Blackjack – The Thinker

If the blackjack table is always your first stop in a casino, chances are you’re in it for more than just luck. Knowing basic strategy for blackjack increases a player’s chance of winning. When a player acts on a hunch, they can end up giving up that big advantage which is where strategizing and thinking comes into play.

Poker – The Introvert

Poker has become one of the most popular games in every casino; players can usually be seen sitting at tables for hours on end with headphones in their ears or sunglasses on. It’s the only game where players are competing against each other and not the house, which can lead to the introverted action in the poker rooms.

Video Poker – The Insightful

Winning at certain table games and slots all depend on luck but video poker is a game of skill. Video poker machine usually have a high payback rate when you play perfect basic strategy. Knowing the strategy (similar to knowing the basics in blackjack) increases your odds. Keeping a close eye on the moves you make in each hand is vital for a video poker player.

Progressive Slots – The Risk Taker

Gambling any large amount of money can deem you a risk taker, but those who opt for the progressive slots are in it for the thrill. Progressive slots offer jackpots larger than usual (think in the hundreds of thousands and sometimes millions). But, to be eligible for the larger-than-life jackpots you have to play the max bet during your spins. Playing the max bet can add up but if you hit the jackpot it will certainly pay off.

Craps – The Extrovert

Odds are when you’re walking by a craps table you’ll hear whooping and hollering and see the players giving high-fives and other lively gestures. The craps tables are usually the center of attention on a casino floor and tend to attract the most animated of players. This fast-paced game intimidates some, but is a favorite to many.

Of course, not all poker players are introverts and not every progressive slots players is a big risk-takers. These personality traits are a generalization of the average player for each game. Let us know which game of choice you are. Do you think the traits above are similar to your personality? Share your thoughts with us below!

Most of us have already celebrated the beginning of 2012, but the end of this month marks the beginning of Chinese New Year. The Chinese culture celebrates each New Year according to the lunar calendar which is why the date fluctuates from year to year. January 23 marks the beginning of the celebration for the auspicious Year of the Dragon.

The Dragon is the most powerful of all 12 signs in the Chinese Zodiac, which associates an animal to each calendar year. Everyone born in 2012 will be considered a Dragon. Dragons are said to be dominant, ambitious, driven, willing to take risks and unafraid of challenges. These strong character traits are said to cause an increase in births for every Dragon Year. Dragons are also said to be charismatic leaders. In the year 2000 the birth rate in China spiked and is expected to do the same this year.

Each Dragon Year is also associated with one of the five elements (metal, water, wood, fire and earth). 2012 is the year of the Water Dragon. Water Dragons are able to see things from other points of view. They don’t have the need to always be right. Their decisions, if well-researched, are usually better since they allow others to become involved.

To kick-off the two week celebration a traditional Dragon Dance will be held on Monday, January 23 at 6pm to bring good luck and fortune for our guests. A 63 foot-long dragon will feature adult and baby lion dancers, buddhas, musicians and festive flags and will make its way through our entire casino.

Studio B Buffet will feature eight hard-to-resist New Year specialties. Until February 6 you can feast on Meatballs with Bok Choy, Poached Chicken with Ginger and Scallions, Spinach and Bamboo Shoots, Beef Lo Mein, Tofu and Eggplant with Black Bean Sauce, Lettuce Wraps, Mandarin Oranges with Leaves and Spring Rolls. Our bars will also be serving up specialty cocktails, a Lychee Martini and a Mulan cocktail.

Starting this Friday our limited edition Year of the Dragon gaming chip will be available. Keep the good luck coming and purchase the chip at our casino cage for $8. The chips will be available until supplies last.

You can use your commemorative Dragon Chip in our Poker Room for their Live Poker Lucky 8’s promotion. From January 23 – 30 enjoy 8 days of great poker action. Flop four 8’s and win $888. Make four 8’s and receive $88. Plus, the first 88 players that make 8’s full receive a collectible Year of the Dragon Gaming Chip. Play live poker every day at 8:08am and 8:08pm and a random lucky player will receive $88!

If you’ve celebrated Chinese New Year before or if this is your first time for the occasion we hope you take part in the festivities at our resort!

The VIP Lounge is a casino staple in Las Vegas. Having access to ours is just one of the many perks that come with an iMagine Rewards Card (a Platinum and M Card to be specific). Our Platinum Lounge is your gateway to private check-in, faster host services and even more perks.

Located near M’s Casino Cage, the Platinum Lounge is tucked away behind sleek tinted glass doors. When first walking past you might not even notice what luxury awaits once you enter. The rich color palette and progressive architectural style seen throughout M continues in the space.

Plush couches and other places to relax in this VIP Lounge is the private sanctuary for some of M’s biggest players. Players who can hang in the Platinum Lounge are able to immediately see a casino host and can also check into their room from here. That means no waiting in lines at the front desk. Another perk included in our lounge is access to water, soda and other beverages.

Think you’ve got what it takes to lounge in true VIP style? All you have to do is earn at least a Platinum iMagine Rewards Card which means racking up an average of 100,000 points in 90 days. Our VIP Lounge is open from 9am-7pm Monday-Thursday, 9am-10pm Friday-Saturday and 8am-7pm on Sunday.

Cathleen has been a Casino Host at the M since the resort opened in 2009. “I’m proud to work at the M and I think that pride translates to my guests and through my work. We’re a very accommodating resort and there’s nothing more rewarding than having guests that not only look forward to coming back to M but also look forward to seeing me.” According to Cathleen, it’s all about the personality when it comes to hosting. “A great host always has a smile on their face! Personality is key and being able to talk with guests and maintain that connection with them is vital.”

Many Casino Hosts start off working in different jobs in the hospitality industry. “I knew once I starting working at a casino that I wanted to stay in the business.” Cathleen began her career cocktailing and loved the contact she had with guests. “Hosting has continued to allow me the guest interaction and given me an opportunity to grow in the hospitality industry.”

Hosting isn’t always just about giving out comps. “One of the most common misconceptions about my job is that I can just extend certain comps to guests anytime I want. Ultimately, the comps are up to the guests themselves and how much they spend in turn qualifies them for certain rewards.”

Cathleen and the other M Casino Hosts go the extra mile for their guests. . “I knew one of my guests loved the pillows we have in the rooms at M, I was able to find out where we purchase them and I sent pillows to her as a special gift for her birthday.” While pillows are a bit unusual for a host to give out, common things include buffet and food and beverage credits, room stays, VIP line access, car service and more. Getting in touch with a casino host is as simple as stopping in to our VIP Lounge (located next to our casino cage) or picking up any of the house phones around M and requesting to speak to the host on duty.

A section of the Surveillance Room at M.

Las Vegas is known for many different things: gambling, buffets, weddings and for being America’s Playground. With so much high-paced activity going on 24/7 our city has also become a headquarters for all things security and surveillance. Casinos take observation to the next level and tend to have more cameras per square foot than any airport or sports arena*. High-tech equipment and (many) keen eyes work together to form the Surveillance Team at M and we were lucky enough to get a sneak peek inside the most secretive room on our property.

Our surveillance room is filled with screens, computers and all the sophisticated equipment that it takes to keep a four-star resort operating safely and smoothly. Despite our “boutique” 390 room size, our security and surveillance software is top-of-the-line. While many casinos still use video tape to record the casino floor (meaning they must constantly change out those tapes and can only record on a certain number of cameras) our casino operates on CCTV (closed circuit television) which is entirely digital and records everything displayed on our all cameras continuously all the time. It also gives our Surveillance team the ability to access any video from any time our property has been open, nearly instantly.

Most people might think surveillance means only monitoring cameras, but our team takes a pro-active approach to observing the activities on our casino floor. According to our surveillance team the cameras are just one aspect of the job. Others include making sure our team knows and understands the games, our dealers are property trained to handle cards and our pit team knows to report suspicious behavior or large wagers. It’s a combination of not only cameras but intelligence gathered from many different areas that make a strong surveillance team.

Our team works to ensure all our guests are safe while at our resort but one of the main purposes of our Surveillance team is keeping an eye on the casino floor. Our team uses different software products to help them identify known cheaters and advantage players. The program captures someone’s face and converts the image into mathematical data and then compares it to our resort’s private database and also SIN’s (Surveillance Information Network) catalog of cheaters compiled from other casino properties. The program is able to pull up a person’s height, weight, aliases and even known associates by just someone’s face.

If a person’s face isn’t matched to a known advantage player, or perhaps they’re cheating in a casino for the first time playing blackjack the Blackjack Survey software catalogues the game (when a player hits, stands, etc.) and is able to evaluate the game mathematically to determine if a player is counting cards or  in fact cheating. If they are cheating, the software is able to analyze if the player is making decisions based on knowing the dealer’s hole-card (dealer’s face down card) or top-card (next card dealt). The program is also able to measure a player’s luck. It gives their win/loss probability, deck luck, initial card luck, betting luck, draw card luck and dealer’s bust ratio.

Even with the help of high-tech software the true skill lies with our Surveillance Team Members and their knowledge combined with our state-of-the-art means of detection.

*According to a recent Washington Post article.

Dice themselves tend to represent luck, after all, hitting it big at the table can be just one roll away (lucky seven anyone?) So what goes in to making sure our dice are up to par? It starts with ordering top of the line dice for our tables. Gamblers can be a superstitious bunch so the actual die itself is serious business. The dice in our casino come from a few different manufacturers; Bee, Paul-Son and Bud Jones which are all leaders in the dice industry.

Our dice come in a medium red hue with clear polish and a true sand finish, the polish is what makes them glimmer on our felt tables and the finish is what makes them smooth and ready to roll. And of course, no pair of dice is complete without our signature M logo on the side. If you really love our dice (we know we do) you can take your very own pair home with you from our Vice Shop.

Aside from looking pretty, our dice are pretty high tech for cubes made out of cellulose acetate (yup, that’s the actual stuff dice is made from). The cellulose acetate material is specially formulated to provide each die with hardness, clarity and dimensional stability; all things that are essential for dice being used in a casino. You know that M logo we mentioned earlier, dice makers have to make sure the logo’s surface is perfectly smooth to ensure proper balance and weight distribution for an ideal roll. Dice are also equipped with their own security features including glow spots, laserlocks, hidden keys and serial numbers. Who knew those little cubes could have so much on them?

Strict gaming regulations require dice used in casinos to be within 3/10,000^th of an inch of a perfect cube. That leaves almost no room for variation in a die’s size, so that pair you have in your hand is virtually indistinguishable to the one at the next table over. Chances are, that set of dice you’re about to roll are pretty new, on average dice only remain in circulation on a casino floor for about eight hours on a busy day.

Feeling nostalgic for the days when slot machines spit out actual coins? Our Director of Slots, Mark Seligman has seen it all and then some. We sat down with him to talk about how the slot world is changing and what’s up and coming on our very own casino floor.

Where do you see the future of slots?

With a different generation comes a different player. Today’s new gamer never learned video poker, so they tend to play more video slots. The average video poker player is about 40-60 years old. The penny slots trend has continued to grow in the slot world for the last ten years now. At the end of the year 2009 there were 37,943 penny slots alone in Nevada casinos, attracting $17.8 billion in wagers. In our own casino here at M, we have 1,180 penny slots.

Do you think players miss the one-armed bandits?

There’s a very small segment of our older customers that prefer traditional reel slots versus video slots, which is why we keep a section of them on our floor. Even with today’s technology, some of the most advanced slot machines still have an arm on their side. Some people still prefer the pull of a handle to the push of a button.

How do you stay on top of and ahead of the curve with it comes to slot trends?

At times it’s as basic as a guessing game. You have to look at new themes and know what will work in your casino. You take into account the type of players you get and what they currently like playing. Slot companies will do studies on test bank slots, but at the end of the day it’s what the guests like. It’s always best to buy a few of a certain theme and buy more if it gains popularity.

What makes a good slot machine?

All that matters is how many of our guests like the machine. What might be a good slot at another casino might not be the right fit for ours. We want to have what our players are interested in playing.

How do you pick slots for us at M?

Trends come and go, which is why slot floors are constantly changing at every casino. When it comes to picking brand new slots in the industry, most of the time it comes down to gut instincts. It’s not always scientific; it’s about what’s popular.

What’s new with the slots at M?

In 2011 we added 300 new video slots most of which were new penny slot themes. By doing this it helps us keep our casino floor fresh with new and cutting-edge games. It’s all about staying ahead of the curve.

Why do you think people are divided – either slot player or table games players?

A player’s gambling preference in this aspect is based on comfort. Table games players tend to feel more in control of their money and slots/video poker players come for the entertainment and value not necessarily for the thrill. But, in the end they’re both gamblers.

If you’re wondering how Mark got such a cool job (picking slots for a casino and all) he actually started off studying airplanes and aviation. What slot does Mark fancy most? He says he’s more of a video poker player.

With over 1,900 slot machines on our floor you’ll find a wide variety of video poker, video reels, video keno and reel spinners all for your playing enjoyment. What’s your favorite slot machine?

We love all of our guests at M, but those who are card-carrying members of the iMagine Rewards Club hold a special place in our heart (and casino). Whether you’re a table games player or you prefer slots, we have the games to keep you occupied and the rewards to keep you coming back!  We like to reward you when you play with us, which is why joining our club is the key to getting special offers, comps, gifts and other great things at M! Best part of all, entry to this club is entirely free! In fact, we give you free slot play or a custom designed t-shirt just for joining our club!

Gone are the days where casinos track a gambler’s play by hand so, the best way to get credit for playing in our house would be getting an iMagine card. By doing so, our Casino Hosts are able to see how much you play with us (down to the penny!) and give you things on the house for your continued loyalty. iMagine Rewards Club Points can be redeemed for cash back, free slot play, meals, drinks, retail purchases, spa and salon services, hotel stays, car washes and even gas purchases!

Our Rewards Club is made up of three different tiers, determined upon your level of play.

Gold Card – This is our introductory card, when you first sign-up you become a gold member! Benefits for the Gold Card include:

• 15% off Retail Buffet price with Points
• $1 Off M Resort Car Wash

Platinum Card – To move up to a Platinum Card you must earn 100,000 base points in a 90 day period or place an average $100 bet X 20 hours per month for 3 months. Benefits for the Platinum Card include:

• VIP Parking Access
• Players Lounge Access
• VIP Resort Check In
• 25% Off Retail Buffet Price with Points
• VIP Line Passes for Studio B Show Kitchen Buffet
• Priority Fine Dining Restaurant Reservations
• Exclusive Invitations to Special Events
• $2 Off M Resort Car Wash

The M Card – Getting to the highest level of our Rewards Club requires earning 300,000 base points in a 90 day period or placing an average $350 bet X 20 hours per month for 3 months. If you’re lucky enough to have one of these in your wallets, you’re a true high roller! Benefits for The M Card include:

• VIP Parking Access
• Valet Anytime and Priority Vehicle Return
• Players Lounge Access
• VIP Resort Check In
• 50% Off Retail Buffet Price with Points
• VIP Line Passes for Studio B Show Kitchen Buffet
• Priority Fine Dining Restaurant Reservations
• Exclusive Invitations to Special Events
• Access to Host Services
• $3 Off M Resort Car Wash

As we mentioned recently joining our club is an insiders’ tip for any traveler. For simply signing up, you can get perks like free slot play! We have one of the most competitive clubs in town; 999 points are equal to $3! When playing at M, members earn one point for every $1 of play on all slot and most video poker machines.

So what are you waiting for? If you don’t already have an iMagine Rewards Card, sign-up for yours on your next visit to M!

Worship the sun.

Chances are you’re going to find yourself at a pool while in Vegas (trust us, you’ll want to cool off). Whether you like things on a grand scale, (100,000 square feet grand enough for you?) or something a little more intimate, our very own Villaggio Del Sole and DayDream Pool Club are perfect for any pool patron. At either pool, grab a cabana, maybe a bottle or two (they start at only $65!) and enjoy the day lounging on a cushy chaise lounge chair with drink-in-hand. You can find more of our tips just for the pool, here.

Get happy during Happy Hour.

There’s no reason for you not be happy while you’re at M since we offer Happy Hour 24/7. We know it seems too good to be true but if you go to any of our inside bars cocktails are just $5 and bottled beers $3. To sweeten the deal, our restaurants offer their own happy hour deals on food. A whole sushi platter for just $10 at our rooftop restaurant Veloce, half priced appetizers from Anthony’s Steakhouse, or even a hot dog and beer special from 32 Degree Draft Bar.

Play your cards like a true shark.

There’s nothing wrong with playing the tables in the casino. But, each weekend our pool deck is populated with a great crowd. A crowd that includes a bevy of beautiful poolside black jack dealers ready to deal your next hand. So go out, get some fresh air and place your bets under the sun while taking in the great atmosphere of bikini-clad pool dwellers.

Leave time for relaxation.

Any well-versed Vegas traveler knows to leave room for a little R&R. What the locals know is to spend their R&R time at Spa Mio. Take advantage of their world-class massages, facials and other soothing treatments and also the amazing specials they offer (to everyone not just locals).

Join the Club.

Ever wonder how locals get comps (the Vegas term for “free”) to our award-winning Studio B Buffet? We’ll let you in on a little secret, it’s because they’re a member of our iMagine Rewards Club! Join our rewards club so you too can earn great comps, prizes and even cash back.

Get ready for an explosive weekend at our resort! We know the M is your go-to place when you want to get the party started (Happy Hour 24/7 anyone?) and we won’t let you down this weekend. Think red, white, blue and an all-American day at our backyard pool!

Help us celebrate America’s birthday by spending the day (or whole weekend) at our pool. From Friday, July 1 – Monday, July 4 all our pools will offer complimentary entry to everyone (yes, everyone!) Join the festivities at our main pool, which boasts over 10,000 square feet of water ready for you to dive into. For a more intimate (and still free) Fourth of July experience come to our adult pool, DayDream Pool Club Saturday-Monday.

It looks like it’s going to be a hot one this weekend so take advantage of our great drink deals on our pool deck. You can order a bottle of vodka for just $65! We know you like to go first-class all the way so you’ll probably want to enjoy your bottle in style on one of our daybeds or inside a VIP cabana (complete with your own private Jacuzzi pool.) For your daybed or cabana reservation needs call 702.797.1808 or email cabanarequest@theMresort.com.

If you’re more of a card shark our Poker Room is having special promotions all day long. There are four ways for you to win on the Fourth! Get a Straight Flush (that includes a 4) and win $1,444, Four 4’s will get you $444 with a room wide Flop-It Bonus, a Flush with all 4’s is worth $144 and the games will receive $44 Splash Pots every 44 minutes!

Spending all the time by the pool or at the poker tables will give anyone an appetite. But, if you stick around at M you’re in luck. Studio B Buffet will offer its signature Seafood Brunch/Dinner throughout the whole weekend. You know what that means, all the shrimp, oysters and crab legs you can stomach for four days straight (in honor of July Fourth of course.)

There’s more to this holiday weekend than just partying. Our four-star rated Spa Mio is offering those with a valid military ID, two 50-minute services for the price of one! Sounds to us like the perfect way to wind down from a holiday weekend.

And in case you were curious, this year is America’s 235^th birthday.