Taking large sums to Vegas

What is your preferred method of taking your gambling dollars to Vegas?

I think now I wouldn't travel with a large sum of cash. I was thinking about markers but I have never tried it before.

 

If you can handle responsibly handling credit there is no easier way to handle money.

That being said what is considered large varies person to person. Over the past decade never had issues with carrying thousands on my person anywhere.

 

I drive so I just take cash in rubberbands. How much is large to you? I've taken 8k before and that was a lot to me but maybe not for you. I heard a lot of people recommending travelers checks.

 

Chicago and Vegas both have US Bank locations.

I opened a US Bank account purely for Vegas purposes, in fact on one trip where I had an early big hit, I took a cab to the bank and made a deposit. You can easily cab over and make your withdrawal upon arrival in Vegas, the one location is almost on the way from the airport.

I've also used travelers checks. The $1,000 variety were great but are never available now. If you use AAA, you can get the $100's with no fee.

I've done front money and credit lines at the major casinos and found that to become an increasingly painful method because I never know where I'm going to want to play. If you play at one place, that is easiest.

 

As others have said, it probably depends on what you consider a large sum. Anything under $10k I would most likely just go for cash, but if I was concerned I'd go for Traveller's Cheques.

Then again, I'm from the UK, so things like credit cards can work out very expensive and getting a US bank account is a little more tricky, so if you're a US citizen, there might be a better option for you.

 

I went to AAA locally and they no longer give Travelers Checks at my location. So if you take the money in large amounts (and yes 8,000 is large for me) how/where do you carry it?

I know I am going to lose it gambling but that is much better than losing it to a pick pocket!

 

Im not taking a large amount by any means but im feeling like George Costanza right now i cant even fold my wallet

 

I just put it in my wallet.

 

Wire transfer/CL

 

$10k+ I would do credit lines or front money via wire transfer.

Under that I just take in cash.



As others have mentioned it depends a lot on what you consider large.


If you are talking about a few thousand, I still think ATMs are a decent option if you just don't want that much cash on you. Yes you still pay a fee(usually $5), but if you take out somewhat large amounts once a day, it still only comes out to $15-$30. That is a reasonable fee for many for knowing they don't need to carry their entire bankroll on them.

That tactic starts to make less sense when you are talking about $500 and only wanting $100 each day.

 

Definitely set up a line of credit and take markers. Take a few hundred to get you started while you are waiting for the first marker to be processed.

Look at it this way: If you take out the money and lose, you are getting an interest free loan for a couple of weeks. If you take out the first marker and win, you might never have to tap in to the rest of your bankroll for the rest of the trip.

And for those low rollers out there (like me): you do not need to be a huge player. I have a $5000 Line of credit at a few places and request a $500 marker at a time. Piece of cake

 

Coming from overseas, I would just carry euros and change them when you get here. Dollars if you can get them. You can carry up to 10000 each person without declaring it.

In the states, for many years I would carry several thousand in cash to Vegas and supplement with ATM withdrawals. The last couple years, I've gotten Line of Credits and just pay with a check when I leave. I take a large marker in cash when I arrive and use it where ever I go. Line of credit and markers is so easy.

 

This is exactly what I do...in fact the same exact $ amounts! I hate carrying a lot of cash through airport security. Plus its better to play with the casino's money interest free.

 

How do you set up a line of credit?

 

Call the casino you will be playing the most at several weeks before the trip. They'll fax or e-mail you an application. Very simple process. You only need to do this once...it is good for all future trips.

 

ROFLMAO


Interest, really?

ha ha ha ha ha

 

Definitely go the credit line route. If you have a host, call him or her to set it up. If you don't just go to the marker or credit application page of the casino's website and fill it out.

I also sometimes carry large sums of cash on trips. For that, I usually secure the cash inside a bank bag in a secure spot in my carry on luggage. Then I find the in room safe once I get to the hotel and secure it there

 

Go to the casinos website. They will generally have a form on the site you can fill out and fax/email in.

 

For those that suggested a line of credit....Is the cash easy to obtain? I recall reading some threads earlier about a people sitting down at a table to draw markers against their credit line and it taking a while for the pit boss to process the request. Then I suspect you are somewhat obligated to play for a while before coloring up. Would you draw against your entire line (or as much as your bank roll will be for the entire trip) up front? Would it raise a few eyebrows if you pulled like 5K and played a few hundred at the table then colored up and left? I tend to play all over and spend money all over, so just wondering if this is feasible in that case.

 

The only difficulty that I have experienced with the LOC is that they call your financial institution and verify funds in your checking account. Unfortunately (or fortunately), I keep only enough in my checking account to cover my bills, the rest is in a money market or equity account. I have had decent experience in sending in a cashier's check ahead of time and using that for a marker, it's sort of a pain in the a$$ to go get a cashier's check, mail it in, confirm it is received and set up correctly but to me it is better than having the money sit in what is essentially a non-earning account, although I can't say my money market is a whole lot better.

I don't like carrying a lot of cash though the airport either, particularly with the new machines that don't allow you to have anything in your pockets. I know you can carry it in your hand, but don't really like advertising that I have a wad of cash on me either.