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Drinks while playing

Discussion in 'Misc. Vegas Chat' started by garyho222, Mar 7, 2015.

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  1. garyho222

    garyho222 Tourist

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    Hopefully this isn't a redundant post. It's been a few years (4 sadly) since I have been to Vegas and I'm wondering about the drink situation while gambling. The wife and I are penny slot players and sometimes we get all high and mighty and switch up to nickels. In previous trips, drinks were aplenty while gambling. I get the vibe from some of the reports that I read that this may not be the case anymore. Can anyone shed any light on this please?
     
  2. dmr

    dmr Registered Abuser

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    Yes, on two recent trips, playing mostly penny slots and quarter VP the drink service was there, even though it seems to be inconsistent from place to place and hour to hour as to how often they come around.
     
  3. BlacklabberMike

    BlacklabberMike MIA

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    tell you what to do... on your first drink order give the CW a fiver.... you won't go thirsty.
     
  4. DrLect

    DrLect Winning!

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    excellent advice, Mike!

    Cocktail waitresses are highly motivated by good tippers.
     
  5. merlin

    merlin MIA

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    Depending on the place drinks should come with reasonable quickness, at the high end places it might be spotty for small players but you prob shouldnt play there anyway.
     
  6. billduhcat

    billduhcat Low-Roller

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    No problem getting drinks @ Casino Royale, Quad, Paris, PHo, Cosmo, NYNY, or any place downtown on my trip in February. My gambling budget was around $500/day, tops.

    Service was especially excellent at all of the Cosmo VP bars, Longbar @ The D, and the TAG Bar @ the Quad.
     
  7. garyho222

    garyho222 Tourist

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    Awesome information, thanks all! In the past I used the $5 encouragement with great success at the Golden Gate and I'm glad to know it still works.
     
  8. Auggie

    Auggie Dovahkiin

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    In Las Vegas if you are gambling on the casino floor you will still get free drinks.

    Frequency and quality of service are entirely anecdotal - what one person experiences somewhere is not necessarily what you will experience. I've sat at my favorite machine in a casino and had the waitress come around every 10-15 minutes at 7PM on a weeknight only to be back the next night at the same machine at the same time with the same waitress working the area and have her come around once an hour or maybe not even at all.

    A lot of people can't wrap their head around the idea of paying for a drink in a casino if they can get it for free, but if you really want a drink you might consider:

    - if you sit down at a machine in an area getting good drink service and start playing it could still be 5-15 minutes before the waitress comes to take your order (you might have just missed her taking orders or she might be in the back filling them) and then another 5-10 minutes before your drink gets to you. If you go to the casino bar that drink will probably cost you $5-7 but you have it right then and there and the cost, even on penny machines, is probably less than what you would risk losing playing if you are just playing for drinks.
    - If you drink beer you can go to the casino gift shop. Usually for around $4 you can buy one of those big cans of beer, which holds the same quantity as two bottles of beer. You would probably tip $1 per drink from the waitress so your end cost is really only going to be around $2-3 for two beers.

    And if you want to drink to the point where you get a really good buzz on or maybe even get pretty drunk bear in mind that the casino doesn't really want that: they want you to loosen up a little and gamble more, but not get so hammered that you can't play or you have to go back to the room early to sleep it off - to that end the waitress is usually only going to bring drinks at a slow and steady pace where its going to be pretty difficult (or at least time consuming) to truly get drunk.

    Note that I do like my free drinks in the casino myself... I'm just saying if its a real concern to you about getting them, there are options.

    - - - Updated - - -

    In Las Vegas if you are gambling on the casino floor you will still get free drinks.

    Frequency and quality of service are entirely anecdotal - what one person experiences somewhere is not necessarily what you will experience. I've sat at my favorite machine in a casino and had the waitress come around every 10-15 minutes at 7PM on a weeknight only to be back the next night at the same machine at the same time with the same waitress working the area and have her come around once an hour or maybe not even at all.

    A lot of people can't wrap their head around the idea of paying for a drink in a casino if they can get it for free, but if you really want a drink you might consider:

    - if you sit down at a machine in an area getting good drink service and start playing it could still be 5-15 minutes before the waitress comes to take your order (you might have just missed her taking orders or she might be in the back filling them) and then another 5-10 minutes before your drink gets to you. If you go to the casino bar that drink will probably cost you $5-7 but you have it right then and there and the cost, even on penny machines, is probably less than what you would risk losing playing if you are just playing for drinks.
    - If you drink beer you can go to the casino gift shop. Usually for around $4 you can buy one of those big cans of beer, which holds the same quantity as two bottles of beer. You would probably tip $1 per drink from the waitress so your end cost is really only going to be around $2-3 for two beers.

    And if you want to drink to the point where you get a really good buzz on or maybe even get pretty drunk bear in mind that the casino doesn't really want that: they want you to loosen up a little and gamble more, but not get so hammered that you can't play or you have to go back to the room early to sleep it off - to that end the waitress is usually only going to bring drinks at a slow and steady pace where its going to be pretty difficult (or at least time consuming) to truly get drunk.

    Note that I do like my free drinks in the casino myself... I'm just saying if its a real concern to you about getting them, there are options.
     
  9. C0usineddie

    C0usineddie VIP Whale

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    The trick is to pay attention to where you see cw's patrolling before sitting to play the slots. if she is not coming down your aisle or you dont see one at all then move to an area they are currently working.

    They dont patrol every square foot of the place all the times, they have sections so make sure you are in one.

    Of course tipping accordingly helps her remember you and above all, you want to be remembered.

    A trick here is that 1,2,3 or 4 dollar bills are basically looked at as a $1 bill so no need to tip $2 as it will just be looked as as a $1.

    A $5 is the trick. They will take notice of it and remember you. Its just the way it is. Oddly, 5 one dollar bills are not viewed the same as a $5 bill so always make sure its a $5 at least the first couple trips.

    Then you have an agreement bascially with her and you should see her often and then you can back it down to $1-2 per drink.
     
  10. captainron62

    captainron62 VIP Whale

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    This says it all. Its for sure there, but its all over the place with consistency. I always tell everyone if you are serious about drinking then either play bar-tops, or locate a waitress and give her a $10 and tell her you are camping yourself at the machines and don't want to run out of drinks. I have given waitress a ten spot or a $20 and literally had drinks stacking up next to me.
     
  11. SH0CK

    SH0CK Stylin' and Profilin' Quasi Tech Admin

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    Or $2 bills. She will definitely remember you if you tip with a $2 bill.
     
  12. RiddickBull

    RiddickBull VIP Whale

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    If you are staying at v/p as your countdown suggests, there are machines where you can order.drinks from the slot.screen. The cw are timed so they come Fas. I tried these machine in Dec. Just tip and you will be good
     
  13. spicole

    spicole No shirt, no shoes... NO DICE!

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    I like to bring a stack of $2 bills to Vegas, expressly for tipping. They are memorable!
     
  14. garyho222

    garyho222 Tourist

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    We are at the Palazzo. I didn't know if this feature was available on the lower level machines.

    Thanks again to all for your help!
     
  15. RiddickBull

    RiddickBull VIP Whale

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    I believe the slots are lower denomination slots. Just ordering from was a cool experience. You can customize drinks, etc.
     
  16. NJS24

    NJS24 Voice of Reason

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    A roll of dimes is memorable.. However, you may need to sport a fanny pack to support these future tips.
     
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