Low-limit slots
Harrah's Las Vegas
3475 Las Vegas Blvd. S. 702-369-5000

THE STAKES: A penny and up.
THE SKINNY: With more than 1,500 slot machines, Harrah's has everything from old-school Triple Diamond to video poker. Progressive games, such as Wheel of Fortune and Megabucks, have jackpots of up to $1.2 million.
BEST FOR: Almost everyone. Though you'll still find plenty of blue-haired ladies in pink velour, slot machines aren't just for octogenarians anymore—really.
BUT BEWARE: Steer clear of machines on the end of slot banks, as they typically have the highest hold (which means they'll take more of your money).

High-limit slots
Wynn Las Vegas
3131 Las Vegas Blvd. S. 702-770-7000

THE STAKES: Ten thousand dollars.
THE SKINNY: Wynn Las Vegas is the ritziest casino, and its dark-hued high-limit room has the highest-denomination slot machine in town. Break for a cocktail on the back balcony, which overlooks the pool, or to have dinner (from any restaurant on the property, including Okada and Daniel Boulud) in the private dining room.
BEST FOR: Gold diggers. The one thing the people playing $5K per spin have in common is that theyre filthy stinking rich, so if you want to score a sugar daddy—whether a Fortune 500 exec in Brioni or a poker pro blowing off steam—this is the place.
BUT BEWARE: This is not a room for the practical—or the nonfilthy stinking rich. The average person here plays seven spins per minute. Remember, that's seven $5,000 spins.

Baccarat
The Venetian
3355 Las Vegas Blvd. S. 702-414-1000
THE STAKES: From $100 to $15,000.
THE SKINNY: Invented by Italian Felix Falguiere in the Middle Ages, Baccarat is the game of choice for Asia's high rollers. The plush Baccarat Salon at The Venetian is the go-to spot in Las Vegas.
BEST FOR: Those who want some old-world ritual with their cash. Games are preceded by an elaborate ceremonial cleansing. There's even a sommelier to navigate you through the tea offerings, which include everything from green tea and oolong to Pu-erh.
BUT BEWARE: Chinese superstitions dictate that you avoid seat no. 4 (it's unlucky), sex before gambling, and saying the word "book," which sounds like "lose" in Cantonese.

*A pass line bet is one bet on an area called the "pass line." A player places his money there before the first roll (also known as the "come out" roll) and leaves it until money is won or lost. If the shooter rolls a 7 or an 11, you win, but if he rolls a 2, a 3, or a 12, you lose. If the shooter rolls something other than those numbers, he rolls until he hits either the same number again or a 7. If he rolls your number again before a 7, you win, but if he rolls a 7 first, you lose.

LOCAL SINNER: Howard Lederer

Howard Lederer, a.k.a. the Poker Professor, has won two World Series of Poker (WSOP) titles, two World Poker Tour (WPT) titles, and nearly $5 million in lifetime tournament prize money. We asked him for his advice on the best games in town--and how to avoid getting fleeced