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How do you get free drinks while playing slots in Vegas?

Discussion in 'Comps' started by eddiegorniakjr, May 5, 2017.

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  1. eddiegorniakjr

    eddiegorniakjr Tourist

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    My wife and I have been told that at Harrah's properties in Vegas you have to use a players card while playing slots if you want to get free drinks. And you have to earn enough points or you cannot get free drinks now.
    Does this mean you can't just gamble at slots or table games and just ask a waitress for a free drink like I use to in the 70s? Thank you.
     
  2. pleasemum

    pleasemum High-Roller

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    I can't speak for Harrah's but all Vegas Casinos that I have frequented provided "free" drinks while playing slots. There are some exceptions like VP - the different bars have different polices.
     
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  3. Tahoejoe2

    Tahoejoe2 VIP Whale

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    You get free drinks when you play slots. At some bars, when you play VP you need to play so much to get a free drink.
    Check the CET web site. Parking is different at each CET hotel.
    We stayed at Ballys last week. Self parking was free. Valet was free for Platinum and above.
     
  4. C0usineddie

    C0usineddie VIP Whale

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    You can get free drinks while playing slots on the floor. Dont need to have a card in the machine but you should have money in the machine. Its different some places if you are at the bar playing the games so the trick is, dont sit at the bar.

    My usualy play is 9 lines, 1 cent per lines and I get served. i am not special or super diamond or whatever, i have a card but its just the entry level one and always will be.

    Now keep in mind that the waitresses have a large area to cover and some areas of the casino simply will not have any coverage so pretty much you wont be getting served in those sections.

    if drinking is a priority, like it is with me, then watch the waitresses too get a feel for her route. you can quickly get a feel for their route as they are saying cocktails, drinks, that sort of stuff while walking around.

    play a machine in her area. Dont let her pass by without getting an order in. they wont stop and wait at every machine so make sure ot make some eye contact with her when you hear her coming, Also if you want her to come back, tip her. This is motivation to come back. without it, why would she come back?
     
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  5. vegasvic

    vegasvic VIP Whale

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    Service can be spotty at machines, it seems as if some casinos have cut back on the number of CW's and they have a lot of ground to cover. As Eddie said above tip them (a buck is fine) and it helps if you want a refill(s)
     
  6. nostresshere

    nostresshere Mr. Anti Debit Card

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    Yes, you still get free drinks while playing. But, free drinks, paid drinks, buffets, shows - NOTHING is like it was in the 70's.

    If you are about to visit Vegas after 40 years, you would do well to read through posts here. Things have changed quite a bit.

    No free parking - though many of us no longer drive.
    Resort fees at most places
    Drinks are easily $10-$20 now
    Decent dinners are like the expensive places in most cities
    No $1 shrimp. Only you get for $1 in vegas is bottled water from street vendors.
     
  7. Grant1982

    Grant1982 High-Roller

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    Not sure about in Vegas, but in Tunica CET casinos require you to order drinks from the machine, and also fairly sure you have to have a players card in order to do that. It's a pretty simple menu, just hit drink and order what you want. There is no limit you must play to order, but they don't have to deliver it until they want to either lol.
     
  8. Jon E Coyote

    Jon E Coyote Low-Roller

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    We play slots 8+ hours a day in Vegas, have never had a problem getting drinks, just tip a buck or two and they will keep them coming
     
  9. CaptCampion

    CaptCampion VIP Whale

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    There's always a cost. My liver absorbs most of it.
     
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  10. Jejas

    Jejas VIP Whale

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    I play VP machines 8+ hours a day in Vegas, never had a problem getting my drink (water that is).
    Usually bought from ABC stores, 2 bottles for 99 cents, cheaper than tipping the cocktail waitress.
     
  11. waverunner

    waverunner ------VEGA$------

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    If you're on the casino floor (not at the VP bar) and you are playing a slot machine, VP, or any machine that you feed into (again, not at the "bar" even though you are feeding the machine), and the CW is in the area, you will be asked if you would like a drink.
    In my case, since i hardly drink alcohol, but i drink sodas, Hot Chocolate, water etc. it doesn't matter, the CW's will serve you.
    This could vary depending on the shift, how many are working in your area, etc.

    However, when you receive your drink, please, please, please tip the CW. I have been going to Vegas for over 35 years and numerous times i have seen scumbags, oops, i mean patrons stiff the CW out of tips. I have always tipped the CW's well, in many cases i will tip the same CW double knowing the scumbag, err, i mean the person sitting next to me, stiffed her.
    If you are not going to tip on you're first drink, she may not ever return again forever, and i salute her for that.
    These women work hard for the money (shout out to Donna Summer).

    Personally, when people are willing to pay hundreds and thousands of dollars on their Vegas trip but stiff a CW, who is making peanuts and still being friendly after non stop hours trying to do their best, and you still choose not to at least give her a lousy dollar per drink..........i say don't come to Vegas, go somewhere else, cheapskate. LOL.
     
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  12. dtmk66

    dtmk66 Welcome to Las Vegas

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    A $20 bill to get started improves your drink service tremendously :drunk:
     
  13. CaptCampion

    CaptCampion VIP Whale

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    That's exactly what I do. If I'm sitting down to start a session and I know I'm going to be there for at least 3 hours, I give the girl a $20 (and a wink) the first time I see her. I get great service

     
  14. tmoney25

    tmoney25 High-Roller

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    A story from my first trip. I had done the research before I went to Vegas so I knew about the "free" drinks. We arrived and quickly hooked up with our friends. They immediately started playing some slots side by side, and my wife and I found a machine in the bank opposite of them (our machines were essentially back to back). CW comes around and my wife and I order a drink. We tipped $2. $1/drink. After maybe an hour we had 3 drinks, as soon as we got the 3rd drink we decided to see if our friends were ready for lunch. They thought it was a good idea since they weren't getting any drink service. They got one drink as soon as they sat down, much like us, and that was all they got. They tipped $1 per trip and the CW only made one trip to them. I asked if they tipped and my friend said "Yes, $1 per trip" I said we tipped $1 per drink per trip and he suggested that I didn't need to tip so much. I didn't say anything, but I thought, for only $1 per drink I'm not going to stop how I did it. Even if we only wanted water, we still tipped.

    tl;dr - We tipped $1 per drink and got great service. Our friends tipped $0.50 per drink and the CW didn't return to them.
     
  15. TXCajuns

    TXCajuns Low-Roller

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    We always tip $1 to $2 a drink. Once several trips back at Bally's, I tipped a waitress $2. She looked at the bills, turned up her nose, rolled her eyes and said, Ooooo, big spender. After that, we have not stepped foot in their casino or in their hotel.
     
  16. CaptCampion

    CaptCampion VIP Whale

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    $1-2 per drink is a small price to pay for someone continuing to bring me drinks while I gamble
     
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  17. HallOfPromise

    HallOfPromise Low-Roller

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    My girlfriend and I love getting free drinks at the slots, but we also like VP at the bars. In Vegas, what's the usual min to put in and bet in order to get a free drink? Was at Monte Carlo a few years ago and the bartender just told me to put in a $20. Now I am hearing it may be more at some places.
     
  18. JR Swift

    JR Swift VIP Whale

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    My experience on my most recent trip was pretty good as far as being served regularly on the gaming floor. A few tips. Try to sit near one of the main service bars. The cocktail ladies have to go there to retrieve orders. If you are nearby, you will be in their line of sight as they do. Secondly, tip. I don't subscribe to the "give them $2 $5 $20" school. Just tip normally. Third, be a drunk. If you order (and tip) every time they come around, they will be sure to come around. Finally, try to figure out the shift changes. If you make a "friend" and then she goes home in an hour, you may have to start over.
     
    Last edited: May 13, 2017
  19. ron_ron

    ron_ron Low-Roller

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    I agree -tip for every drink they get you. Give $5 the second time she comes around. Watch the magic unfold ...with $10 single become a double pour.
     
  20. Hyperfocal

    Hyperfocal VIP Whale

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    Harrah's always seems to have poor drink service, especially in the video poker area. It varies by property, Cromwell has great drink service and full pay video poker.

    My suggestions overall are to smile and make eye contact, be polite and tip decently. $1 per drink is usually fine, but more can help. Saying please and thank you and just treating the waitress as a person seems to do quite a lot since they have to deal with so many drunk SOBs.

    As far as locations go, figure out where the service bars are in the casino and find a machine closer to the service bar. Some places, like the Fremont, use a station at the casino bars, others, like Bellagio, have service bars set up off the floor. It can help speed up the delivery of a drink if you are the last order and the closest to the bar on the way back.

    Unless you play high limits, machine players on the floor generally have slower service than table games or bartop players.
     
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