MilesBuzz! - Idea to get FF miles from credit cards at casinos

I live an hour from Atlantic City. Can I use my credit card that earns miles to buy chips from a casino, and then cash all the chips in (without playing them)? That seems like a great way to earn miles while screwing the casino over.
Only problem is I might be tempted to bet a few at the roulette wheel ;)

I have never heard of a casino that accepts anything but cash or approved check for chips. Given that the casino would have to pay 2-5% to the credit card company and that a number of table games have a house advantage smaller than that, the casino would be losing money.

You might have a better chance at an internet gambling site. I think they are illegal in this country and I know nothing about their trustworthiness.

I think you'll find that most credit cards treat casino transactions such as you mention as cash advances (well, that is what they are, after all) and charge fees and interest accordingly (and usually award zero points).

I have heard ( no first hand experience) of success with this on Cruise Ships from several people.

As far as in person at A.C. B&M cainos, not only will cage charge you an exhorbinant fee (via a third party vendor that pays casino a commission), but your C.C. will treat as a cash advance and offer no grace period on interest charges.

When in Laos, I was able to "charge" U.S. dollars at a local travel agency to a mileage based card for a 6% commission.

i.e. , I signed for $318 and recieved $300 USD, not local currency,

I did this because plastic and even local currency payments are "penalized" by vendors and there is a strong partiality for US Dollars ( heaven forbid there is a crease or wrinkle in the bill).

I did not bring enough cash.

so I did this but I cringed at the 6% fee.

back to your original question, I think that any manner of "free" miles is not achievable in any meaningful critical mass.

If you want to sweat out deliver issues and run to the bank do a search of "US MINT" this may get you up to 20,000 "free" miles. I don't feel its worth the hassle.

Another manner, -- that I personally consider unethical is the "costco" loophole.

Only way I have seen to get cash from a credit card at a casino have been the cash advance machines. I bring my gambling cash with me so I have no experience with the machines but it states it charges a fee and I assume it processes as a cash advance, usually not eligible for rewards. The closest you are going to get to free miles is the presidential dollar coins.

I think you'll find that most credit cards treat casino transactions such as you mention as cash advances (well, that is what they are, after all) and charge fees and interest accordingly (and usually award zero points).

What about using a mileage-earning debit card or a credit card that has an account which was overpaid?

What about using a mileage-earning debit card or a credit card that has an account which was overpaid?

An overpaid credit card account would still incur the cash advance fee (often 3% of the purchase amount) if the card has one (all rewards cards I've seen have them).

A debit card that earns miles might work, subject, of course, to the daily limits.

I am fairly certain there are laws prohibiting gambling with credit card. I know in my state you can't buy lotto or scratch tickets. I'd bet the same goes for live games and slots in Vegas, AC, and other places.

The cash advance machines in the casinos at AC have astrononical fees! I would never use one.

Another manner, -- that I personally consider unethical is the "costco" loophole.

Never heard of that one... What is it? Maybe some of us don't consider it unethical... ;)

(I personally don't have a Costco Membership so it will not apply to me, it's just curiosity).

This DOES work on a cruise ship. You don't actually use your credit card in the casino, but your "sea pass" or whatever that cruise line calls your room key/on board charge card. At the end of the cruise all charges are posted to your account and your credit card on file is charged one time for your total for the entire cruise...drinks, trips, spa, games, casino. Your credit card company just sees a charge from the cruise company and no cash advance fees are charged.

Never heard of that one... What is it? Maybe some of us don't consider it unethical... ;)


A quick Google search turns up The Costco Loophole (http://www.myinvestingblog.com/it-worked-now-just-to-find-a-way-to-put-it-to-use/)

In the glory days of online casinos this worked like a charm. It's gone now.

This DOES work on a cruise ship. You don't actually use your credit card in the casino, but your "sea pass" or whatever that cruise line calls your room key/on board charge card. At the end of the cruise all charges are posted to your account and your credit card on file is charged one time for your total for the entire cruise...drinks, trips, spa, games, casino. Your credit card company just sees a charge from the cruise company and no cash advance fees are charged.

It depends upon the cruise line. On Princess, they charge you a surcharge at the casino.

Mike

screwing the casino over


Good luck with that.

It depends upon the cruise line. On Princess, they charge you a surcharge at the casino.

Mike

that is not true. i charged $9k last year on princess with no surcharge. i believe i had to do it at the tables to avoid any fees (i don't recall exactly, but there was a trick). also remember not to go over $10k in cash, cuz then u have to declare it when you cross international borders.

I know it worked on the Norwegian Cruise line a couple of years ago. I used my NCL card and the cash was treated as a purchase and I earned my rewards bonus.

that is not true. i charged $9k last year on princess with no surcharge. i believe i had to do it at the tables to avoid any fees (i don't recall exactly, but there was a trick). also remember not to go over $10k in cash, cuz then u have to declare it when you cross international borders.

If you did, you got lucky. The cruise line absolutely charges a surcharge.

Mike

From Princess website . . . . . .

Access to Cash
Cruise Card
You can charge casino credits to your end of voyage bill up to $1,500 per day to a maximum of $15,000 per voyage. A 3% surcharge will apply at the cashier or at the tables, there is no charge at the slot machines.

If you did, you got lucky. The cruise line absolutely charges a surcharge.

Mike

You can purchase casino credit online for yourself and others with your credit card. It isn't considered a cash advance, it's a gift (even to yourself) - no surcharge. I did this on my cruise in January. They leave a card in your cabin for each casino credit that is bought (I bought 4 -$100 credits). You take the card to the casino cashier and she/he hands you the cash. http://www.princess.com/learn/onboard/services/gifts/casino/index.jsp

You can purchase casino credit online for yourself and others with your credit card. It isn't considered a cash advance, it's a gift (even to yourself) - no surcharge. I did this on my cruise in January. They leave a card in your cabin for each casino credit that is bought (I bought 4 -$100 credits). You take the card to the casino cashier and she/he hands you the cash. http://www.princess.com/learn/onboard/services/gifts/casino/index.jsp

Is $400 the maximum allowed? Is there a max? This is a pretty good trick!:)

You can purchase casino credit online for yourself and others with your credit card. It isn't considered a cash advance, it's a gift (even to yourself) - no surcharge. I did this on my cruise in January. They leave a card in your cabin for each casino credit that is bought (I bought 4 -$100 credits). You take the card to the casino cashier and she/he hands you the cash. http://www.princess.com/learn/onboard/services/gifts/casino/index.jsp

Interesting. You learn something new every day. I'd never thought about getting cash at the casino anywhere other than the cage.

Mike

This DOES work on a cruise ship. You don't actually use your credit card in the casino, but your "sea pass" or whatever that cruise line calls your room key/on board charge card. At the end of the cruise all charges are posted to your account and your credit card on file is charged one time for your total for the entire cruise...drinks, trips, spa, games, casino. Your credit card company just sees a charge from the cruise company and no cash advance fees are charged.

By using the term Sea Pass I can I know you sailed RCL....Sorry to say they closed the loophole and now charge 3%. It still is treated as a puchase but you are not getting free miles anymore.

From Princess website . . . . . .

Access to Cash
Cruise Card
You can charge casino credits to your end of voyage bill up to $1,500 per day to a maximum of $15,000 per voyage. A 3% surcharge will apply at the cashier or at the tables, there is no charge at the slot machines.

ahh, now i remember how i did it. i just went to the slot machines, did the transaction, then transferred the cash on the slot machine to my cruise ship card, then went to the cashier and got dollar bills. they actually showed me how to do this to avoid the fee. it worked with no problems at all.

This idea to get miles or points from cash at cruise casinos sounds good, except -- aren't you walking around with thousands in cash by the end of the cruise? Sounds like a theft risk. Did you leave the cash in the cruise safe or something?

A few years ago there was a bank in Cleveland that allowed you to buy their gift cards online in amounts up to $1000. You could buy 5 a month and pay for them with any credit card you wanted. They'd come in the mail, then you could take them to the post office and use them to buy a money order. Then you would deposit the money order in the checking account that you use to pay your credit card bill. I racked up 60K FF points doing this before the bank stopped it.

There was also a period of time a few years back that you could buy US savings bonds online and pay with a credit card. I bought 50K worth and got the FF points for them. At the time they were about a 4.5% yield which is looking pretty good now. I still have them locked in a safe and they are part of my investment portfolio.

A few years ago there was a bank in Cleveland that allowed you to buy their gift cards online in amounts up to $1000. You could buy 5 a month and pay for them with any credit card you wanted. They'd come in the mail, then you could take them to the post office and use them to buy a money order. Then you would deposit the money order in the checking account that you use to pay your credit card bill. I racked up 60K FF points doing this before the bank stopped it.

There was also a period of time a few years back that you could buy US savings bonds online and pay with a credit card. I bought 50K worth and got the FF points for them. At the time they were about a 4.5% yield which is looking pretty good now. I still have them locked in a safe and they are part of my investment portfolio.

Part A of your post is one of those sweet deals we FF'ers dream about. Part B, though. Ya gotta have $50K laying around?

several stores let you pay one way and return another. So for example you could purchase something with a mile earning CC and then return it but give them some debit card (also with MC or Visa logo and 16 digits) and get the return posted to that. It ends up in your checking account, whereas the charge and miles stay on your CC.

Starbucks is one of these, as is West Marine.

Costco used to and may still allow one to buy online with MC/Visa but return and receive a check or cash in store. It si said Costco knows about this but hey it still may work.

As long as you are not breaking any store policy in doing any of these--and they will either allow it or say no, sorry we need the orginal card back--then go for it.

Some gift card churns may still exist as well. Some dont
:)MM

that is not true. i charged $9k last year on princess with no surcharge. i believe i had to do it at the tables to avoid any fees (i don't recall exactly, but there was a trick). also remember not to go over $10k in cash, cuz then u have to declare it when you cross international borders.

Right. So, if you have over $10K in cash, let a co-traveler hold it.

Even domestically it gets reported if you deposit it in a bank.

The last time I had this issue, I simply started paying for anything I could with cash :)

It was great the USPS when increased the max amount for money orders.

A few years ago there was a bank in Cleveland that allowed you to buy their gift cards online in amounts up to $1000. You could buy 5 a month and pay for them with any credit card you wanted. They'd come in the mail, then you could take them to the post office and use them to buy a money order. Then you would deposit the money order in the checking account that you use to pay your credit card bill. I racked up 60K FF points doing this before the bank stopped it.

I forget the name of the bank, but there is a thread about it around here somewhere. I got a lot of points before the bank stopped it.

There was also a period of time a few years back that you could buy US savings bonds online and pay with a credit card. I bought 50K worth and got the FF points for them. At the time they were about a 4.5% yield which is looking pretty good now. I still have them locked in a safe and they are part of my investment portfolio.[/QUOTE]

Ahh, the good ol' days. Up to 120k points per year...

Mike