Vegas for a rookie
Apr 7th, 2007, 05:46 AM
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Vegas for a rookie
My wife and I are heading to Vegas for four days in May. She will be working three of those days at a conference; I will be on vacation. What do people suggest I do, besides gambling for those days? I will be working for a half day doing a freelance article on the Las Vegas 51's, but of course have much time to spend being a tourist.
I of course will do some gambling. What are the best ways to pick up comps from the casinos? I am not a big spender, have gambled before, but am imposing a $200.00 limit for myself. How bad will I look playing the nickel and quarter slots, and will those get me any comps?
I of course will do some gambling. What are the best ways to pick up comps from the casinos? I am not a big spender, have gambled before, but am imposing a $200.00 limit for myself. How bad will I look playing the nickel and quarter slots, and will those get me any comps?
Apr 7th, 2007, 06:16 AM
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www.chepovegas.com has LOTS of suggestions on things to do and see in Vegas.
In order to get lots of comps, you have to gamble a LOT more than $200! About the only comps you'll get playing the low-denomination slots are free drinks. And at the Strip casions, a waitress in the cheap slots is a rare find! If you venture off-Strip, the waitresses will come around a little more often, but you still won't get much comps for your play. Dollar for dolar, table games get you a lot more comps than slots, but you also have to risk more!
In order to get lots of comps, you have to gamble a LOT more than $200! About the only comps you'll get playing the low-denomination slots are free drinks. And at the Strip casions, a waitress in the cheap slots is a rare find! If you venture off-Strip, the waitresses will come around a little more often, but you still won't get much comps for your play. Dollar for dolar, table games get you a lot more comps than slots, but you also have to risk more!
Apr 7th, 2007, 07:19 AM
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I've never had a problem getting drinks at the cheap slots (I'm talking the penny slots!), even before I tip the first time. And after, I'm never ignored. They like players of all levels in Vegas (and they wouldn't have the cheap slots unless they were making lots of money on them.)
Apr 7th, 2007, 07:29 AM
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Oh, you can register for slot clubs, and ask for the fun books. See also Jean Scott (the Frugal Gambler):
http://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/frugalfridays.cfm
http://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/frugalfridays.cfm
Apr 7th, 2007, 02:23 PM
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What are the "Las Vegas 51's?" Just wondering. I just did 2 freelance articles on Vegas--one on good luck charms, and one on a 3-day trip in general. there is no shortage of stuff to write about there! You can check out all the free attractions on the Strip, day and night:
http://www.vegas.com/attractions/freeattractions.html
Is your limit $200 a day, or for the whole trip? I agree with the others about the drinks, I get drinks at any slot machine I'm at.
p.s. the other site's URL is www.cheapovegas.com
http://www.vegas.com/attractions/freeattractions.html
Is your limit $200 a day, or for the whole trip? I agree with the others about the drinks, I get drinks at any slot machine I'm at.
p.s. the other site's URL is www.cheapovegas.com
Apr 7th, 2007, 02:36 PM
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That's a cool link Melissa to the free atractions. I've seen over half of them. Including the Bonnie and Clyde getaway car at Primm. We stayed a night at Primm Valley Resort once. Anyway, way cool about your freelance articles!
Apr 7th, 2007, 04:01 PM
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Hi trippin, I wish the articles were online, but they were for a small, local in-flight magazine. I need to get near a scanner so I can show them to you. Try to find me at info at alohatower.com and I will try to email a copy (or post it somewhere) next week!
Apr 7th, 2007, 04:39 PM
#10
zonker01 where will you be playing? If you are interested in getting comps then you will need to join the casino's players' club. For the Harrah's properties the program is called Total Rewards. Go to totalrewards.com and click on Total Rewards in the top right. You'll find an explanation of it.
For slots I think they give a fixed number of comp credits for a given amount of $ dropped in the slot.
In general for earning comps it doesn't matter so much whether you win or lose. What matters is how long you play at a given denomination. The reason being that the casinos know that they win over the long run.
For slots I think they give a fixed number of comp credits for a given amount of $ dropped in the slot.
In general for earning comps it doesn't matter so much whether you win or lose. What matters is how long you play at a given denomination. The reason being that the casinos know that they win over the long run.
Apr 7th, 2007, 04:58 PM
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I found what the Las Vegas 51's are: a minor league baseball team. www.lv51.com/
(love that Google!)
(love that Google!)
Apr 9th, 2007, 09:15 AM
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Melissa - the 51's is the farm league for the Dodgers. They play out at Cashman field and are pretty good. It's a lot of fun during pre-seaon when the "real" Dodgers come over and play against them - kind of embarassing when the 51's beat the pros, which does happen sometimes!
Apr 9th, 2007, 12:19 PM
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As far as spending little goes, I think my wife would kill me if I spent all the money she was making. 
I am planning on playing at the Mandalay Bay which is where we are staying, and I will probably meander around to other places as well. Any suggestions as to where getting freebies won't take a miracle? If I find a good place, I will probably stay there.
I am a sportswriter and sportscaster for a living, so having the chance to make a bit of money while I am on a more or less free vacation is a bonus. The scary thing is I grew up disliking the Dodgers, so I will have to keep personal bias aside and write about the ballpark.
I am planning on playing at the Mandalay Bay which is where we are staying, and I will probably meander around to other places as well. Any suggestions as to where getting freebies won't take a miracle? If I find a good place, I will probably stay there.I am a sportswriter and sportscaster for a living, so having the chance to make a bit of money while I am on a more or less free vacation is a bonus. The scary thing is I grew up disliking the Dodgers, so I will have to keep personal bias aside and write about the ballpark.
Apr 9th, 2007, 12:33 PM
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Melissa,
It looks like I am doing another article while I am there. One of the guys I freelance for wants me to do a "Day in Vegas" kind of thing. When you identified yourself as a writer, were you given much access, "behind the scenes" looks at things, etc? Lord, I can't go on vacation without working....
It looks like I am doing another article while I am there. One of the guys I freelance for wants me to do a "Day in Vegas" kind of thing. When you identified yourself as a writer, were you given much access, "behind the scenes" looks at things, etc? Lord, I can't go on vacation without working....
Apr 9th, 2007, 05:35 PM
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zonker, I am in PR mostly and freelance on the side, so I can tell you how to approach it from a PR person's point of view. If you call a casino to get one "behind the scenes" look, have them verify your story with your editor so they know you are for real. And from there it should be easy.
I was going to do a general "day in Vegas" story like you, and one of my PR contacts in Vegas recommended I contact the Visitor's & Convention Bureau there. The people in charge of promoting Vegas will have all the right contacts and can give you all the right passes. Again, they should verify with your editor to prove you are legit. (I say this because I used to do PR for a luau and would get all kinds of crazy comp requests from fake media.)
trippin, got your email....trying to reduce the file size of my scans as they are too huge.
I was going to do a general "day in Vegas" story like you, and one of my PR contacts in Vegas recommended I contact the Visitor's & Convention Bureau there. The people in charge of promoting Vegas will have all the right contacts and can give you all the right passes. Again, they should verify with your editor to prove you are legit. (I say this because I used to do PR for a luau and would get all kinds of crazy comp requests from fake media.)
trippin, got your email....trying to reduce the file size of my scans as they are too huge.
Apr 10th, 2007, 10:24 AM
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Hey Zonker,
A great low-cost thing to do if you aren't too burned out on sports is to hang out in the sports book of a casino for a couple hours. Lounge in some comfy chairs, watch all the games & races. Bet $2 here and there on some of the horse races and they'll bring you drinks for free. You'll end up spending far less than what you would for the equivalent amount of time on slots -even nickel slots, and in general the odds are better. My favorite sports book is at the Mirage, but the sports books at Caesars and Venetian are nice too. Have not been to the one in Mandalay Bay, but would imagine it's right up there.
A great low-cost thing to do if you aren't too burned out on sports is to hang out in the sports book of a casino for a couple hours. Lounge in some comfy chairs, watch all the games & races. Bet $2 here and there on some of the horse races and they'll bring you drinks for free. You'll end up spending far less than what you would for the equivalent amount of time on slots -even nickel slots, and in general the odds are better. My favorite sports book is at the Mirage, but the sports books at Caesars and Venetian are nice too. Have not been to the one in Mandalay Bay, but would imagine it's right up there.
