Bally’s on the Las Vegas Strip was opened in 1973, with the name MGM Grand. It was the largest hotel in the world at this time and had 2,083 rooms. Ten years later, 732 rooms were even added to it. It was only in 1986 that the establishment adopted its current name, following its acquisition by the famous pinball company. The establishment still has this name today, although it became the property of Caesars Entertainment group in 2005. That is the story in a nutshell…
The establishment has a perfect location in the southeast of the Strip at the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Flamingo Road. In short, Bally’s is surrounded by many other famous hotel casinos, such as for example the Bellagio, Paris and Caesars Palace.
In this detailed review I will highlight what the casino has to offer.
A slightly outdated casino
Let us not waste another minute, and let us look immediately at the casino part of Bally’s. The games room is not very large, and located on the ground floor. The size is just over 6,200 m², which is not necessarily huge for a Las Vegas casino. It even feels a bit cramped in there, and aside from that the room is a little dated. The carpet is not brand new, many of the slot machines are rather old and the felt on most tables deserves to be replaced. Fortunately, the place is always very clean.
The slot machines
There are 1,057 slot machines in total in the casino. Although a lot of the games are a little old, there are still plenty of newer games available. A very good point is that there is an area reserved for machines with payout rates higher than 98%, and this part is surprisingly not very busy! Also note that there is a large selection of devices with relatively high minimum bets, ranging from $1 to $25, which should make many fans happy.
The table games
Regarding the traditional table games, you can find 65 tables offering:
- blackjack,
- baccarat,
- craps,
- roulette,
- pai gow with tiles,
- pai gow poker,
- let it ride,
- three card poker.
Poker
The poker room is located in the heart of the classic table games room, and offers an intense atmosphere, as players are surrounded by the casino and all its noise, whereas this type of space is usually situated in a discreet corner. You can play at 10 different tables with Texas Hold’em Limit and No Limit tournaments with relatively low limits. The blinds are $ 2/4 or $ 5/10, which is not uncommon.
Sports betting
The race & sports book area is open Monday to Wednesday from 8 am to 8.30 pm, Thursday from 8 am to 9.30 pm, Friday from 8 am to 10 pm, Saturday from 7.30 am to 10 pm, and Sunday from 7.30 am to 9 pm. The area is beautifully designed and it is very pleasant to bet in there! The design is very modern, and you can find 200 televisions allowing you to follow the competitions on which you can bet on. The only downside is that this room is not connected to the casino and it can be difficult to find it. This is a little unfortunate, because it is a real gem. This is even coming from a person who does not really like sports betting that much!
To conclude this part of the review about the casino, let me briefly say that all these different gambling areas are open to everyone. However, if you would like to play, it is mandatory to be an adult, that is to say, be at least 21 years old, as it is the law in the US.
A hotel, restaurants and many things to do
The casino is not the only thing that Bally’s has to offer, and the resort also features a big range of other activities aside from gambling. There is something for every taste, just like in other complexes on the Strip.
Not necessarily the best hotel in Las Vegas
The hotel has a total of 2,814 rooms and suites. Overall, the rooms are very clean and have a rather classic design with standard equipment. However, there are some details that are a little annoying.
The bathroom has only one shower/bath, and the equipment is very basic with only a soap, a shampoo-conditioner and shower gel. There are also two glasses and an ice bucket. There is not a whole lot in the room either, no mini fridge and no coffee maker either. Fortunately, there is a hairdryer and a safe deposit box for $3 a day. For my taste, the beds are not particularly comfortable and the pillows are too small as well. In short, I did not always sleep well, although the rooms are also perfectly soundproofed, and no outside noise can be heard.
Restaurants for every budget and taste
If you want to eat a snack between two games or before going to sleep in one of the rooms of the hotel, you can enjoy a decent range of restaurants.
You can have a snack at :
- the Nosh specialised in snacks, sandwiches salads,
- the Sbarro offering a great selection of pasta dishes and pizzas,
- the Java Coast that offers a nice selection of pastries, fruit juices and smoothies in particular,
- the Nathan’s Famous known for its famous hot dogs.
Guests looking for more elaborate dishes can choose from :
- the SEA : The Thai Experience,
- the Buca Café Italiano,
- the Tequila Taqueria.
Gourmets willing to pay a little more can choose from :
- the BLT Steak offering a large selection of meat dishes,
- the Sterling Brunch with a premium all you can eat self service buffet.
Many leisure and relaxation facilities
There are also many other things to do at Bally’s. You can enjoy:
- 8 tennis courts, the only one’s on the Strip,
- a large and beautiful swimming pool,
- a spa,
- a massage salon,
- a shopping centre,
- two bars (Indigo Lounge and Sully’s Bar),
- different theatres.
In conclusion, I must say that I do not really appreciate Bally’s, and this is probably felt thought the review. The casino is relatively small and the hotel is not particularly attractive. It is for sure not the establishment of the century in Las Vegas.
Nevertheless, I must also say that it has some advantages. It has a great location, and offers a good value for money. The swimming pool is very nice and the tennis courts add more fun for fans of this game.
Although I do not really like the casino, it offers some advantages as well. There is a dedicated area for slot machines offering high payout rates, and the poker room offers a intense atmosphere. The sports betting area also stands out as one of the best on the Strip.
With this in mind, it is not a bad establishment, wouldn’t you agree? After all, everything is a matter of taste and it depends on what you want. I am sure that many people will find here what they are looking for.