I was considering getting a marker next time in Vegas. I have always carried cash and got chips at the cashier (it takes too long on the tables). I remember some guy bought in for 5k with $20 bills. It took for ever. Anyways, will my level of comps change if I get a marker instead of using cash with the same exact play? What are the requirements for obtaining a marker? I plan on getting a 25k marker.
You need to get a line of credit for each casino you play in, even if they are owned by the same company. They can probably transfer your info to another of their own properties, but you need to sign a form at each casino. You need to contact them about a week before you go so they can send you the form and you can submit it and they can review it. You wouldn't think that this should affect your comps, but I've been told by several casino employees that larger buy-ins do help, even if you play within your usual budget. I always use markers as opposed to carrying large amounts of cash.
You get markers at the tables not at the cage. It will not be faster as they have to check your LOC before giving you chips. Bottom line is you will ultimately be rated on your play not your LOC.
It's certainly more convenient for bigger players not to mention getting 30 days to pay, but it won't affect your comps long term. It can however help you get started with a host at a new casino. Opening up a large line can get you upfront comps you won't normally get with no history.
I thought it was a lot faster in Vegas. They put a little lammer for the amount on the table and the dealer can give you the chips right then, they don't have to wait for the actual marker like they do in AC. Checking the LOC would happen in under a minute and then they'd throw the lammer on the table, sometimes the pit boss didn't even check the computer when I asked for a marker. I guess they just remember and know you're good for it so would put the lammer down right when we you ask.
My opinion is that if you used to bring $25K in cash, and change to a $25K marker, it will have no impact on comps. However, if you used to only bring $5K or $10K cash, and now go up to a $25K marker, that will get you at least some additional attention. In the end, your play is more important by far, but a significantly increased bankroll will help you out at least to a small degree.
It can take a couple of minutes if the clerk is busy with something else. But it's not that big of a deal usually.
It is faster in Vegas but I don't think it's faster than cash.If you are at a casino that knows you it will be fast.I was at the Cosmo for the first time with a LOC a few weeks ago and several times they checked my ID and the computer before issuing the chips. Nothing is worse than AC however. I waited almost 15 minutes at Harrahs last year on a busy Sat. night and watched a shooter make several points and a bunch of numbers while I was waiting. I was not happy!
I was amazed at Planet Ho. I would ask for a marker and the would cut out the chips for me. A few minutes later they would come and have me sign for the marker. I did this twic in two days. At other places, it would often take five minutes or more to have them printout the form, have me sign it and then they would give me the chips.
Agreed on AC. I've seen guys waiting for an entire shoe to finally get their chips. It's apparently a regulatory thing in NJ they can't give you the chips until you sign the actual marker. In Vegas my experiences at the MGM casinos so far were the same as jhpa's at PH. I'd get the chips well before signing. For that much yeah cash is going to be faster and most people would just do cash anyway, at least at the bigger casinos. At like 10k or even 5k the marker will probably be faster than them counting out all the bills unless there's some holdup. Above 10k its a given. With a 25k line the OP is probably taking out more than 1k or 2k at a time.
Honestly I think cash is the faster option, even if you're buying in for 5-10k at a time. Obviously if you are buying in for huge sums in cash it would cause a slight delay go bane but I don't remember the last time I saw anyone drop 30k in 20s on a table. I have found myself waiting for chips forever on markers and it can be very frustrating. If you need chips during shift change or when try are doing the count, you can get screwed. I've had to leave tables to get chips and run to the cage because it was taking so long to pull markers at table. Revel in AC uses e-markers where the pit boss hands you a device and you just enter in your pin code and it verifies LOC/front money instantly. I like using it. I don't think it has any bearing on comps.
personally I hate when some guy drops 10k cash on the table and holds up the game for 5 minutes while the dealer counts it all out and gets it verified. sometimes you have to wait a couple of minutes for them to verify your marker, but it's still always quicker than counting out all that cash.
Cash is OK up to $10k in a 24 hour period. Beyond that, the casino is required to file a Currency Transaction Report with the US Treasury Dept. This is something you should probably avoid unless you like talking with IRS auditors about money laundering. There are also other government rules that favor markers over cash. If you are unknown to the casino and want to buy into a game for something between $3k and $10k, you will likely be asked to make your transaction at the cage, where they will require ID. If and when you want to cash out your chips, you will be given the same bills (or a portion thereof) that you used to purchase the chips, usually starting with the small bills.
I have been unfortunate enough to encounter this Title 31. The pit boss hands you the cards and walks away. They are not Allowed to discuss it with you at all. Kind of a bug out when you're not sober and not expecting it.
CTRs are no big deal. The IRS gets millions of them every year and they're only used when they're already looking at you for something else. What you really don't want are SARs as those are investigated and can be bad news.
