10 Underrated Las Vegas Casino Experiences You Can't Miss

There’s so much to do in Las Vegas casinos that some of the best experiences can get lost in the shuffle. Nobody can do everything they want when visiting, and it’s very easy to be distracted and detoured from plans.

Since Las Vegas is always changing, there are new things to see and do all the time. Figuring out what to do can be difficult sometimes. Just about everything in Las Vegas is overhyped — either by public relations teams who might be too good at their jobs, or by social media content creators chasing clicks.

While many attractions get more praise than they deserve, there are still plenty of forgotten gems. Even though most visitors stay at a casino hotel on the Vegas Strip, there are underrated things to see and do throughout the Las Vegas Valley.

Complimentary drinks at Resorts World Casino bars 🍷

Resorts World Las Vegas is one of the newest casinos in Vegas, having opened in 2021.

The massive property has three different hotel brands, more than 40 bars and eateries (including a food hall), a great pool complex, and much more.

Where design meets decadence. The artistry of Stubborn Seed isn’t just on the plate—it’s in every detail of the space. Welcome to your new obsession.

For reservations, visit https://t.co/LmWHbinV3V 🍽️ pic.twitter.com/Aj78Xb9at3

— Resorts World Las Vegas (@ResortsWorldLV) February 20, 2025

The property itself might fly under the radar, but two specific spots inside are well above average. The Crystal Bar on the main casino floor and the Baccarat Bar in the Crockfords High Limit room serve some of the best complimentary cocktails in town.

While many casinos stick to well drinks for bartop players, these bars offer more premium spirits as comps for active gamblers.

Ping Pang Pong at Gold Coast 🍲

There’s more than one way to do Las Vegas. Sure, there are award-winning fine dining restaurants on the Strip, but dinner at those places will cost an arm and a leg.

Gold Coast, located just over the I-15 and a few minutes from Caesars Palace, is home to a hidden gem: Ping Pang Pong. The restaurant is mostly visited by locals, and the food here is fantastic.

The hot and sour soup might be the best hangover cure in town.

Covers Expert Analysis

"On top of the great food, the check for a crew of five or six often costs about as much as one share of dinner at a fine dining restaurant on the Strip."

Marc Meltzer, Casino Writer

Cheap eats at casino malls 🍱

Prices at Vegas Strip casinos have always been higher than expected — it’s a tourist trap, after all, not unlike Times Square in New York City or Disney World in Orlando.

One of the best tips for finding affordable food and drinks is to head to casinos with attached malls. The bars and restaurants are comparatively tucked away, so they have to find a way to lure guests from the casino floor. 

Prices in these bars and restaurants are often lower than what you'll find inside the casinos themselves. Go during happy hour, and the deals get even better.

Caesars Palace, Planet Hollywood, and The Venetian all have malls with numerous bars and restaurants offering fair prices and plenty of happy hour deals.

$1 blackjack at Oyo Las Vegas ♠️

Oyo Las Vegas, located across the street from the MGM Grand, opened in 2019.

Longtime visitors might remember this small casino, just a couple of hundred steps off the Strip, as Hooters or even San Remo.

One thing that’s stuck around through the years is the $1 blackjack game. It’s the cheapest blackjack you'll find on or near the Strip.

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Just don’t expect great odds — this game pays even money on a blackjack instead of the usual 3:2 or even 6:5. The casino does offer those games, but at a higher minimum bet.

This game is for player who want to stretch their gambling budget at a table game. While $1 blackjack is the headliner at Oyo, most of their table games have lower limits than the nearby competition.

Cocktail hour at The Cosmopolitan 🍸

The Cosmopolitan is a luxury resort, so it might feel counterintuitive to expect deals here, but they exist.

Just about every restaurant at The Cosmopolitan has a cocktail hour with discounted drinks and small plates. This includes popular spots like David Chang’s Momofuku, STK, and the fantastic Sangria Hour at José Andrés’ Jaleo.

Starting the night with a few drinks and small bites is a great way to kick things off without being weighed down by a massive meal. And if you get hungry later, there are plenty of quick options available in the area.

Outdoor gambling in several locations ☀️

Sure, the hot temperatures and lack of rain aren’t great for the local water supply — but they’re perfect for outdoor gambling.

Not every casino offers outdoor gambling, but the ones that do are worth checking out. Unless a casino gets an exemption from the Nevada Gaming Control Board, they have to let gamblers into pool areas that might otherwise be for hotel guests only.

☀️ Next week, #ManiaUnderTheSun returns to the world's best outdoor pool amphitheater ☀️

Dive into the #CollegeBasketball mayhem and immerse yourself in @stadiumswim's massive 143-ft. screen! 🏀

Reserve your spot: https://t.co/WNI4weRICL pic.twitter.com/NK0Gpl5w8y

— Circa Las Vegas (@CircaLasVegas) March 15, 2025

The list of casinos offering outdoor gambling changes year to year. Caesars Palace, Circa, Fontainebleau, Golden Nugget, Red Rock, and Wynn consistently offer it.

In addition to blackjack, Fontainebleau, Golden Nugget, and Wynn have games like craps. Caesars Palace is home to the only swim-up blackjack table on the Strip, where you play blackjack while in the pool.

If table games aren’t your thing, Durango Casino and Plaza both have outdoor bars with video poker, keno, and slots.

Just be warned: these games often have the worst odds at the property.

Free music everywhere 🎸

Concert tickets in Las Vegas are among the most expensive in the country. Plenty of visitors are willing to pay the premium, as many trips are planned around headline shows.

But not everyone wants to blow their Vegas budget on a concert. People-watching is free and always entertaining, but there are also other affordable and professional entertainment options in town.

Even the tourist-heavy casinos on the Strip offer free live music in some of their lounges.

Aria, Bellagio, Encore, Fontainebleau, Harrah’s, Mandalay Bay, and MGM Grand are just some of the Vegas Strip casinos with lounges that have free entertainment, ranging from solo saxophonists to full bands.

Covers Expert Tip

"Nothing in Vegas is truly free. If you’re enjoying the music in one of these lounges, it’s expected that you’ll order at least one drink."

Marc Meltzer, Casino Writer

Free booze and value meals at Ellis Island 🍴

Ellis Island might be the most popular Las Vegas casino that visitors have never been to. This small casino, just a block east of Horseshoe, is packed with great deals.

The $9.99 steak special includes two sides and a starter is popular with budget-conscious visitors. It’s also free if you earn 200 points from gambling. You can also get $5 off a meal just by playing $5 in a slot machine.

If you're not familiar, Ellis Island also offers cheap gambling with player-friendly rules and solid odds.

Secret bars and restaurants 🤐

Hidden speakeasies are a trend that doesn’t seem to be slowing down in Las Vegas. The casinos are full of secret bars, lounges, and restaurants, and more keep opening.

The Cosmopolitan alone has at least five secret spots. Many people know about “Secret Pizza” thanks to the ever-present line, but fewer know about the Ski Lodge hidden inside Superfrico, and even fewer have experienced the ultra-exclusive é at Jaleo.

Explore the casino because you never know what you’ll find behind the door that looks like an emergency exit in the Block 16 food hall. Likewise, there may be more to see and do in that barbershop just off the casino floor.

Easy's at Proper Eats Food Hall at Aria is really cool! pic.twitter.com/1B8DGOiXCe

— LasVegasFill (@LasVegasFill) March 7, 2023

Why is there a velvet rope outside Easy’s Donuts at Aria's Proper Food Hall late at night when it’s closed? That’s because it hides a cozy lounge with free entertainment.

These kinds of hidden gems aren’t limited to the Strip — you’ll find them downtown and in the neighborhoods where locals live, 10–30 minutes from the main action.

Great views of Las Vegas from Mandalay Bay 👀

Sometimes, popular things are still underrated — and that’s the case with the stunning views available from the Mandalay Bay hotel complex.

The Foundation Room on the 63rd floor of the main Mandalay Bay tower has sweeping views of the Strip and the east side of Las Vegas, including the action at Harry Reid International Airport. The terrace has VIP booths and pumps in vibey music for those who may have recently aged out of the nightclub scene.

For a different angle, head up to Skyfall Lounge on the 64th floor of the W Las Vegas tower (formerly Delano). Located on the west side of the complex, it offers panoramic views of the Strip from behind and above the Luxor pyramid.