Bingo is probably among the last thing that comes to mind when thinking about having fun in Las Vegas. However, it shouldn't be entirely disregarded. Playing bingo in a Las Vegas casino is awesome! Seriously. It's a blast.
Bingo shouldn't move to the top of your to-do list when visiting Sin City. There are easily 10-20 things you’re going to do in Las Vegas before reaching the point in your vacation where Bingo could be the most fun hour or four of your weekend.
I enjoy variety in life as much as anyone and I'm always trying new experiences - especially ones that involve gambling. Bingo was never on my list as a tourist because I was usually in and out in 48-72 hours. Things might have been different if I stayed longer or visited more often.
Discovering Bingo
I didn’t discover the world of bingo until moving to Las Vegas. I was asked to join a crew heading over to Red Rock Casino for a session shortly after moving here six years ago. I grabbed a sweet red dauber, which I still own and use, and paid $19 or $20 to play four, six, or eight games. The scene of my first bingo game was intense. Seriously. The memory is a bit fuzzy.
The crew was enjoying a few drinks, yapping, and playing bingo. They looked like people just hanging out in a casino playing Pai Gow Poker or any other game that doesn't involve too much thinking. They would chat, drink, play the game, and repeat. I was a mess trying to stay caught up on everything.
When the games were all over I realized that it was a blast hanging out with everyone. I'm almost always down to explore a new legal way to gamble and have fun with friends. I've since reduced the number of cards that I play at one time so now I can relax and enjoy the non-gaming part of the bingo experience a little more.
Casino Bingo is a Cheap Fun Time
Since that time, I’ve come to enjoy bingo way more than expected. The pleasure in the game is both semi-ironic fun and just a good hang in the casino. Don’t get it twisted, bingo isn’t something for every trip to the casino or every group of visitors.
However, $20 for an hour of booze and a potential bingo win in Las Vegas is a fun and relaxing way to hang out with a crew. I forgot to mention that some bingo rooms also offer free donuts during their morning sessions. Life is all about complimentary booze and donuts. Right?
You can actually enjoy the hour session of bingo in some casino poker rooms for even less than $20. The minimum action for an hour of bingo is somewhere around $4 and you still receive complimentary drinks. Prizes can be upwards of $10,000. This isn't about being a sharp gambler - it's about having a cheap fun hour.
Where To Play Bingo
Bingo is a special experience but it’s not for everyone. In fact, it’s such an inefficient use of space for most tourists that you won’t find a bingo game on the Vegas Strip. The closest bingo games to the tourist corridor are at Gold Coast, Orleans, and Palace Station. Bingo is serious business at Palace Station. The casino's previous name was Bingo Palace.
Palace Station is in the middle of a major property-wide renovation. The first update they made at the casino was to create a modern bingo room. The new room has a different setup than most with a full bar, round tables, and couches to complement the traditional table and chairs. Station Casinos even has theme nights (i.e. Rocky Horror Picture Show bingo for Halloween), live music and other non-traditional activities to spice things up. They even have a “Daubin’ After Dark” promotion which involves glow sticks, disco lights, and a DJ. It’s a scene, man.
The Plaza is your hotspot for bingo in downtown Las Vegas. They recently upgraded the room and have a ton of promotions. Don’t look down at bingo promotions. You could be the winner who takes home the big $10k Cash Ball.
Again, Bingo isn’t for everyone and every visit to Las Vegas. However, if you’re looking to shake things up or just do something different you might enjoy the hour spent daubing in the morning or after dark.
