Casinos are better off strip. I tend to frequent the stations casinos off strip. Fremont experience is cool for your first time. You can always hit up the TV show places like gold and silver pawn shop, ricks restorations and counts customs.
You have any favorite games... Casino Royale gives the most odds at the craps table on the strip.
Hoover dam is a pretty short drive. Mead Lake is beautuful
Have fun