Covers.com is looking for Las Vegas Aficionados

Covers.com is looking for people who live and breath Las Vegas. We need people who can answer things like;

• Where are the best places to eat in Vegas?

• What bar should I go to on a Thursday nigh in Vegas?

• What casino would you recommend for a blackjack player?

• What sportsbook has the best comps in Las Vegas?

Everybody thinks they know Las Vegas. We need people who can prove it.

If you are interested in helping Covers.com with a new Las Vegas initiative please post a list of your Top 3 recommendations for one of the categories below as well as a description of why you recommend each item on your list.

• Hotels
• Casinos
• Sportsbooks
• Poker Rooms
• Nightlife
• Restaurants
• Golf
• Shows/Entertainment
• Must See Attractions
• Tours

We'll contact you, if you've got the right stuff. We hope you pass the test and become one our Las Vegas Aficionados.

Cheers,
Mr_C

You guys realize that this is beyond subjective, right?  One person's opinion is going to much different than that of another.  Vegas is so broad, catering to almost every person in every different tax bracket for example. It's almost impossible to pin down what's the "best."   I can tell you what I like, but that may be very different for anyone else.

So statements like, "if you've got the right stuff" and "....hope you pass the test" is a bit confusing me. The "right stuff"?  Is this what you guys think is appropriate or conforms with your own opinions?  What "test"?  Is this my writing skills?

I'm not trying to be sarcastic, I'm interested in contributing.  I live here now and used to vacation here very frequently for many, many years.

• Casinos:
  
  My top 3 picks. The three casinos mentioned are the most elegant and all around best casinos in Vegas. Also these our views of mine and of course there our other great places to stay while in Vegas.
  
  1. Bellagio:
  
  One of the most upscale casinos in Vegas and there are many reasons why. Here are a couple of great adventures I had while staying at the "holy" Bellagio. First and foremost the Bellagio casino is one of the quietest casinos on the strip when it comes to the click-clack noise coming from those damn slots. Your first footsteps in the Bellagio are like walking into a Roman Empire. The golden horse delights you as the check-in ladies are located on the left of the entrance in the mid-size lobby. If you decide to start your adventure early the famous botanical garden that no gambler cares about is located straight behind the lobby. On the right of the garden is the wonderful restaurant where all the eating will be going down while staying at Bellagio. Getting off the elevator and heading towards the room is very exciting. The rooms are very nice especially with the very elegant bathroom that I never used besides showering a couple times. Also one great benefit about the room is that it comes with a safe. The safe came very handy while tearing it up in poker room and blackjack tables. Speaking of the poker rooms, it is in the back left corner of the casino, next to the sports book and has a two level tier to it. With the high roller tables being on the second tier, you might catch some famous players in there from time to time. I was lucky enough to play up on the 2nd tier, due to an open table for an 8/16 limit game. Great eating here and also about 1-2 late night bars for relaxing with high society. For the price of about 300-500 dollars a night the Bellagio is definitely worth the price. You must also check out at least one show of "Cirque Du Soleil" inside the awesome theater. If you got money, the Bellagio is a top pick when staying on Vegas.
  
  #2. Venetian:
  
  Pure elegance is an under statement when talking about the Venetian. One of the most top notch casinos in Vegas. The Venetian has redefined class to a whole new level with its huge lobby. It's like walking into a golden palace of a famous Egyptian god with a new age twist. Gambling here feels like gambling with the ancient gods. When you finally decide to settle down and feel part of the casino you will have many choices of things to do. With about 22 dining sites to attend you might run out of room in your belly. Once filling up your stomach you can hit the tables or take off to the 10,000 sq foot Tao nightclub. There are many numerous shows to attend here also. Hands down a must stay. A gamblers paradise to heaven.
  
  3. Wynn:
  
  Don' let the main entrance fool you for being smaller than the other two casinos I have mentioned. The Wynn opens up to colorful romantic type setting. Don't let the colorful layout fool you gamblers into becoming a romantic type guy. The casino level is one of the most trap magnet places there are on the strip. If you have lots of money be sure to check out the Ferrari dealership located by the entrance. The Wynn is definitely a new style casino in Vegas which will set trends for futures casinos. The Wynn also has its on golf course. What more can a man want than to gamble, eat, and play golf. Maybe take a wonderful date to the award winning chefs restaurants that are located throughout the whole casino. If it is shopping, gambling, or hanging out you are looking for, the Wynn is definitely a great choice “win” looking for fun.
• 
  
• Yes, the entire three casino’s I have mentioned are very upscale, but they’re still considered the best casinos in my opinion as a must stay while in Vegas. Tune in  next week for I will give my top three picks for the most affordable and most worth wild casinos to enjoy while in Vegas.

I've worked at 2 of the top nightclubs in Vegas the past 4 years, and currently am still at one of them; does that count?

The top clubs in Vegas:  Tryst, Tao, LAX, Pure
Honorable mention:  Body English, Jet

Sportsbooks in Vegas have terrible comps.  You must get a player's card, and places such as the Coast Casinos you must get a card just for the sportsbook.  The rule of thumb is for every $500 you gamble you get $1 in comps.  Not worth being tracked for potential tax purposes, in my opinion.

Sportsbooks in Vegas have terrible comps.  You must get a player's card, and places such as the Coast Casinos you must get a card just for the sportsbook.  The rule of thumb is for every $500 you gamble you get $1 in comps.  Not worth being tracked for potential tax purposes, in my opinion.

For shows, I recommend "Love", the tribute to The Beatles.  Beautifully remastered original recordings playing while watching an entertaining show.

My favorite steakhouse is N9ne, located in the Palms.  The hotel is premium, the steakhouse is trendy, and the food is superb.  You can't ask for a better ambience for the grown and sexy crowd.

Another restaurant I recommend is Maggiano's, located in The Fashion Show Mall.  It is a chain restaurant, but has the intimacy of a true Italian eatery.  Dark wood trimmings with the sounds of Sinatra playing while overlooking the strip.  The menu is robust and delicious, and is not overpriced.  The full size portion of spaghetti will feed 3 people easily.

Since this is a sports-based website, here is a short list of athletes I have met at the clubs I've worked at in Vegas.

Lebron James, Carmello Anthony, Dwyane Wade, Cuttino Mobley, Charles Barkley, Rob Harper, Jermaine O'Neal, Amare Stoudamire, Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry.

Jermaine Dye, Jason Giambi, Mo Vaughn

Sergei Federov

Mike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather

Tito Ortiz, Chuck Liddell, Randy Couture, Rampage Jackson


Some of these guys I have merely shaken their hand or said hello to.  Others I have escorted to and from the clubs and have been tipped by a few.  Floyd Mayweather is a regular at the top clubs here since he is a resident.  My favorite athlete is Cuttino Mobley.  He mingles with other people and has no ego, always shows the bouncers love, and used to tip me $100 every time he saw me.

And it was funny to see Jim Gray (the annoying reporter) hanging out at my club two nights in a row recently.

Maybe because they are biker rednecks lol. When I went there the bartender didn't even know how to make a SOCO and lime shot. She took SOCO and squezzed the lime juices into it. Fucking gross I think I got a seed too. All the dealers are dumb hooters girls that scam the bikers. hahahahahh

Hard Rock sucks too if you play BlackJack

Doesnt matter if it is quarter table or dollar table, you'll get the "split faces against a face" idjits

I saw Lennox Lewis and Miguel Cotto at the club last night.  Cotto is a midget.  And Lennox had a girl dancing on him at his table most of the night.