The Palazzo is the sister hotel to Venetian, much like Encore is to Wynn and Venus is to Serena, if you know what I mean.

But with eight years between the resorts opening, there is less of a twin sister vibe to Palazzo, and more of a family resemblance, like a cousin.

While the Venetian is themed specifically like a mini-Venice in architecture, replicas and attractions, Palazzo has a more subtle Italian theme mixed with a Beverley Hills/Rodeo Drive type feel too.

While both Venetian and Palazzo are technically under one banner, Venetian tends to grab all the headlines due to its unique appearance.

However, Palazzo has a standalone casino, a front desk, a pool complex, and its own attractions. So I went along to see just what it’s like to stay and gamble at the Palazzo.

Venetian opened its doors in May 1999 and just over eight years later Palazzo opened the first phase of its resort in December 2007.

Only the casino actually opened at first, but the hotel followed less than two weeks later in January 2008.

Originally the plan was for Venetian to open a second tower immediately after its launch. The project was entitled ‘Lido’, named after Lido di Venezia which is an island in the Venetian lagoon and home to the Venice Film Festival.

For numerous reasons, mostly financial, the build was put back. 

Palazzo is built on the land that used to house several motels as far back as 1949. One of the most famous motels was The Tam O' Shanter which featured a distinctive neon sign resembling a tam o' shanter cap. 

Incidentally, this cap is on show at the Neon Museum if you want to check it out.

With Palazzo eventually being built quite a while after Venetian, a lot had changed in the meantime. Significantly, Wynn resort had been the only Strip property built since 2000. 

Wynn signalled a step away from themed resorts to a more sophisticated and contemporary look that no doubt influenced the design of Palazzo.

The other significant thing that happened was that we all became so much more environmentally aware and greener. Consequently, Palazzo was constructed as a green building, incorporating energy and water-saving methods in its design. 

In 2008, the resort received Silver LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, making it the largest LEED-certified building in the world.

Location

Palazzo is positioned on the north side of the Las Vegas Strip. Immediately to the south is the Venetian and there is an internal walkway between the two. While to the north is Wynn and Encore.

What you will notice at Palazzo (and Venetian) is just how big the resort is. It can take an age just to walk through the inside never mind get outside, so always bear this mind.

Opposite Palazzo is TI (Treasure Island) and the Fashion Show Mall, however, neither have pedestrian bridges so you have to walk to Wynn or Venetian to cross over.

It is possible to get around using the Las Vegas Monorail while staying at the Palazzo, as long as you don’t mind some walking. The closest stop is Harrahs/the LINQ which is around an 18/20 minute walk.

Once on the monorail you can use it to go as far south as MGM Grand and as far north as Sahara if you want to explore. Single tickets cost $6 but you can buy day passes for one to seven days that cost anywhere between $15 and $62 depending on how many. 

While Palazzo used to be one of the more isolated resorts to the north alongside Wynn and Encore, that has recently changed. With the opening of Resorts World in 2021 and Fontainebleau in 2023 on the far north of the Strip, Palazzo now feels much more integrated with thriving properties either side.

If you are travelling by taxi from Harry Reid International Airport, then Palazzo is in Zone 3 of the fixed rate taxi fee which is a flat fee of $29 plus tip. Meanwhile, if you’re arriving by car, you’ll find plenty of car parking on site which costs between $18 and $23 per night. 

Palazzo casino is around 105,000 square feet, which is almost identical to the Venetian. The casino has a much simpler square shape though making is easy to navigate.

While Venetian is all about the architecture and grand ceilings, Palazzo is more modern. Although the surroundings are still high-end and sophisticated, it has a more contemporary feel with an overall blue and silver colour scheme.

Walking around the casino, I felt like there was a younger crowd in here than at the Venetian. The casino was well laid-out with restaurants, bars, and shops around the outside and the slots were nicely spaced out creating a comfortable gaming experience.

It had a lively atmosphere about it, lots of buzz and activity, but was still up-scale enough that it felt fun and exciting rather than rowdy or overwhelming.

Table Games Selection

There are around 100 table games on the Palazzo casino floor which, again, is identical to Venetian. 

You’ll find all the usual favourites such as blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat, and a few different poker pit variations. The table minimums are often a little bit lower at Palazzo than the Venetian on quieter days and I saw some $15 blackjack.

As you would expect, when I walked around the table game area, everything was of a very high standard with soft comfortable seating and pristine tables. 

If you’re a poker player, then Palazzo doesn’t have a poker room, but Venetian has one of the biggest poker rooms in Las Vegas which is a ten-minute walk away.

Occasionally you will see some poker tables at Palazzo though, if there is a massive tournament in town such as the WSOP. 

Classic table games:

• Blackjack
• Roulette
• Craps
• Baccarat

Variants:

• Ultimate Texas Hold’em
• Crapless Craps
• Pai Gow Poker
• Spanish 21
• Free Bet Blackjack

The only blackjack I could see on the main floor was 6:5 blackjack, with the exception of Spanish 21. However, you can find 3:2 blackjack in the high limit salon.

You can play single, double, and triple zero roulette at Palazzo. However, the single zero roulette is only available in the high limit salon, and it does not follow European rules.

Slots

With around 1,000 slot machines, I found a great variety of choice at Palazzo. There was a small selection of old-school three and five-reel machines but the majority of the floor was taken up with modern video slots.

The games were well spaced out and laid out well with specific branded games situated together such as the Buffalo games zone beside Mott 32. There was also a large electronic table game area with stadium baccarat.

If you’re a sucker for a progressive jackpot, then you’ll find plenty of choice here as well as other big favourite games such as:

• 88 Fortunes
• Dragon Link
• Huff n More Puff
• Dragon Spin
• Regal Riches
• Wheel of Fortune
• Heidi’s Beer Haus
• Lightning Lin

I played a little Lightning Dollar Link (Chica Bonita) and hit a few bonuses so ended up around $50 up which I was happy with. 

Unfortunately, I didn’t have the luck of a recent Palazzo winner who won $1,037,828 jackpot in March 2024 on Dragon Link in the high limit lounge on a $25 bet.

Bar-Top Gaming

Bar Luca was the only bar on the main casino floor that I could find bar-top gaming at the Palazzo. But as bars go, it’s a great one.

Open 24 hours a day right in the heart of the casino, Bar Luca is a perfect place to hang out and play some bar-top video poker or slots. If you haven’t played bar top games before, just pull up a seat, put your money in the slot and choose your game. 

Most bars in Las Vegas will offer comped drinks to players playing bar-top games and I’m pleased to say Bar Luca does. Bar Luca operates a ticket system, so when the game decides you’ve played enough it will reward you with a comp drink ticket. You then just order from the bartender and don’t forget to leave a tip.

There is additional bar-top gaming in the new High-Limit Gaming Lounge Bar as well.

Sportsbook

If sports betting is your thing, then you’re best-off heading to the newly renovated Yahoo Sportsbook next door at the Venetian.

Operated by William Hill, the bar is impressive, with a huge LED wall, bar-top gaming, and big comfy lounge seats. It’s one of the best sportsbooks in Las Vegas right now.

It probably is possible to place sports bets at Palazzo, but I didn’t come across any betting windows or kiosks on my walk around. The previous Palazzo sportsbook Lagasse’s Stadium closed down due to covid.

Waitress Service

The beauty of gambling in Las Vegas is that you can get free drinks while you’re betting. It’s not a myth, it is in fact true and better still, it doesn’t matter how much you’re betting either. Good luck finding that at even the best online casinos.

Waitresses circulate the casino floor for both slots and table games, asking players if they’d like a drink. If you’re not sure what to ask for, they usually serve beer, wines, spirits, and basic cocktails. 

Just ask what they have and don’t forget to tip well if you want them to return often. I recommend tipping between $2 and $5 per drink depending on what you order. 

I’m pleased to say that the waitress service was on-point at Palazzo. I got offered three drinks while playing slots.

At the more high-end casinos I like to order a cocktail, as I know they’ll make them well, so I ordered a lemon drop martini. It came in a martini glass with a sugared rim and was made to perfection. 

High Limit Gaming at Palazzo Casino

Palazzo is the perfect Las Vegas casino if you enjoy high-limit gaming.

It’s newly renovated 15,000 square foot High-Limit Gaming Lounge provides elegant and spacious surroundings with around 65 high-denomination slot games plus a selection of high-limit table games as well.

It’s the definition of opulence, with large circular lighting, marble and carpeted floor, immaculate tables, and big soft luxurious seats too, even at the slots.

There is also a private bar where they serve an exclusive cocktail menu and you can play bar-top games and earn comped drinks. 

I found a large selection of video poker. Plus there were a lot of progressive slots with jackpots over $1million.

On the table games, I saw blackjack, commission-free Tiger Baccarat, roulette, craps, and Ultimate Texas Hold’em, which is linked to the Millionaire Progressive.

Although the majority of my slot play is under $5 I will occasionally play $5 or $10 a spin if I’m feeling lucky and you can do that in the Palazzo High Limit Lounge. I tried my luck on some Dragon Link but ended up a little bit down.

But if are happy to bet at that level, don’t be afraid to head to the Palazzo High Limit Lounge. Despite its exclusive feel, it isn’t only for the big high-rollers.

Cash and Payment Options

Cash is always the main gambling currency in Las Vegas. Although one or two casinos have started offering card transactions on the casino floor, it’s still mostly cash and that’s the case at Palazzo.

You can withdraw cash on the casino floor using the ATM’s, but just be aware that they usually charge a fee which can be up to $10. I always prefer to bring my gambling cash with me.

If you’re playing on the slots, then just insert money into the slot to spin. Don’t panic though when payments come back out as a voucher instead of cash. 

These vouchers are basically casino currency and mean that every slot doesn’t have to be filled with cash all of the time.

You can take this voucher and either put it straight into another slot to continue playing or swap it for cash at one of the redemption machines around the casino floor.

If you’re playing at the tables, then hand your cash to the dealer who will swap it for chips. When you’re finished playing, swap the chips for cash at the cashier cage.

Whichever way you withdraw your winnings at Palazzo, you’ll get your hands on your money faster than you would at even the fast payout online casinos, which is always a huge perk of gambling in person.

When I stayed at the Venetian, I thought the suite was big at 650 square feet, however, I had no idea that the Palazzo standard suites were even bigger.

The most basic accommodation you can book at Palazzo is a Luxury King Suite which is an incredible 720 square feet. When I walked in, I just couldn’t believe how spacious it was.

Laid-out in a similar style to the Venetian suites, you have your bedroom in the upper area and then a sunken living area down a couple of stairs. 

I am not exaggerating when I say it felt like pure luxury and actually made me feel a bit like a VIP.

The bedroom area was huge, with two bedside tables and a separate drawer unit with a large HDTV above it.

Moving down into the living area, there was another large HDTV, with a big plush corner sofa, table and chair plus a separate office desk and chair too. All framed with huge floor to ceiling windows with stunning Strip views.

The bathroom was just as opulent, if not more so. With (honestly) another HDTV, you can soak in the bath, enjoy the big walk-in shower, or make the most of his and hers sinks and a separate dressing table area all surrounded with huge mirrors.

The suite was genuinely beautiful, decorated with neutral colours, and even the bedding and towels were really soft and high quality. 

Amenities wise, everything I needed was there – hairdryer, iron, ironing board, in-room safe, quality bathroom toiletries, not the mention three TV’s! I could also control the drapes and shades by remote control.

If you have the budget, I highly recommend staying at Palazzo.

If you want to treat your furry friend to some Las Vegas action, then unfortunately Palazzo is not the resort for you. Dogs are not allowed unless they are trained service dogs. 

Bars

There are only three bars within the Palazzo casino floor. However, there are plenty more within restaurants and next door at the Venetian.

Bar Luca is the main casino bar. With a big square bar and comfortable lounge seats too, you can soak up the casino atmosphere while you’re taking a breather. You can also play bar-top games while people-watching, which is a fun hobby of mine.

The other two bars are more up-scale – Rosina Cocktail Lounge and Electra Cocktail Club.

Rosina Cocktail Lounge is an intimate, exclusive bar with talented mixologists who can create custom-made cocktails to your taste. 

This lounge has made many ‘Top Bars in Vegas’ lists and also famously features a ‘Champagne Call Button’ which is meant to summon champagne by the glass or bottle. Although I’m reliably told it doesn’t actually work.

Meanwhile, the Electra Cocktail Bar has a Jekyll and Hyde type personality. Through the day you can watch sports on its enormous 40-foot HDTV while at night, it turns into party central with a loud, bouncing nightclub type bar with resident DJ’s. 

Buffets and Restaurants

Dining is one of the biggest attractions at both Palazzo and Venetian, they each have a huge variety of eateries plus there’s a ‘restaurant row’ full of delicious dining options that connects both resorts.

Some fine dining options at Palazzo include HaSalon, WAKUDA, Mott32 and CUT by Wolfgang Puck. I haven’t had the pleasure of eating at any of these yet, but Asian/Japanese restaurant WAKUDA looks stunning and is on the list.

Popular restaurant options with a reasonable price tag includes LAVO Italian Restaurant, Grimaldi's Pizzeria, Hong Kong Café, and Miznon. I’ve eaten at Grimaldi’s Pizzeria, which is a hugely popular award-winning restaurant, and I can definitely recommend it. 

Don’t forget that Venetian and Palazzo restaurants are on both the lower and the upper floors and the ground space is huge so you may have to do some walking to find them.

Restaurant Row in between Palazzo and Venetian has dining options such as Matteo’s Ristorante Italiano, Delmonico Steakhouse and Estiatorio Milos.

Plus, there are plenty of quick eat options at Starbucks, JuiceFarm, Aviation Café and Illey Café.

Although the Palazzo doesn’t have its own buffet, the Grand Lux Café is open 24 hours a day and offers a breakfast buffet. This is always a must-visit for me. The food is gorgeous, the portions are large and the price is more than reasonable. 

If you want a food court, Palazzo doesn’t have one, but cousin Venetian does. 

Shows and Entertainment

The Palazzo’s main free attraction is the Waterfall Atrium that is located in between Palazzo and Venetian.

Featuring a big waterfall, several garden areas and a big glass ceiling letting is lots of natural light, the atrium is a perfect photo spot.

The atrium has different seasonal displays of plants and flowers and also has special bespoke displays for celebrations such as Chinese New Year. For a few years now, in front of the waterfall, you can see huge red letters spelling the word ‘LOVE’ which I’m sure you’ll have seen on millions of photographs.

Despite it being surrounded by shops and restaurants, the atrium is actually a really nice spot to sit and relax for a while and you can get great views from the upper floor.

Speaking of shopping, The Grand Canal Shoppes is a shopper’s paradise between Palazzo and Venetian. If you love to browse high-end shops or better still, buy stuff, you will be spoilt for choice here with almost 100 shops to enjoy. Don’t forget to bring the credit card!

If you enjoy some more casual type fun then Flight Club Social Darts, Kamu Ultra Karaoke, and PanIQ Escape Room & Lounge are all indoor fun activities you can try upstairs.

I went to Flight Club Social Darts on my last visit and absolutely loved it. Although not remotely a darts player, the good news is you don’t have to be. 

You get food and drinks served to your personal oche and you can choose from a range of silly games such as Donkey Derby, Killer, and Snakes and Ladders. It only cost $20 per person and the place itself is stunning with a brilliant atmosphere. I will definitely go back.

Although the Palazzo has its own 1800 seated theatre, it has mostly sat vacant since 2018 except for a short residency for musical Six in 2023. That means there is no actual shows to go see at Palazzo. 

If shows are your thing, then the Venetian has Atomic Saloon, plus the Venetian Theatre and Summit Showroom host regular headline music acts and comedians. 

Also, at Venetian you can get up close and personal to top celebrities such as Jason Derulo and Christina Aguilera at Voltaire, dance with the party crowd and Tao Nightclub and Dayclub and of course go on a gondola ride too.

The Sphere is also part of Venetian’s attractions, which is the world’s largest spherical structure and provides an outstanding attraction both inside and out. I went to see ‘Postcards from Earth’ here and it was mesmerising. 

Finally, Venetian also has the minus5º Ice Experience, and Madame Tussauds Interactive Wax Museum.

Palazzo Pool

There’s an impressive seven pools to choose from at the Palazzo pool complex. And what’s even better is they are all heated.

The Palazzo pool deck isn’t as themed as the Venetians, but it is still lavish and in beautiful surroundings.

I had a walk around and this area seemed a little quieter than the Venetian pools, but I actually liked the layout better. The sun loungers were comfortable and there were plenty of them. There were palm trees and lots of plants and foliage around as well as some Italian-style pillars and it had a really relaxed vibe to it.

As with all Vegas pools, you can hire a cabana and some super comfortable day beds if you want to add that extra VIP feel to your pool day. 

For poolside food and drink the luxurious CAPRI Pool Restaurant and Bar is ideal for brunch or lunch on the patio and they serve amazing cocktails too. The Capri Daiquiri is my top tip. It’s heaven in a glass and perfect for a hot summers day. 

You really don’t even need to leave the pool deck at all, everything you need is here. But if you do want to indulge yourself then Canyon Ranch spa and fitness is one of the world’s largest day spas and you can choose from a huge range of special treatments.

Spa

The Palazzo boasts a world class Spa in Canyon Ranch, which is claims to offer 'hundreds of facial, massage, and body treatments.' It's a shared facility with sister-property and next-door-neighbour Venetian.

Alongside that there is also the Canyon Ranch Fitness Center with its 150 services. It all adds up to form an outstanding 134,000 square feet of relaxation for the health-conscious. 

There are special packages on offer too so guests can eek out some extra value. However, bear in mind that Canyon Ranch at the Venetian is a Forbes Travel Guide Four Star spa, so expect prices to reflect that. 

The Palazzo doesn’t have its own rewards program – it shares one with the Venetian.

As of 1 March 2024, this is called the Venetian Rewards program, but was formerly known as Grazie Rewards.

You can earn two types of points on the rewards programme, Rewards Points and Tier Points. Rewards points can be used to redeem perks while Tier Points help you climb the status tiers.

To build up points, just use or present your rewards card every time you spend money either at Palazzo or Venetian. The tier levels and benefits are listed below:

• Jade (0 – 2,999 Tier Points) – members hotel rates, free play, and resort credit
• Sapphire (3,000 – 19,999 Tier Points) – all of the above plus complimentary early check-in and self-parking, 15% retail discount and 2-4-1 gondola rides
• Ruby (20,000 – 49,999 Tier Points) – all of the above plus complimentary suites, dining and spa credit, complimentary gondola, and golf
• Diamond (50,000 + Tier Points) – all of the above plus airline credit and complimentary Sphere tickets
• Chairman (invite only) – all of the above plus VIP check-in, airport transportation, and Prestige Lounge access

To join Venetian Rewards, just go along to the Rewards Desk at the Palazzo with some photographic ID. You must be 21 or over to join.

At the time of writing, Palazzo has a new member offer available but this is subject to change.

Personally, I signed up and played $200 in the casino, which got me 50 Rewards Points. That meant I was eligible to have a go on the Earn and Spin wheel at the Rewards Desk. 

Although I could have won anything from $20 to $10,000 in slot credits, unfortunately I only got $20! But it was better than nothing.

Another new member offer was available – the Earn and Win Promotion which involved getting both slot freeplay and resort credit for earning between 400 – 3000 Rewards Points.

It was a bit too rich for my budget, but if you’re planning on spending a lot at the slots or table, then it’s worth doing. You might as well get a guaranteed something back for your gambling spend.

Just remember, these new member promotions only apply to your first visit in the casino after signing up.

Should you join Venetian Rewards?

Absolutely. If you’re going to be spending money at the Palazzo or the Venetian then why turn down rewards in return?

The great thing about this program is that you don’t have to hit the higher status tiers to start getting perks. You can get discounts, resort credit and freeplay even on the lowest tier.

Plus, you can pick up points not only with gambling spend but also when you pay for overnight stays, dining, drinking, attractions, and shopping too.

On slot play you earn 1 point for every $4 of coin-in; for video poker its 1 point for every $10 coin-in and for hotel, dining, shows, retail, and spa its 2 points for every $1 spent. 

With table games, points are awarded based on average bet size, duration of play and the type of game you’re playing. 

Just get into the habit of showing your card every time you spend money in resort. If you’re playing at the tables, then hand it to your dealer, if you’re playing slots, then insert it into your slot game.

Plus, whenever you pay for a bill, just ask if you can get the points added to your member’s card. You’ll be surprised how quickly the points add up and the benefits you then receive. 

I stayed at the Venetian quite a few years ago and in my mind, I’d ticked that resort off my list. However, I was wrong.

The Palazzo is a fabulous resort in it’s own right and in some ways is even better than Venetian. It absolutely holds its own among even the most brand new casinos on the Strip in terms of luxury.

The suite was spectacular – one of the best rooms I’ve stayed at in Las Vegas, if not the best. Plus, I liked the quieter casino, the quality waitress service and the high-limit lounge was incredible. I also really liked Luca Bar and the choice of restaurants. 

The downsides of the resort to me are the location, as it’s a little far north on the Las Vegas Strip for my liking, and how big the resort is. I’ll be honest, I’m not a shopper so I resent having to walk past what feels like endless shops to get anywhere.

It also probably doesn’t have as much entertainment as I’d usually like. I enjoy theatre shows, lively sports bars and piano duelling bars personally. However, I can get most of this from the Venetian next door.

I think as long as you don’t mind walking between Palazzo and Venetian then you probably have everything you need. And, with a suite as good as that, two casinos, and vast dining and drinking options, do you even need to go anywhere else anyway?