Betting, hotel and casino guide: Mandalay Bay Las Vegas
Located at the Southern end of the Las Vegas Strip, Mandalay Bay is the laid-back cousin to the Strip's stereotypical resorts.
With tropical styling and sporting focus, it offers a very different experience from what the rest of Vegas has to offer.
Here, Travel News Blitz’s Sam Condy outlines how to make the most of a stay at this Strip heavyweight.
The Casino Floor
Covering approximately 135,000 square feet, the casino floor's open-plan design creates a calmness within the gambling expanse.
Slot machines are aplenty, though a solid selection of table games, including blackjack, crabs, and baccarat, is still readily available in the main section.
A separate poker room ensures you can channel your inner Matt Damon in style, catering to casual players - offering a friendly, inclusive gaming experience to round off a trip to Sin City.
Sportsbook
Mandalay Bay’s no-frills sportsbook offers a traditional sports betting experience.
TV’s line the walls, while tiered seating provides a clear view of the multiple events being shown at any given time.
Like most of Vegas, the betting counters and kiosks are easy to use – and helpful staff guarantee a smooth experience even to those new to the sportsbook scene.
Additionally, close proximity to the Allegiant Stadium makes the Mandalay a sporting hub on NFL gamedays and UFC fightnights.
Dining options
Diverse dining experience stifle any likelihood of foody frustration, with crowd-pleasing favourites a mainstay of the Mandalay culinary experience.
StripSteak by Michael Mina, and Border Grill - a Mexican cuisine specialist - are two of the heavyhitters within the resort, while food courts and poolside dining guarantee a satisfying bite under time-dependent circumstances.
Perhaps not as exclusive as many of its Las Vegas competitors, Mandalay Bay places emphasis on convenient, comfort foods over fine-dining, which is definitely not a bad thing.
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Hotel and Pool
Featuring over 3,200 rooms, all offering spacious, tropical-inspired layouts, the resort caters to a variety of different budgets.
The rooms are comfortablea nd practical – with those on higher floors providing breathtaking views, over the Strip orAIrport Ruinway.
One of the biggest selling points is the pool complex, with a wave pool, lazy river, and beach-style relaxation setting its aquatic offerings apart from its Strip counterparts.
Entertainment
Mandalay Bay’s sports focus caters to a different crowd than the extravagance found elsewhere in Sin City.
The Michelob ULTRA Arena is a regular host to boxing and MMA events, while major concerts still hang on to its Las Vegas roots.
Smaller shows and rotating performances add variety, but the fight-night identity is Mandalay Bay’s major entertainment draw.
Nightlife
Be aware, tourists looking to experience some Vegas chaos may find Mandalay Bay falls short, with guests finding they will have to head deeper into the strip to enjoy some late-night antics.
However, plenty of bars and Lounges cater to casual nights off, meaning for those who don’t want to be locked in to a hard-hitting week – though still be close enough to the chaos should the desire arise – Mandalay Bay may just tick all the boxes.
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