Which do you recomend Reno Casinos/Hotels And Tahoe Snowboarding Trip?

we are 2 students that would like to save some money and thought staying at the casino hotels may be cheaper and shuttling to a resort. we like to snowboard (intermediate)and it would just be 2 people.we also would like to fly in from LAX, SNA, or LGB airports. i want to fly in 2-11, and fly out 2-15. we have never been to any of the tahoe area snowboarding resorts, which hotels are inexpensive with shuttles to good snowboarding resorts? when i look online there is just too much info that it is reall difficult to narrow down, so that is what i am asking for. I'm looking for an experienced answer.