A&E

The return of locals casinos means a lot to a lot of Las Vegans

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Boulder Station
Photo: Steve Marcus

It’s about time! I haven’t been to a bingo game, played a slot machine or had coffee shop breakfast in two and a half months. Sure, I’ve got eggs at home, but the bingo and slots on my iPad are nowhere near as fun. And my cats don’t cheer me on when I win … although they kinda give me side-eye when I win a second time, the same way my compadres in the bingo hall do.

We Las Vegans love our locals casinos. We’re there for lots of reasons—food, spas, shows and, yes, gaming, too. In this transient town, neighborhood joints can become our roots—and many of us return to the same spots for years upon years.

Whether it’s a nice release from a stressful day, chilling out over a beer or a chance to win a few bucks playing slots, bingo or blackjack, it’s part of our routines. At Texas Station and Fiesta Rancho, I knew many of the bingo callers and agents, beverage servers, players club workers and customers. And they certainly knew me. Chatting with my fellow bingo players—sharing tales of our biggest wins and terrible losing streaks—can feel therapeutic. Once in a while a cake appears, and a regular gets a “Happy Birthday” called out over the PA.

My husband and I schedule date night at our neighborhood resorts—trying out the barbecue place or the high-end steakhouse, taking in a movie or playing slots for an hour or two. In preparation for date night, I peruse the monthly mailings and consider the contests and the freebies being offered. (A few coats and a lot of alcohol have come my way in that manner.) It’s like a local a treasure hunt.

Some locals casinos aren’t reopening yet, and that leaves me worried for the workers there. Whenever they do, I’ll be there, playing bingo. I’ll have a mask on, and I won’t sit right next to you, but if you win, I’ll clap. And just this once, I won’t hiss if you do it again.

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