Sure, regular visitors have their favorites, but Vegas isn’t for loyalists. It’s for seekers of the hottest, the newest, the now.
And lately, they want to be seen at the Cosmopolitan, where a massive chandelier conceals a three-story bar and casino cabanas overlook the Strip.
So it’s no surprise that the attention-grabbing Cosmopolitan gets more check-ins on Foursquare than any other casino in Vegas.
The social site, which counts five million check-ins worldwide daily, reviewed its Vegas data from August 2011 to August 2012 to provide us with this exclusive list of the most popular casinos in Sin City. (After all, even if what happens stays secret, half the fun is letting all your friends know you’re in Vegas, baby.)
Established hotels, too, are coming up with new reasons to check in, spending millions on upgrades like the sunlit high-limits slot rooms at the Wynn Las Vegas (No. 14) or a refresh of the 171,500-square-foot casino at MGM Grand (No. 2). The biggest efforts go into the kinds of celeb-chef restaurants, retail stores, and entertainment venues that increasingly divert visitors’ attention from gambling.
Look for the Hakkasan restaurant and club coming to MGM Grand in 2013; four zip lines running between the Luxor pyramid and the Excalibur; a giant observation wheel at the Flamingo; and Gordon Ramsay’s first Vegas restaurant. At the No. 7-ranked Venetian, a mobile sports betting app makes it easier than ever to venture away from the casino floor.
While you can gauge the hipness of a casino by its volume of check-ins, that won’t predict your likelihood of winning big. But at least one thing’s certain: the lure of a deal. Foursquare found that the casinos with the most loyal patrons (those that got the most check-ins from repeat visitors) are affordable options like Circus Circus and Aquarius Casino Resort.
Read on for the latest buzz about Vegas’s popular hotel casinos, plus tips like where rookie gamblers can get free poker lessons, which 500-dish buffet is worthwhile, and how to score reservations at the soon-to-open Nobu Hotel at Caesars Palace.
And wherever you are right now, check in to Foursquare and follow Travel + Leisure for tips and curated recommendations in hot spots around the world.
#1: The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
Amid a sea of themed hotels, Vegas’s most checked-in casino makes an urbane, design-forward statement.
That goes for the casino floor, too, where you can gamble and socialize in casino cabanas whose floor-to-ceiling glass walls overlook the Strip (no reservation necessary). Foursquare users also likely flock here to party at Marquee Nightclub (and summer poolside Marquee Dayclub), shop, and eat out, whether rustic Italian at Scarpetta or burgers and boozy shakes at Holsteins.
The Cosmopolitan can’t be topped for surprises, from a pop-up wedding chapel to monthly live-in artists who work in a public storefront.
The Buzz: Live music, free parties, and movies below the 65-foot digital marquee at the Boulevard Pool. Concerts by the likes of Stevie Wonder and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, especially for New Year’s Eve, are becoming legendary.
#2: MGM Grand & Hotel Casino
At 171,500 square feet, MGM’s casino is the largest in the city, and it is getting a refresh (including clearer directions through the cavernous space) while preserving some classic elements like Sigma Derby, the last remaining mechanical horse-racing game on the Strip.
After all, MGM Grand has been an icon for nearly 40 years, with its giant lion dominating the intersection of Las Vegas and Tropicana. The nearly completed $160 million renovation extends to the 3,570 guest rooms and 642 suites and ushers in LED lighting, solar shades and biodegradable amenities.
The Buzz: Early in 2013, the Cantonese-themed restaurant and nightclub Hakkasan opens. Before the end of 2012, Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp will set up permanent shop, letting super fans and would-be rockers play with legends like Roger Daltrey, Alice Cooper, and Sammy Hagar.
#3: Caesars Palace Las Vegas Hotel & Casino
In keeping with its opulent reputation, Caesars claims to have been the site of more million-dollar plus slot machine jackpots than any casino in the world.
In general, gaming is geared toward high rollers: two poker rooms get a lot of action (one for cash play, the other exclusively for tournaments); and sports gamers love the sports book, where most of the seats have tables with TVs. Qua Spa remains mostly unsurpassed, and the Forum Shops at Caesars are always adding something new under that ceiling that mimics the changes in real daylight.
Then, there’s the Colosseum, which hosts entertainers like Celine Dion, and, coming in December 2012, Shania Twain.
The Buzz: Rarely does a buffet make major news on the Strip, but the new Bacchanal buffet lives up to its name, with more than 500 dishes spanning the world. Insider tip: check into the 180-room boutique Nobu Hotel when it opens in early 2013 (taking reservations as of Oct. 1, 2012) for your only chance to order Nobu in-room.
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