AARP Hearing Center
Gaming
Although shows, restaurants and shopping give gambling a serious run for its poker chips, it still draws its share of luck chasers and James Bond wannabes. From the penny slots almost anywhere to high-stakes poker in Bellagio’s Bobby’s Room ($20,000 minimum to play), there’s a game for every player.
Casinos on the Strip typically require higher minimum bets ($10 blackjack tables can be hard to find) than off-Strip gaming halls. While Vegas’ more than 100,000 slot machines may be fun, most just devour money. There’s often a low table or two, so wheelchair users can play.
Ways to save: Gamble downtown or at locals’ favorites, such as South Point, Ellis Island and various Station Casinos. Look for the penny slots to make your money last a bit longer. Use your players card every time you play to rack up freebies. Get free alcoholic beverages, water or soft drinks by hailing a cocktail server (and don’t forget to tip). Play on weekdays so you’ll pay less for table games and poker tournaments.
Attractions
In this over-the-top party town, the fun is endless. Rev a Ferrari on a racetrack at Exotics Racing or ride with a pro via the NASCAR Racing Experience, both at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Watch sharks and other sea life glide by at the Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay resort (those 65-plus save $2). Take a swing from a climate-controlled hitting bay at the four-story Topgolf entertainment venue. Or play Bob the Builder at the controls of a bulldozer or excavator at Dig This Las Vegas.
If you’re a nature lover, hike amid stunning rock formations in nearby Red Rock Canyon or among pinyon and ponderosa pines at Mount Charleston. Cruise Lake Mead on the Desert Princess, a Mississippi-style paddle wheeler, or tour the legendary Hoover Dam, about 30 miles southeast of the city.
Ways to save: Strip spectacles, such as the flower-filled Bellagio Conservatory, the Instagram-worthy Welcome to Las Vegas sign and the iconic Fountains of Bellagio, are free. So are downtown’s nightly light-and-music extravaganzas at the Fremont Street Experience.