Gold Coast

Boyd Gaming took hold of Coast Casinos in 2006, renaming the Barbary Coast and leaving this spot as the oldest link in Michael Gaughan's chain. So far, it's relying on the same formula for success. Locals love the GC's machines and the players club, both of which usually take top honours in the Las Vegas Review-Journal's 'Best of Vegas' survey. There's plenty of $5 blackjack, $5 pai gow and $1 roulette for low rollers, one of the city's bigger bingo rooms (eight sessions daily) plus a 70-lane bowling alley. The 711 rooms have been upgraded with the seemingly mandatory 32in LCD TVs. For food, choose from the Cortez Room, a mid-priced steakhouse, the all-Asian Ping Pang Pong or the buffet, rated highly by locals.