Improved gambling is the order of the day at The Cromwell on the Las Vegas Strip

Earlier this year Caesars Entertainment did something strange, they actually improved the gambling experience at The Cromwell on the Las Vegas Strip.

Marc Meltzer
Nov 1, 2017 • 03:30 ET

It’s rare to find something you really like. It’s even more rare when that thing you like is improved. That’s the case with the gambling at The Cromwell. This has been my "go to" casino to gamble at on the Vegas Strip since opening in 2014. This summer there were some changes that give even more reason to like The Cromwell casino.

The small casino built on the bones of Barbary Coast and Bill's Gamblin' Hall has been the scene of many fun nights on the Vegas Strip. Since opening the dealers, bartenders, and rest of the staff have been fantastic. My love for Pai Gow Poker may have started elsewhere but it has blossomed at The Cromwell. My friends and I have had so many fun sessions and so much scotch that it’s been difficult to find an equal gambling value on the Vegas Strip.

Earlier this year Caesars Entertainment did something strange, they actually improved the gambling experience at The Cromwell. There’s now a sportsbook near the check-in area of the casino but that’s just the beginning. The casino now offers some of the best gambling odds and rules on the Vegas Strip. The games each have minimum bets below $25 so anyone can enjoy. Take a look:

3-2 Blackjack - This is easily the best gambling improvement for The Cromwell. The majority of blackjack games in the casino are now 3:2. They offer both shoe and double-deck pitch games. Unlike most casinos on the Vegas Strip, the minimum bet is under $25. During mid-week days you should find $10 minimums. That increases to $15 at night and on the weekend. The difference in blackjack payout from 6:5 to 3:2 decreases the house edge for the casino by about 1.39%. The house edge is even lower when you play the double-deck game. Remember, the house edge is when you play perfect basic strategy.

Single “0” Roulette – This summer The Cromwell added a couple of single zero roulette tables to the main casino floor. This is a big deal since you typically only find single zero roulette in high-limit rooms on the Vegas Strip. The house edge for single zero roulette is 2.70%. The traditional “00” roulette is 5.26%. Meanwhile, The Venetian now has a "000" roulette game with a 7.69% house edge.

EZ Baccarat - Baccarat is popular because it has a small house edge of 1.06% on the banker bet and 1.24% on the player bet. Ties and side bets are higher and should probably be avoided unless you love the buzz of big payouts. EZ Baccarat is played the same way as traditional baccarat but is on the main casino floor and it eliminates the 5% commission after every winning Bank hand.

The following gambling options aren’t exactly new but they’re great.

100x Odds on Craps – Most casinos on the Vegas Strip offer 3x-4x-5x odds on passline and come bets. The house edge for those games is only 0.374%. When you place more odds, the house edge becomes microscopic. The 100x odds craps game at The Cromwell has a house edge of 0.021% and is the best in Las Vegas. Minimum bets here is usually $10 or $15 but you can sometimes find a minimum bet of $5 games during the day.

Video Poker - There are six video poker games with great paytables near the south Vegas Strip entrance. According to vpfree.com there are eight quarter games with less than a 1% house edge. The give and take here is that you’re near the open doorway only earn 1 Total Rewards point per $50 played. You’d typically earn 1 point for every $10 played.

This kind of improved gambling on the Vegas Strip is rare nowadays. If you want it to stick around you should consider spending some time gambling at The Cromwell. If this improves business, you might even see other casinos on the Vegas Strip improve their odds.


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Marc Meltzer eats, drinks, breathes and sleeps (barely) Las Vegas. If there’s a hot new nightclub opening, he’s in the VIP getting bottle service. If you’re searching for the best spots to eat in town, Marc’s memorized the menu. And if you want to gamble - be it at the sportsbook, table games, video poker or even Sigma Derby – Marc knows all the tricks to stretch your dollar, from betting strategy, to finding the best odds, to how to score some juicy comps. “What happens in Vegas” is what Marc is all about.

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