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Broke in Vegas??

Discussion in 'Misc. Vegas Chat' started by RiddickBull, Dec 14, 2013.

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  1. 1LuckyMomma

    1LuckyMomma High-Roller

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    We usually go for 4 nights and I budget $100 day for gambling. I know that's very small compared to a lot of you but I usually win so I have money for the whole trip and come home with a little. ;) I do bet conservatively ($5-12 bets at craps and dollar machines/sometimes quarters if the money is going too fast.)

    I've had 2 losing trips. As far as gambling, last year was miserable. No matter what I did, I lost. But, I only took about $50 out of the atm to make sure I had enough money for a taxi to the airport and something to drink on the way home. I spent a lot of time watching my friend play and a little more time in the room. It was also the only trip that I've ever played slots exclusively and I was with someone that only plays slots and has never tried anything else.

    This time I'm teaching her to play craps! If I lose, at least I wasn't just sitting there pushing a button the whole time.

    It really stinks to not have money in Vegas. The other time I lost everything (my budget-no more) I got on the plane with like 42 cents and laughed all the way home. We had an awesome trip! When I go, I expect to win but before I even leave, I consider it entertainment money. :)

    Unfortunately, every time we are there I do see several people that are obviously very down on their luck and it breaks my heart. Some people just don't have any control and some are too ill. Vegas is really fun if you can consider it entertainment. I cannot wait to go back in March!
     
  2. lotso-bear

    lotso-bear VIP Whale

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    I completely agree with this.

    I've been to more than 100 countries and Vegas has been the ONLY destination where I've been "broke".

    The only way a person can avoid being broke in Vegas is if they have really good self-control with a fixed gambling budget. However, with all the slot machines surrounding you, it's hard not to gamble more than what you already planned to use.
     
  3. ken2v

    ken2v This Space For Rent

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    I don't think it's hard "not" to gamble simply because of what's available. If that's the case one is not dealing with a recreational or entertainment pursuit, but an addiction.

    In the larger picture, I don't understand going somewhere or doing something where if things go "wrong" a person is totally tapped out. OK, when we're 19 or 21 we do what we can to get to that Dead concert and then figure out how to get home, but the Dead're effectively dead and we're all not 19 or 21 anymore.
     
  4. oldarmy

    oldarmy Low-Roller

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    Its ok to do it one time. It is one of life's lessons. Do it more than that and you have a problem. My last trip gave my wife half my bankroll for safe keeping and end up leaving with that and $300.

    My way is not to make gambling my entire reason for going. Make sure you have other plans that get you away from the machines/tables.

    I also mix cheap food and drinks in with fancy dinners for the day.

    I always match my stay with the money I have to gamble. Don't book a four day trip if you always broke by day two.
     
  5. LV_Bound

    LV_Bound VIP Whale

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    Losing my bankroll in Vegas is my biggest fear or should I say losing it too early is my biggest fear. This fear can be very constructive as it has me keeps me strict in budgeting.
    Yes, I use envelopes.
    Calculate my trip bankroll.
    Break it down to per day.
    Each day gets an envelope.
    In fact, each day may have a Craps and slots envelope.
    At the start of each day I break the amount down further into morning, afternoon and evening. Usually slow play in the mornings.
    Any monies left over from the previous day or morning gets rolled into the evening. This usually leaves me with the night time with the heaviest betting and most action. Combine that with some drinking and its makes for a great time. :beer:
     
  6. LV_Bound

    LV_Bound VIP Whale

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    Ok, so it is not just me.
    Something when reading the boards I have to wonder if I am the only one losing. :eek:


    No kidding.
    Last trip my wife knew we didn't charge enough to the room so she purchased a jacket and hat and charged it to the room.
    Sure enough when we arrived home there was no charge for the room, food or her recent purchase.

    If we could get them to cover airfare we would be making more trips.
     
  7. heatherlovesvegas

    heatherlovesvegas VIP Whale

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    All the time haha. I have to budget my gambling or it's a disaster. Usually it seems to work out that I win just enough money to be happy.. then gamble it away or spend it on something.

    I take cash for my trip, then I keep a little my account or have my credit card just incase. I try not to use it, and the $7.00 ATM fees discourage me. But sometimes on the last day, I can't afford breakfast or my gas home ahha.

    I agree you can never have too much money!

    I think only once have I come home with money. It's usually all spent. Except the one time I won $1100, then clearly I'm not gonna try and blow it. But if it's $200 yea, I'm spending that. I treat my smaller winnings and ways to have more fun on my trip... treat my guests to dinner.. or buy myself something extravagant.
     
  8. dvandentop

    dvandentop VIP Whale

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    Anyone use a winners bank? I am gonna be using one on the next trip for sure. (Slot player 99% of the time)
     
  9. CardiacNP

    CardiacNP Tourist

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    winners bank??
     
  10. dvandentop

    dvandentop VIP Whale

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    Google winnersbank200 it is a little lock box to put cash in and leave the key at home and can keep wins that way
     
  11. Terry Benedict

    Terry Benedict VIP Whale

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    First trip, sister's wedding, with a buddy.

    Of course we lost more than we expected, food costed more than we expected, and being at Mandalay Bay is not conducive to Strip walking, our feet hurt! So the last day all I had left was a $50 travelers check (I know, right?) that I wanted to save for tomorrow's taxi and breakfast. Buddy had $40. We had even watched a pay-per-view movie that afternoon to curb our gambling. The Talented Mr. Ripley with Matt Damon sucked.

    So at 2am we came up with The Plan: Bet his forty on blackjack. If we lose, we go to bed hungry. If we win, we get a taxi to take us to Denny's on LVB and Harmon. So we go downstairs, buy chips, and push it right into the circle. I still smile when I remember the dealer doing a double-take at that. Luck smiles on us and he gets a blackjack. Sweet! Hey buddy, do you want to let it ride? We consider it, but Denny's is calling us.

    Being the virgins that we are, we catch a cab to Denny's. It's always open, it's Las Vegas, and.... it's closed for cleaning. WTF?

    We cross the street to Carrows and have the most delicious hash browns I have ever had. Of course late night in Vegas may have something to do with it. Catch a cab back to the Bay, crash, and wake up the next morning planning a trip for the next year.

    I tell my brother in law that over the years his wedding has costed me more than it costed him.
     
  12. theshaah

    theshaah High-Roller

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    My VERY First trip. August of 2001 I was 23 years old. Stayed at Vacation Village for 25 a night and 50 on the weekend. I remember passing the Welcome To Las Vegas sign every time I rode to the strip. Back home I made 7.50 an hour as a telephone customer service rep. I had been seperated from my fiance of four years for only about 4 months. I had NO savings whatso ever and I went to vegas for a week on a budget of only about 500 dollars. I made it 6 out of the 7 days on my budget but thankfully I had met up with an online friend out there who lived in sacramento so she bought me dinner before I went home. I even went in the negative on my bank account paying for my parking in Orlando.

    Since that trip I have NEVER run out of money in Vegas. I've come awfully close but I have enormous control over what I spend now. Because I know I will always go back.

    This last trip was my most stressful tho. Not because of gambling but because of a certain friend who I went to high school with. She is very well off financially and now I see why. She doesn't spend a dime she doesn't have to. She gambled AWFULLY hitting 14's to a dealers 6. Not doubling on 11 to a dealers 5. Drank cocktails pretty heavily but refused to tip the CW a cent. I even bought us a 60 dollar lunch (a bit stiff for me considering we weren't even romantically involved) and asked her to pay the tip and she refused. Some people don't deserve to be rich. In the end I had to ditch her because she made a comment about how service people were beneath her and that she didn't need to treat them with any respect. I live my life now, and always have by the golden rule of treat others as you wish to be treated. So I bailed when she went out to the strip by herself. Little witch didn't even text me to ask me why I left. Maybe she just knew she was a snotty little excuse for a human being. Either way I spent the rest of that trip helping out a friend who lives there who was going through kidney stones get her rent paid and put her in a cab to a hospital.

    I need a relaxing trip next time.
     
  13. JWBlue

    JWBlue VIP Whale

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    Never.

    If I am out of money for the day there are plenty of other things to do.

    When out of money I have gone to my room and just watched television, read the paper, gone to a bar and got drunk, or shopped. There are plenty of other things to do.
     
  14. Viva Las Vegas

    Viva Las Vegas Elvis has left the building

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    As a Vegas veteran, the number one lesson I learned is playing for comps is far more expensive than anything casinos hand out. Casinos are efficient and squeezing as much as they possibly can from their good gambling clients (top 20% make 80% + for the house).

    Vegas rooms are still a great bargain on most dates. A five star Vegas hotel will run about the same rate / cheaper than an average hotel in most American cities. I've paid for more Vegas rooms (3-5 star) over the past few years than over the previous twenty, and I have come out ahead minimizing losses / gambling. I've enjoyed my trips more as well.
     
  15. Bamfbowhunter

    Bamfbowhunter Low-Roller

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    I've lost my bankroll but never been broke.


    That's the difference between gambling for fun and having an addiction.
     
  16. PopMegaphone

    PopMegaphone VIP Whale

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    Never happened to me. Fortunately I'm not a huge gambler and if I start to lose a lot I get annoyed and walk away. I've never been wired to chase my loses.
     
  17. joshrocker

    joshrocker VIP Whale

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    The locksmith fees would cost too much for me to consider using something like that
     
  18. JosieCat

    JosieCat VIP Whale

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    My first solo trip. Bally's - 2009. My last full day I got stupid and pissed away my daily bankroll (which was smaller back then) at Bellagio before 9:00 a.m. I was able to get $300 (which was my daily limit at the time) from the ATM and luckily that lasted me playing quarter VP until around 2:30. I then went shopping to spend my resort credits, and then headed up to the room to read. My bankroll was gone, but I wasn't broke. I could still eat.

    I got another $200 the next morning - ended up getting all of my money back my first time playing Pick a Pair VP poker at Bally's - Royal Flush for $2,500.
     
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