The good news is that a few of my matchbooks will likely be worth millions in a few days. The bad news is that’s because O’Sheas Casino is closing on April 30, 2012. Hopefully you’ve already heard this disheartening news elsewhere, as I hate to be the first one to break it to you. If not, please accept my apologies.

The Strip currently has precious little room for places of O’Sheas’ calibre, and I think that is the biggest travesty of its closure. Although we all go to Vegas for different reasons, you have to admit that sometimes you just want to wander into a casino that allows you to do whatever the hell you want regardless of how you’re dressed, what you’re drinking, how much you’re betting, or what show you’re going to see that night.

Don’t get me wrong, I love spending time in casinos like the Venetian -in fact, I was married there two Halloweens ago. But sometimes I also want to enjoy a $1 beer in a joint that has $5 blackjack tables any time of day. You know you do too.

Aside from O’Sheas, in my opinion the only other casino on the Strip that comes close to providing the same type of experience is Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall and Saloon. To be perfectly honest, nothing would stop me from making an impromptu trip to say goodbye in person if they were closing Bill’s. Thank goodness for small miracles.

Since it’s O’Sheas that’s on the chopping block, I’ve decided to wish it farewell with a list of 10 reasons why I will miss it:

• Craving Burger King? Hit up O’Sheas!
• Where else on Earth can you buy Coors beer? No, not Coors Light. Coors.
• O’Sheas is one of the last casinos on the Strip to offer $5 blackjack. All day, everyday.
• As far as I can remember, O’Sheas is the only Irish themed casino on the Strip. Where will all the Irish (meaning my husband, his sister and her boyfriend) meet up now?
• O’Sheas knows what it’s about, and it isn’t afraid to embrace its virtues. That’s pretty rare in Vegas.
• Leprechauns have been spotted on the premises. Guess we’ll never know now if they were real.
• With a bar a few feet off the sidewalk, and available seats no matter what, O’Sheas is one of the few convenient places on the Strip where you can both cheap refreshments and a seat to enjoy them in.
• Strip poker on the Strip. Who else has that?!
• If you’re looking for cheap tickets to a show, but don’t want to wait in a line, O’Sheas is always the place to go.
• Nowhere else on the Strip has permanent beer pong tables (actually, it’s the only bar I’ve ever visited that had them).

I’m sorry to see you go, old friend. I hope you get one hell of a send off on the 30th.

What about you, dear reader? Anything specific that you will (or won’t) miss about O’Sheas?

Related articles:

• The Implications of Closing O’Sheas – Neon Dice