I'm Going to Gamble in 50 Casinos in 24 Hours on Foot - Pre Trip Report

Aztec Inn, don’t get shanked challenge.

 

I highly endorse this endeavor and look forward to hearing and seeing this.

I’ve sort of done similar but much less ambitious walking challenges. I went from Double Down Saloon on Paradise somewhat close to the MGM and walked to a number of dive bars ending up back on Fremont. Did a similar walking trip from Sahara Casino back to Fremont but also stopping at a number of bars and food places. Did both in June and July during the day.


Dive bar walking tour:
https://www.vegasmessageboard.com/forums/index.php?threads/highway-to-heaven-henderson-laughlin-north-las-vegas-6-12-6-25.193916/page-13#post-2420907

Sahara through Arts District to Fremont:
https://www.vegasmessageboard.com/forums/index.php?threads/ive-abandoned-my-child-nittys-summer-escape-to-vegas-7-13-to-7-29.202068/page-7

 

I have walked from Mandalay Bay all the way to the Talk of the Town strip joint about a mile past The STRAT (so maybe one mile less than your proposed trip), popping into several casinos along the way as well as Dinos and Tacos Mexico. When I did it there was still the Riviera, and Slots of Fun had a dog racing game, so it took me several hours, about seven miles. Took a taxi back after enjoying the ultimate dive strip joint. So I would say it's definitely doable. Have fun. I would love to see the video.

 

A great passage from this Vice article about the diviest bars in Vegas:

"I took a seat at the bar. To my left, a mousy woman in a pair of oversized circular glasses muttered spasmodically to herself. To my right, a man swirled his hands across a poker machine, which was not a touch-screen, as if to cast some kind of sorcerer’s spell. Across the bar from me, a woman chain-smoked cigarettes and violently tapped a button on her machine at a rate of about six hits per second. A man walked in from the rear entrance and shouted something unintelligible, then darted across the room and stormed out the front door. About five minutes later, he did the exact same thing, only this time he entered from the front and left through the back. Everywhere I looked, someone was doing something bizarre and incomprehensible. I felt like I was coming up on psychedelics inside an episode of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia."

 

This article is fantastic, I wish I knew who originally posted it here so I can give them their proper dues.

This article definitely inspired my trip here. I remember a homeless man asking for water as I came in. I bought an extra water for him while inside, when I came out I tried to give it to him but he acted like I was crazy and that he didn’t need any water. It worked out as I gave it to a much more needy homeless elderly guy heading north in a wheelchair and a hot spot who was very appreciative.

I remember the bartender being on some heavy drugs. This guy didn’t just smoke a little weed he was high on something hardcore. I also remember the bartender getting bitched out by a security guard for giving the bathroom key which is attached to a large metal ladle to someone that broke it. The bartender couldn’t comprehend what was going on as the security guard bitched him out.

 

If you're serious about this, I'd consider reversing your route and go south to north.

Assuming sore feet and swollen knees at the end of the day, I'd prefer finishing with the closely-packed downtown properties.

But I'm old.

 

I have done something similar. Started around 8 am, from Venetian. Walked south on the East side of LVB to Tropicana then to the Vegas sign and over to Mandalay then walking on the West side of LVB all the way north to Strat.

Then we decided to walk to Fremont Street too. After that we walked from Fremont going south on LVB on the East side of LVB until we got back to the Venetian. It was dark when we got back to our room. My dogs were barking! It was kinda skeevy walking past all the bail bond places.

 

I agree with this. My initial thought that two casinos per hour was not possible just because of logistics. Given the long walks between casinos and navigating the foot traffic, especial south strip MB, Luxor, MGM etc. and mid strip getting to places like Aria and Bellagio takes some time. Not to mention the time getting between the north strip places and downtown. But a lot of time could be made up at some other places. Bally's (I know it's now the Horseshoe ), Stage Door, Cromwell and Flamingo could all be done in probably a half hour. Ending downtime would be much easier. Good luck to you. I couldn't do it, I would loose interest after 12 hours.

 

Lots to reply to here! And I thank you all for your opinions, input and support!! I also posted my intentions in a couple of popular Facebook groups and basically got called an idiot lol. Much friendlier on here. I look forward to making some of the Facebook warriors eat their words!

@Iceyiceyb

If it was a Guinness world record attempt then a GoPro is required. I have actually contacted them to see if they will allow me to set a record as the current one was using transportation. There's no record for on foot. With this trip coming up in two weeks though, I don't think I'll have enough time to get it sanctioned, even in the unlikely event they agreed I can set one. Nah, this is just for me I think!!!

@NittyOne

Thanks mate, will look at double down. Never heard of it! Aztec Inn... yes. I wouldn't say I was worried about it, but definitely going there during the daytime just in case!

@Calder

I'm doing it in this order for a reason. The main one is I'm staying at MGM so makes sense to finish there. Secondary reason, I've heard the walk from Fremont to The Strat can potentially be a bit spicy after dark so will do it in the morning.

 

No word of a lie, my wife is marking some of her students work tonight and my daughter has some friends over so is way too cool to talk to her dad! So I'm actually doing a 10 mile hike with a few cans. I'm in training!

 

Hello again!

Quick run down if you missed my last post...
Next week I'm planning on attempting to gamble in a minimum of 50 vegas casinos in 24 hours (hopefully less) and record the attempt as a vlog (will also do written trip report). This is strictly on foot no external transport allowed. Elevators, escalators, moving walkways excluded. Yes I did get a smart arse who messaged me about that!

Anyway, I'm no professional video editor and I'm also not rich so if I try and gamble 20 in 50 casinos, and get no bonuses on the slots then things may get repetitive.

My latest brainwave on this idiotic idea is, every fifth casino I will spin a 'wheel of fortune' which will be an app on my phone.

I'm looking for creative ideas for items to add to this wheel. Some easy ones like... 'do a shot' or 'double your bet in next casino' to harder ones like 'befriend an Irishman' or 'find someone called Steve'.

The more interesting and creative the better.

thanks in advance!!!!!

 

I think this is a TERRIFIC idea….

….for a downtown cycle through casinos or section of the strip.

I certainly haven’t crunched numbers or time frames for walking this mapped out circus of a casino adventure as you have, but I feel like you are going to be very pinched for time at each location. Are you sure this is something you want to do on THIS adventure? Maybe do it for just a part/section? Maybe have your wheel have options for “no special thing” so that you’re only having to do one of these things a certain percentage of casinos?

I’m curious of the responses as I do like the idea…and I’m stoked to see any videos/reports of this epicness forthcoming.

 

My big suggestion, as an events guy, is to keep it simple. Doing 50 casinos is a big task already, don’t overthink or overcomplicate it, especially solo.

I tried doing a bit of a crawl on my solo night a few months back, with a plan to do specific activities per mgm casino… I had a spreadsheet ready on my phone to fill in results, my drink, etc. It took exactly 2 casinos before I stopped using the sheet and focused on just enjoying myself at the rest of the stops. Trying to do a wheel of options at 50 different stops is likely to become a bit of an anchor for you, maybe just keep it simple by coming up with your list per place before, like “video poker at Strat, video blackjack at Sahara, fancy comped cocktail at Resorts World, cheap beer at stage door”… make it more of a self-managed scavenger hunt.

 

I think it would be better to map it out and then put in things like your wheel and tedium breakers where it makes sense. Like if its 7 casinos in a row then don't do 5, break, then 2. As you map it out find key points of interest for a break. Like say going down the strip on the CET side and stopping at the promenade for a frozen bailey's or something. Or as you do the north strip stopping by FB and doing a quick tour as its new and people want to see it. Also you can do what me and some friends used to do as you walk between casinos: pick up all the hooker cards and see if you can build a full deck!

 

Your call, but keep the KISS principle in mind. You have just under 29 minutes per casino including commuting time. Now you will pick up a lot of time on the downtown leg, but once you hit the strip, the distances vastly increase. As far as doing shots, again your call. However, I don't think that alcohol and walking long distances in the Vegas heat are two things that go well together. Good luck on whatever you decide.

 

I get that you're all about the "50 casinos" part, but from a viewer-engagement perspective, I'm thinking of just focusing on Downtown (or some other chunk of casinos), and doing your "Wheel of Fortune" idea at every casino you hit - with some general but very Vegas tasks on the Wheel. Stuff like playing a certain type of game, getting a certain type of drink comped, befriending and doing a shot with a stranger, becoming a very passionate fan of whatever game is on in the Sportsbook for a few minutes, etc. I like your Wheel idea because having a unique focus at some casinos will definitely break up the potential monotony of just playing slots again and again.

Good luck in your mission!

Some more Wheel ideas:
1) Order the most interesting sounding beer available at the bar (by name only)
2) Find the rowdiest table game and play it, no matter the game
3) Do your gambling in the High Limit room, possibly combined with 2x budget
4) Play the strangest slot game you can find

 

more wheel ideas:

1) find someone named Xavier
2) add 50 more casinos
3) stop this nonsense ASAP

 

First, I'd have running statistics either on screen on the upper left hand corner all the time, or full screen between cuts. You know, stuff like number of casinos hit, number of steps (use pedometer function on phone) or feet walked, running total of free drinks, P/L, and keep updating it from casino to casino. People like numbers. There's entire Youtube channels just devoted to creating visualizations of statistics over time like "Data is Beautiful" which has 1.38 million subscribers.

Second, keep it short at each casino. You don't need to show 5 minutes of pushing a button times 50 casinos. Selective editing to show only the interesting parts would be helpful. Even if you only allotted 30 seconds per casino, that's still a 25 minute video, which is long by Youtube standards. I think you could do it in a lot less. You've got to keep it moving.

Third, pick games that translate well to the format you are setting up. I'd probably be more inclined to a video full of all or nothing high limit pulls, or electronic table games than someone milking $20 at a $1 per spin over and over and over again. That's just me though. Perhaps looking at it another way, create a rule that you are going to follow to keep things interesting like how Pompsie did a video where he bet $100 all or nothing at each strip casino at Blackjack.

Fourth, maybe an establishing shot at each casino. Like just a couple seconds showing casino signage, or panning the casino floor, at the start of each segment would be smart. People don't just watch these videos to see gambling action, they also watch them to "be there" in a sense so help put them there.

 

Make out with a bachelorette
Get in a fight with a midget

 

Yeah, no chance, not even in Vegas, only chance might be if you call slot machines in a gas station a "casino"...downtown is dense, yes. The strip is SPACED OUT...30? yes. 50? lol no