I'm sorry that I wasn't around to respond to this in time for your trip... but I play in Reno often as my sister lives there.
I would say it depends on what you like to play. Most places in Reno have a decent amount of low-baller machines which is what I play: penny, two-cent, and nickel slots, keno, and nickel or dime video poker. However, I like to jump around and play different types of machines, so I appreciate places with a little variety of selections.
In my experience, the smaller locals casinos have been luckier than the big hotel casinos. I have never done well at the Silver Legacy... I find Circus Circus to be overcrowded and lacking in accessible cocktail waitresses (not very fun to sit at a machine with a parched, dry mouth), but I do have some favorite machines there. The Sands has a surprising variety and I have had some luck there.
I absolutely hate Harrah's, but maybe that is because they cater to a more high-rolling crowd. Crappy selection of low-denom machines, impolite service, and again... hard to flag down or even find a cocktail waitress unless you are plonking down major cash at a table game.
I actually prefer the chain of "Dotty's" which are found mostly in the outlying areas of Reno... tiny little "mini-casinos" (actually I think they are legally considered cigarette stores but this is to get around zoning laws) with comped drinks for players, quiet machines, and a relaxed atmosphere that caters to locals and low-rollers. Machines are usually limited to Game Kings with poker, keno, and most of your basic Game King video slots though... so if you want "Cleopatra" "Double Diamond" or "Lobstermania" you'll need to go elsewhere.
My absolute favorite place to play is the original Nugget (or "Little Nugget" as it is called... not John Ascuaga's Nugget in Sparks) on Virginia Street. This is another "locals" place but they are very friendly to anyone who comes in there with the intention of spending money. It does attract local "bums" asking players for money and cigarettes but they are swiftly and unceremoniously kicked out. Four times I have been there that I have seen a person "asked to leave" for bothering patrons. This is not meant to discourage you. I think it actually shows that the bartenders/security/other staff are looking out for you. And I actually find it quite entertaining. Here is an actual exchange:
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(Bum is asking player at the bar for either money and/or cigarettes)
Barmaid: Sir, you can't do that in here. You can't ask our customers for anything.
Bum: Well then I'm askin' YOU then... howd'ya like that?
Barmaid: Well then I'm asking you to LEAVE. How do YOU like THAT?
(Bum dejectedly leaves the Nugget)
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It is a comfortable, down-to-earth, less hectic place than the big casinos, with non-nonsense staff (who are actually very nice to the PAYING customers) and for its small size it has a good variety of machines (mostly penny slots, Game Kings, and a few quarter slots as well as a quarter "Flip It" machine which is hard to find... where you drop your quarter into one of four slots, it hits a rotating mechanical spinner and is flipped either onto one of the "shelves", hopefully knocking some quarters down into the pay area, or through one of many hoops ranging from 20 to 100 credits).
Another fun place to play is about 10 miles north of Reno on Highway 395 at Bordertown, which as its name implies, is directly on the east side of the Nevada/California border. Lots of both locals and RV travellers here. Smaller but with a good mox of machines.
Hope some of this helps.
