The Vegas All-Nighter: A Casino Road Trip Without So Much Road

I’m used to casino trips where I have all the time I need to see what I want to see, do what I want to do, and gamble as much as I want to gamble.

This one was a little different.

I went out to Las Vegas not as Casino Collective, but just as Mitch — traveling with a non-gambling friend, playing tourist, and watching sports all weekend. It felt strange not having a single gambling stop planned.

By the last night of the trip, though, I was ready to change that narrative.

My friend turned in early, and I saw an opportunity to put the Casino Collective hat on and try to pack an entire day’s worth of casinos into one night.

That decision ended up being an expensive one — but that’s just the way it goes sometimes.

With a rental car, no real plan of action, and about 10 hours before I had to pick my friend up and head to the airport, I made sleep a second priority and set out to hit as many casinos as I could.

First stop: The Resort at Summerlin

We started the night with a Las Vegas Aviators minor league baseball game, and I always seem to find myself at The Resort at Summerlin after taking in a game at Las Vegas Ballpark. This was my first time back since it rebranded from Rampart Casino at the start of the year.

So far, the changes are minimal. There’s a new marquee along Rampart Boulevard, but the sign along Summerlin Parkway still shows “Rampart Casino,” which is kind of funny to see side by side with the new sign.

I couldn’t possibly fly all the way out to Las Vegas and not play at least one game of blackjack, and with an empty double-deck table calling my name, I finally sat down for my first game — 72 hours after arriving in town.

This one went well. I nearly doubled my buy-in after about an hour of play with a great dealer, and most importantly, I got my pitched blackjack fix for the trip (at least I thought I got my fix; it turned out it wouldn’t be my last time playing this type of game that night).

The Resort at Summerlin continues to be a reliable spot for cheap table games with favorable rules in a comfortable atmosphere. It’s one of the few places in Vegas that doesn’t really feel like you’re in Vegas, because of how calm and relaxed it is. It also has one of my favorite views in the city from the top of the parking garage.

On a Saturday evening, table limits at The Resort at Summerlin included $10 6-deck 3:2 blackjack, 6:5 Free Bet blackjack (dealt from a continuous shuffler), Ultimate Texas Hold’em (UTH), Face Up Pai Gow Poker, double-0 roulette, and 10x odds craps, $15 2-deck 3:2 blackjack, and $25 baccarat.

Second stop: South Point Hotel & Casino

It wouldn’t feel right going to Las Vegas without stopping at South Point.

Not only is it one of my personal favorites, but it seems to be a favorite for just about everyone who knows about it. It’s one of those places that can feel just as busy on a Monday afternoon as it does on a Saturday night.

What makes it even more impressive is that the table limits don’t really change — still some of the cheapest in the city, with some of the most favorable rules you’ll find (with the exception of craps, for whatever reason).

Even on a busy night, you can almost always find a spot at a table. There may not be a huge variety of games, but there’s a large quantity of them, and nearly every table was open during this visit.

Unlike my session at Summerlin, this one didn’t increase my bankroll. I took a small loss here. Nothing too bad, but with the cold streak I had been on leading into the trip, it felt on-brand.

Win or lose, though, any time spent at South Point is worth it. It’s one of the last true value-driven, old-school casino resorts left in Las Vegas.

Table limits were the same as they always are: $5 for 6-deck 3:2 blackjack, UTH, and Three Card Poker, and $10 for 2-deck 3:2 blackjack, 2x odds craps, Face Up Pai Gow Poker, double-0 roulette, and baccarat.

Third stop: Primm Valley Resort & Casino

With only a few hours left before I had to return the rental car, even I had to admit it felt a little questionable to drive all the way out to Primm Valley — especially knowing it’s currently slots-only.

That said, part of the reason for the drive was to stop at Terrible’s Road House in Jean. If you haven’t been, it’s worth checking out — one of the more unique travel stops you’ll come across, and a perfect place to fill up the tank and grab an energy drink to keep the night going.

About 15 minutes south is Primm Valley Resort & Casino, now the only remaining casino operating in Primm after the closure of Buffalo Bill’s and Whiskey Pete’s. It’s a bit of a shame, especially since Primm Valley was always my least favorite of the three. And it still feels strange seeing the area like this.

Since just after Covid, the property has been slots-only, but it was recently announced that table games are expected to return soon, which should help bring some life back.

Even in its current state, it was busier than I expected, with around 50 people spread throughout the floor. I walked the property, took some updated photos, and then headed back toward Las Vegas.

Fourth stop: M Resort

The double-deck blackjack at M Resort is usually a must-play for me, so I made my way there next.

By this point, it was well into the early morning hours and many of the tables were starting to close, including the one I usually play at in the main pit. Luckily, I was able to find another open double-deck game on the other side of the floor.

This session went the way of my South Point stop.

After dropping a few hands, I pressed a little too hard and tried to chase it back, which didn’t work out. Still, I was able to stretch the session to just over an hour, making it the longest of the night.

At that point, it felt fair to call it entertainment cost.

Although I can’t say I’ve ever seen M Resort’s floor overly busy, it was especially quiet by the time I arrived, and even more so when I left.

Table limits in the early hours of a Sunday morning for the tables remaining at M Resort included $5 for UTH, $10 for double-0 roulette, $15 for 2-deck 3:2 blackjack, 6-deck 3:2 Free Bet blackjack, 5x odds craps, and 5x odds Crapless craps, and $50 for baccarat. There were also $5 I Luv Suits & Three Card Poker, and $15 Face Up Pai Gow Poker tables that had already closed for the evening.

Fifth stop: Ellis Island Hotel & Casino

At this point, the lack of sleep was really starting to hit me. It was approaching 4 a.m., and with only a few hours left before I had to return the car, it didn’t make much sense to try to get any sleep at all.

Next stop was Ellis Island, which has always been a favorite of mine.

If you haven’t been to Las Vegas in a few years, you are in for one heck of a surprise when you see Ellis Island. The old tile flooring and darker interior have been replaced with carpet and brighter lighting, giving it a much more modern feel.

The exterior has also been expanded along Koval Lane, with LED boards and large windows that give you a unique view of the Strip from inside.

Part of me misses the older, more dive-y feel it used to have — but at the same time, it’s hard to argue with how nice it looks now, especially considering it’s still a value-driven property with low limits.

Unfortunately, the blackjack results did not improve here.

Table limits on a Saturday night/Sunday morning at Ellis Island included $5 3:2 blackjack (dealt from a continuous shuffler) and 10x Roll-to-Win craps, and $10 6-deck 3:2 blackjack. There were also $5 10x odds craps, Heads Up Hold’em, and Three Card Poker tables that had closed for the day.

Sixth stop: Virgin Las Vegas

Virgin is another property that’s gone through recent changes, and it continues to be one of the more underrated spots in the city in my opinion.

It’s a solid overall value, and one of the few places where you can reliably find $5 blackjack around the clock.

By this point, it was around 5 a.m., and I was about as tired as I can remember being in Las Vegas.

In that state, I came across about 30 people casually walking around in furry costumes (minus the heads), which was a bit surreal — but certainly not the strangest thing you’ll see in Vegas.

I took a quick walk through the property and decided to keep moving rather than sit down and try to force one more session.

Table limits at Virgin were set at $5 for 6-deck 3:2 blackjack, $15 for 6-deck 3:2 Free Bet blackjack, double-0 roulette, and crapless craps, $25 for 2-deck 3:2 blackjack, and $50 for baccarat. Virgin also had $10 UTH, as well as Three Card Poker, Face Up Pai Gow Poker, and craps tables not open at that time and with no posted limits.

Seventh stop: Rio Hotel & Casino

My final stop of the trip was Rio, where I had booked the stay on a generous comp offer.

By the time I pulled into the parking lot, daylight was beginning to peek over the mountains to the east. I didn’t have enough time to sit down and play, but I did take a quick walk around the casino floor.

Like Ellis Island, Rio has gone through some major changes recently. Large portions of the floor are newly renovated and look completely different from just a few years ago, while other sections still feel like they’re waiting their turn.

It makes for a noticeable contrast walking through the property. The east wing of the casino floor, which has not yet been renovated, feels post-apocalyptic in a way, even during the daytime.

There were still several table games open, including a packed $3 craps table early in the morning, which was good to see.

All in all, table limits early on a Sunday morning at Rio include $3 5x odds craps, $10 6:5 blackjack (dealt from a continuous shuffler), $15 double-0 roulette, $25 6-deck 3:2 blackjack and baccarat, and $50 UTH. The $10 I Luv Suits and Crazy 4 Poker, $15 Three Card Poker, $25 Face Up Pai Gow Poker, and $100 Double Down Madness games were not open at that hour, but would open later in the afternoon.

I made it back up to the room … only to find my key card had stopped working. I had to wake my friend up to let me in, which felt like a fitting end to the night.

After a quick cold shower to wake me up a bit, I packed my bag and we headed out to return the rental car and catch our flight back to Texas.

Sin City whirlwind complete

Not every casino trip looks the same.

Some trips give you more time than you know what to do with, and others have you trying to fit seven casinos into one night.

This one ended up providing a mix of both. I got to spend time watching games and enjoying non-gambling activities before managing to squeeze in a full casino run at the end.

I landed back in Dallas around noon, went to sleep at 3 p.m., and didn’t wake up until the following morning.

I definitely needed the rest.