I'd recommend making Laughlin a 2-day trip with an overnight stay. You'll want to hit some of the small casinos on the way there, there are enough casinos to explore in Laughlin to keep you busy for a while, and in July, renting a jet ski and flying around on the Colorado River for a few hours can be quite refreshing! If done during the week, you should be able to get a nice room for less than $30.

Bob