Any benefits to having a marker

Da Boyz used to give us 7 days after got we got home.... a certain social group leader would buy up all
the junket markers from the Dunes at 75 cents on the dollar.
like i said you had 7 days with no vig. after that you were on the clock.
you could make it in payments, but get behind and rocky balboa would pay you a visit.

i never got behind and would pay... a few idiots got into trouble and had problems.

i don't have a LOC and don't want one. i just take my measly 5-10 k and put most of it in the cage as front money
and draw on if needed at the tables or go to the cage and get cash if need be.

 

Interest?

I did not think there was any interest rate.

If you take a cash advance on a credit card - then OUCH!

 

I set up a line of credit at MGM for the same amount as my average balance (1x)

 

What’s the story of the baccarat shill game? I never heard that one.

 

https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-vegas-shell/

 

I like the markers because I don't have to bring up money. I look at it as an ATM or debit card. You can take out money and you get to pay it back a few weeks after you get home.

One thing not mentioned, you get your "bill" to pay off your marker a week or so after you leave vegas. For most places you have 30 days to pay it back. If you don't pay it back they will take your balance out of your checking account. Not sure what happens if your checking account doesn't have the funds to pay off your marker but you may not be able to take out much the next time you go to vegas.

I did have problems with markers though, the casinos check your marker versus your play and they get cranky if you don't play close to the amount of your marker. Previously I used to take out markers to pay for everything (all expenses, gambling money for other casinos, etc.) but one casino called me out on it, my play at their casino didn't seem to match the markers I took out so they drastically lowered my credit limit.


But if you are just going to gamble $2k you may as well just take up 20 $100 bills.

 

#1 Upside of markers (for me): not having to worry about losing cash with all the pocket shuffling that goes on on the way to LAS. Or on the way home, for that matter - I pay off my markers before I leave, so any excess waddage goes towards that.

#1 Downside - they don't give you a copy of the marker when you take one out. Which can lead to not keeping accurate track of how much you have out when you're in drunk mode. I'm not talking about going full-on degen and playing over your head, just forgetting about one and owing $1,000 more than you thought.

 

Thanks for the tips folks. I'm not a big spender ($2k credit line at most) but nothing infuriates me more than when I leave a casino only to find out that my rating was jacked (in the wrong direction) because either my avg bet was much lower than expected or they underestimated my losses (**koff koff** Harrah's Chester **koff koff*).

I would really consider taking out a credit line if it meant they accurately reported my spending..

 

When you finish your session you could ask the pit boss about your play and rating. That way you can question them on the spot about accurate reporting.

JMHO, just because you take out a marker doesn't mean that they accurately report your spending or your ratings.

 

Yeah, I don't think using a marker is really going to result in more accurate recording of your play.

 

I am kind of new to this marker thing. How does the "marker" work? Is it like a check you write to the casino or set it up with your bank info before you go? If you play slots, can you download on to the machine? Do you get the money from the Cashier's Cage?

Thank for any info!

 

You apply for a casino line of credit (can do ahead of time by requesting the forms and sending them back if the casino has that option. Otherwise you can apply at the cage. Can take a bit longer.) and after approval you can head to a gaming table (or slot) and request a marker (from your pre-approved credit limit) for the amount you want to play at that session.

 

I see. Thanks @ardee !!

 

Casinos have access to your marker data at other casinos (even competitors).

Last week, I was at Venetian for 3 nights and went 40% deep on my LOC. I ended up close to even on the last day so I paid it off before leaving. I then moved over to the Cosmo where they had me go to the casino credit office for a "3 year" revalidation. I had to fill out another application form, signature form and they checked my bank account. The lady helping me was confirming with a host on duty and she said "He has $x out at Venetian" while looking at her screen. I didn't clarify that I had paid it off earlier in the morning.

Over the course of the next 4 days at Cosmo, I was 80% deep in my LOC there and went to take out the last 20%. I thought they might give me some grief, but it was fine. Fortunately, I worked my way back on the last day and was only down 20% of my line so I paid that off. While doing so, a "suit" came over to me while paying off the markers and he personally thanked me for paying it off before leaving. I generally pay before leaving rather than using the "30 day loan" simply because I have the money in the account and I think it generates good will with the casino.

Other data points:
1. My checking account that I use on the application averages about 120% of my marker limit. Casinos look at your average balance over 6 months to determine how much they will extend to you on a LOC.
2. I primarily play the machines so I go to the high limit cage and get tickets for the machines. I've found most casinos are reluctant to do cash, but tickets are fine.
3. I almost always play where I stay so I've never had an issue with a casino restricting me for suspicion of walking out the door with marker money.