My friends and I go to Las Vegas between 4 and 6 times a year. Sometimes I get lucky and get to go 7-8 times a year. There are times I go for four or five days with my friends and then turn around and two days later go again with my wife for three or four days.
Anyway, one of the things I have noticed about the casino's this year (2009) vs prior years (2006-2008) is that they are really hurting for business. Specifically, in the past when my friends and I would go to the MGM to gamble we could hardly get the dealers to talk to us or get drinks timely. Our experience at the MGM has been one of aloofness or even out-right snobbish by the MGM employees toward us. Having fun at the MGM was not an option. It got so bad that my friends who always stayed at MGM, stopped staying at this hotel and as a group we even started limiting our play time at this property.
We discovered however that the downtown casinos have some of the friendliest employees. They will talk with you, joke with you, and generally have a good time. We have spent numerous hours at these hotels and have been paid (rewarded/given/won/reimbursed) quite nicely to drink their cold beer and have fun.
Over the course of the past few days I have noticed that the atmosphere at MGM has been quite different. The dealers have been very personable. Waitresses have gotten drinks to us while they were still cold. We have been able to laugh and joke with the dealers and the pit bosses (who never would even talk to us if we had not been there for at least 4 hours and betting more than $25 a hand). It has been a refreshing change at this property. I hope that it continues so we can start going back for extended sessions.
MGM Changes Face, and it is much prettier
09-30-2011
Moved to new website 09 30 2011
Originally published April 5, 2009, moved from prior location 06/10/2009