Las Vegas - How do I minimalise ATM fees in Vegas?

I have perhaps screwed up and bought an Amex Travellers Cheque Card. Well they were offering a free $75 on a $1000 load. :D

Anyway, it will obviously be fine for payment in hotels, restaurants etc but I am a little worried about being able to withdraw cash from ATMs for my gambling.

On a few of my previous trips to Vegas I have had to make an 'unplanned' withdrawal from ATMs but got stung something cronic by their service fees.

Can one of you 'locals' please educate me in how to withdraw cash through an ATM whilst minimising these fees. Are there any such 'cheap/free' ATM facilities at LAS, on Fremont or on the route between the two?

Thanks

I have perhaps screwed up and bought an Amex Travellers Cheque Card. Well they were offering a free $75 on a $1000 load. :D

Anyway, it will obviously be fine for payment in hotels, restaurants etc but I am a little worried about being able to withdraw cash from ATMs for my gambling.

On a few of my previous trips to Vegas I have had to make an 'unplanned' withdrawal from ATMs but got stung something cronic by their service fees.

Can one of you 'locals' please educate me in how to withdraw cash through an ATM whilst minimising these fees. Are there any such 'cheap/free' ATM facilities at LAS, on Fremont or on the route between the two?

Thanks

Buy something cheap, from Walgreens/CVS and get cash back. IIRC there are no free ATM's on the strip.

The best way is to open an account with a bank or financial institution that rebates ATM fees.

Otherwise, can you withdraw from your AMEX Cheque Card at the AMEX office inside MGM Grand?

Well they were offering a free $75 on a $1000 load. :D



May I ask where you got this deal?

May I ask where you got this deal?


http://www.americanexpress.com/uk/travel/default.shtml?uk_nu=global

http://www.americanexpress.com/uk/travel/default.shtml?uk_nu=global

Alas, the dreaded Terms and Conditions: "Must be a UK resident."

Alas, the dreaded Terms and Conditions: "Must be a UK resident."


:p

No use to me (but thanks for posting anyway).

Shouldn't it be BRITISH Express? :D

There are several ways to obtain money in Las Vegas, in general the more advance preparation you do, the less expensive it is.

Ways to send cash to Las Vegas (in increasing order of expense):

1) Bring cash. Fee-free, but problematic if large sums are involved as you may encounter unwelcome attention from airport security and you must declare amounts over $9999 US to Customs (upon entering/leaving the US). Foreign currency is accepted at the cashier's cages of most casinos (at their exchange rate).

2) Credit line. Fee-free. You set up a credit line and draw "markers" at the gaming tables. These have to be repaid, usually at the conclusion of your stay.

3) Check to the casino cage. Fee-free, but should be done sufficiently in advance so that the check has time to clear. Call the casino cage for more information.

4) Wire transfer to the casino cage. Instant; wire transfer fees charged by your bank. Note you must withdraw your money in chips at a gaming table due to money-laundering regulations.

[Do #s 2, 3, or 4 in a substantial amount prior to your arrival, telling them what date you will arrive, and you will get much love in the form of comps.]

5) GameCash. Apply for a GameCash card and you can withdraw money (usually limited to $500 every 12 days) at the casino cage. Fee-free at many Las Vegas casinos. Also accepted at many smaller casinos which sometimes charge a 1% fee. Normally requires a US bank account that is debited the next business day.

6) Check cashing. The casino cage at nearly any hotel will cash a personal check for $500 if you have ID and if you have not cashed a check in Las Vegas within the last two weeks (I forget the exact time limits). The hotel where you are staying may cash your personal check in a greater amount. If it bounces, the casinos will remember forever; and hanging paper in Nevada is a criminal offense.

7) Harrahs check-cashing ATM machines. Sign up using a blank check and the machine will take a picture of your eyeballs and will thereafter issue cash up to a $500 limit, debited to your bank account in 7 days. Fee-free. I recently had my account double-debited and am getting the runaround from Harrahs trying to get the extra $500 back.

8) ATMs. Subject to your bank's fee and exorbitant (for ATMs) fees ranging from $2.50 to $4. Away from the casinos there are $1.50 ATMs or one that is affiliated with your bank. Good for international withdrawals as exchange rates are favorable.

9) Credit card withdrawals through ATM (using PIN code). You pay the ATM fee, and usually an extra finance charge of 3% to your issuer.

10) Credit card or debit card withdrawals not using PIN code. Very expensive (maybe 5-6% of amount withdrawn) plus card issuer's cash advance fee.

11) Have your friends or relatives wire you money via Western Union. Can be sent or received at most (off-strip) supermarkets.

If you win money, you will get much less help from the casino cage in wiring it to your bank or giving you a check (although they will, grudgingly, if you insist, and you are just then checking out of the hotel). It's a good idea to drive or take a cab off the strip to a convenience store or supermarket and get the money out of town via money orders, or Western Union, or registered mail, or any way you can. Similarly, any time you find yourself with lots of chips in front of you, go cash them in.

My biggest problem has been exceeding my ATM limit - if you go on a weekend (esp a holiday weekend), since your limit is by "business day", it's not hard to run out over two or three weekend days.

I've determined to do the marker thing the next time I go, but never done it before. Do you just ask about it when making your reservation?

My biggest problem has been exceeding my ATM limit - if you go on a weekend (esp a holiday weekend), since your limit is by "business day", it's not hard to run out over two or three weekend days.

I've determined to do the marker thing the next time I go, but never done it before. Do you just ask about it when making your reservation?

Contact your bank and ask them to increase your daily ATM limit. My bank did this for me several years ago.

I have perhaps screwed up and bought an Amex Travellers Cheque Card. Well they were offering a free $75 on a $1000 load. :D

Anyway, it will obviously be fine for payment in hotels, restaurants etc but I am a little worried about being able to withdraw cash from ATMs for my gambling.
Most of the casino ATMs should let you take out $1000 / day. So unless AmEx has a lower limit on how much you can withdraw, you should be able to clear out the whole $1000 at once. Whatever is left over you can use to pay for hotels, meals, etc.

Contact your bank and ask them to increase your daily ATM limit. My bank did this for me several years ago.
Some ATM networks there seem to have a limit on how much they'll give you per day, however.

I've determined to do the marker thing the next time I go, but never done it before. Do you just ask about it when making your reservation?
I went to the cage and asked for a marker application -- they were quite happy to help me fill it out. Keep in mind it can take several business days for them to check the references enough to be satisfied you're good enough to give a loan. If you know you want to do it, contact them in advance and get the marker application and sufficient documentation to them before you leave so they can review and approve.

For mine, I can pay it off while in town, or they'll send me a bill that's got "net 30" terms after I leave. Failure to pay would likely cause an immediate draft on your bank account that's set up to authorize the credit line, though terms may vary by each casino.

While I do gamble with it, I've also used it as a personal ATM when I needed to pull some money rather than paying ATM fees.

I have perhaps screwed up and bought an Amex Travellers Cheque Card. Well they were offering a free $75 on a $1000 load. :D

Anyway, it will obviously be fine for payment in hotels, restaurants etc but I am a little worried about being able to withdraw cash from ATMs for my gambling.

On a few of my previous trips to Vegas I have had to make an 'unplanned' withdrawal from ATMs but got stung something cronic by their service fees.

Can one of you 'locals' please educate me in how to withdraw cash through an ATM whilst minimising these fees. Are there any such 'cheap/free' ATM facilities at LAS, on Fremont or on the route between the two?

Thanks


While I understand your situation may not allow this I have found that I take one or two checks with me to vegas. Go to the cage and cash it any any of the major casinos. Its less effort than writing one at the supermarket. Its amazingly simple easy and there are no fees!

bumpp

Travellers' cheques. Travellers' cheques. Travellers' cheques. I can't say it enough. The service fee is minimal ($1.50 per $100, IIRC), they can be cashed at any casino cage, they can be easily redeposited into your bank account when you get home if you don't use them, etc., etc.

Get an ATM card from a bank which, when you have a "relationship" with them, they don't charge fees for any ATM transactions and they refund any fees charged by the ATM owner.

One possibility is www.etrade.com

1) Bring cash. Fee-free, but problematic if large sums are involved as you may encounter unwelcome attention from airport security and you must declare amounts over $9999 US to Customs. Foreign currency accepted.
Not sure what you mean by "accepted" (unclear to me based on the way you've structured this bullet point). If you meant to say "excepted," that's incorrect, as an aggregate total of $10,000 or more has to be declared to US Customs for international travel (in either direction), regardless of the currency or currencies that it's in. If you mean that it's accepted by the casinos, ok, though my warning still applies.

Travellers' cheques. Travellers' cheques. Travellers' cheques. I can't say it enough. The service fee is minimal ($1.50 per $100, IIRC), they can be cashed at any casino cage, they can be easily redeposited into your bank account when you get home if you don't use them, etc., etc.

$1.50 per $100 (1.5%) is pretty high when you get to talking about larger amounts. For a $1000 withdrawal, you might pay a $5 ATM fee, versus a $15 TC fee. I've never used travelers checks, so I don't know if this fee is correct.

Buy something cheap, from Walgreens/CVS and get cash back. IIRC there are no free ATM's on the strip.

This is where I wet for my free cash as well. There's one about a block down from the back side of MGM.

Away from the casinos there are $1.50 ATMs or one that is affiliated with your bank.

Please tell us which ATMs anywhere in Las Vegas that are still charging only $1.50.

Frequently, ATM's have a daily withdrawal limit and a transaction limit. Your own bank may set the daily limit, but the ATM's owner will set the transaction limit.

Please tell us which ATMs anywhere in Las Vegas that are still charging only $1.50.

:D back when the post was made there were probably some $1.50 ATMs. :)

Frequently, ATM's have a daily withdrawal limit and a transaction limit. Your own bank may set the daily limit, but the ATM's owner will set the transaction limit.
That's why it's important to win at the tables.

If you have a Citibank checking account or a Smith Barney brokerage acct. you can withdraw $400/per transaction without fee from 7-11 stores with Citibank affiliation. The one near the big Coke bottle on the lower strip does.
Most Harrah's casino's atm's charge $4.99 per transaction:td:

$1.50 per $100 (1.5%) is pretty high when you get to talking about larger amounts. For a $1000 withdrawal, you might pay a $5 ATM fee, versus a $15 TC fee. I've never used travelers checks, so I don't know if this fee is correct.Traveler's checks are free for Amex Platinum/Centurion card holders. I think you may have to go to an Amex office to get it, but they do let you charge it to your card, and it shows up as a regular purchase, not a cash advance. ^

I think you may have to go to an Amex office to get it, but they do let you charge it to your card, and it shows up as a regular purchase, not a cash advance. ^

There is an AMEX office at the Fashion Show mall. Third level.

Traveler's checks are free for Amex Platinum/Centurion card holders. I think you may have to go to an Amex office to get it, but they do let you charge it to your card, and it shows up as a regular purchase, not a cash advance. ^If you have one of these cards, you are evidently substantial enough that you will want to skip the $%#& travelers' checks and Amex offices and play for serious money: Wire your grubstake directly to the casino and draw it from the tables as you would a marker. Your comps will improve dramatically, and you won't have to go gallivanting up and down the Strip looking for the right ATM to save $0.99.

Then, as a poster pointed out, you must win money at the tables: your worry then becomes not about where to get more money, but how to repatriate your winnings home (my suggestion would be the Money Tree on Flamingo -- buy money orders and mail 'em home before you lose it back).

If you have one of these cards, you are evidently substantial enough that you will want to skip the $%#& travelers' checks and Amex offices and play for serious money: Wire your grubstake directly to the casino and draw it from the tables as you would a marker. Your comps will improve dramatically, and you won't have to go gallivanting up and down the Strip looking for the right ATM to save $0.99. Well, I'm sort of with you, but was just providing info. I actually just applied for a credit line at a casino I'm staying at for NYE. In the past I've used my Etrade account with ATM fee rebates.
The problem with wiring money or a credit line is I think you're limited to whatever casino you wire the money to or get the line. So the travelers checks can still be a good backup idea, in addition to ATM fee rebates.

I carry 3 ATM cards that refund fees (2 E*Trade, 1 Smith-Barney). Also, I take out the maximum per withdrawal (either $1000 or $2500). Even though I have a credit line at the casino, I don't use it too often.

I carry 3 ATM cards that refund fees (2 E*Trade, 1 Smith-Barney). Also, I take out the maximum per withdrawal (either $1000 or $2500). Even though I have a credit line at the casino, I don't use it too often.

Conversely, I never bring my ATM card to LV, and regularly use my lines of credit that I maintain at several casinos.

Just make sure to take out a marker at least once every six months to keep your LOC open; otherwise they typically close it, and request you re-apply.

As mentioned, credit lines can be very restrictive since they are only good at the individual property. Even companies with associated hotels (i.e. HET) make you apply separately at each property if you desire a "line" at multiple properties.

In addition, if you draw a marker for more than you will use in a playing session (i.e. you want the cash for another property) for say $7,500 --- you are still stuck with walking around with the cash. This is the same problem with withdrawing $3,000 from your ATM card, if you only want $500 or $1000 for an individual playing session.

I find travelers checks, but ONLY the $500 variety to be very versatile. I can't imagine using any denomination less than $500; since it requires too many signatures and "thumb/finger" prints (when cashing at a casino cage).

Of course, if you really just plan on doing the majority of your gambling at one property, then a "line of credit" is most definitely the way to go.

If you have a Citibank checking account or a Smith Barney brokerage acct. you can withdraw $400/per transaction without fee from 7-11 stores with Citibank affiliation. The one near the big Coke bottle on the lower strip does.
Most Harrah's casino's atm's charge $4.99 per transaction:td:

There is also a 7-11 behind Ballys on Koval Lane near Flamingo (4158 Koval Ln, Las Vegas, NV) near the "Ellis Island" Casino.

Used in 3 weeks ago. Free for Citibank customers. Easy walk from the Westin Casuarina.

Not sure what you mean by "accepted" (unclear to me based on the way you've structured this bullet point). If you meant to say "excepted," that's incorrect, as an aggregate total of $10,000 or more has to be declared to US Customs for international travel (in either direction), regardless of the currency or currencies that it's in. If you mean that it's accepted by the casinos, ok, though my warning still applies.

I think what he's saying is that foreign currency is still good - most casinos will change it to dollars/chips in dollars.

Anything over $10k needs to be declared but most casinos will accept GBP/Yen/Singapore Dollars (recollection from the forex board I saw at the Mandalay one time).

As mentioned, credit lines can be very restrictive since they are only good at the individual property. Even companies with associated hotels (i.e. HET) make you apply separately at each property if you desire a "line" at multiple properties.

Ya know, it's not that much more difficult, nor inconvenient, to apply for LOC's at five properties as it is at one. They all have on-line forms on their websites, and it doesn't require that much time to fill them out. It's also nice to sit at a table and ask the dealer for a marker, as opposed to getting cash from the cage. Good way to meet/get to know the suits.

Anyway, I have had LOC's at 5 different properties at the same time; but over the years, it's dwindled down to two: the two I ended up using regularly. They will close a LOC if one doesn't access it at least once every six months, and ask you to re-apply.

It's a good way to avoid getting hit with fees for getting funds in Las Vegas, that's for sure.

There is a Bank of America ATM at Ethel M's Chocolate on the top floor of the M&M store, which is toward the south end of the Strip.

Mike

Does each application result in an inquiry on one's credit report(s)?

Ya know, it's not that much more difficult, nor inconvenient, to apply for LOC's at five properties as it is at one. They all have on-line forms on their websites, and it doesn't require that much time to fill them out. It's also nice to sit at a table and ask the dealer for a marker, as opposed to getting cash from the cage. Good way to meet/get to know the suits.

Anyway, I have had LOC's at 5 different properties at the same time; but over the years, it's dwindled down to two: the two I ended up using regularly. They will close a LOC if one doesn't access it at least once every six months, and ask you to re-apply.

It's a good way to avoid getting hit with fees for getting funds in Las Vegas, that's for sure.

Does each application result in an inquiry on one's credit report(s)?

No. Casino credit lines are handled outside the "regular" credit system (e.g. Experian/Trans Union/Equifax) using a centralized credit bureau called, aptly, Central Credit.

If you have a Citibank checking account or a Smith Barney brokerage acct. you can withdraw $400/per transaction without fee from 7-11 stores with Citibank affiliation. The one near the big Coke bottle on the lower strip does.
Most Harrah's casino's atm's charge $4.99 per transaction:td:

Excellent advice for those who have Citi accounts. There are also Citi ATMs in Vegas near the strip, but not really accessible without a car.

There are several ways to obtain money in Las Vegas, in general the more advance preparation you do, the less expensive it is.

6) Check cashing. The casino cage at nearly any hotel will cash a personal check for $500 if you have ID and if you have not cashed a check in Las Vegas within the last two weeks (I forget the exact time limits). The hotel where you are staying may cash your personal check in a greater amount. If it bounces, the casinos will remember forever; and hanging paper in Nevada is a criminal offense.



This is the best option IMO as it works for anyone who has good credit, or even fair credit so long as you haven't bounced checks.

I have never had a problem cashing a check and never charged a fee. It is a much better option than paying ridiculous ATM fees. I don't know about the $500 limit - I think many will run a credit check and then assign an appropriate limit, which may be quite a bit higher.

In the final analysis, don't forget to consider the value of your time. It kills me to pay ATM fees (I almost never do) but is it worth spending a half hour to hike to/from a 7-11 (or 15 min at the casino cage) to save $2-4 on an ATM fee when you could be enjoying your vacation? If you are willing to carry some cash and don't burn through it too fast you should be able to survive without hitting the machine too often. Then again you could do what a friend of mine did, withdraw $20, lose it, withdraw $20 more, lose it, repeat as necessary, and end up paying $20 in fees to take out $100 :eek:

Then again the savings might be greater if it keeps you from gambling! :D

In the final analysis, don't forget to consider the value of your time. It kills me to pay ATM fees (I almost never do) but is it worth spending a half hour to hike to/from a 7-11 (or 15 min at the casino cage) to save $2-4 on an ATM fee when you could be enjoying your vacation?Really. Win the damn $4 at the tables. If you haven't spent some time doing serious home study on your favorite casino games, and you don't how to maximize your odds/keep the house PC to a minimum, you have no business gambling.

Does each application result in an inquiry on one's credit report(s)?

Nope. No credit inquiry at all. In fact, they could care less about your creditworthiness. An application for "credit" at a casino only involves the casino contacting your bank where you have a checking account, to see how much you have in your checking account; and if it's enough to pay back the money they lend you after you lose it. Interestingly enough, the "marker" one signs to get a cash "loan" from the casino is actually a withdrawl slip from your checking account. You have signed a piece of paper authorizing the casino to withdraw the amount they lent you, should you not pay it back volountarily within 30 days. That's it. No Experian/TransUnion/Equifax type credit check. Just an affadavit from your bank saying how much is in your checking account, and how long it's been there.

Good Luck!

(Posted from the First Class VIP Lounge at LAS/McCarran Int'l, Terminal 2, waiting for HA17 to fly us home, after a fun, but less than profitable trip.) ;)

Very interesting and good to know. I think I've decided to stick to travelers cheques for this trip as a safer alternative to cash. I only plan to gamble small amounts, and I noticed that MGM wants a minimum request of $10k to process the application. :eek:

Nope. No credit inquiry at all. In fact, they could care less about your creditworthiness. An application for "credit" at a casino only involves the casino contacting your bank where you have a checking account, to see how much you have in your checking account; and if it's enough to pay back the money they lend you after you lose it. Interestingly enough, the "marker" one signs to get a cash "loan" from the casino is actually a withdrawl slip from your checking account. You have signed a piece of paper authorizing the casino to withdraw the amount they lent you, should you not pay it back volountarily within 30 days. That's it. No Experian/TransUnion/Equifax type credit check. Just an affadavit from your bank saying how much is in your checking account, and how long it's been there.

Good Luck!

(Posted from the First Class VIP Lounge at LAS/McCarran Int'l, Terminal 2, waiting for HA17 to fly us home, after a fun, but less than profitable trip.) ;)

I would suggest for everybody reading this as a general way to save money on ATM fees, to open an accout with TD Banknorth, they have branches in the east coast, they have a NO ATM fee policy, they will refund at the end of every month any atm fees/charges you have incurred. I even used it in the UK and got my fees back. Amazing.

Nope. No credit inquiry at all. In fact, they could care less about your creditworthiness. An application for "credit" at a casino only involves the casino contacting your bank where you have a checking account, to see how much you have in your checking account; and if it's enough to pay back the money they lend you after you lose it. Interestingly enough, the "marker" one signs to get a cash "loan" from the casino is actually a withdrawl slip from your checking account. You have signed a piece of paper authorizing the casino to withdraw the amount they lent you, should you not pay it back volountarily within 30 days. That's it. No Experian/TransUnion/Equifax type credit check. Just an affadavit from your bank saying how much is in your checking account, and how long it's been there.

That may be true for some establishment, but don't assume it will be true for all or that it applies to things such as check cashing privileges.

I applied for check cashing priv. at the casino f/k/a Aladdin and was specifically told that they would not do a credit check (nor did I consent when I signed the application). I later found a hard inquiry on my credit report. :mad: I thought about suing them ($1k statutory damages) but have better things to do.

That may be true for some establishment, but don't assume it will be true for all or that it applies to things such as check cashing privileges.

I applied for check cashing priv. at the casino f/k/a Aladdin and was specifically told that they would not do a credit check (nor did I consent when I signed the application). I later found a hard inquiry on my credit report. :mad: I thought about suing them ($1k statutory damages) but have better things to do.

That's a drag.

For fast, "I'm coming to Vegas tomorrow and want marker priveleges" service, I have been told by the casino's credit dept. to go to my bank and ask a teller for an affadavit of account balance; bring it with me or fax it to them and have had marker priveleges granted on the spot. At any rate, most casinos have an "application for credit" page on their website, that should explain their needs. Here's NYNY's: https://secure02.mgm-mirage.com/marker/default.asp?CO=010

And here's Arizona Charlie's': http://www.arizonacharliesdecatur.com/images/pdf/decatur_credit_app.pdf ,two places where I've had credit in the past, but let it lapse.

These marker priveleges are not indefinite: they will expire after six months of no use, and you will be required re-apply; so be sure to take out a marker and pay it back every few months to keep the account open, if you so desire.

Good Luck!

I noticed the following ATMs which may be of use to those who have accounts:

Bank of America ATM - Caesar's Forum Mall inobtrusively placed next to the Cuban Coffee place

Wells Fargo ATM - In the outdoor mall between Harrah's and Imperial Palace (along the wall a few shops past Starbucks).

Citibank ATMs - At 7/11s including one in a big strip mall on the strip and another next to the Ellis Island Casino (off Flamingo, not far from the Flamingo/Bally's)

Very interesting and good to know. I think I've decided to stick to travelers cheques for this trip as a safer alternative to cash. I only plan to gamble small amounts, and I noticed that MGM wants a minimum request of $10k to process the application. :eek:

I've stayed at mgm and cashed personal checks much less than $10k. It seems that the first time you cash a check with them they set up an "in-house" credit line, making it much easier to cash future checks. The second time I tried cashing a check (about two months after the first) they told me what my limit was; I thought that they were using my "actual" checking account balance (which I did not authorize), they said the amount was based on their "in-house" limit assigned by the check cashing service.
[Once when I tried cashing a check the computer network was down, and they had to call it in manually; with markers the credit line, I believe, is a "locally" maintained.]
I don't think you have to be staying there to cash a personal check.

My biggest problem has been exceeding my ATM limit - if you go on a weekend (esp a holiday weekend), since your limit is by "business day", it's not hard to run out over two or three weekend days.

I've determined to do the marker thing the next time I go, but never done it before. Do you just ask about it when making your reservation?

You need to talk to casino credit. They will set you up a credit marker account where you can just request a marker at the table games or cash from the cage for slots. Be sure to tell them you play both table games and slots so that you can get a little bit of walking around money. They always ask if you have any outstanding markers when you go to cash in chips at some casinos, but if you've gotten cash for slots that's another story.

Obviously you need to do this a couple of weeks before you go, although I think it can be done more quickly.

How are Casino Markers normally closed out?

I’m assuming they will just take a personal check at the cage. If you don’t close them out before you leave will they just send you a bill Net 30?

How are Casino Markers normally closed out?

I’m assuming they will just take a personal check at the cage. If you don’t close them out before you leave will they just send you a bill Net 30?
This varies by casino. You are always welcome to pay at the cage with a check, chips or cash. At most casinos you can simply walk away and they will draft your checking account after 14 or 30 days (most are 14). Be aware that if you make a large cash transaction at the cage it is reportable. The old limit was $10,000, but you can now trigger a mini-reporting for as little as $3,000.

Sometimes you can buy your marker back at the table with chips, generally within an hour of it being written. I suspect this doesn't apply at all casinos, and they will want you to pay the marker at the cage no matter what.

In AC the marker size determines how long they wait before cashing your check. At borgata, up to $1000 is cashed a week or so later. I once saw a brochure (from caesars in ac) and $5000 or more was 30 days ($10,000 may have been as much as 60 days.)
[The marker is essentially a check they generate with your bank's routing code and account number.]

In AC the marker size determines how long they wait before cashing your check.

^ yep, the larger the marker the better (and more negotiable) the terms of deposit.

Citibank ATMs - At 7/11s including one in a big strip mall on the strip and another next to the Ellis Island Casino (off Flamingo, not far from the Flamingo/Bally's)

These 7-11 ATMs are also part of the CO-OP ATM network which many Credit Unions belong to. Free of fees (unless you have some strange CU that charges).

If you have one of these cards, you are evidently substantial enough that you will want to skip the $%#& travelers' checks and Amex offices and play for serious money: Wire your grubstake directly to the casino and draw it from the tables as you would a marker. Your comps will improve dramatically, and you won't have to go gallivanting up and down the Strip looking for the right ATM to save $0.99.


Side question about comps - I'll be heading to Vegas soon for the World Series of Poker and I'll be taking a substantial amount of cash. They typically don't comp for poker play (at least not significantly), but will I actually get some comp status just for wiring money to the Rio casino cage? I could take it out in the main casino and then walk it to the poker room, but I don't plan on playing any table games.

I guess I'm asking if wiring money to the casino will make the casino think I'm a big time juicy gambler when I'm really just a moderately-big-time degenerate poker player. I'm guessing the answer is no, but if anyone knows differently, let me know...

-huge

Side question about comps - I'll be heading to Vegas soon for the World Series of Poker and I'll be taking a substantial amount of cash. They typically don't comp for poker play (at least not significantly), but will I actually get some comp status just for wiring money to the Rio casino cage? I could take it out in the main casino and then walk it to the poker room, but I don't plan on playing any table games.

I guess I'm asking if wiring money to the casino will make the casino think I'm a big time juicy gambler when I'm really just a moderately-big-time degenerate poker player. I'm guessing the answer is no, but if anyone knows differently, let me know...

-huge

They don't want you using the main casino cage for poker front money. They will have a separate poker cage set up for the WSOP.

No, you won't get any comps for wiring money to a Harrah's property. For playing cash games you might get $1/hr in comps. For each WSOP event you enter you received a $10 food comp the past two years.

QL

I've always thought it would be a good marketing move for a smaller casino to install and advertise free ATMs. The ATM fees in the bigger places have really gotten ridiculous.

I've always thought it would be a good marketing move for a smaller casino to install and advertise free ATMs. The ATM fees in the bigger places have really gotten ridiculous.

Did you look at the fee schedule for taking a cc cash advance?--the $4.99 ATM is a "bargain" in comparison.
[The fee is based on a percent of the cash advance + a base fee.]

here I thought opinions of folks who know something about the destination in question were what made flyertalk useful. glad to see my opinions are not valued.:td:

I noticed the following ATMs which may be of use to those who have accounts:

Bank of America ATM - Caesar's Forum Mall inobtrusively placed next to the Cuban Coffee placeThere's also a BofA ATM in the M&M Store further south on the strip.

here I thought opinions of folks who know something about the destination in question were what made flyertalk useful. glad to see my opinions are not valued.:td:

Er, did I miss something?

Mike