Mesquite is located about one hour northeast of Las Vegas. It is on the Nevada-Arizona border along Interstate 15. Mesquite is a city that appeals mostly to retirees. It offers good gambling, especially at Eureka Casino. There are six local golf clubs. There are also museums, shows, mountain sports and an indoor sports facility.
Most tourists that visit Mesquite do so to gamble. There are three casinos that cater to these players. Each has a resort experience, albeit a smaller one than is offered in Las Vegas.
Eureka Casino
Eureka Casino is our top pick for Mesquite. That is due to its high-quality table games and video poker. There is no better place for gaming in Mesquite. Eureka Casino also offers the only poker room in town. It is located just north of Interstate 15 on Mesa Blvd at exit 122.
We recommend Eureka Casino because it offers the best real money blackjack game in the region. There is a single deck blackjack table with a $10-$100 bet limit. The game pays 3-2 on a natural blackjack. Players may double down on any two cards and after splitting. The dealer hits soft 17. The house edge on this game is less than 0.1%.
Great Blackjack Tables
There are three double deck blackjack tables with $5 to $500 limits. Players may double down before and after splitting. Re-split aces is also available. The seven six-deck shoe blackjack games have the same rules and bet limits and add surrender to the rules. Free Bet Blackjack has the same limits. All of these blackjack games pay 3-2 at Eureka.
Some blackjack tables have the Bonus Spin side bet. Getting dealt an ace on the first two cards pays even money. A dealt blackjack allows a player to spin the virtual wheel to win a cash prize.
Eureka spreads a blackjack variant called “Triple Up 21.” It uses two decks. Players may triple down on 9, 10 and 11 on the first two cards. Double down after splitting is permitted. Blackjack pays even money, however, the player always wins on a dealt 21. The dealer hits soft 17.
Triple Up 21’s basic strategy is similar to traditional blackjack except that players should triple down when normally doubling down. The additional action comes with 9 against a dealer’s 2 or 7, as well as 11 against a dealer’s ace. The player should triple up in these situations, too.
Plenty of Table Games
Eureka offers more table games than blackjack. There is one craps table with $3 to $500 limits. Players may take up to 10 times odds. The Field pays triple on 12.
There is a double zero roulette table with $5 to $500 limits. Pai Gow Poker and High Card Flush also have these limits. Ultimate Texas Hold’em accepts bets from $5 to $50, while Three Card Poker is $5-$50.
Best Video Poker Found Here
The best video poker in Mesquite may be found at Eureka. Players will find several 10/6 $.25 Double Double Bonus machines. Double Bonus Deuces Wild is available in $.01, $.02 and $.05 on 50 and 100-play machines. The same goes for Not-So-Ugly Deuces, which is also available in multi-play up to $1. The same goes for 9/6 Jacks or Better and Bonus Poker Deluxe. Some of the video poker machines at Eureka are coin operated. There is a free machine players may cash in coins of any denomination to get into the action. Players earn 0.25% comps of 0.13% free play though the rewards program.
Only Poker Room in Town
Eureka spreads the only poker room in town. The most common game is 2-8 spread limit. There is also a weekend 1/3 No Limit Texas Hold’em game.
Eureka is on the higher end as far as hotels go in Mesquite. Rates start at $79 during the week and $109 on weekends. There is a 24-hour café. The other dining option is Gregory’s Mesquite Grill. It opens at 4pm daily with early bird specials.
Virgin River Casino
Virgin River Casino is located across the street from Eureka Casino on Pioneer Blvd. It is much smaller than Eureka.
There are seven blackjack tables at Virgin River Casino. Three are six-deck shoes with $5 to $500 limits. Four are $10 to $500 double deck tables. Both have the same rules. Players may double down before and after splitting. The dealer hits soft 17. Blackjack pays 3-2 at all Virgin River Casino blackjack tables.
There is a $5 to $500 craps table. It permits 3-4-5 times odds. The Field pays triple on 12. There is a double zero roulette table. The limits are $4-$1,000. Pai Gow is $10 to $500. Ultimate Texas Hold’em has $5 to $25 limits. Three Card Poker is $5 to $50. Each of these games has one table at Virgin River Casino.
The video poker at Virgin River Casino is not great. The only game that returns more than 99% is 8/5 Bonus Poker. It is available in denominations from $.25 to $5. The players club returns 0.4% in cash, free play or comps.
Virgin River Casino offers a small hotel. Rates start at $27 during the week and $54 on weekends. There is a 24-hour café, daily buffet, Starbuck’s, hot dog cart and snack bar. Virgin River Casino offers a bowling alley and arcade.
Casablanca Casino
Casablanca Casino is located at exit 120 on Interstate 10. Travel southwest of the interchange on West Mesquite Blvd. Casablanca Casino is on the right.
There are 16 blackjack tables at Casablanca Casino. Double deck tables make up 15 of these. The limits are $5 to $500. There is one six-deck shoe with $5 to $200 limits. Both tables permit double down before and after splitting. The dealer hits soft 17. Blackjack pays 3-2.
There is one craps table at Casablanca. It has $5 to $1,000 limits. The odds are 3-4-5 times. The Field pays triple on 12. There is a double zero roulette game with $4 to $1,000 limits. There is also $5-$25 Ultimate Texas Hold’em and $5-$50 Three Card Poker.
The only video poker game that returns more than 99% at Casablanca Casino is 8/5 Bonus Poker. It is only spread in the $1 denomination. The players club returns 0.4% in free play, cash or comps.
Casablanca Casino offers three restaurants. One is a café with an American and Chinese menu. It opens at 5am daily. Katherine’s Fine Dining is open from 5pm to 9pm daily. The buffet is open on weekends. There is also a coffee shop and hot dog cart.
There are 500 newly remodeled hotel rooms at Casablanca Casino. The rates start at $59 during the week and $79 on weekends.
