The Best Comp in Vegas and Who We Have to Thank

What does the World Series of Poker and free drinks in casinos have in common. Benny Binion. He invented them both. If you read his story it is contradictory to say the least. He was convicted of murder more than once and implicated in others. Yet he was beloved by many. Telling his story is more than a blog can do. I knew that he was responsible for the World Series of Poker. But perhaps his greatest contribution is that he was the first casino operator to offer free drinks to the gambling public. So the next time you get a drink at a casino, remember to thank Benny.

For more on the life of Benny Binion go here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benny_Binion

Free in Las Vegas - Largest Bronze Statute in the US MGM Lion

It is easy to find. Millions of people drive right by it every year. Right out in front of the MGM in Las Vegas.

MGM Lion Statue was cast in 1,600 individual half inch thick plates.
The total height of the statue is 70 feet including the 25 feet pedestal.
Weight of the statue is 100,000 lbs. That's one big statute.

World Largest Coke Bottle Las Vegas

So if you asked me to prove it, I couldn't. I know its not all that interesting, unless of course you are an angel named Micheal and you are doing a reprisal of your recent movie, except this time its the west coast wonders. It's Friday and I'm feeling lazy about posting anyway. If you guys were doing your job and clicking on the occasional Google ad on this blog, I might be a little more inspired. You know I make a few cents every time you click. I feel like I'm standing on a freeway on ramp begging for change. Anyway.

This is on Sin City's Strip. It right up from The MGM Grand. MGM has the biggest something too. I'll have to look that one up. It also next to the M&M store. So coke an candy. Such a deal

Cowboy Vic aka Vegas Vic Las Vegas Icon

It is easy to walk around Vegas and get overwhelmed by the sites and sounds. Everywhere you look there are signs with flashing lights and spectacular displays. Sometimes there is a lot of history behind the glitz. It the 1940's Vegas needed visitors. The city father hired a publicity firm to do the job. A caricature of a cowboy was created for the campaign. The phrase "Howdy Podner" was used in the adverting. It was a hit. Shortly there after a Neon sign version of the character was designed and placed upon the Pioneer Club on Fremont Street. The original sign had a waiving arm, a moving cigarette. and said "Howdy Podner" every few minutes. The arm no longer waives and he has been silenced. Other that that he has been restored and remains in his original perch on Fremont street. The building is now a souvenir store.

Nascar Cafe Sahara Hotel Las Vegas

Located in the Sahara Hotel and Casino of the Las Vegas Strip, the Nascar Cafe delivers the sites and sounds of NASCAR. Las Vegas has a long racing history. At the Las Vegas Speedway anyone can drive the track in exotic cars. SEMA and other conventions are regularly held here. The Nascar Cafe is a perfect place to round out a NASCR fans visit to the city.

Elvis Sighted Playing Poker on Fremont Street Las Vegas

I was at one of my favorite places to play poker and in walks Elvis. Just behind him was Austin Powers. The two had come from just outside of The Golden Nugget where they had been meeting and greeting fans and having their photos taken. They make regular appearances on Fremont Street and this is not the first time that I have played poker with them. You know Elvis is generous to a fault and he usually lets me win. "Thank you very much"

Elvis can be reached at http://www.lvtalentkings.com/

The Best Kept Secret in Las Vegas

Slot machines are the bread and butter of a casino. This is where they make most of their money. It is no wonder that most of the floor space in a casino is occupied by slot machines. The best kept secret in Vegas is how much they pay. Gaming laws in Nevada set limits on how much of your money a slot machine can keep. The minimum payback in Nevada is 75%. That means that if you run $100 in a machine you should get back $75. It doesn't actually work that way on a short term survey. But if you put money in this slot machine for year you should have 75% of your money left.

The worst slot machines are at places like the Airport. They are set to keep a greater portion of your bets. It is alleged that there are slot machines that pay back 98% of the money that is played. I once went into a casino that had a sign out side that said 98% payback slots. I found out that this only applied to a certain bank of slots and was not every slot machine in the casino.

I have done some searching and can not find a survey or report that discloses which casino has what return. You see advertisements around Vegas that describe the loosest slots in Vegas. The best advise that I can give at this point is that the big hotels on the Strip have the worst payback. Downtown at Fremont Street is looser on average than the strip, and the outlying local casinos are the best place to play. Finally if you have some money that you haven't yet lost and you are at the Airport, play the slots.

Free in Las Vegas - Pawn Stars Pawn Shop

The location of the Pawn Stars Pawn Shop is at 713 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas Nevada. This is essentially within down town Las Vegas. This is a couple of blocks to the south of Fremont Street. The pawn shop is now something of a tourist attraction. It's among those photo opportunities of which vacations are filled with. It's quite common to observe folks posing in front of the shop. You are welcome to walk inside the Pawn Shop. I have notice that lately there is a line to get in.  I did this and discovered the whole cast of the Television show inside and working like it was just simply any other day. This was a little while back so I can't state if it is still true. The cast is becoming kind of well-known. The Pawn Shop is actually know as 'Gold & Silver Pawn". I can not help but believe that the show has changed the pawn shop. For right now there's no entrance fee. Go have your picture taken and its Free in Las Vegas.

Free in Las Vegas - Caesar's Palace Michelangelo's David

Michelangelo's David is alive and well in Las Vegas.
This is an exact replica of Michelangelo's masterpiece, that was originally hewn in the early 16th Century. The David stands 18 feet high and weighs more than nine tons. The sculpted is from the same Italian marble used by the master for the original. it is believed that David's pose depicts the tense moment, of tightening muscles and rising excitement, just before his facing and slaying the towering Goliath. He looks relaxed to me.

The original is in Florance Italy and is available for viewing there. But if you are in Vegas anyway, this is a nice bit of culture that is free in Las Vegas. It is located in Caesar's Place.

Welcome to Las Vegas Sign

One of the most famous sign of all time. The image of the sign is not protected under copyright and has been reproduced on every Vegas souvenir you can imagine. You too can have your own personal Vegas souvenir. Just drive a few miles south on Las Vegas Blvd. The local government created a parking lot at the sign so that the many thousands of visitors could safely have a picture taken at the sign. The sign has acutally been around since the '50s. This first one is on the highway leading from southern California. There is now one on Boulder Highway. There is also a sign similar to this orginal that welcomes visitors to "Downtown" Vegas. The real live authentic sign is just south of the strip. And its Free in Las Vegas

Fremont Street Experience Las Vegas

One of my favorite places in Vegas is Fremont Street. This is the downtown area of Vegas. The actual street has been closed and made into a pedestrian mall. The center piece of Fremont Street is the over head canopy. After the sun goes down the light shows begin. The Canopy is over 500 yards long. It has 12.5 million LED modules with a 550,000 watt concert quality sound system. It is awesome. There are two or three stages where there is regularly scheduled entertainment.

People watching is also in Vogue. Elvis, Batman, and Spiderman are regular attendees. For a fee, they will snuggle up with you for a picture. There are others in costume roaming around the street. I particularly like the show girls.
.

Also a part of the Fremont Street Experience is the Neon Museum. Las Vegas has scattered around town some of the iconic neon signs from its past. Las Vegas has set these signs up for all to remember. Fremont Street has a population of These signs.

The street is populated by vendor carts where you can buy all sorts of souvenirs and such. There are huge dedicated souvenirs stores. And of course there are numerous Casino hotels. I think the best of the bunch is the Golden Nugget. Binnion's is also a very famous casino on the street. Binnion's gave birth to the World Series of Poker. One of oldest continually operating Casinos in Las Vegas is located on Fremont Street. It is a little east of the Canopy by a couple of blocks. The El Cortez hotel was once owned by the famous reported mobster Bugsy Segal. If I remember my history correctly Bugsy sold the hotel in the late '50s.

The best part about all of this is that it is free to experience.  Thanks for visiting.  On you way out, can you click on one of those google ads.  They are harmless and I'll make a few cents.  Thanks.

Free in Las Vegas - Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World

This is an interesting item to be on the list. Anyone knows that it is free to visit a store. However this store is more like a museum or attraction than any store that I have ever visited. I like out door stuff anyway, but the displays in this store are amazing. Your walking around the place and suspended from the ceiling is a school of large fish. Various animals are displayed in natural settings throughout the store. And don't forget the fish stream running in the store.   The Store is connected to the Silverton Hotel.  This hotel has a 1117,00 Gallon aquarium with over 4000 different fish.  I was very impressed with this floor to ceiling display.
Definitely worth a visit and its free in Las Vegas

Free in Las Vegas - Welcome to Las Vegas Sign

One of the most famous sign of all time. The image of the sign is not protected under copyright and has been reproduced on every Vegas souvenir you can imagine. You too can have your own personal Vegas souvenir. Just drive a few miles south on Las Vegas Blvd. The local government created a parking lot at the sign so that the many thousands of visitors could safely have a picture taken at the sign. The sign has acutally been around since the '50s. This first one is on the highway leading from southern California. There is now one on Boulder Highway. There is also a sign similar to this orginal that welcomes visitors to "Downtown" Vegas. The real live authentic sign is just south of the strip. And its Free in Las Vegas

Free in Las Vegas - Volcano at the Mirage

First opened in 1989 the Volcano at Mirage is a site to see. The attraction includes water, lighting and sound effect to heighten the experience. If you stand directly in front of the Mirage you feel the heat from the fire burst. The eruption schedule begins at 6:00 p.m. and continues on the hour until the last show at 11:00 p.m.

And its Free in Las Vegas

Free in Las Vegas - Lion Habitat at MGM Grand

From 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. the MGM Grand Hotel displays lions for public viewing. The habitat is in the casino area and allows a very close look at the lions. There are usually several on display and they are accompanied by caretakers. The lions do not live at the MGM. They are brought in daily from a facility just outside of Las Vegas. The MGM displays many different lions so that the same lions are not displayed every day. Not too long ago long ago one of the lions went back to nature and bite a caretaker. The Caretaker is okay. However, MGM did not make the a regular part of the display.

Lions at the MGM and it is Free in Las Vegas

Free in Las Vegas - The Sirens of TI

Out side the Treasure Island hotel is a Vegas favorite, The Sirens of TI. We're not talking about emergency vehicle sirens. We're talking about the beckoning call of beautiful women. The show times are in the evening 7:00, 8:30 and 10:00 p..m. In the winter months there is a 5:30 show and in the summer months there is a 11:30 show.

This is a swash buckling adventure where Boy chases Girl on 17Th century sailing ships. They have songs, dancing romance and explosions. What more could you ask for and its Free in Las Vegas

Free in Las Vegas - Fremont Street Experience

One of my favorite places in Vegas is Fremont Street. This is the downtown area of Vegas. The actual street has been closed and made into a pedestrian mall. The center piece of Fremont Street is the over head canopy. After the sun goes down the light shows begin. The Canopy is over 500 yards long. It has 12.5 million LED modules with a 550,000 watt concert quality sound system. It is awesome. There are two or three stages where there is regularly scheduled entertainment.

People watching is also in Vogue. Elvis, Batman, and Spiderman are regular attendees. For a fee, they will snuggle up with you for a picture. There are others in costume roaming around the street. I particularly like the show girls.
.

Also a part of the Fremont Street Experience is the Neon Museum. Las Vegas has scattered around town some of the iconic neon signs from its past. Las Vegas has set these signs up for all to remember. Fremont Street has a population of These signs.

The street is populated by vendor carts where you can buy all sorts of souvenirs and such. There are huge dedicated souvenirs stores. And of course there are numerous Casino hotels. I think the best of the bunch is the Golden Nugget. Binnion's is also a very famous casino on the street. Binnion's gave birth to the World Series of Poker. One of oldest continually operating Casinos in Las Vegas is located on Fremont Street. It is a little east of the Canopy by a couple of blocks. The El Cortez hotel was once owned by the famous reported mobster Bugsy Segal. If I remember my history correctly Bugsy sold the hotel in the late '50s.

The best part about all of this is that it is free to experience.

Bellagio Conservatory

Located just beyond the the check in counter in a spacious atrium. The Bellagio employs over 140 people to follow the changing seasons. You can visit the Conservatory over and over with a new experience each time. The atrium is open 24 hours a day seven days a week.



This living breathing work of art and its Free in Las Vegas

Free in Las Vegas Pinball Hall of Fame Museum

This Museum is free to enter. It is run by a not for profit organization. The vintage pinball machines are playable. The machine are from the '50s, '60s, '70s and '80s. Most require the deposit of a quarter. The funds generated by game play are donated to the Salvation Army. The museum is located at 1610 E Tropicana Ave. Las Vegas, NV 89119 (702) 434-9746

The hours of operation are from 11 am to 11 pm, except Saturday and Sunday when they stay open until 12 pm. The web site address is http://www.pinballmuseum.org./

Free Things to do off the Strip in Vegas

I want to develop a list of free things to do off the strip. I need your ideas on this. The world's largest gold nugget is available for viewing free of charge. You could have your picture taken with one million dollars cash. You could visit the Pawn Stars shop. I want your ideas. Use the comment function. Thanks for your help