Las Vegas

2012

Experience the fun and interactive Las Vegas board game. Outwit opponents, secure the most coveted casinos, and amass fortunes with each dice roll!

30
minutes

2 - 5
player(s)

Medium Light

About the game

Welcome to the world of ‘Las Vegas’, a thrilling board game filled with high-stakes gambling, strategic decision-making, and a healthy dose of luck. Set in the heart of the iconic Sin City, this game offers a virtual tour of the bustling casino life, right at your tabletop.

The central theme of ‘Las Vegas’ revolves around the glitz and glamor of its namesake city. As players, you’ll assume the roles of high-rollers, each trying to hit the jackpot in six of the major casinos. The backdrop is teeming with neon lights, poker chips, and slot machines, perfectly encapsulating the vibrant atmosphere of a typical Vegas casino.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

In the board game ‘Las Vegas’, several components are included that each serve unique roles in the game’s mechanics. These components interact with each other to create a dynamic and engaging gameplay experience.

1. Game Box:

The game box stores all the components of the game when it is not in use. It also provides a visual overview of the game on its cover, often enticing players with its vibrant design.

2. Game Board:

The game board serves as the main platform for the game. It represents a simplified layout of the city of Las Vegas, featuring six casinos numbered from 1 to 6. Each casino has a space for money cards and for dice of each player.

3. Dice:

There are a total of 40 dice in the game, eight each in five colors. Each player receives a set of eight dice in one color. The dice are rolled to determine which casino a player can place their dice on. The number rolled corresponds to the casino number.

4. Money Cards:

A total of 54 money cards are included in the game, varying in value from $10,000 to $90,000. These cards are randomly distributed among the casinos on the game board. Players aim to win these cards by having the most dice in a casino.

5. Player Aid Cards:

These cards help players keep track of game rules and available actions. They’re handy for beginners learning the game and for experienced players who need a quick reference.

The game ‘Las Vegas’ is a balance of luck and strategy. The dice roll determines the possible actions a player can take, but it’s up to the player to decide which casino to commit their dice to. The goal is to have the majority of dice in a casino to win the highest money card. However, if there’s a tie for the most dice, those players are ignored and the player with the next most dice wins the card. It’s a game of calculated risks and rewards.

Game setup Lay it out, line it up, let’s go

Las Vegas is an exciting and engaging board game that combines strategy, luck, and a bit of competitive spirit. Here is how to set up the game:

Step 1: Player Roles

Every player in ‘Las Vegas’ takes on the role of a high roller looking to win big at the casinos. Each player will have an equal number of dice that they will use to place bets on different casinos throughout the game.

Step 2: Setting up the Board

The game board represents six different casinos, each with a number from 1 to 6. Place the game board in the center of the playing area where all players can reach it. Each casino should be clear of any dice at the start of the game.

Step 3: Distributing Initial Resources

Give each player eight dice in their chosen color. All dice should be displayed in front of the players, ready to be rolled when it’s their turn. Also, each player should receive $50,000 as their starting money.

Step 4: Placing Casino Cards

Each casino has a deck of money cards associated with it. Shuffle the cards and place one face-up next to each casino on the game board. The value of the card determines the potential winnings for betting on that casino.

Step 5: Random Elements

In ‘Las Vegas’, the main element of randomness comes from the roll of the dice. Players roll their dice to determine where they can place their bets. The number rolled corresponds to the casino where they can bet. Multiple dice with the same number can be placed on the corresponding casino.

Step 6: Start of the Game

The youngest player usually goes first. They roll their dice and place all dice of one number on the corresponding casino. Play then proceeds clockwise around the table, with each player rolling their dice and placing bets until all dice have been placed.

Now you’re all set to start playing ‘Las Vegas’! The game continues over several rounds until all players have placed all their dice, and the player with the most money at the end of the game is the winner.

Game flow Round and round we go

‘Las Vegas’ is a fun and exciting board game that combines elements of luck and strategy. The game is divided into several rounds, each with different steps. A full game consists of four rounds, but this can be adjusted for shorter or longer games. Below is a detailed explanation of each round and the actions performed by players.

Game Setup:

Place the six casinos in the middle of the table, each with a number from 1 to 6.
Each casino gets a money card, drawn randomly from the pile. If the total value of a casino’s money cards is less than $50,000, draw additional cards until it reaches that amount.
Each player receives eight dice in their chosen color.

Each Round:

Each player simultaneously rolls their dice.
Players take turns placing all dice of one number on the corresponding casino.
After all players have placed their dice, the player with the most dice at each casino takes the highest valued money card. If there’s a tie for most dice, those players get nothing.
The player with the second most dice takes the next highest card, and so on. This continues until all cards or all dice at that casino are gone.
Any remaining dice are removed, then a new round begins with new money cards for each casino.

End of Game:

After four rounds, the game ends. The player with the most money wins. In case of a tie, the player with the most individual money cards wins.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

During a player’s turn in Las Vegas, they have several strategic choices and actions to consider. These choices can greatly affect the gameplay and the potential for a win.

Firstly, the player must roll their dice. The number on each die represents one of the six casinos, numbered 1 to 6. After rolling, they will choose all the dice of one number to place on the corresponding casino.

Placing dice: The player’s strategic choice here is determining which dice to use and where to place them. They can choose the casino based on the value of its available money card, the number of their dice, or the dice already present from other players. They need to anticipate their opponents’ moves and decide where they have the best chance of gaining the majority. Remember, only the player with the most dice in each casino at the end of the round will win the highest money card.

High-value casinos: Targeting casinos with high-value money cards can potentially bring in a large amount of money. However, these casinos are often the most contested, which can risk the player losing their majority.
Low-value casinos: Alternatively, players can target casinos with lower value money cards. These casinos are often less contested, increasing the chance of maintaining a majority, but offer lower returns.

Re-rolling dice: At the beginning of each turn, players will re-roll all of their remaining dice. This introduces an element of chance to the game, as the available actions for a player can change drastically based on the outcome of their roll.

End of the round: Once all players have placed all their dice, the round ends. Each casino is evaluated separately. The player with the most dice on each casino takes the highest money card, the player with the second most dice takes the next card, and so on. If there’s a tie for the most dice, those players are skipped and the next player with fewer dice wins the highest remaining card.

End of the game: After four rounds, the game ends. Players count their money, and the player with the most money wins the game. Strategic decisions made throughout the game, such as which casinos to target and when to contest majorities, can greatly influence the final outcome.

End of the game All good games must come to an end

‘Las Vegas’ is a fun and engaging board game that requires strategic planning and a bit of luck. The game concludes after four rounds of play. At this point, players will count their winnings to determine the overall winner.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the victory conditions and the actions that players need to take before the final scoring:

End of Game

The game of ‘Las Vegas’ ends after four rounds of play. At the end of each round, players will remove their dice from the casinos. The game board is then reset with new money cards for the next round. After the fourth round, the game comes to an end.

Victory Conditions

The player with the highest total money won at the end of the four rounds is declared the winner. It’s important to note that if there is a tie between players in terms of the number of dice at a casino, they cancel each other out and the next highest dice player wins that casino’s money card.

Actions Before Final Scoring

Before final scoring can take place, there are a few critical actions the players must undertake. Here are the steps:

Count Dice: At the end of each round, players need to count the number of dice they have in each casino.
Resolve Ties: If there is a tie for the most dice at a casino, those dice cancel each other out. The player with the next highest number of dice at that casino wins the money card.
Collect Money Cards: Players collect the money cards from each casino where they have the most dice. Each money card has a value that contributes to their total winnings.
Reset Board: After all the money cards have been collected, the board is reset with new money cards for the next round.

Once these steps have been carried out and all four rounds are complete, players can proceed to the final scoring. They add up the values of all the money cards they have won to determine their total winnings. The player with the highest total is the winner of the game.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

In the board game ‘Las Vegas’, players earn points based on the amount of money they collect from various casinos. Each casino has a different dollar value, and players compete to have the highest number of dice on each casino to claim the money.

Scoring:

At the end of each round, players count the number of dice they have on each casino.
The player with the most dice on a casino takes the highest value dollar card from that casino.
If there are still dollar cards left, the player with the second highest number of dice takes the next highest value card, and so on, until all the dollar cards for that casino are claimed or there are no more players with dice on that casino.
The total value of a player’s dollar cards is their score for that round.
After four rounds, the player with the highest total score wins.

Tie-Breaking Rules:

During a Round:

If two or more players have the same number of dice on a casino, they are considered tied. In the case of a tie, the tied player who rolled their dice first wins the tie.
In the event of a tie for the highest number of dice, none of the tied players claim a dollar card, and the player with the next highest number of dice claims the highest value card.

End of Game:

If two or more players have the same total score at the end of the game, the player with the most total dollar cards wins the tie.
If there is still a tie, the player with the single highest value dollar card wins.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

The board game ‘Las Vegas’ has its own set of unique and special rules which sometimes can be overlooked or misinterpreted. Let’s discuss some of these special rules, exceptions, and clarifications:

1. Dice Placement:

Rule Clarification: It’s crucial to remember that all dice of one player with the same number must be placed on the corresponding casino in one turn. A player cannot divide them among different casinos.

2. Tied Scores:

Exception: In the case of a tie at a certain casino, none of the tied players will receive any money. The highest amount will then go to the next player who has the most dice at that casino. This is an exception to the usual rule where the player with the most dice at a casino wins the highest amount.

3. Limited Dice:

Special Rule: There are only 8 dice per player. Once a player has used all of their dice, they cannot perform any further actions until the next round.

4. Cash Distribution:

Rule Clarification: The cash distribution for each casino (which is randomized each round) must always be in decreasing order. This means that the highest bill must always be on top and the lowest bill at the bottom.

5. Use of Neutral Dice:

Special Rule: In the case of a tie involving a neutral die (in a 2-5 player game), the neutral die is not considered as a player. Therefore, no money is allocated to it and the money goes to the next highest player.

6. The ‘Big’ variant:

Special Rule: In the ‘Big’ variant of Las Vegas, players can choose to play with a ninth die. This die is bigger than the others and counts as two dice when determining who has the majority in a casino.

7. The End of the Game:

Rule Clarification: The game ends after four rounds. The player with the most money is the winner. If there’s a tie, the player who won the most individual bills during the game wins.

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Las Vegas is a fun and strategic board game that requires a good balance of luck and skill. Here are some advanced strategies, beginner tips, common mistakes to avoid, and ways to optimize gameplay.

Advanced strategies:

Plan ahead: Try to anticipate your opponents’ moves and adjust your strategy accordingly. Don’t just focus on the current round; think a few rounds ahead.
Balance your bets: It’s tempting to go all-in on one casino, but spreading your dice across multiple casinos can increase your chances of winning.
Use the $50,000 bills wisely: It can be beneficial to go for the $50,000 bills early in the game as they can provide a significant point boost.

Beginner tips:

Understand the odds: The dice are the heart of Las Vegas. Understanding the odds of each roll can greatly improve your gameplay.
Don’t forget about ties: In the event of a tie, the tied players get nothing. Keep this in mind when placing your dice.
Try different strategies: Don’t be afraid to mix up your strategy if things aren’t going your way. This game has a lot of randomness, which can lead to unexpected results.

Common mistakes to avoid:

Overcommitting to one casino: While it’s important to secure a win in at least one casino, overcommitting to one can leave you vulnerable in others.
Ignoring smaller casinos: The smaller casinos can still provide a good amount of money. Don’t neglect them in favor of the larger ones.
Forgetting about the tie rule: Remember, in the event of a tie, both players get nothing. Avoid ties when possible.

Ways to optimize gameplay:

Pay attention to your opponents: Notice their strategies and adjust your gameplay accordingly.
Manage your dice wisely: You only have a limited number of dice each round. Make sure to use them strategically.
Take advantage of opportunities: If a casino is uncontested, it may be worth placing a die there, even if the potential payout is small.