Las Vegas - Las Vegas Coupon Run Trip Report

Please to enjoy ;) (http://vegasonadime.blogspot.com)

Still working on it as we speak.

Nice report. Interesting plan. I know that I would not have the discipline. I'll be looking for updates. Looks good so far.

Wow. This is a wonderful blog. It really brought back the memories, as in days of yore when dinosaurs roamed and I started out by coupon hustling in Mississippi. I hope you will continue this blog, it's really rare to have someone who can balance frugality with a cool head and still get the most out of gambling. My frugal friends "freak out" about the gambling, and my gambling buddies do not understand the concept of keeping expenses low. It's just an unusual combination -- sippin' the frosty adult beverage in first class and no one guesses that your luggage came from the garage sale. ;)

Wow. This is a wonderful blog. It really brought back the memories, as in days of yore when dinosaurs roamed and I started out by coupon hustling in Mississippi. I hope you will continue this blog, it's really rare to have someone who can balance frugality with a cool head and still get the most out of gambling. My frugal friends "freak out" about the gambling, and my gambling buddies do not understand the concept of keeping expenses low. It's just an unusual combination -- sippin' the frosty adult beverage in first class and no one guesses that your luggage came from the garage sale. ;)

LMAO - that just about sums up my whole life. I'm one who is inclined towards the finer things, with a budget for the not so fine. This causes one to be either (a) frugal or (b) unhappy. Obviously, I chose A.

A funny side note - my seat companion in first class complimented my luggage (it really was a cute matched set with pink trim and the little slide for the top bag to go over the roller handle of the bottom bag.) Hehe.

I've often thought of trying to do 30 days in Vegas for free. I've got a pretty good idea how to map it out, but I'm not sure the boss would be too impressed.

Mike

ETA: OP, you may want to lay off the drunk driving (Or at least that's what the Ellis Island blog implied).

I've often thought of trying to do 30 days in Vegas for free. I've got a pretty good idea how to map it out, but I'm not sure the boss would be too impressed.

Mike

ETA: OP, you may want to lay off the drunk driving (Or at least that's what the Ellis Island blog implied).

I don't think I was legally impaired at that point, but thank goodness for Ellis Island steak or I would not have fared as well later. I don't think I mentioned it, but we took a taxi to the Fitz. It was actually a huge pain in the ... because the driver didn't have change and I ended up paying with a credit card.

I don't think I was legally impaired at that point, but thank goodness for Ellis Island steak or I would not have fared as well later. I don't think I mentioned it, but we took a taxi to the Fitz. It was actually a huge pain in the ... because the driver didn't have change and I ended up paying with a credit card.

Fair enough. :)

Love Ellis Island. Have never actually played there, but am a big fan of Metro Pizza.

Mike

This is like watching a car crash - I can't look away. :eek:

DH says we should move to Vegas. The housing market there sure is affordable compared to Virginia!

Plus, there's the monthly extra coupon money lol.

Just as an FYI, the American Casino Guide is a pretty good one this year. In Las Vegas, I've counted coupons for $35 in free slot play for casinos that will give you the free play even if you are a member. If you are a first-timer, there is even more in free slot play available. There are also a fair amount of restaurant, match play and hotel 2-4-1s in this year's book.

Mike

Lovely trip report. I've been doing my ACG/LVA coupons very slowly, so I haven't hit a lot of your casinos and the tips will come in handy. Golden Gate's $5/day slot play.... Hmm.... Maybe I should sign up for one.

I heard a cute test for a "gambler".
1) Drop person in Las Vegas with no car & $100.
2) Must find a decent place to stay every night of the next month.
3) End month with at least $500.

For non-low-end gamblers this may seem weird, but it's actually pretty cool if you know how to work the low-end-gambling thing.

I wish I knew what you were trying to do before we met.
1) Free food in high-roller rooms 24 hrs/day - Bellagio, Venetian, Caesar's Palace, MGM, Wynn (maybe), Mirage (sometimes just fruit), Treasure Island (sometimes)
2) Sources of additional $5-10-25 match plays, free slot plays, etc...

Planet Hollywood let me bet both sides of craps once (but not the next day):
1) $25 pass with $25 match-play
2) $37 don't pass
3) $1 12

If the craps table is picky, you can bet on roulette
1) $10 1-18 with $10 match-play
2) $15 19-36
with or without betting on 0/00. Sometimes you need a $5-10 minimum inside to bet 0/00, which measn you needs to spread some other numbers...

However, if you can stand the variance, ..unhedged coupons will bring you more money. Ideally, you want to minimize the amount of money you bet, and bet hedging just puts more money on the table. Under low cash conditions (or a really bad run), I use hedging; e.g. I might bet the $5 and $10 match-plays naturally, but hedge the $25 coupons. It really sucks to lose the $25 coupons.

Rampart Marriott is way out by Red Rock. I have an IEA (Enneagram) conference there in August, but I haven't visited the casino yet.

I thought "The Frugal Gambler" by Jean Smith was an interesting read...she discusses playing the comps game to get a big return on gaming funds (which are preferably spent on those very few games where skilled players might have an edge over the house...hers is video poker, if she can find a machine with a decent pay table). Match-play coupons also figure heavily.

The whole system has lots of conceptual similarities to playing the mileage game, and she even has a chapter about ways to get bumped on airlines. I think her claim to fame was maximizing comps from video poker play, as well as tournaments and promotions, to stay for months on end in comped rooms, eat at least a comped buffet a day, and generally live off the whole thing.

Vegas used to be a fixture for me on mileage-motivated leisure trips, as few things could beat a nice fare and flying up front while earning lots of miles. I'd go for $20s in downtown and occasionally Strip places, preferring the Lady Luck or maybe the Sahara. The Gold Spike if all else fails.

The Western had to be the ultimate, what with $1 blackjack that had fair odds. Jackie Gaughan used to have several places downtown where you could stay at the table a long time and even have slightly favorable odds if you did a count strategy (no heat as long as no greenies wagered).

I had to largely give it all up, though. The comp drinks weren't good for the liver in the marathon sessions. In its early days the Paris had a great buffet, including the half-sectioned king crab legs, but then it got bought out and "enhanced." Bellagio and Planet Hollywood also delivered some good high-end buffets, but again, the health effects added up.

As many a local will tell ya, the odds on table games were better and the comps and food deals much better back when the gangster types were in charge. Also more prizes and better tournaments and promotions. The mega-corporations that grew up and nudged them out haven't done much for the frugal gambler. Except for the "gawking factor" and the occasional buffet deal, I didn't play that much in the billion-dollar corporate places.