Stratosphere Sportsbook Review

Local residents have been calling this resort by an abbreviated name for years. In February 2019, plans were announced to join the crowd and rename the Stratosphere as The Strat Hotel, Casino and SkyPod.

The complex, which is owned and operated by Golden Entertainment, is located about midway from the Wynn at the north end of the Strip and the classic casinos in Downtown Vegas, which includes the Golden Nugget and The D.

• Guests arriving at McCarran International Airport will head south of the airport onto the highway, and then north of Interstate 15 to the Sahara Avenue exit. Head east to Las Vegas Boulevard and then north on the Strip to the Stratosphere.

• Those traveling on Interstate 15 from California will use the same Sahara exit and head east towards Las Vegas Boulevard.

• If this is your first time to Las Vegas, you can use city streets to take in some of the attractions on the Strip, but these roadways are often congested with traffic and construction.

Unlike most of the Strip casinos which are charging as much as $20 a day, the Stratosphere offers complimentary parking in its eight-floor garage.

• The first seven floors are available for parking as the roof is blocked off in this sketchy neighborhood.

• The parking garage entrance is located on Baltimore Avenue to the south of the property.

• There is a covered walkway on the third level to the hotel.

Rideshare programs and the Las Vegas transit system are the best budget-friendly bets for visitors staying at the Stratosphere. Rideshare programs like Uber and Lyft are just a couple of clicks away on your mobile device. These apps, which are free to download, keep riders up-to-date on costs, time of arrival, and vehicle details. A one-way trip to your destination is likely to cost about two-thirds of a normal taxi fare.

• Pick up your rideshare on the second level of the parking garage at the airport.

• There are thousands of taxis in Las Vegas, including a long queue just outside the main terminal at the airport. A ride to the Stratosphere will cost around $35 by taxi and $20 by Uber.

• The bus system offers two services to the Stratosphere. The Express, which is a quicker service than the Deuce, stops every 15 minutes at the Stratosphere and runs from 9 a.m. to 12 midnight.

• The Deuce, which is a 24/7 service, stops about every 20 minutes at the resort.

• The Express route has fewer stops than the Deuce. It starts at the north outlet mall and runs south all the way down the Strip to the south outlet mall. It begins its return journey north from the South Strip Transfer Station.

• The Deuce route runs north and south from the Fremont Street Experience to Mandalay Bay.

• A two-hour bus pass for the Express is $6, a 24-hour pass is $8 and a three-day pass is $20.

• Limousine services are available with the going rate around $85-90 an hour.

Top of the World restaurant on the 106th floor of the Strat tower offers pricey steak and seafood with unparalleled views of the area as the restaurant revolves 360 degrees every 80 minutes. It's the high end of a wide range of culinary choices at this thrill-seeking resort.

There are many more eateries at the Stratosphere. Here is a sample of some at ground level and high in the sky:

• Tasty sandwiches and delectable treats dominate the menu at 108 Eats by James Trees, which is on Level 108 of the SkyPod.

• Blvd & Main Taphouse, located near the sportsbook, is a state-of-the-art beer house with elevated pub food.

• Did someone say drinks? There are a number of choices at the Stratosphere:

• View Lounge, open 24 hours a day, offers some of the best seats in the house at the adjacent sportsbook.

• 107 Sky Lounge takes drinking cocktails to another level — like Level 107 of the SkyPod.

Guests of the Stratosphere and previous members of the resort's acePlay rewards program are free to join Golden Entertainment's program called True Rewards.

Golden runs nine casinos in southern Nevada, but the Strat is the only one in Las Vegas. Existing acePlay members are automatically moved into the new program as their cards are no longer active at the Stratosphere.

There are five tier levels in the program, starting with True. The next levels in order are Loyal, Solid, Legit, and Epic. Cardholders earn points through casino play and purchases made at bars, restaurants, shops, hotels, and other Golden partners.

There are other bonuses to accumulate points for members, including mystery multipliers and dividends for program loyalty. 

Points that are earned throughout the calendar year can be used for cash, slot play and comps, such as a free stay at the Stratosphere.

The 80,000-square-foot casino floor at the Stratosphere draws a mix of tourists and locals with more than 1,300 slot machines and 54 table games. The gaming area is fairly dark and dated, but tourists like it because it's budget-friendly and locals like it because it's not on the congested Strip.

Gamblers will enjoy the $5 table minimums and the fact that complimentary drinks are quite easy to come by from friendly servers. Some of the table games available to play include:

• Blackjack, tables play 3-2 odds on a 21, but with a $25 minimum bet.

• Roulette, with all wheels containing the standard two sets of zeroes.

• Craps, start at $5 minimum with standard rules.

• Baccarat, few tables with $10 minimum.

Other table games on the casino floor include: Three Card Poker, Pai Gow Poker, High Card Flush, and Heads Up Hold'em.

There's a high limit room for slot players, with denominations as high as $25. The Strat also has a 10-table poker room, where players can go all-in daily from 11 a.m. to 3 a.m.