With some of the biggest and best casino resorts in the world, it’s no secret that Las Vegas is the ultimate gaming playground. Whether you’re looking for slots, spas, shopping or shows, Sin City is your one-stop-shop for a weekend full of glitz and glamour. But for those of you who would rather play your cash in the casino than spending it on airfare, we’ve highlighted a few of our preferred Southern properties based on size, amenities and Southern Gaming reader perceptions to help you plan your next getaway.

Keep in mind that this list includes only some of our favorite properties, and they’re listed by region rather than rank.

Enjoy!

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Every new slot machine has three missions. It must have a way to shout out “play me!” to any passing players. Once it grabs you, it must keep you in your seat. And it has to provide the fun that will keep you coming back for more.

Slot manufacturers have a deep bag of tricks to make all that happen. Exciting game themes, sometimes licensed from pop culture icons, progressive jackpots, free spins, interactive bonus events, music and video all are part of the package in modern slots.

How to best take advantage of the available tools? That’s where the slot designer’s imagination comes in. Here are some of their hottest ideas for 2013- games sure to command players’ attention.

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Comedian Ron “Tater Salad” White is best known as the scotch-drinking, cigar-smoking bad boy from the Blue Collar Comedy series with Jeff Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy and Bill Engvall. But, with two Grammy nominations, a Gold Record, three of the biggest one-hour TV specials in Comedy Central history, CD and DVD sales of over 10 million units, and a recent 80-minute internet special performance he sold for just $5, he has certainly made a name for himself and is now a star in his own right.

He is part of the Aces of Comedy series at The Mirage in Las Vegas and regularly performs at casinos across the nation and in the South, including the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi. While we recommend you leave the kids at home for this show, it is certainly a must-see performance that will fill your evening with laughter and give you plenty of ‘water cooler one-liners’ for weeks to come.

We caught up with the world-renowned, jet-setting comedian for an exclusive one-on-one interview.

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Stroll through just about any casino and you are sure to see an array of interesting characters ranging in age, gender, personality and style. People go to casinos for all kinds of reasons—entertainment, birthdays, to hold business conferences during the day and to let loose at night. Casinos have a variety of ways to attract this wide assortment of guests—they offer free buffets, award double points on slot machines, encourage you to purchase golf packages and, probably the most enticing attraction, they promote exciting live shows and concerts.

If you haven’t yet attended a live performance at a casino, you should. Whether you’re seeing a world-famous musician or a big name comedian, you won’t be disappointed. Most performers take the stage for about an hour and a half and the staff will help you find your seat quickly so you can enjoy every minute of the entertainment. Afterwards, ushers escort guests back to the casino floor so you can continue your night chatting and mingling at the bar or enjoying a round (or two) of blackjack or craps. Such nights are a win-win for both the casino and its guests. The casino gets a crowd to drop some coin after the show, and guests have a memorable night that starts with a great live performance and ends with plenty of fun in the casino.

Some of the hottest tickets in casino show business today are headline comedy acts. Ridden with names made famous by television sitcoms and other hit shows, these guys have come a long way from the smoky comedy clubs. Today, they are playing two shows a night on the Strip in Sin City and charging a premium for tickets. And when they aren’t in Vegas, they’re touring the country with stops in other casino venues, including several in the Southern Gaming region!

We’ve put together a list of some of our favorite comedic acts. See a trip to Vegas in your near future? Excited about trying one of the great casinos in the South? Check out this list for more information on where you can catch one of these comedians live on stage!

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