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Casino Front money - Am I too small a player to use it?

Discussion in 'Comps' started by jeffr, Jun 18, 2015.

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  1. jeffr

    jeffr Tourist

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    Hi VMB! I'm reached a point in my gambling travels where I really focus my play primarily on one property (Mandalay Bay). I'm wondering if now is the time to start using the convenience of front money.

    Fun Facts:
    My bankroll for a 3 night trip is 5k.
    I'm a table games player betting $25/hand most of the time.
    I typically give MB about 8-10 hours of play a day (sometimes more).
    I typically buy in a table for 300-500.

    I hear that if you ask for a "marker" for 500 it tends the annoy the pit boss as it's really pocket change to them. I certainly don't want to impact the potential comps I'll receive by wasting their time. Given the info, is this something I should pursue or should I just bring cash and put it in the safe.
     
  2. BlacklabberMike

    BlacklabberMike MIA

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    i put in 5-10k and keep about a thousand in cash on me. like you i buy in for 3-5 hundred cash at a quarter table....it's nice to have the front money available if you get in a situation where you need to cover splits with double downs on a black chip(s) bet.
     
  3. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    I use CL and not FM, so I don't really know if that amount is an appropriate level for FM. But I would encourage you to skip it nonetheless. After all, $5k is just fifty bills. You can carry that in your pocket pretty easily
     
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  4. jeffr

    jeffr Tourist

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    That's what I thought. It's not much of an inconvenience really. Besides it's a great trip if you take 1k out of the safe and never come back to reload!

    Edit: 19 days till Vegas trip UKFanatic? I'm going in 20 days !
     
  5. dankyone

    dankyone VIP Whale

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    Yeah--if you are just buying in for $500 it is probably more of an inconvenience to everyone involved to be honest. Maybe you could set up a $5000 credit line and draw out $2500 from the cage to begin your trip or something, that might be a convenience for you.
     
  6. BayouBengal

    BayouBengal VIP Whale

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    I was able to open a CL for as little as $3k. I haven't tapped into so I'm not familiar with the etiquette of how much to pull out at a time.
     
    Last edited: Jun 18, 2015
  7. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    Cool. Enjoy MB! Its a fun resort
     
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  8. jeffr

    jeffr Tourist

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    I sent an email to my host at MB. It appears the minimum amount to apply for Credit is 2.5k. Maybe this may be worth it for me. Gotta think about it some more.
     
  9. boxofbirds

    boxofbirds Royally Flushed

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    Didn't realize taking out $500 at a time was a pain.... I've done that a several times at the Mirage, they never said anything.... Ooops!

    I have a 6K line at two Mlife properties. I thought about doing front money, but then you have to wire it and that had a bunch of fees, so I opened up a marker/credit line instead. To some of you on the board 5-6K isn't a lot, but to me I don't like carrying that much cash around. I was nervous the first time I went to Vegas and brought $700 with me! I bring a little money with me to get started and to use for play at other casinos when I'm wandering, but do most of my play at the property I'm staying at where I have the credit line.
     
  10. ronc

    ronc VIP Whale

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    I disagree with anyone who is overly concerned that some pit folks may think it is a pain to handle your $500 marker. It is their job. If anyone of them acts like it is a pain to do their job, tell someone about it.

    If my bankroll is over $5,000, I don't want to carry it in cash. I put it in as front money because I could care less if 50 bills takes up little space in my pocket...I am still carrying $5,000 and I don't like doing that anywhere. I don't really care if the High Roller next to me is carrying $100,000...that is his business. It may be safer in Vegas than most other places to carry money but I'd still rather not do it.

    The casino takes my front money and they have always gladly handled my markers. If it were any other way, I'd not head back to that casino. They want a shot at my money and they know they have a better shot at it if it is already in their hands.

    If you want to do credit, do it. If you want to do front money, do it.
     
  11. Scottndindy

    Scottndindy High-Roller

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    One benefit of playing with credit or front money is that you will always be rated for your play. I agree with ronc. I don't see anything wrong with taking one for $500 or $1000. I would understand it being annoying if you were taking a marker every couple hands instead of taking a bigger one to cover your play but at quarters a 500 marker should not be an issue.
     
  12. Piggylane

    Piggylane Well-Known Member

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    Be careful. Central Credit LLC records all activity for your credit lines, markers, payments and delinquencies. I'm not sure about front money. The reason I point this out is that it is discoverable in Divorce Court. I know from personal experience.

    I was accused of owing Las Vegas casinos thousands, maybe tens of thousands of dollars. I pointed out that Central Credit would have all records. I don't know if there was a fee for a credit check but it came back and she was embarrassed before the Judge to learn that my total credit line, in all casinos across the USA, was zero dollars throughout their entire database, throughout my entire history She then demanded win/loss records but the Jusge told her to shut up (good thing!).

    Credit lines are a convenience and I sure wish I didn't have to carry cash. At times I've had over $100K (didn't bring that much, just won it). I've never used front money because I'm unsure about Central Credit. Maybe others can chime in. Carrying $10K or less well protected (I'm licensed) isn't a burden.
     
  13. boxofbirds

    boxofbirds Royally Flushed

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    Oh good, that makes me feel better. When I took $500 in the pit it was for one session of quarter BJ, only taking out one marker. Or I would take out $500 at a time from the HL slot cashier and play some VP.
     
  14. pleepleus

    pleepleus 2016 - The monkey is back

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    I don't think they care as long as you're not being a jackass about it.
    There was a guy playing a $500 BJ table with me and betting $500 and asking for $500 markers over and over and over. It just pissed off everyone after he lost the first 5 hands. He ended up losing $20K. Just pull the full amount you want to play with and call it.
     
  15. shifter

    shifter Degenerate Gambler

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    FM does not show on your CC report.

    They only track marker amounts, payment history, etc.

    FM is just the casino holding your cash for you.

    In fact I know people who use FM to keep cash hidden from their wives.

    It's a great way if your wife is nosy.
     
  16. pleepleus

    pleepleus 2016 - The monkey is back

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    Just like using NRG status.
     
  17. Guy_

    Guy_ VIP Whale

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    Is Front money a way to get around carrying 10k across the border?
    can you send the money and just take it all out when you get there? or do you have to take it out via markers at tables?
     
  18. shifter

    shifter Degenerate Gambler

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    No. It's for gambling at their casino.
     
  19. nostresshere

    nostresshere Mr. Anti Debit Card

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    $5k is no big deal to just carry with you. It is then your cash and you can do with as you want. No dealing with markers, etc.

    If you only want to take maybe $2k - it only costs $6 and a few minutes to pull $1000 from the ATM. Again, on your schedule and wish. No dealing with anybody.
     
  20. ronc

    ronc VIP Whale

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    You are 100% right--it is no big deal; just a deal many of us would rather not worry about.

    Either way is fine--carry it, do it as front money, get it out of the ATM. Each one of us should do whatever is best in our situation. I like front money. I take out my planned money for a portion of the day and play some when taking out the marker.

    The larger point is that some people try to say that their way is the only way to do things and that us mini-players with $5k bankrolls shouldn't take advantage of the services the casino offers if that is the way we want to handle it. Just think about it this way--there is always a larger player than you (unless you are THE ONE--the largest player out there) and there is always a smaller player. Vegas needs all of the players and we should use the services within our playing range that they provide. We're the ones gambling and trying to overcome their edge.
     
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