Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas

The Mandarin Oriental and Roulette on The Strip

There can be few fans of gambling or just good ole’ Americana who haven’t heard about the Las Vegas Strip, also known as Las Vegas Boulevard. This is where the original big game was to be had, when Vegas first sprang up from the sands of the Mojave Desert. When you see Vegas in photos or on the silver screen it is always this iconic street that makes the cut and that we all think of as being the very heart of The City of Lights.

Yes, there are other places to spend your money in Sin City but downtown doesn’t have the glamour and glitz of this American cultural icon and while downtown has its own charms to offer, it’s The Strip that makes this crazy town in the middle of the desert the remarkable phenomenon that it is.

The Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas, is a name that rings all the bells when it comes to luxury. We are in Aria Sky Suites territory here, so slip on your dinner jacket or your cocktail dress and let’s go tke a look.

This is one of those places that is located in the middle of the action, despite all the big gun casinos around this beauty spot of a hotel, you can’t game a single cent here but it is the ultimate when it comes to sophistication and location – you really can’t get a better mid-strip spot for exploring the wonderful world of The Strip than here. If you were in China we’d recommend the Four Seasons Macau for this kind of experience, but when you are in Vegas you can’t really beat the Mandarin- it’s positioned calmly set back from the sidewalk and party on The Strip, what could be a better compromise, or better still, the perfect combination?

The Mandarin hotels around the globe are known for being understated, classy and designed to give their guests a place to relax. What is a big difference at their Las Vegas hotel is that unlike many of the neighbouring casino hotels, The Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas doesn’t offer a warren of rooms. There are far fewer guests staying here than you would expect to find in the vast majority of hotels in this district, but for some the hustle bustle of a busy lobby is part of the fun, here you check in on the 23rd floor- this place has re-written the rule book! It’s not as high as the Stratosphere, Las Vegas, but then what is?

Instead of taking a flutter in The Mandarin, at least you can really kick back here at the two floor, fantasy-inspiring spa which is a cut above the competition, and there’s naturally a pool to cool off in after a spin on a nearby roulette wheel.

Twist, by Michelin-feted chef Pierre Gagnaire, is the main dining experience on offer. This hotel isn’t a place bursting with different eateries but what it does, it does well, especially if you like your dining with a mixture of American and French cuisine.

The Mandarin is handily located right on the doorstep of the luxury-toting Crystal Mall, a shopper’s paradise stuffed to the brim with designer stores and sparkle.

If you like to relax with a classy cocktail in hand then you could do worse than take a break in the Mandarin bar offering incredible city views with just a wall of glass between you and this famed city.

Nearby is the iconic Luxor Hotel and Casino which is one of those occasions where the replica is almost better than the original and here the Luxor offers a crazy copy of the great pyramids in Egypt and a gigantic sphynx statue. But eye popping styling aside, this place offers a generous 62 table games including roulette, blackjack, craps and 3 card poker.

The Bellagio is a classic name in the big casino game found mid- strip. Here there are plenty of gaming tables for roulette and video roulette is on offer here too. For the roulette fan, this is a casino where the beauty and splendour of Italy is recreated in the architecture and grandeur of famed lakes with a magnificent false lake and fountains which put on one hell of a spectacle. Here you can grab a game of European roulette, something of a treat in this town. And if you tire of the roulette play then don’t forget that there’s the regular dancing fountain show is a must see on The Strip, just get a good spot early to avoid the crowds of onlookers.

Mandalay Bay is loaded with a slew of slots (1200) and a generous dose of table games including the Vegas rarity, European roulette, is also found in the high limit of the casino. There is also the usual run of games including baccarat, craps, blackjack and more. There are 11 tables where you can play roulette as well as video roulette if that appeals. This casino is like a giant water world with 11 acres of pools and a wave machine to add to its appeal. If you like a dip this could just be the place for you, or if you just like to watch the aquatic world go by you can catch a whole other watery world with the massive aquarium with a shark walk! Oh and did I mention the crazy amount of shopping and restaurants to feed your every appetite!

Caesar’s Palace is a name that is synonymous with The Strip with its faux Roman styling intended to make every guest feel like, well, a Roman emperor. Caesar’s is no newbie, having graced this historic street since 1965. For the roulette lover Caesar’s does offer some fun times. There are plenty of table games including roulette and there are enough wheels on offer here to make sure that you don’t need to wait to play. Note that here roulette is played with the double zero which gives the house an edge- the allusive European game is largely found in high roller areas as opposed to on the main casino floor in Vegas which is the same here.

SLS Las Vegas, is a boutique casino at the northern end of The Strip. This odd name, standing for style, luxury, and service-of course- is a bit less casino, and a bit more, fun house for your entertainment with eateries and clubbing for the energetic! Having said that, there are eight roulette wheels using the double zero system which are up for grabs with a $200 upper bet limit.

Tropicana Las Vegas is one of the city’s oldest and best loved casinos, this place has been around since the dawn of the rat pack which made this city the hot ticket that it has been ever since. This place has seen a lot of change over the years but with 62,011 square feet of casino this place is mega but with only two roulette wheels both offering double zero roulette you might come visiting for the wider experience rather than just to play roulette.

While there the occasional oases of calm on the strip, the Mandarin Oriental is the leader by a long chalk for me and while you wind down there you can also access the madness, mayhem and fun that is on offer for the roulette fan on timeless strip.