Las Vegas - How to Play 🎲 and Why It's a Gem 💎

Despite what the name may imply, Las Vegas (by Rüdiger Dorn and Alea) isn't a gambling game. Players roll dice and commit them to one of six spots that have money dealt to them. The player with the most dice gets first crack at the cash, but only if they're not tied! Tied players have their dice removed and only whoever's left will get the winnings.
Las Vegas was nominated for the Spiel des Jahres in 2012, losing out to Kingdom Builder. It's not a hidden gem, and there have been numerous printings, most recently Las Vegas Royale in 2019. I talk about the differences between it and the original, and a bit about the now-rare expansion, Boulevard.
00:00 Intro ▶️
02:57 How to Play 🎲
09:28 Why It's a Gem 💎
Board Gems highlights older board and card games that are still great games today, and deserve to not be forgotten! Main videos on the 3rd, 13th and 23rd of every month. (Mnemonic: G-E-M has 3 letters.)
Twitter: / booned
BGG Blog: boardgamegeek.com/blog/10011
BGG New Videos List: boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/27...
BGG Requests & Suggestions List: boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/27...
How to Play music:
Mama Aiuto, Daphné - Lax Incense chll.to/6d4b5068
BoardGameGeek entry:
boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1...
Brought to you by Pizzeria Ludica! www.ludica.ca/
#boardgames #tabletop #vancouver #ludica

[@williambennett270]

These games really need to be talked about more. I own around 300 board games and I play with a lot of different core gaming groups. This is one of the few games that goes over just as well with board game-averse folks and experienced gamers with a penchant for meatier games. Definitely one of my top 10 most played games. I’m always happy to see it hit the table. Another great review. Please come back to these reviews after the business is sorted out!

[@rekakristo1002]

I absolutely agree with everything you said! Las Vegas is a great game to have for fun, but really is not a great candidate for a gamer game, unnecessary to force it to be one!

[@BoardGems]

I feel there is more motivation now on the part or publishers to just aim their games for the hobby market. Which supports lots of simple, fun games! But there’s a belief, and maybe an expectation on the part of hobbyists, that games should have more stuff, more special mechanisms, more things to think about. I’d rather let the core game shine!

[@tonyallen4265]

I haven't played LV Royale with people yet, just by myself. I agree on the chips, but I didn't eliminate them. I just greatly reduced the quantity in play. Each player gets 2 chips at the beginning and that's it. It really heightened the strategy of when to use them as their perceived value increased with their scarcity.

[@cindymcdonald8871]

Love this game, thanks for highlighting it

[@DullDishwater]

Let's not forget that "Alea" is latin for "dice" as in the famous line attributed to Caesar: "Alea iacta est" ("The Die is Cast"). In that way, this game is a natural fit for the Alea brand!

[@BoardGems]

That's true! I may have mentioned that in my video for Alea Iacta Est, another Alea game. And if I didn't, I should have! 🙂

[@christianbank393]

Thanks for your thoughts on this. I was curious about "royale" but never bought it because I have the original version. Glad to see that what it adds is not necessary (in your opinion ;)). Next time I play LV I will back port that 2 card rule. I played Carpe Diem once and thought it was really solid!

[@BoardGems]

Thanks for that! I will have to try Carpe Diem someday. My opinion definitely differs from that of many hobbyists nowadays, so it's best to take my opinion with a dash of salt... and maybe even a hefty helping of sriracha!

[@InfectiousGroovePodcast]

My wife and I are faily new to gaming. I ordered this last week and it was delivered today. Very excited to give it a try.

[@Zunidrap]

How did it go?

[@InfectiousGroovePodcast]

We liked it. We actually haven't played much in the past couple of months but we did play it a lot right when we got it@@Zunidrap

[@millsdavid]

I love Las Vegas and picked up Royale because that is the version that is available. I like the simplicity of the original and was doubtful about the bonuses in Royale, but I really had a good time playing with them. Some are better than others, but there can be some clever combinations. Thanks for the video.

[@BoardGems]

Yup, I think a number of people would like them. And even if not, it's easy enough to leave them out to get an experience close to the original, so not much need to seek out the old version... But I do prefer the content in Las Vegas Boulevard over Royale's casino abilities. Just my preference. Cheers!

[@millsdavid]

I certainly agree that you can play the excellent base game with either version!

[@diamondmeeple]

I really like Las Vegas, and close to all like it. When playing 2-player we use 4 white dice each, and the 8 white dice function like a third player in every way. But the money the white 'player' wins are discarded.

[@BoardGems]

Yup, I think that was a standard variant for 2p. For 3p it's definitely recommended each player swap out for two white neutral dice, to work as you describe. It's disappointing Las Vegas Royale doesn't mention this variant in its rules, as it's easy and just adds something necessary for low player counts.

[@redbirdx4]

There is a similar 2 player variant in Las Vegas Royale on page 4. It also uses an unused neutral Dice color. But the dice are rolled and placed randomly at the beginning of the round, instead.

[@redbirdx4]

@BoardGems Great in depth review, BTW. I agree completely!

[@bushibayushi]

We've played TONS of Las Vegas (and Las Vegas Royale) recently and I have to say that 9/10 persons that I've shown Las Vegas to has preferred the old version either with the White Dice variant or with the Purple Kicker variant from the expansion (although I have made homemade version of Purple Kicker variant, I can't find Boulevard anywhere). The poker chips from the Royale edition reduce the tension are really aren't needed. And I MUCH prefer how the money was distributed in the old version. Casinos were more asymmetrical and sometimes only the first player won anything. In the new one, the second place is guaranteed and I don't like it as much. I do however rate those versions the same, I think that there's definitely time and place for the modules/minigames. I keep both editions in one box and just play the one I'm in a mood for (but I will always pick the old one by default). Regardless of the version - I LOVE this game and I love the atmosphere it creates around the table. This and For Sale (travel edition) have become my favourite lightweight games.

[@animula8322]

There's a French version and even the expansion is available in French.

[@taylorhall2028]

Mr. Gems! You don't play with the chips?! I have to say that you are missing out tremendously. I added chips to my original copy just to add this mechanical wrinkle. It's so simple but it adds so, so much to the game. This one rule change took Las Vegas from a game that was in my top 100, to a game that is in my top 20. For me, it's about as genius of a rule as the original tie/cancel rule. Rudiger is one of the GOATs.

[@BoardGems]

Please, don't be so formal! Mr. Gems is my *father*. I'm glad you like the chips, but for me they take away a lot of the tension. You had a roll with a few bad options; which bad option do you settle on? There's a tough decision there. If you can just pass by paying a chip, you don't have to make that angsty decision.

[@hray_podcast]

Thanks for another great episode! Do you have each and every Alea big box? Can you do the Eiszeit/Mammoth Hunters review? Zero information on youtube for this one.

[@BoardGems]

I in fact have *no* Alea big-box games, except for the new line starting with Las Vegas Royale. I have a complete medium-box series, and I used to have the complete old small-box series but I sold it to another collector. I'll add Mammoth Hunters to the request list; if I stumble upon a copy, I'll know to pick it up!

[@hray_podcast]

Medium box Alea is an interesting topic as well. I would like to hear your thoughts on Saint Malo, Artus, Augsburg, Palazzo, Louis XIV and Witches Brew. I am enjoying every single moment of your Board Gems series, as usual.

[@BoardGems]

Thanks for the kind words! Augsburg and Palazzo have already been requested. I've added the others to the request list. I adore Witch's Brew, but I really need to play more Broom Service so I can compare.

[@richardhancock1505]

I hope you have had a chance to play Carpe Diem by now. I’d love to know your thoughts- particularly a comparison with the two versions. I think Carpe Diem is a GEM. Fascinating review of Las Vegas. Thanks

[@BoardGems]

I have! Just the more recent edition, though if I come across 1e I will for sure do a comparison. I’m not a big fan of Feld games, and the main part of gaining tiles for your tableau is kind of pedestrian. But I enjoy how punishing the scoring cards are. It’s a race to get to the ones you need, turn order is super important, and if you can’t get it you may score negative points. Very challenging, I really enjoy that part.

[@geriberiger5357]

What do you think about the Royal version big dice?Is it better with it or not?

[@BoardGems]

The big dice were in Las Vegas Boulevard as well. Don't mind at all that they made them standard in the Royale edition. An easy addition, I like them!

[@elgmd]

Howdy .

[@BoardGems]

Hello! It'll premiere tomorrow, not today. 🙂

[@elgmd]

I immediately realized that after I posted my greeting. Lol . Ttyl.