The Green Monster of Las Vegas

The green glow emanating from the MGM Grand is a fitting parallel of what dwells within. A windfall of currency gushes through its 171,500 square footage like full-flowing arteries.

From its extraordinary water park to its breathtaking lodging suites, the planet’s third-largest resort remains a specimen indeed.

But at the lifeline of the MGM Grand is its expansive gaming area, perhaps the perfect playground for lovers of the waged bet, both high and low.

We at chipster have frequented this gem, which, in 1993, muscled its way onto the southern block like a burly alpha.

Succeeding Madison Square Garden as the true “mecca of boxing,” MGM played host to George Foreman slugfests, Mike Tyson bite-fests, and even the events leading to Tupac Shakur’s tragic death.

Wade through the infamy and you’ll find yourself perhaps the niftiest gambling venue in all of Sin City.  

Dissolving into a sea of 2,500 slots and video poker machines, boredom is hardly an adversary in these vibrant settings. Penny slots are in abundance for low rollers, while the High Limit sector delivers an array of $1,000 machines with payoffs in the upwards of a half-million buckaroos. Rollers of MGM’s progressive slots have been known to pull down gargantuan scores, as jackpots have stretched into the seven-figure variety.

Popping into the casino’s Poker Room delivers no shortage of Texas Hold ‘Em action, as its $1-$2 No Limit Capital attracts some of the sport’s most ambitious players.

An onset of other poker offerings – Pai Gow, Let It Ride, and High Card Flush – spill out onto the gaming floor, where the 140 tables seemingly stretch into forever. What’s endearing about MGM is its near-guaranteed accessibility. Even on a sizzling night, squeezing onto a baccarat or blackjack table rarely requires much effort.

The sports book is also a bona fide winner, providing countless big-screen TVs and private boxes with first-class accommodations. Bettors can wager on everything from basketball to a cage brawl.

The Sportsbook at MGM

On fight night, the gaudy spectacles abound, as celebrities and high, high rollers flock to the premises like insects to light.   

Visitors may find the MGM lacking the interior décor of Aria or the magnetism of the Venetian, but its signature lion graces its entrance like a charming butler. Further, the sublime drink services and high roller catering remain high within the city’s top echelon.

The Call: The MGM Grand is a full-fledged gambling extravaganza, where trolling its entirety may bring soreness of foot. But in the end, MGM’s flavor for old-school gaming serves as a reminder that in the Las Vegas food chain, the lion is king.