The Palms Casino Resort was heavily featured in MTV’s The Real World: Las Vegas in the early 2000s. That was decades ago, but the resort has held up in relevance. These days, its owned by Station Casinos, which brought the property in 2016.
The Palms isn’t on the Strip, but it’s not far away. Because of that location, the Palms offers a good blend of affordability and proixmity to Vegas’ most touristy spots.
We’re about to take you into the resort with this Palms review. If you’re reading this, chances are you’re thinking of betting sports and casino in here. But should you? We’re about to clue you in!
The Palms Las Vegas sportsbook is located on an off-the-Strip property at 4321 West Flamingo Road. It’s only about a mile west from all the mega-casinos and best sportsbooks on Las Vegas Boulevard, which is ideal for those looking to get away from all the tourist crowds but stay close to the action.
Unlike many Strip properties that bury their dark rooms at the back of the gaming area like Mandalay Bay, Palms sports betting is easily accessible at the front of the resort by the main entrance. There’s also another set of doors right next to the Palms sportsbook from the main parking lot.
The Tonic Bar sits by the entrance to the non-smoking room which seats about 200 guests. The picture quality of every TV is fantastic, with LED screens occupying the entire room. Both the sports side and racebook have eight large TVs, which include two giant screens for the main action.
There is comfortable desk row seating at the front of the room, each spot with a leather chair and personal television. There are more leather seats and tables behind that section, which is perfect for group settings. The VIP sections for sporting events and horse racing are at the back of the venue, both areas with stylish leather chairs and couches.
STN Sports — Station Casinos proprietary technology — runs the sportsbook both online and offline. The full gamut of betting odds — the NFL, MLB, NBA, UFC, NHL, etc. — are easy to find here, you won’t miss anything.
Since we’re on the topic of missing out, the STN Mobile app for on-the-go betting works only in Nevada. This is because Station Casinos only has casinos in the state, not elsewhere. That might be too limiting for out of town visitors that want to wager when they go back home.
A better option would be to join the top-ranked online site Bovada, which can be accessed whether you are home or on the road. There are dozens of betting options on this easy-to-use platform, which has been getting rave reviews for years.
Just like the Cosmopolitan, don’t be looking for a cheap drink voucher here at one of the many betting windows. A horse bet of $50 or a sports bet of $200 is required for a complimentary beverage. That’s asking a lot for an off-the-strip resort.
Years ago, the Palms sportsbook was to be a tiny, smoky venue with little reason to visit unless you were desperate to make a bet. Not anymore. This remodeled area easily competes with the big hitters just a mile away on the Strip. Plus, parking is free here.
Here are some of the sports with posted Palms Las Vegas sportsbook odds:
Here are some of the bets available at the land-based Palms sportsbook:
The book also features 50 Interactive Player Terminals, plus special events and weekly tournaments, just like other popular sportsbooks off the Strip like the Golden Nugget and Westgate SuperBook.
This three-tower, off-the-Strip hotel is known for its crazy parties, with two large pool areas and numerous clubs. It is located on the south side of Flamingo Road, but west of the main highway and Strip, and faces two other resorts — the Rio and Gold Coast.
Unlike the big-name Strip resorts that are charging top dollar for parking, the Palms offers free valet and self-parking in an open-air lot and two different garages. Entrances are located on Hugh Hefner Drive and Flamingo Road.
Ridesharing programs are the best bet for guests staying at the Palms. You pay for the cost of your ride before pickup, so the length of time for your trip and traffic congestion are not a factor. Taxis are available everywhere in Las Vegas, but fares soar in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the Strip.
The Palms has quite the resume when it comes to its nine restaurants and food court. The resort features a 24/7 cafe with a late-night menu and a buffet that serves all three meals as well as brunch for Sundays.
Here are a few of the top restaurants and dining places at the Palms:
The best bonus of the BoardingPass rewards card that players use at the Palms is the fact it is active for all 20 Station Casino properties.
Cardholders earn points for casino play, horse and sports wagers, and poker. But your points and status credits also pile up on everything you spend money on at any Station resort, including restaurants, bars, concerts, bowling alleys, movie theaters, hotel stays, and spa experiences.
Membership is free to join at any of the Station Casino resorts.
The entry-level status is called Preferred. From there, cardholders climb levels into Gold, Platinum, President, and Chairman. Points are accumulated from January 1 to June 30, and from July 1 through December 31. You keep your status for the remainder of the six months, plus the next six.
The higher levels earn resort and cruise discounts, plus other privileges and free play. These cards are very similar to the rewards cardholders use at casinos on the Strip, like the Flamingo or Lagasse’s Stadium at the Palazzo.
The 95,000 square-foot casino floor is the focal point of the ground level of the Palms property, but it has a lot of competition. The gaming area borders the sportsbook and “Skytube to Palms Place” on the west end, while a large group of restaurants and pool area anchor the east side of the floor. There are more than 1,300 slots machines grouped tightly throughout the room, but the 80 table games are bundled together near the main entrance. There is a small, dark high limit room for slots, which is located at the front of the casino. The minimums at table games are as low as $5 during the week, but expect the betting minimum to climb as the place fills up on the weekend. Some of the games available to play include:
This is Party Central of the Las Vegas Strip.
Whether it’s Michael Phelps or Britney Spears, superstars and celebrities seem to love to hang out at the Palms. The main hotel, which opened in November 2001, has 703 rooms and suites with the average room rate around $59 a night. Prices can soar when you book at the more expensive Fantasy Tower or Palms Place.
