this review is just for the casino.

the night we went we had a great time at the Casino. the dealers we had were pleasent & set a nice pace for our blackjack games. the cocktail waitress were attentive, the drinks were as watered down as anywhere else but at least they were free flowing.

All we did there was blackjack so I can't say how the rest of the place is but the atmosphere had a great deal of whooping & hollering with happy players. I liked this atmosphere much better than the morose tables at the Venetian.

I just love this little place. It has it's flaws, but the benefits far outway the problems if you're interested in saving a few hundred dollars. Not the place for a honeymoon, but perfect when visiting with friends and just need a place to rest and clean up. Perfect location, and the elevator is just a few steps from the actual Vegas Strip sidewalk. No need to lug your bags for miles from the check-in desk to your room. Just be sure to ask for a room near the elevator shaft, as the hallway is pretty long. Nice and secure entrance to the guest areas ( you need a room key to enter the building and someone is always posted at the door, too ). Rooms are clean, simple, and haven't had a problem with noise. Flawless location. Easy to walk to any expensive restaurant or show. Fast access to monorail via Harrah's, which is right next door. For those flying into the Vegas airport, I highly suggest avoiding the taxi station and taking a shuttle bus to The Mirage. From there, walk right across the street and you're ready to check into Casino Royale. Stayed there in September and December of 2007 and already booked another week in April of 2008. Use the money you save to take in some great shows and you will remember your trip forever.

Let me start by saying that I did NOT stay in this hotel, so, in fairness to the establishment, I cannot comment on the rooms or anything beyond the casino.

Despite having been to Vegas several times, and just staying one hotel over, at Imperial Palace, this was our first time to venture into Casino Royale. We were lured by the promise of low table minimums, $1 beer and frozen drinks, and free slot play, if you signed up for their slot card.

Upon entering the establishment, the first thing we noticed was the smell and the crowd. The smell wasn't the typical faint "smoky" smell of some...it was more like smoke mixed with body odor mixed with God only knows what...the smell you get anytime you get an oversized crowd of people in one place at one time, without good ventilation. The place was so crowded, I wonder if they violated some fire codes. And, we are "average joes", ourselves, but some of the patrons were a little scary-looking. There were kids loitering around the entrance to the casino, passing a 40 of beer amongst them, blocking the entrance and making antagonizing remarks to some of the passers-by. They appeared to be way too young to even be hanging around a casino entrance, much less drinking alcohol.

Inside, it was quickly apparent there was NO WAY we were ever going to get a chance to play at the tables. The people were stacked around the tables, 3 or 4 people deep, waiting to get in on the action. I guess it was the draw of the lower minimums, but they weren't significantly lower enough to warrant waiting hours for an opening. At one craps table, a guy, apparently, didn't care for something one of the dealers did, because he started acting aggressively, and they began yelling at each other, threatening to "take it into the street". It wasn't the only fight brewing, either, and the casino security officers just stood there and did nothing. The whole scene was of crowded chaos. I was so claustrophobic, in there, I had to go stand outside and get some fresh air, before I passed out.

The frozen drinks were so watered down and frozen rock hard, it was hard to tell there was any alcohol in them, but, at a dollar a piece, I didn't complain. However, knowing I could get a good, strong drink, of my choice, for a $1 tip, back at Imperial Palace, while gambling, I wasn't eager to spend more money on Casino Royale's watered down drinks.

The lady that signed us up for our player's club cards was less than friendly, but, since I, also, deal with the public, I know that sometimes you just get sick of it, so I cut her a lot more slack than most people would have.

The "free" slot play was boring and uneventful. They only point out, in VERY fine print, that the only slot machines you can use, for the free play, are a bank of machines that probably wouldn't pay out if hell froze over. I hesitate to place too much blame on Casino Royale for that, because free is free, and they really aren't obligated to give anything, but, if they are going to tout that as a big deal to new prospects, they should be a little more clear about what it is you're getting. It wasn't completely dishonest...just very misleading. I wouldn't have wasted my time, standing in a long line, to sign up for a card, if I had known the "gimmicky" nature of the free slot play. I wasn't expecting to win a jackpot....but the machines they chose for the play were the most boring, uneventful machines in the place.

All-in-all, I was very disappointed with the casino. I had higher expectations for them than that. I have read good things about their rooms, and, again, I don't want to leave any impressions that I stayed there. However, having had a bad experience with the casino, I can't imagine that I could ever have the confidence to try out the rest of the place.

This was our 2nd stay here. We stayed last week and we were surprisingly given the same exact room we stayed in last year. Room 311. King bed, no smoking, no roaches, clean chairs, clean bathroom ,great housekeeping. Everything was fine and no complaints. Parking was easy. The only thing they lacked was internet connection.