The Blue Öyster Cult was due in Jackpot shortly after our visit, and it’s also hosted names like Kenny Rogers, ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Gambling is the focus, as it should be, but Cactus Petes has other things to recommend it, including some surprisingly big-name musical acts. The dealers were amusing and talkative, the clientele were down-to-earth sorts eager to have some fun, and the atmosphere inside the place was refreshingly relaxed. Less people and affordable tables there were even a couple $5 blackjack tables, which have all but vanished from most casinos. There’s a Las Vegas feel to Cactus Petes, but without any of the headaches that Vegas can cause. The casino was better than expected, too.
