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The face of the Las Vegas Strip continued its recent transformation as the new SLS opened its doors at midnight on August 23. The new hotel and casino is located on the former site of the historic Sahara, an iconic Rat Pack era property, which closed its doors in 2011. The new SLS ownership, Stockbridge Real Estate and SBE Entertainment, spent over $400 million to renovate and bring the property back to life. The former Sahara had been vacant until its recent opening. This month I ventured to the north end of the Las Vegas Strip to check out the newest addition to the city’s casino lineup.

If you are visiting the SLS from downtown, it’s less than three miles from the Fremont Street Experience and its casinos. If you are on Interstate-15, take the Sahara exit to the east and the SLS is on the corner of Sahara and Las Vegas Boulevard. For those that remember the old Sahara property, the parking structure is the same, plus some white paint. Paint and some framed advertising can go a long way to improve appearances! There’s an entrance off Las Vegas Boulevard and the one I used, off Paradise Road, just north of the Westgate.

The exterior entrance to the SLS adjacent to the parking garage is bright with pink tube lighting overhead. As you walk past the valet area and into the property from this entrance, you’re quickly greeted by expensive retail shopping outlets (needless to say, I didn’t recognize any of them). The concierge stand is to the left; hotel check-in is around the corner, also to the left as you head towards the casino. The main pool area is straight ahead. Not unlike the Cromwell, which opened earlier this year, as well as many other Strip properties, there’s an indoor-outdoor space where day-life meets night-life. In fact, the main nightclub is named LIFE. There’s also another pool and club venue, Foxtail at the SLS. Sayers Club is the high-end lounge. There’s a center bar in the middle of the casino, and several bars and sitting areas to enjoy a beverage. The property has an open floor plan, good lighting, interesting carpet colors and combinations with reminders of the property’s past. The SLS definitely appears to be a good place to drink and socialize.

The 60,000 square-foot casino floor at SLS offers a little bit of everything for most gamblers. There are approximately 70 table games spread out over numerous small pit areas. There are five craps tables and what seemed to be a disproportionate amount of roulette wheels – my unofficial count was eight. There’s over 30 blackjack tables spread out over six pits areas. There’s a pit full of "carnival games" that include Crazy 4 Poker, Let It Ride, Three Card Poker, and Ultimate Texas Hold ‘Em. One pit is comprised of Fortune Pai Gow and Baccarat. The SLS also has a Big 6 Wheel and offers Casino War and several tables of Blackjack Switch beginning with $10 minimums. Blackjack Switch is similar to blackjack, but has some interesting rule twists, like dealer 22s are a push. If you are remotely interested in this game, get a copy of the rules and study them carefully before sitting down.

Blackjack at the SLS is...

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