First Timer in Vegas
 

Going to Vegas for the first time. Everyone tells me to sign up for a card at each hotel. My question is after I sign up for the card how do I know if I can benefit from my playing? What have you received after signing and using the card?

Signing up for the card gets you coupons for half-price drinks, and two-for-one on meals, deals on show tickets, stuff like that. Those coupons can be used even if you never use the card after signing up.

When you plug the card into the slot machine (or whatever), it tells you how much playing time/points you have accumulated; or you can ask to have it scanned at the redemption center.

I hardly gambled at all, and I received a free t-shirt, a chocolate bar, and a nice dinner half-price, on two different cards.

Haven't heard of this before. I will follow this thread to see if any other tips come up. We have 4 nights at the end of a 3 week trip to San Fran and zion,bryce south rim so having sorted all that at am now at the stage of seeing what to do in Vegas
Hilary

Definitely don't do any gambling at all before you sign up for a player's card. As capxx says, for most casinos, just signing up for the card gets you some sort of "bonus" like a free t-shirt or "free money" to gamble with.

If you really want to maximize your comps, then try to focus your gambling on one casino or one player's club (like Harrah's, which can be used at multiple properties). When you spread your money around at lots of places, you won't get as much in comps.

Several years ago we'd get coupons: discounts or 2 for 1, free $5 play, in one place free chocolate...

Recently it seems, those days are gone... only the longer we play, the more points we get to redeem them later.

As we are not gamblers, penny sluts don't earn much :))

<i>penny sluts don't earn much</i>

LOL! I guess not.

The best I've ever done was a few years ago. We pretty much did everything at the hotel we were staying at, most meals, spa treatments, etc. When we checked out the only thing we payed for was our 'big dinner'. All other meals &amp; the rooms were comped for free.

You'll also have better luck getting comps downtown or off the main Strip. Like the Stratosphere or someplace similar.

One more thing. Edward, if you are a serious gambler, don't sign up with &quot;each&quot; casino. Pick one, and play there. Those points for comping are added only on sister properties.

Since you're a first-timer to Vegas - be sure that if you play slots - if you play MegaBucks or any other progressive - NEVER play unless you have it &quot;loaded&quot; with the &quot;max bet.&quot; If it hits on &quot;the big one&quot; and you haven't loaded it with the max bet, you will NOT win the progressive jackpot, but one far less - to be eligible to win millions and walk away with hundreds instead would ruin your day. Good luck!

For sure get the card and if you want to try for the most freebies, as said, play in one place. I was just reading in the paper last week that many of the places are cutting back on comps so it will be harder to accumulate anything meaningful, unless you play a lot, so it's best to stay in one place.

If you happen to win, they probably will entice you with some offerings to keep you there in the hopes you'll give it all back.

The casinos in Las Vegas and Reno have laid a lot of people off lately. My ex-husband worked for the Silver Legacy in Reno and was going to retire in July, but retired last month so that his position could go to someone that was laid off.

Also, it used to be that you could accumulate your comps and they would just sit there and then if you came to Las Vegas or Reno several times a year they would build. Now, in many places, if you don't use them, you loose them after a certain amount of time. It ain't like the &quot;old days&quot;.

We had our entire stay paid for a couple years ago in Vegas due to the points - plus got a ton of &quot;gifts&quot; (sweatshirts, coffee mugs, etc). How, my husband LOVES to gamble and played a whole lot - but you keep that little card with you and you make SURE you put it in every slot machine you play, or give it to the dealer at every table you go to. Many of the casinos share cards (we were at Luxor, card was good for several other casinos as well). Since then, we constantly receive offers for free stays, and my husband has used them several times at places in other cities (many of these casinos are owned by same major company). A good deal.....

There are still some good promotions out there. For example, Wynn has a promotion (or, did - dunno if it's still running) where new players who sign up for their card can earn 1 free buffet with the first 25 points, and a second buffet at 50 points. It takes $3 coin-in to earn a point. So, $75 of coin in and you get a free buffet.

If you don't want to sit in front of the machine for a long time, you could always seek out a video roulette machine, and play $10 on red and $10 on black. (or, whatever denomination you like) You'll earn the points pretty quickly that way. Of course, the dreaded 0 and 00 can ruin this, but it's a quick way to earn points.

Whatever you do, don't sit there trying to figure out how much money you are losing per minute, and how that translates into points gained per minute, and how many points you need for a coffee cup ... that way lies madness.

I hope Vegas is a great place for you. As for me and the wife we would rather go anywhere else! Vegas is way to crowded (Strip, Casino, restaurants and shows. Plus shows are big bucks and gambling money goes quick! Food however is cheap (most places have specials). Smoking is another problem, its everywhere, and if you resent smoking it will almost be impossible to avoid. One thing more don't forget the house wins! So people who come home winners are rare. Sorry I'm so negative but there are better places to go.

Lous is correct in some respects. However, if you like food, there is probably few places w/a better concentration of high end restaurants or low-end buffets &amp; deals. A great place for entertainment &amp; the show prices are not any different than you'd pay in London or NYC - + you have a huge variety of show types. Many of the comedy &amp; magic shows are very inexpensive. If you expect to win $$, you'll need to stay away from the table games except for Blackjack (where is you know what you are doing, you actually have a very slight advantage). Your best chance to make $$ is in the sports book. Playing games (football is my personal favorite) &amp; the ponies. Baccarat and roulette are among the worst.