Uncovering the Most Notorious Scams in Las Vegas: Insights from Tripadvisor Reviews
Las Vegas, the world-famous city of lights and entertainment, welcomes over three million visitors monthly. With so many travelers eager to experience everything the city has to offer, it’s no surprise that many are on high alert to avoid falling victim to scams. Searches for “the best buffet in Las Vegas,” “top Vegas shows,” and the finest resorts dominate Google as tourists seek out memorable, hassle-free experiences. To help future visitors steer clear of disappointment, we sifted through more than 1.5 million Tripadvisor reviews—spanning casinos, resorts, shows, restaurants, and bars—analyzing terms such as “scam,” “rip-off,” “waste,” and “misleading” to find which Las Vegas destinations most frequently leave guests feeling swindled.
Revealing the Top Scams in Las Vegas: Key Highlights
Our deep dive into Tripadvisor visitor feedback revealed some stark patterns in tourist dissatisfaction:
– The Blue Man Group is the most frequently cited scam in Las Vegas, with 5.5% of reviews featuring scam-related complaints.
– Bluegreen Vacations Club 36 tops the list for resort complaints, with 4.2% of reviewers cautioning about hidden fees and questionable packages.
– Minus5 ICEBAR emerges as the most criticized restaurant/bar, registering scam complaints in 5% of its reviews.
The Top 10 Las Vegas Destinations Tourists Warn Against
For those hoping to optimize their Las Vegas trip and avoid common pitfalls, here’s a rundown of destinations earning the most scam-related reviews across shows, restaurants, and resorts.

Top 10 Most Reported Scams in Las Vegas, according to Tripadvisor reviews.
Leading the pack is the Blue Man Group, which has left 5.5% of its reviewers disappointed, paraphrasing experiences as “a waste of time and money” and “a complete rip-off.” Many visitors suggested that even a $70 ticket would be better spent elsewhere.
In second place, Minus5 ICEBAR faced backlash from 5% of its guests, who often described the experience as an expensive “tourist trap.” One particularly memorable review called it “standing in a meat locker for $17 bucks.”
Coming in third, Bluegreen Vacations Club 36 racked up 4.2% scam-related reviews, with nearly 60% of such complaints using the word “scam” outright. Issues frequently cited include time-share schemes, questionable incentives, and cleanliness.
Rounding out the top five are Pampas Las Vegas and Criss Angel Mindfreak, both tying for fourth with 3.9% scam-related reviews, followed by Saltgrass Steakhouse with 3%.
Vegas Resorts with the Most Scam Reports
Resort stays can be a highlight or a headache, and these properties received the most negative attention for alleged scams.

Las Vegas Resorts with the Most Scam Mentions on Tripadvisor
At the top, Bluegreen Vacations Club 36 stood out, as mentioned earlier. In second place, the Jockey Club had 2.8% of reviews filled with scam accusations, including one customer lamenting over $12,000 spent on services they deemed “dreadful.” Notably, almost half of these reviews described the experience as a “waste.”
The third most criticized, Club Wyndham Grand Desert (2.7%), received feedback about misleading timeshare presentations and aggressive sales tactics, despite its claims to excellence.
Other notable mentions include Hilton Vacation Club Cancun Resort (2.6%) and a tie between Golden Nugget and Palms Casino Resort (2%).
Las Vegas Shows Facing the Most Scam Accusations
For many, attending a show is central to the Vegas experience, but it’s wise to choose carefully. Here are the most complained-about performances:

Top Las Vegas Shows with Scam-Related Complaints
Consistent with the overall findings, the Blue Man Group tops the show category for scam-related reviews (5.5%).
Criss Angel MINDFREAK claimed second place, with 3.9% of reviews flagging the show as a disappointment. A remarkable 95% of these complaints used the term “waste,” criticizing everything from the illusions to the value for money.
Meanwhile, Penn & Teller secured third place (2.9%). Many felt the act and bar were overpriced, with one customer mentioning a staggering $60 spent on just a few drinks. Ka by Cirque du Soleil (2.4%) and Jabbawockeez (2.3%) rounded out the top five.
Restaurants and Bars Earning Scam Reputations in Vegas
Las Vegas is known for its dynamic culinary scene, but not every restaurant or bar lives up to the hype. Here are the top places where diners felt cheated:

Las Vegas Bars & Restaurants With the Highest Scam Mentions
Minus5 ICEBAR didn’t just top the overall list—it also claimed the title of most-criticized venue among Las Vegas’s restaurants and bars, with 5% of reviews mentioning scams.
Next, Pampas Las Vegas was the target of 3.9% scam-related reviews, with many diners feeling their meals were not worth the cost and some reporting issues redeeming coupons or vouchers. Saltgrass Steakhouse, housed in the Golden Nugget, came in third (3%), with complaints focused on poor value and unremarkable cuisine.
Buffets are another area of common disappointment, with Circus Circus Buffet and Bacchanal Buffet each earning 2.7% scam mentions, followed closely by MGM Grand Buffet (2.6%).
Noteworthy Attraction and Transportation Complaints
Beyond resorts and entertainment, certain attractions and services also left a sour impression. Zak Bagans’ The Haunted Museum led in attraction complaints, with 4% of reviews expressing regret, over half of them labeling the museum as a “rip-off.” Other visitors called it a “fake money-grubbing tourist trap.”
On the transportation front, the gondola rides at The Venetian were repeatedly flagged, with 3.7% of reviewers upset about paying at least $70 for a 10-15 minute ride plus $30 for photos, leaving many questioning the value and authenticity of the experience.
Summary: Making Smarter Choices in Las Vegas
With the sparkle of Las Vegas comes the risk of costly missteps. Our analysis of Tripadvisor data gives visitors a clearer idea of which resorts, shows, and restaurants to approach with caution, arming travelers with information to maximize both enjoyment and value.
How the Data Was Gathered
The research involved a comprehensive keyword search of all Tripadvisor listings in Las Vegas. We tallied instances of the words “scam,” “rip-off,” “waste,” and “misleading,” ensuring the same complaint from a single reviewer was only counted once. Out of more than 1.5 million reviews analyzed in February 2024, the percentage of scam-related comments was calculated for each venue.
Fair Use of This Research
This data and accompanying visuals are free to use for non-commercial projects. Please link back to this page to provide the original source and proper attribution. For media inquiries, contact the editor at Casino.org.