1. Welcome to VegasMessageBoard
    It appears you are visiting our community as a guest.
    In order to view full-size images, participate in discussions, vote in polls, etc, you will need to Log in or Register.

Canuck Bankroll

Discussion in 'Casino Gaming' started by IHeartDancers, Dec 4, 2014.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. IHeartDancers

    IHeartDancers High-Roller

    Joined:
    Nov 5, 2009
    Messages:
    510
    Location:
    Toronto, Ontario
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    7
    As a Canuck with a Canadian banking institution, I don't have the luxury of walking up to an ATM machine and withdrawing cash without paying ridiculous fees.

    I also don't want to constantly walk around with my entire bankroll all day, and for arguments sake, let's assume i don't want to lock it in my safe either.

    Just wondering how others get around this?

    How does requesting a line of credit work? I assume there's interest on the line?

    I don't make a lot of money, i might not even get approved for it, but still curious none the less.
     
  2. BayouBengal

    BayouBengal VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2014
    Messages:
    3,172
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    15
    There isn't any interest on the line but it is due in a relative short period of time. Just fill out a casino's application, give them the relevant information and they'll let you know if you're approved. I think the minimum for strip casinos is around $3k. Downtown is lower as expected.
     
  3. BCMike

    BCMike VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2003
    Messages:
    1,007
    Location:
    Austin, Texas
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    83
    As a former canuck resident (and Canadian), I usually would take travelers checks with me. Sometimes the bank issues them for free, sometimes theres a percent on them.
    What bank do you use? I know RBC has some branches/deals in the US so there may be an ATM there that they would cover (reimburse fees). Not sure about other banks.
    For the line of credit, they basically look at your credit and your checking account balance and will approve/deny based on that. I think you normally need to have at least enough cash in your checking account to cover the line of credit though.

    I would say go with travellers checks though. It's very easy; you can get them in $100's so it's not too much of a hassle to cash them; all the casino cashes will take them and most businesses etc.

    Another option I used was that I actually set up a US account with RBC so you can have US dollars in it and access it from places in the US. http://www.rbcroyalbank.com/products/deposits/us-personal-account.html
     
  4. shifter

    shifter Degenerate Gambler

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2010
    Messages:
    10,096
    Location:
    At the tables
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    30
    LOC is based on how much money is in your checking account. It's basically extended check writing privileges. There is no interest and it's due 7 to 30 days after you leave.

    But they hesitate to set one up for less than 5k.
     
  5. IHeartDancers

    IHeartDancers High-Roller

    Joined:
    Nov 5, 2009
    Messages:
    510
    Location:
    Toronto, Ontario
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    7
    Makes sense.

    I bank with TD, i'll have to look into seeing if they have that option.

    Let's say I do setup a line with 5K on it. Any I only end up using 1K, no problem right? Then as soon as I get home, i wire them the money to pay it off? Is that how it works?

    Any hits to your credit score for setting one up?

    If I do set one up, will it draw the attention of a host?
     
  6. BayouBengal

    BayouBengal VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2014
    Messages:
    3,172
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    15
    If you don't have the money to settle up at the end of your trip. They will just deposit the marker and it will be drafted from your account like a check. If it bounces, that's bad news though. Not paying a gaming debt in Nevada is a serious crime.
     
  7. BCMike

    BCMike VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2003
    Messages:
    1,007
    Location:
    Austin, Texas
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    83
    I don't think having a credit line would draw the attention of the host but I could be wrong. They'd be looking at gaming activity, ADT etc.
     
  8. BlacklabberMike

    BlacklabberMike MIA

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2014
    Messages:
    5,373
    Location:
    Where's Ware?
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    25
    another option is to take a good chunk of your bankroll and deposit it in the cage at your hotel as "front money" you can always request a marker for some of it as needed.
     
  9. BayouBengal

    BayouBengal VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2014
    Messages:
    3,172
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    15
    The applications for strip casinos that I've looked at all say either $2500 or $3000 for the minimum requested. Also, what's the etiquette on how big or small you pull down at once? Let's say I have a $3,000 line but I don't want all $3,000 right now. What's an appropriate amount? $500...$1000? I'd probably only buy in for about $500 at the table at a time but is it a hassle for them to write small markers?
     
  10. IHeartDancers

    IHeartDancers High-Roller

    Joined:
    Nov 5, 2009
    Messages:
    510
    Location:
    Toronto, Ontario
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    7
    Also, if I set up a line with Aria, i'm guessing this line is good at all MGM properties then?
     
  11. shifter

    shifter Degenerate Gambler

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2010
    Messages:
    10,096
    Location:
    At the tables
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    30
    no.

    each property is independent.

    however, once you have one setup, it's easy to get them to copy it over to another sister property.
     
  12. shifter

    shifter Degenerate Gambler

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2010
    Messages:
    10,096
    Location:
    At the tables
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    30
    who you bank with makes no difference.

    you fill out a credit marker application with the casino. you put down your bank account(s).

    if this is your first marker app and therefore you're not in central credit,

    they will likely pull a credit report with one or more of the big 3.

    they will also call your bank and check your average account balance(s).
     
  13. gambler

    gambler VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2012
    Messages:
    2,048
    Location:
    Canada
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    40
    We bounce around to many different casinos so a bunch of LOC's would be more hassle to set up than it's worth for us. My husband set up an American account at RBC. He can do ATM withdrawals at any bank machine in the States and then get reimbursed by RBC. The drawbacks are that there is a withdrawal limit of $1000 per day and If he wants to deposit money after a win, he has to bring it home and do that through an RBC branch.

    I have an American money account at CIBC to save on the exchange each trip but can't access it with a debit card in the US so I just take cash and use the in room safe. It's been a long time since we've taken traveler's cheques, last time all they had we're $20's available so we gave up on that idea year's ago.
     
  14. Peachiekeehn

    Peachiekeehn High-Roller

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2012
    Messages:
    919
    Location:
    BC, Canada
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    30
    Just wondering why you wouldn't want to use the in room safe? We're Canadian too and we've always just used the safe. The stories you hear about people being ripped off are generally because they didn't make sure their door locked and left the safe unlocked while they slept.
     
  15. Royal Flusher

    Royal Flusher Savvy Gambler

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2008
    Messages:
    6,550
    Location:
    Flusherville, Canada
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    60
    Be aware that some places just do not know how to make this work with Canadian banks. We ended up setting up a US account just for this purpose. It was something to do with the routing numbers on the marker.

    Once you get the line set up it is easy peasy. Kind of a free loan for 30 days, too.

    It that's too much hassle, go the traveler's cheque route.
     
  16. Royal Flusher

    Royal Flusher Savvy Gambler

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2008
    Messages:
    6,550
    Location:
    Flusherville, Canada
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    60
    If you contact your bank ahead of time, they can order up higher denom's. Yeah 20s suck. BTW it seems like TCs are going the way of the dodo though, right?
     
  17. moefoe81

    moefoe81 Low-Roller

    Joined:
    Jul 9, 2011
    Messages:
    245
    Location:
    Vancouver Canada
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    20
    I bank with TD and if I need to withdraw money, I go look for the wells fargo bank machine. There use to be one at IP before they renovated that area but now I just bring down enough money and lock it up in the safe. When I was there in Sept with a friend of mine and we shared the room I told him rule #1 before leaving the room is to make sure the safe is locked rule #2 make sure the door is completely closed when you leave the room.

    Ernie
     
  18. BCMike

    BCMike VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2003
    Messages:
    1,007
    Location:
    Austin, Texas
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    83
    Wow, yeah, I took 20s once and it was terrible! I remember Planet Hollywood used to make you put a thumb print on it. Not sure why....
     
  19. shifter

    shifter Degenerate Gambler

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2010
    Messages:
    10,096
    Location:
    At the tables
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    30
    so police can identify you if they turn out to be forged.
     
  20. BCMike

    BCMike VIP Whale

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2003
    Messages:
    1,007
    Location:
    Austin, Texas
    Trips to Las Vegas:
    83
    Jeez, I wasn't even thinking about that. Good to know. Thanks.
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.