The first tip most gambling writers mention is that you should sign up for the players club. If you're planning on visiting 10 casinos that works out to signing up for 10 clubs. If you do this in person it can take 15-20 minutes to join each club. One great thing about Vegas is that the big casinos buy out or build out other properties. Feel Free to Drink Outside. Dreams really do come true. As long as you're of legal age, drinking.
Congratulations, you're coming to Vegas! You're about to indulge in what 41 million visitors to this neon-laden paradise did last year—unforgettable restaurants, fabulous shows, a cornucopia of shopping and attractions that run the gamut from mild to wild, with myriad options for all budgets. We've prepared for your visit with a list of tips you need to know to maximize your fun quotient, avoid wait times and unnecessary expenses. Follow this guide and you'll look like a seasoned pro who has been to the city many times, rather than a first-timer straight off the plane. Now, let the adventure begin!
1. Distances are further than they appear
We really wish that, on our first visit, someone had told us not to walk all the way from the Bellagio to the MGM Grand—sure, it doesn't LOOK far, but a couple of blocks in and you'll wonder what made you do it. The Strip is four miles long, and because the buildings are so close together, they appear closer than they really are—a two building walk from, say, Bally's to Planet Hollywood is manageable, but any more than that, and you'll wear out your walking shoes.
Bonus tip: Use walkways inside and outside the casino, as well as trams and the Las Vegas Monorail to get where you want to go more quickly. For example, you can walk in air-conditioned comfort from Bally's to Paris, Bellagio to Vdara and Excalibur to Luxor to Mandalay Bay. Bovada bank wire. Or, take the tram between the latter, a tram between Mirage and Treasure Island or the Monorail to seven stops on the Strip.
2. Don't buy drinks in the casino
If you're going to play slots, video poker or table games, don't purchase cocktails at a casino bar beforehand—wait until the cocktail waitress approaches you. In an effort to keep you gambling, the casinos offer free cocktails; you may have to wait a little longer for it, but you'll save money. And if you're hitting the clubs later, start your drinking on the casino floor so there's less you have to spend—for any type of performance, even a DJ spinning, you'll get hit with an additional live entertainment tax. Better to start early!
3. Plan your attack
As with any new travel venue, you'll get the most out of your Vegas vacation when you familiarize yourself with your surroundings first. After you check in, take a walk around your hotel and casino, and note where the vending machines, restaurants, restrooms and seating areas are. Once you've had a rest, it's time to tackle the Strip—sometimes seeing the sights is overwhelming in itself. To get some insider's knowledge on the buildings, the history of Las Vegas and more, hop on a Big Bus and enjoy a narrated tour of the city—there are 20+ stops between the Strip and downtown. Our recommendation: stay on the bus for the entire length of the tour before hopping off; this way you'll be able to makes a note of your must-visit stops and plan your attack. Don't fear, however—you'll be able to get back on any bus within a 24- or 48-hour period, depending on the tour length you choose.
4. Carry a light jacket, water and sunscreen everywhere
Las Vegas Casino Trips
It may sound silly, but even in the middle of summer, you'll want to carry a light jacket or wrap with you—it may be scorching hot outside, but casinos overcompensate by blasting the AC and once inside you'll be chilled to the bone. But even if you run out without a cover up, you never, ever, want to be without a bottle of water and sunscreen. With so much walking involved on the Strip, you'll get dehydrated on even a short excursion—you want to keep your fluids up so you can make the most of every day and night! And even if you're here in fall or winter, the sun still shines brightly (we've had record highs this February), so put on the sunscreen before you head outdoors and apply every hour.
5. Sign up for player's clubs
Even if you don't plan on doing much gambling, signing up for a casino player's club is a great way to get freebies and discounts on shows, restaurants, attractions and more. Swipe it everywhere you go within the property. If you're gambling, you definitely don't want to be without a player's card, because accruing your points may mean enough for freebies on a return trip to Vegas!
6. Take gambling lessons
Feel intimidated by poker, blackjack, baccarat and other table games? Not sure if gambling is for you? Why not find out by checking out the free gambling lessons hosted by Las Vegas casinos large and small? You'll get a primer on the rules of the games and pick up crucial things such as dealer-speak, where to sit at a table and more. And before you arrive in town, head to our page on gambling basics since it's good to have at least some preparation. We also like this page of information about sports betting; otherwise your first time inside a Vegas sportsbook can be a bit overwhelming.
7. If possible, avoid peak dinner times
Las Vegas Tips And Advice
The heaviest dinner times in Las Vegas are between 6-8 pm. If you're flexible, it's best to try and have dinner between 5-5:30 and 8:30-9 pm, particularly if you are visiting a buffet, as lines can get unmanageable at peak time and the multiple hours you spend in line could have been better served anywhere else! Certainly there will be cases in which dining early or late is simply not possible, but it never hurts to be aware of primetime.
8. Allow waiting time for cabs
If we had a nickel for every time we've heard of some being late to a show or dinner with friends because they didn't factor in the time it took to wait for a taxi, we'd own a casino by now! In general, you should allow for no less than 30 minutes; bump it up to an hour at the prime dinner times we mentioned above. If you're leaving a convention, concert, or other event that draws thousands of people, two hours may be a better estimate. However, in those cases, you may want to consider #9 …
9. Ride-share
Ride-sharing encompasses a few different things in Las Vegas. Sure, it behooves you to ask those in taxi lines around you at the airport or your hotel if they're going to the same property/near the property you are. If you're at a convention, they'll even help you with this. It could also mean taking a shuttle from the airport—your price will be less, but you'll have to wait as others are dropped off at their destinations as well. Last but not least, if time isn't a factor and you want an inexpensive way to get downtown, the Strip & Downtown Express (SDX) bus picks up at points along the Strip and take you to its end destination, the Las Vegas Premium Outlets North, and other hotspots downtown.
10. Know the costumed-character game
Sure, it's fun to see someone dressed up as Elmo, Bumblebee and a Minion at various points along the Strip (including at the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign), but be forewarned, if you stop to take a photo with them, they expect you to pay for it. Avoid a potentially nasty situation by either taking a pass or negotiating a price you feel comfortable with beforehand. In most cases, these costumed characters are at iconic sights you snap photos of anyway—but if you simply must have Big Bird in your photo at the Las Vegas sign, so be it.
11. Snap photos everywhere
Whether it's with or without the aforementioned characters, be sure to constantly charge your phone, camera and any other device which can chronicle your first experience in Las Vegas. Bring back-up batteries, power cords and memory cards. Take pictures of everything and anything—you don't want to forget one moment of your first trip to Vegas!
12. Be open to anything
When you come to the adult paradise that is Las Vegas, do so with an open mind. Things not going according to plan? Take a breath and go with the flow. It may lead you to something cool you may not have discovered otherwise. You never know what you'll encounter when you walk down the Las Vegas Strip. But that's half the fun. The people-watching in this town is AMAZING!
A final note: Should you find yourself doing something that your friends or family would look down upon, don't feel ashamed, we won't tell anyone. Really. It's in our motto. Just don't post the compromising photos on Facebook. If you do, then we can't help you, and someone would probably find those photos if you ever tried to run for Congress.
Find more things to do in Las Vegas
Thousands of people search for 'How to win in Vegas.' We know because we researched it for this post. It's obvious that the dream of lading a jackpot in one of the big Las Vegas casinos is alive and well.
We love Las Vegas, and we've decided to create a post dedicated to some interesting facts about gambling here as well as providing some tips on how to win in Vegas. If you want to go straight to the tips, scroll down, but we think you'll find some of the facts about Las Vegas interesting, too.
Five Interesting Facts About Las Vegas
- Las Vegas was built to serve GIs passing through the Nevada desert. It was founded as a city in 1905, and gambling was legalized in 1931.
- The first Las Vegas casino was the Pair-O-Dice Club. Frank Detra and his wife built it in 1931. It was also a popular nightclub. The first casino on the Las Vegas strip was the El Rancho. At the time, the El Rancho was the largest hotel-casino in Vegas with 110 rooms.
- Things have come a long way since the Pair-O-Dice Club opened. Today, there are 104 casinos in Las Vegas. 24 casinos on the Las Vegas Strip produced north of $70 million in 2017, so it's safe to say that the 104 casinos combined bring in a lot more than that.
- In a study lasting from 1984 to 2018, Las Vegas casinos recorded 278% revenue growth. Slot machines have led the way and take in most of the revenue.
- 41 million tourists visit Las Vegas every single year. The vast majority of people at least visit a Vegas casino and many place at least one bet.
How to Win in Vegas Casinos
Now, let's take a look at our expert tips on how to win in Vegas. If you visit the city and play in one of its casinos, remember these tips, and you'll be better off.
Play Blackjack First
Blackjack has the lowest house edge of any casino game. If you use a great blackjack strategy, you can reduce the house edge to 0.5%. That means that for ever $10 bet, the casino returns $99.50. Compare that to games like keno which can have a house edge of 35% or more. Most players don't understand this casino math, and the house knows this.
Try Megabucks Slot
If you're going to play a Las Vegas slot machine, it would be a smart idea to play Megabucks. You'll find it in many Las Vegas casinos. It's a progressive jackpot slot and has a history of paying out tens of millions. Your chances of winning this are extremely low, but if you want to win big in Vegas, a lucky spin on a progressive jackpot slot is your best shot.
Understand Casino Tricks
Las Vegas casinos have all types of tips and tricks to empty your pockets. For example, they'll place slot machines with huge jackpots which beep, ring and flash on the walkway to the casino cage. The idea is that these will distract you on your way to cash out, and you'll give at least some of your chips back. Everything in the casino is by design – from layout to lighting, to comp points and perks – and they're designed to extract more money from players.
Use Casino Strategies
Everybody wants to know how to win money in Vegas, but few stop to think about using strategies to maximize wins. Each game, with the exception of slot machines, have strategies which you can use to boost your bankroll. For example, you can use the Martingale strategy to win roulette. If you take the time to learn more about casino games strategies, and the house edge of each game, you will fare better. In the end, the casino still has an edge, but you can at least reduce that edge and give yourself a fighting chance.
Avoid Poker Tables
If you're an advanced poker player, this does not apply to you. It's mostly a Vegas casino tip for tourists or casual players. Why avoid Vegas poker tables? It's simple – there are poker sharks who know that millions of tourists wander into Vegas casino every month, and they're just waiting to rinse you. These guys and gals are professional players, and you don't stand a chance against them unless you know what you're doing.
The Best Las Vegas Casinos
With so many Vegas casinos to choose from, where should you play? We've narrowed it down to five top casinos in Vegas. These are safe, legit casinos and you will find them all along the Las Vegas Strip, so they're easy to find.
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The Bellagio
You'll be familiar with the Bellagio if you have seen Oceans 11 or any of the sequels. This is an incredibly Luxurious Vegas casino owned by MGM Resorts International. You can play slots, blackjack, roulette, baccarat, keno, and several poker variants like Pai Gow and Let It Ride.
The Venetian
You simply can't walk along the Las Vegas Strip without noticing the towering presence of the Venetian. It's incredibly luxurious and offers games like baccarat, blackjack, roulette, and floors full of slots. You can also visit the Tao Nightclub and a couple of cocktail clubs while you're there.
The MGM Grand
Just look for a big neon green building, and you'll know where the MGM Grand is located. This is one of the original Las Vegas casinos. It has 6,852 rooms and is the third-largest hotel in the world. There are 2,500 gaming machines and close to 140 table games. Whatever you want to play, the MGM Grand has it.
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