So, I'm scheduled to go to vegas next week after a year.. Out of anticipation for the upcoming trip i decide to go to my local casino(Fallsview) with a plan to "low-roll" with a budget of $500, one thing leads to another & i drop 3k. (half my upcoming Vegas budget!). Don't know if this was a sacrifice to the gambling gods pre-Vegas, but that s about all I can hope for! And yes, will have to be strict with vegas daily budget now!
Haha, I'm sure you're not alone. Ironically, as much as we gamble in vegas (the vast majority of our time there), and as hard as it is to pull me away from the craps tables (real or fuzzy), we rarely gamble at home. Its a combination of having to make the drive, lack of free alcohol, perceived lack of payouts, poor comp structures, and ...how do I put this nicely...the clientele our urban-located casinos bring in. I have gone gambling there before, and I'll admit as I'm coming up on a couple weeks to Vegas, the idea of going and possibly winning a larger bankroll does appeal, but I never quite cave into the desire.
Technically its within my gambling budget, just that Vegas gets less action now. So not sure how that constitures a gambling problem. Yeah, I got suckered by the free Room & $100 food comp up front. You're right tho- shouldnt have caved! Only money is right. And yeah, having gotten away with some comebacks in the past- I paid the price.
Who's done this ? I go to the locals before and after Vegas...there is nothing anonymous with my gambo
I always do a "Pre-Vegas Warm up" the week before any Vegas trip. Usually at a small casino in Brantford Ontario but I have done it at Fallsview and Caesar's Windsor as well. I never dip into the Vegas budget tho as I want to ensure I have enough to last me the trip. (If I run out of money at a local casino I can just go home. If I run out of money in Vegas... well its not much fun watching TV in the hotel room)
It's like any other passion -- if you can afford it, if it doesn't alter other aspects of your life to accommodate it, if you are having a good time, it's fine. Nothing wrong with a passion. I'm sure my golf passion has some scratching their heads. But I love it. And it's never impacted life, love, family, work or finances. It is decidedly a passion, however. If that's where you are with gambling, no worries.
Hahaha I hope I don't have to go there! True that..btw I am a former pro golfer and now a CPGA teaching pro( early shift to coaching due to a wrist injury), so can relate to passion for golf. hahaha...that, sir, is funny & I feel your pain.
My buddy did that last trip. I had to loan him money all trip. felt like i was there with kids always bugging me for money lol
OMG! I've done that a ton of times. I lost 4k of my Thanksgiving Vegas bankroll on 2 trips to local in October. I had the same thought, I'll only take out $500. But when they let me take out unlimited amounts on my marker, and I'm drinking, it's a losing proposition . I'm in the middle of a 5 - week ban from my local until Thanksgiving in Vegas.
Well - It helps to know that i'm not the only one...I hope that all of us who've done it, never repeat! On a positive note, this has taken away that feeling of invincibility that rears its head right before Vegas, so it might pay dividends with me booking some smaller wins & soaking in Vegas a little more than just trying to make big cash. All the best to everyone!
Yeah, I've done it. Not half my bankroll, but I've wounded myself trying to collect freeplay before a trip and losing perspective.
I had the opportunity to spend some time and play golf with Len Harvey at Predator Ridge some years back. He was a joy. My Canadian compadres said that would be like me chilling down here with Eddie Merrins.
i haven't had quite as bad an experience as you, but what I hate is losing the last couple pre-trip gambling sessions and getting the sinking feeling that "oh no, I'm running bad and am heading to vegas".
If you stick with that, that's good. But if you lose 6X more than you planned at your local, why couldn't that happen in Vegas? I'd would expect it to happen more in Vegas to be honest. As for me...nope. But this April I won about $600 at my local (2nd biggest daily win) a week before to cover ~50% of my roll to Vegas. I gave about 2/3rds of those winnings back to Vegas over a week...oops.