to eat.

#1 - The parking lots are almost always covered by closed-circuit TV cameras, making them very safe to park in.

#2 - Different menus than the same ol' Flyin' J offerings.

#3 - Typically, they have a shuttle that brings you back to your truck - although, come on, really, we all could use the exercise now, couldn't we?

One of my favorites is just of I-10 in 29 Palms. It's right behind the truck stop/Blue Beacon truck wash. Hotter'n heck in the summer, though.

 

ameristar has been a pretty good stop in a few places for me...
I like the one in Council Bluffs,IA... big lot for pkg, 1st exit I-29 north from I-80

ameristar in st. louis is rough to park at...but the steak house is great
The harrahs in st charles is better, but no over-night pkg, unless your a platnum member

the ameristar in KC, Mo is real good, with movie theaters, ton's of parking and great,great food...

the ameristar in vicksburg,ms is ok, but pkg is $10 overnight... but you get a food coupon... don't miss the parking lot, go slowthru town, cause it's no go for semi's past the lot.

good parking at harrah's in maricopa,Az

temecula,ca has a decent casino, but parking is limited, and not an easy on-off from freeway

blue chip in michigan city,IN has a nice casino, but off the beaten path

route 66 casino out of albuquerque, nm I-40 exit 140? has Huge pkg...

Off I-10 in indio or so, there's a few right off the freeway, easy access, good place to stop before making your la drop's...forget the name..


nuf for now,

And i only go in for the food....

 

Just wanted to chime in here. It's the Spotlight 29 Casino, but it is not in 29 Palms , it is in Coachella Ca. 29 palms is 60 miles away on a totally different highway, 62 to be exact.