No Thanks-giving in Las Vegas: Why planning for Vegas in December is smarter

There really isn't a bad time to go to Las Vegas... but if there was one holiday we would recommend staying away for, it's Thanksgiving. Say "no" to Thanksgiving in Las Vegas this year and save your cash for a better time of year: the end of December.

The Las Vegas Strip is offering plenty of delicious Thanksgiving Day meals and as hard as it is for Casino Boy to turn down a hearty turkey dinner, Thanksgiving in Las Vegas just doesn't cut it. Many people take the time to be with their families, opting for close gatherings at home as opposed to rambunctious romps through our favorite City of Sins. So it follows that things are generally less rowdy on the Vegas Strip the fourth Thursday of every November... and we really love rowdy.

There's no better way to make an argument than with evidence so here are a few reasons why Casino Boy and other Cheapos are choosing to do Vegas weeks after the Thanksgiving food-babies have been passed:

• Concert Events: If you plan on checking out a concert while you're in Las Vegas then Thanksgiving probably isn't the time you want to be around. Sure, you've got "Guns N' Roses" (minus all the original band members besides Axl) playing at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Rush at the MGM and Trey Songz (whoop-de-freakin'-doo!) at the Orleans... but we can't say we really care to see any of them. Instead, we'll be checking out The Black Keys, Yelawolf, The Eagles, Ice Cube, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Killers... need we go on? New Years will be rockin' on the Strip and we'd much rather be drunk for that then too full to drink on Thanksgiving. Check out the Cheapo Vegas events page to see for yourself.
• Find Good Food All Year: Thanksgiving is our favorite holiday because of the food and there are plenty of places to get a good turkey meal in Las Vegas next week. However, we don't love food enough to plan a trip around it... especially when mom's sweet potatoes are soo good. Come to Las Vegas for Christmas or New Years and you'll still find a bevy of excellent menu selections and even some seasonal specials. Of course, there are those of us who love food so much that heading to Vegas for a few Thanksgiving meal is a yearly highlight... but those people quit reading this after the first paragraph so forget them!
• We Like to Party: We're not saying that Las Vegas turns into a ghost town during Thanksgiving, but we're pretty sure we saw some tumbleweed in front of The Mirage. For obvious reasons, New Years is one of (if not THE) best times of year to come to Vegas. You'll find that room rates are a little lot higher for New Years but the amount of partying that goes on is so insane that the cost is worth it! Las Vegas hotel deals and New Years packages can help you save money and also get you tickets for concerts like The Black Keys. Luckily for you, Casino Boy has done all the work and aggregated the best Las Vegas hotel promo codes onto one page that will help you save cash. Whattaguy!

Thanksgiving in Las Vegas is good if you love food but if you're like us and love to partay then you won't have the type of vacation you're looking for. Better save up your cash and make the trip at the end of the December when things are really poppin' off! For daily updates from Cheapo Vegas, follow Casino Boy on Twitter, Facebook and Google+.

Las Vegas Sports Betting | Anonymous woman correctly picks the fate of 15 teams!

Vegas sports books were thumped hard this week after one of the worst weekends for Las Vegas sports betting in the NFL ever... at least for the guys who had to pay us out! Nearly every favored team won this Sunday; 9 out of 13 covered their spread and sent Vegas bookies into fits of the sweats as they had to pay out parlay after parlay.

Parlays are a great chance to win big if you are good at predicting the future. Channel your inner Miss Cleo and pick a few games that you foresee going your way. If all of your teams win, your payout will be much higher than if you had bet on each game individually. Finally, an honest living for all you fortune tellers!

This week in Las Vegas sports betting, parlays were the way to go. Multiple bettors bucked the odds and multiplied their bucks, betting on 5-, 10-, even 12-team parlays with some experiencing returns of more than 1,000%... even Casino Boy walked away with a couple g's, which is impressive because he's never held more than $20 at once. One anonymous woman put in a $5 15-team parlay and cashed out $100,000!

The anonymous woman incredibly picked all 13 NFL games correctly and added a couple NCAA games into the mix for a nice round "15". In the NCAA, she picked San Diego State (+15) vs Boise State and Nebraska (-2) vs Michigan State, a game which came down to the final seconds! We've no clue who this anonymous woman is, but we think her psychic powers could have a future downtown.

Have you ever placed a ridiculous bet and came out on top? Tell us about the craziest odds you've taken in the comments section below and don't forget: Casino Boy and all his glorious Las Vegas deals can also be found on Twitter, Facebook and Google+, you know... if you're the stalker-type.

NBA Sports Betting: Getting Paid During the Regular Season

It's official: the NBA season has begun Cheapos... and so has the time for NBA sports betting in Las Vegas! Casino Boy has been patiently waiting for tip-off since those guys from South Beach showered in NBA Finals glory and now it's finally here: a new season and another chance to win big on a FULL 1,230 regular season games!

Before we get into our picks for the regular season, let's quickly go over how NBA betting works. If you're familiar with NFL sports betting then you're ahead of the curve and can probably skip this (well, look at you!). Just like football betting, to win BIG money you're gonna have to consider more than which team will come out with the "W". The highest payouts are for covering a point spread or an over/under on the point total. So for example...

A bet on last night's NBA tip-off game between the Boston Celtics and the defending champion Miami Heat could have been placed three ways:

1. Point Spread:  The point spread for last night's game looked like this: Boston Celtics (+6) vs. Miami Heat. This means that to win cash you'd either have to bet on Boston losing by less than 6 or Miami winning by more than 6. Last night's final score was Miami 120 Boston 107; Boston was the loser by 13 points (more than 6) so anyone who had bet on Boston to lose by less than 6 is also a loser. Sorry bro! These are the hardest bets to win but offer the highest payouts.
2. Point Total: Point total is an over/under bet... pretty self-explanatory. For the Miami-Boston game, the over/under was 187.5, meaning you could either bet on the combined point total of both teams to be higher or lower than 187.5. 
3. Game Winner: Bet on who will win the game. It ain't rocket science!

Get it? Got it? Good.

So without further ado, let's take a look at a few teams that Casino Boy will be recklessly responsibly placing bets on throughout the regular season and up until the playoffs next spring.

• Chicago Bulls: The Bulls limped out of the first round of the playoffs last year after their star Derrick Rose went down with a torn ACL. Riiiiip! There's a chance Rose could miss the 2012-2013 season... but if he manages to get back on the court, we like the Bulls for a flurry of late season wins as they attempt to challenge the Indiana Pacers for division champs. Casino Boy will be placing NBA sports bets on the Bulls when they play elite eastern conference teams like the Heat and Celtics. They'll likely be the underdog in these match-ups but they have traditionally done well against good teams, finishing 5-3 against the Heat and Celtics in last year's strike-shortened season. 
• Denver Nuggets: No team shot better within the 3-point perimeter last year than the Denver Nuggets and we're looking for the same efficiency to continue this year. Their defense struggled but the off-season addition of Andre Iguodala should help out a lot on the wing and in late game situations. The Nuggets are in the same division as the always-dangerous San Antonio Spurs and the young Memphis Grizzlies, so there will be plenty of tight games to bet on this season. We expect the Nuggets to do a good job covering spreads as a result of their high shooting percentage and improving defense. Plus, this bench is deeper than any other NBA team!
• Brooklyn Nets: The new look Brooklyn Nets are a great team to put cash down on for some NBA sports betting in Las Vegas! With all of the attention in the Atlantic Division on the aging Boston Celtics and the high-powered Knicks, the Nets should be able to pull out some big W's. Place money on the Nets when they're going up against teams who might take the night off like the Heat or Los Angeles Lakers. These games will be much more important for the Brooklyn Nets... especially early in the season. 

Go forth and gamble in Las Vegas, Cheapos. Sin City has some of the best odds for sports betting in the country and you can drink in the street! Casino Boy has the hook-up on all the best Strip hotel deals so that you can have plenty of money to put on NBA sports betting in Las Vegas. Follow Casino Boy on Twitter, Facebook and Google+ for the skinny on all things cheap in Las Vegas!

Halloween in Las Vegas: 5 Parties to Howl at the Moon For

Don't go trick-or-treating with your little brother this weekend, Cheapos... Halloween in Las Vegas is the only way to spend your Day of the Dead! 

Cash prizes, wild parties and sexy people using Halloween as an excuse to bear it all are reasons why you'll find Casino Boy dressed up and celebrating Halloween in Las Vegas 2012! Or, you can help your little brother and his friends get into their Angry Birds costumes... not! Here are 5 Halloween parties in Las Vegas 2012 where you can howl at the babes moon!

• Fetish and Fantasy Halloween Ball 2012: This 17-year-old Las Vegas Halloween party might be one of the craziest Halloween parties on the planet! This year's Fetish and Fantasy Halloween Ball will be held at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and will corral thousands of Halloween party-goers from around the world. Expect skin... lots of skin, leather and latex! Don't even bother trying to get into this party if you're not dressed up because you won't be allowed in. Dress in your sexiest scariest Halloween costume and make your way down to the Hard Rock Hotel for this one. The only thing you have to be afraid of is rubbing bodies with a scantily clad vampire... and that doesn't even sound half bad. Doors open Saturday, October 27th at 9:30pm.
• Night of the Killer Costumes 2012: Rain nightclub at the Palms Hotel made headlines this week with the announcement that they would be closing their doors after this weekend's Halloween bash. It goes without saying then that this weekend's Halloween bash at Rain nightclub, Night of the Killer Costumes, will be a banger! What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but not even we know what to expect at a nightclub's last Halloween party... well, at least we don't remember. Get rowdy at this party on Saturday, October 27th at 10pm.
• Haunted House Music with Kevin Brown: The name of this one says it all. Ghostbar at the Palms is inviting DJ Kevin Brown for a spooktacular night of Halloween-themed house music. If you've never heard of DJ Kevin Brown before, you're about to have a loud awakening. This young DJ has gotten people jumping in Chicago, Mexico and now Las Vegas. You don't even need to be a fan of house music to have fun at this Palms nightclub Halloween party in Las Vegas! At least not if you do enjoy scoping out beautiful half-naked Halloweeners. Plus, the best costume at the party gets a $1000 grand prize and the first loser gets $500. This party is on Sunday, October 28th at 8pm.
• Rum n Bones Halloween 2012: Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum, Cheapos! Tabu Ultra Lounge at MGM Grand is the scene of this party for Halloween in Las Vegas 2012. The event is sponsored by everyone's favorite spiced rum, Captain Morgan, so you can bet that plenty of shots will be flowing from the bar all weekend! Look out for Casino Boy dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow's lesser known cousin, Rear Admiral Jimmy Pelican. Rum n Bones is a 4-night party starting on October 26th at 10pm through October 29th.
• deadmau5 at XS Halloween: XS Nightclub at Encore is where you need to be on the day of Halloween in Las Vegas. Hit up this poppin' club on Wednesday, October 31st at 9pm to get rowdy with one of the best electronic acts out right now: deadmau5. Heck, it might hinder your game with the ladies, but why not come dressed up with the iconic deadmau5 mask? You're going to want to bring your A-game for this one as it goes on through the night and into the morning with the end set for 4:30am. 

Halloween in Las Vegas gives "Sin City" an entirely new meaning. Okay, maybe not "new" but definitely exaggerated. As always, follow Casino Boy on Twitter, Facebook and Google+ for everything cheap Las Vegas. Including the jokes!

Let us know in the comments section which parties you're most excited for! Or maybe we missed the boat... we blame Rear Admiral Jimmy Pelican.

Las Vegas Restaurants: The Closed, the Open and the Renovating

A few Las Vegas restaurants are shaking things up as we head into the winter months... and no we aren't talking about the martinis! (Can you believe James Bond is now a Heine-man?) 

Several weeks ago, two restaurants stopped forking over meals at Excalibur Las Vegas after they failed to fork over rent. Of course we're talking about Lynyrd Skynyrd BBQ and American Burgers Works. It seems as though one of these two restaurants has worked something out with the hotel though. Vegas Chatter reported earlier this week that the Excalibur Hotel burger joint was back in business and again flipping patties with the best of em'! Lynyrd Skynyrd still remains closed and there's no word on when (or if) it will open again. For now, Casino Boy is content with bacon and beef.

Speaking of bacon, beef and all things American, Red, White and Blue at Mandalay Bay is now scheduled to close this winter. Those generous grilled ham and cheese sandwiches will be missed... However, the American menu continues with Red, White and Blue's replacement: Citizens Kitchen and Bar, an American bistro concept by chef Brian Massie. Mandalay Bay plans to close the restaurant on Sunday, November 18th. Until then, grill away Red, White and Blue! 

Another Las Vegas restaurant has turned off it's cookers... but not for good. The Buffet at Aria closed this week for renovations. Other Vegas hotel buffets, particularly the new Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace, have been stealing the show so the renovations make sense. We hope these renovations include a complete food overhaul.

And finally, look for a new seafood restaurant Las Vegas to check out, Cheapos! If you're a film buff, you'll be tickled to learn that Bubba Gump Shrimp is coming to Las Vegas for the first time! Bubba Gump Shrimp has several locations across the US such as Miami, Chicago and San Francisco, and we think it will fit right in on the Las Vegas Strip. You can never have too many types of shrimp... there are so many ways to cook them after all! Our favorite part of visiting Bubba Gump: trying to stump the servers with Forrest Gump trivia! (We've seen it about a hundred times too many.) Expect the Las Vegas version of the menu to include a few regional specials too.

If you're planning a trip to Las Vegas, make sure to check out our deals page to find hotel rooms for CHEAP! You can also follow Casino Boy on Twitter and like our Facebook page for all the Cheapo Vegas updates.

7 Costumes for a Wild Halloween in Las Vegas

What better way to avoid responsibility for your Sin City actions than to dress up as someone else for Halloween in Las Vegas? Casino Boy isn't saying you should use Halloween as an excuse to act a fool (yes he is), but you can't stay in Las Vegas for Halloween and not make at least a small effort on a good costume. Plus, there is plenty of money to be had in Las Vegas for donning the best Halloween costume.

Casino Boy wants to help you figure out the biggest question of all: who will you dress up as for Halloween in Las Vegas. Point the finger of blame for your Sin City romp at someone more famous than you with these 7 Las Vegas Halloween costume ideas.

1. Big Bird: Casino Boy's favorite Sesame Street character has seen a revival in pop culture recently after the first presidential debate between Governor Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama. Big Bird is a sweet choice for a Las Vegas Halloween costume and you can further customize it to make it even funnier. For example, add some fake blood to the costume to simulate Big Bird's death from public television. Or have a friend dress up as Mitt Romney. The possible one-liners with a Big Bird-Mitt Romney costumed duo are endless, and that brings us to our next idea...
2. Greasy Politician: In case you've missed all the positive presidential campaigning over the last year, we thought we'd let you know that it is in fact election season. You can bet that there will be plenty of Romneys and Obamas on the Las Vegas Strip this year, but why limit costume ideas to just those two politicians? Capture the essence of a greasy American politician with a nice suit, greased back hair and especially empty promises. This is a Las Vegas Halloween costume idea that requires a lot of convincing lying acting, so be ready to be consumed by the character.
3. Prince Harry: This English royalty had quite the time in Las Vegas this summer and is a perfect costume idea for Halloween, especially in Sin City. While you could just hit the Strip in nothing but your birthday suit, Casino Boy would recommend against that level of commitment. Prince Harry was photographed nude playing strip billiards with some fine Vegas ladies, so get the point across with a crown, a cue stick and an English accent. Of course, no one will really get it unless you're as close to nude as possible...
4. Super Heroes: The summer of 2012 was ripe with super hero blockbusters and you can bet your bottom dollar (if you haven't already lost it) that the Las Vegas Strip will be full of Thors, Iron Men, Batmen and Captain Americas. Dressing up as a super hero won't make you stand out, but it is a safe bet for a topical 2012 Las Vegas Halloween costume.
5. Spice Girls: There are plenty of stars to mimic this Halloween thanks to the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, but our favorite has to be the Spice Girls who performed during the games' closing ceremony. Get the ladies together and dress up as Posh, Sporty and the rest. Or get the dudes together and dress up as Posh, Sport and the rest. Anything goes in Las Vegas, especially guys dressed in Spice Girls drag.
6. Snow White: Kristen Stewart had a real good time on the set of Snow White and the Huntsman this year, so why can't you? Dress up as Snow White and have your boy toy dress up as director Rupert Sanders which requires nothing more than a button-down shirt and jacket. We'd recommend completing the love-triangle by having a third wheel friend dress up as vampiric Robert Pattinson. He can pretend to sulk behind you and your lover as you all get wild on the Las Vegas Strip for Halloween.
7. Casino Boy: Alright, so you probably won't find this costume at the local horror shop. But it's an easy costume and one we'd love to see. Wear a boyish smile and your best child-like outfit. We'd recommend a t-shirt, jean shorts, high socks and of course a pair of Chuck Taylor's. When someone asks who you are, tell them about Cheapo Vegas and all our great Las Vegas deals!

Halloween in Las Vegas this year is sure to be a blast that you probably won't remember. So have some peace of mind and dress up as someone else who you can blame for the inevitable mistakes good times you'll have this October!

What are your favorite 2012 Halloween costumes? Let us know in the comment section below and be sure to follow us on Twitter and like our Facebook page. We probably won't follow you back, but at least we'll know that you care!

Get Spooked for Halloween in Las Vegas

It's almost that time of year, Cheapos! The Day of the Dead is fast approaching and what better way to fear enjoy it than a Halloween in Las Vegas? Sin City offers many spooks and scares, and we're not even talking about the ones in the Las Vegas clubs. Many of the city's best attractions transform into ghoulish nightmares that Casino Boy loves going to regardless of the nightmares he'll have for the next few nights. Some of the best attractions in Las Vegas are classic Halloween haunts.

Even better, there's one particularly notable haunted spot that's brand spankin' new! So if you've done Halloween in Las Vegas before, don't think that it's all the same. This season promises to have bloodier fresher thrills than ever before!

Here are four haunted places you can't miss for a scary Halloween in Las Vegas. Do try not to wet yourself!

• Trilogy of Terror: Three haunted attractions are part of the Freak Pass for $29 at Trilogy of Terror. The pass gets you access to Circus of Horrors, Castle Vampyre and Gates of Hell. If Gates of Hell sounds extra gory, that's because it is. It's rated-R and if you're under 17, you won't even be allowed in (unless accompanied by an adult, but that's not the point)! You can get passes to each attraction individually, but c'mon! Surviving all three is a test of your bravery and we'd hate to see you whimper out. Especially with all those girls in line...
• Eli Roth's Goretorium: The Goretorium is the Las Vegas Strip's only year round haunted attraction and it's brand new! If you haven't been to Las Vegas in the past month, then you have yet to experience Eli Roth's Goretorium. You might recognize Roth's name from movies like Hostel and Inglorious Bastards. Walk through the Goretorium and experience fright you haven't known since you were a little kid. Our favorite part is the 60's go-go lounge at the end of the tour where you can have a drink and feed zombies. Just watch your fingers!
• Haunted Reef: It's the time of year when the Shark Reef at the Mandalay Bay becomes...The Haunted Reef (dun, dun, dun)! The Haunted Reef is a perfect spooky attraction at the Mandalay Bay for families enjoying Halloween in Las Vegas. It doesn't have the same gore level as the other attractions, but the Halloween spirit is very much alive! Plus, sharks are scary anyway. Kids under 12 who dress up get in for free and adults also have the chance to get in without paying. All it takes is a little blood donation at the United Blood Services booth because, well... the zombie food is getting dry...braaiins!
• Fright Dome: The Adventuredome at Circus Circus is one of Casino Boy's favorite Vegas attractions and even more so during Halloween. Another great attraction for Halloween in Las Vegas with the family, Fright Dome is the spookiest amusement park you've ever been to. The park at Circus Circus covers five acres and features bloody actors and ghoulish rides that will scare you out of your pants. Well, not literally out of your pants. That'd be really unfortunate since they'd be hard to find again in all the fog. Maybe wear a belt!

Halloween in Las Vegas can be a terror blast! Scares range from super terrifying to light and fun; there's something for everyone in Sin City on the Day of the Dead. Check out our Las Vegas promo codes before you book your trip to Vegas for the best cheapo deals on the net! Also follow Casino Boy on Twitter and like our Facebook page.

New Las Vegas Stamp Too Tame for Sin City

An unlikely side of Sin City is featured on a new stamp by the United States Postal Service. The new Las Vegas stamp is part of the USPS's Earthscapes Forever stamp collection, a new stamp series being released during October since, hey! hey! it's National Stamp Collecting Month. You didn't get the memo?

Several stunning aerial and satellite shots including images of an Alaskan glacier, Mount St. Helens and Yellowstone Park in the collection could convince us to not start collecting stamps. We were even more unlikely to start dishin' our dollars for these little adhesives when we found out a shot of Las Vegas is included!

So how much of the Strip made it onto the stamp? Well...er... none of it.

The USPS chose to use an aerial shot of a suburb in Clark County for the stamp instead of one of the many bright and iconic Las Vegas Strip hotels. Instead of The Palms or Bellagio, Vegas is represented by identical suburban houses and swimming pools.

Wait...what? Suburbs in Vegas? Preposterous. 

It's safe to assume that exactly 99.997% of Americans think of neon lights and the Strip when they think of Vegas. Or they completely try to forget it, but that's an entirely different story... The point is, Las Vegas is a city of glitz, glamour and debauchery. It IS called Sin City after all. What's the deal with the boring the stamp?

We get that people actually live in Las Vegas and that the bright lights and flash of the Strip don't define those who live there, but that's way deeper than Casino Boy is willing to think. People love Vegas because there is no place like it on Earth! Where else can you wake up in a pyramid, gamble in a castle and romp around an indoor amusement park in the same day? Nowhere, that's where!

What do you think Cheapos? Is the stamp a good representation of Las Vegas or do you think that the USPS botched the job? Let us know in the comment section below!

Be sure to follow us on Twitter and like our page on Facebook so you don't miss any Las Vegas specials for your stay in Sin City. 

Las Vegas Buffets: Is the Wynn Really the Best?

There's no doubt that Sin City is a place of excess and that certainly holds true with the many Las Vegas buffets. Cheapos know that buffets in Vegas make sure that your stomach and heart don't feel left out on all the abuse. Hey, why should your liver get all the attention!

Out of all the gut busting, belt snapping buffets though, which is the best? That was the goal of a recent poll by USA Today. Users (and perhaps even some of you Cheapos) voted and the results are in. Drum roll, please.

The winner is... The Buffet at Wynn Las Vegas, with 33% of the vote. Rounding out the top 3 were Wicked Spoon at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas and the Buffet at Bellagio, in that order. Noticeably absent from the the list of the best Vegas buffets? The new Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars Palace. 

The  $17 million dollar mass-food masterpiece has received highly positive reviews on Yelp since it's opening and was even hailed by USA Today as the best buffet in Vegas only a week ago. The Bacchanal Buffet at Caesars is the youngest of the top Vegas buffets, having opened only a few weeks ago this month, so that surely played a part in its lackluster performance in the polls. 

(Hey - it wasn't even nominated? Wait a sec, this poll began in August?! Alright, this voting process looks about as shoddy as the 2000 election... And not a single Downtown buffet made the cut? Erroneous.)

So, what's the deal Cheapos? Does the Buffet at Wynn Las Vegas deserve the title of the best buffet in Vegas, or do you still prefer the classic (and cheaper) buffets on the Strip and Downtown? 

Comment below and tell us what you think about the USA Today Las Vegas buffet poll results, or send us your two cents on Facebook and Twitter!