Julie, If you've never been to LV before, I'd recommend staying more central on the Strip, near the "4 corners" area around Bally's, Bellagio, and Caesars. Also, the Flamingo, Imperial Palace, and Harrahs are nearby, with
the Mirage and Treasure Island across the street from Harrahs, and the Venetian close. There's so much more for the visitor to do and see in this area, and most of it is free--the volcano and tigers at Mirage, the pirates ship at Treasure Island, the Forum Shoppes at Caesars.
I've found in the past, that by calling the hotels directly (they all have 800 numbers), you can sometimes find unannounced specials or packages--doesn't hurt to try. Also check the hotels' websites for specials, you may be surprised.
Another website you may want to visit (with a forum set up similar to FT), is: www.VegasWatch.com

Hope this helps a bit.
Have a great trip--and win!!

bj-21.

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'Tis better to have played and won, then never to have played at all.