Bill's isn't the biggest or fanciest on the strip but if you are looking to step back and get out of the hustle and bustle of the mega resorts check it out. While the slots aren't the newest, the service is great. You can sit and play some good paying video poker and have a cocktail waitress actually attend to you when you need it instead of waiting forever like you do at the bigger places. The cafe also offers great specials during different times. The $3.99 steak and eggs at 3am isn't the greatest in the world but hey, it's 3 am and it's only $3.99, what do you expect. I've never actually stayed at Bill's but I always make it a point to stop in at least while I'm in town.
Don't gamble much at Bill's--it's too small, too few machines and what's there is old. I've read that a renovation is planned, and it is needed. However, we go through Bill's often as you can take a free shuttle from there to both the Gold Coast and the Orleans. Also, its location is excellent and you can walk to many casinos on the strip from Bill's. It's hotel rooms are supposed to be quite a bargain, and we'll probably give it a try if a renovation takes place. If they spruce the place up, they'll probably get alot more gambling and hotel business because of their great location.
I usally never set foot in Bill's when I am in Vegas, but my last trip I spent an evening there...
My wife and I, along with her parents went and checked out Big Elvis. WOW! From the street, walking in you can hear him and it honestly does sound like the 'real' Elvis.
Every thing in this casino is old school... I like that in a place in the middle of the strip. The slots are a lot older, which is cool along with a lot of new machines. Craps was your typical 3x, 4x, 5x that is found on the strip. Never played their "rapid craps" which is a craps table with 10 or 12 terminals around it where you "touch bet" and still throw dice. No Video Poker to be found here.
We signed up for our players cards at Guest Services. They were really polite and nice, like they enjoy working there. After getting our cards and coupon book they hand out, we decided to go to the Stakhouse, seeing how there are coupons for a free bottle of wine. We were able to use 2 for four people, and gave out other two to a couple at a table near us.
So, the Steakhouse really surprised me. You walk through the door and this place screams old school steakhouse. From the dim lights, high-back red leather chairs. There was something about it that reminded me of the between movie Pulp Fiction and being a gangster in the old days. I actually asked the others in my party if I could sit facing the door... lol!
The steaks were unreal. So tender, cooked to perfection. I had the filet and the others had the bone in ribeye. You did not even really need a knife. I had the baked potato ($8) side with all the fixings. At first I was disgusted with the price, but once I saw this thing I could not believe my eyes! The baked potato is a meal in itself and is about the size of a small child or football
A fun casino to kill sometime. The drink service was not the fastest, but this place can mix a good, strong drink. If you want to get your drink on after a meal, play Pai Gow, tip big the first round and you will be feeling great after 15 or 20 hands!
I've gambled in Bill's a few times and even stayed at the hotel 2 months ago. Here's what I got:
Pros-Prime location, cheap tables, cheap hotel prices.
Cons-Super smoky, kinda rundown and shabby, slow cocktail service.
I haven't seen the Big Elvis show but I hear he's great. They had a good rock band in there I saw once. Fun atmosphere to watch a live band.
The slots are lousy and don't pay. Old selections and when they do get something new it's nothing special.
The super smoky atmosphere is a major buzzkill. It permeates everything.
The Victorian diner wasn't all that special either.