vegas

[j rake]

So you have to be in the casino to place a bet & collect using the app?

you can place bets on any app anywhere as long as you're in the state of nevada. other than line shopping (i.e., Team X might be -3 at Book A and -3.5 at Book B) and betting options (some apps offer in-running wagering while others don't), there really isn't a big need to get multiple apps if you're just placing a few bets for fun. you'd probably be perfectly content using just the caesars app.

but someone like steve dave, who is a very serious sports bettor, is definitely going to get every app in town and probably try to cut deals with the various sportsbook managers so that he can get increased limits, lines of credit, etc.

as for cashing out, you can withdraw at the counter on your way out of town; or leave the funds in your app account for the next time (it will be safe, and is guaranteed by NGC); or, if you win a decent chunk of change, they'd probably be willing to mail you a check.

[j rake]

That's fair about the energy thing. I just like poker because I can sit there with my $ longer. I usually can find a few buds at the table who like to joke around and talk about the game. We kinda lol at the guy in the corner taking the game way too seriously.

if there is a guy with glasses on, earphones in, hoodie up, i will re-raise you again and again, with increasing bet size, until you are forced to make such an uncomfortable decision that the ear phones come out or the glasses come off.

once that happens, you might as well just get up from the table, because i am so far inside your head that it's no longer a matter of if you'll go broke but when. 

[8manpick]

Rake, any NCAA tourney Vegas pro-tips? Planning to go next spring

[j rake]

Rake, any NCAA tourney Vegas pro-tips? Planning to go next spring

off strip is better than on strip. viewing areas are better than actual sportsbooks. paying for exclusivity helps (most casinos have pay-for parties), but it isn't necessary.

i heard good things about top golf vegas being a good place to watch march madness last year. if you haven't been there, i'd recommend it, it's topgolf's flagship location and cost $50 million to build. really impressive place with lots of bars, viewing screens, things to do (pool, ping pong, golf, bean bags, etc.) and located just behind MGM Grand.

south point is a good place to watch. it's also free if memory serves. they open up a big ballroom on the second floor, typically is not overcrowded, cheap drinks, and as anyone who has ever been to south point knows, they give away more drink tickets than you could ever actually use - often a handful on minimum sized bets.

as an added bonus musburger hangs there monday-to-friday  *

*oops, forgot he's kinda lame now. 

[Phil Titola]

Cosmo viewing party is the best NCAA tournament experience I've done....paired with mobile app it's even better.

I used to suffer going to Westgate because of their free booze but when that dried up it wasn't worth the trip there although it is a great book.

[Trim]

Way too much fomo to sit inside watching sports on TVs in vegas.

[catastrophe]

Also I kinda get the excitement/buzz, but March madness is the one time of year that pretty much everyone in the country has access to as good a gambling experience as you can get in Vegas.

[DQ12]

i feel like such a mark for not utilizing that $20 trick.

cas and me and another couple of guys go out for a CFB saturday once a year.  we reserve a couch at the mirage book.  it's a blast.

[j rake]

i feel like such a mark for not utilizing that $20 trick.

the most optimal time to do it is when staying by yourself on a weekday (monday to thursday). almost no vegas hotel is fully booked and they always have upgraded rooms available. the best rooms are king only, so if you need two queens, you're probably gonna be disappointed in your upgrade most of the time.

the most common upgrades are higher floor (which i hate) and better view (i rarely even open the windows), but every once in a while you strike gold and get the admiral suite or something badass.

[Saulbadguy]

I'm terrified of the desk clerk looking at the $20 bill and thinking "wtf is this, peasant" and flipping it back at me and the rest of the check in process is extremely awkward.

And now the m-life app does mobile check in/mobile key so I get to avoid all of that anyways

[Kat Kid]

i feel like such a mark for not utilizing that $20 trick.

the most optimal time to do it is when staying by yourself on a weekday (monday to thursday). almost no vegas hotel is fully booked and they always have upgraded rooms available. the best rooms are king only, so if you need two queens, you're probably gonna be disappointed in your upgrade most of the time.

the most common upgrades are higher floor (which i hate) and better view (i rarely even open the windows), but every once in a while you strike gold and get the admiral suite or something badass.

Do you think slipping a $100 is 5x as successful/more valuable?  What about starting at a suite level and then hoping to get something outrageous?  I skimmed, but wanted to ask the expert.

I will say that I have used the tip $20 thing a few times in my life and it has been incred
-no reservation at a restaurant in Chicago with a party of 6 and got seated within 15 min
-got a reserved room at a hotel bar which normally was several hundred for $40 with two tips

[catastrophe]

Was just wondering the peasant version of KK’s question: do you think it would make any appreciable difference between slipping $20 vs $40? I will say we booked one of the cheapest rooms and we did that cause we don’t plan on spending much time there, but it would be pretty sweet to get a room upgrade for $20. On the flip side I’ll feel kinda dumb if I pay $40 to move up some floors tho.

[Phil Titola]

I'm terrified of the desk clerk looking at the $20 bill and thinking "wtf is this, peasant" and flipping it back at me and the rest of the check in process is extremely awkward.

And now the m-life app does mobile check in/mobile key so I get to avoid all of that anyways

This. Never done this trick despite 50 trips to Vegas. Seems weird and I'd eff it up

[pissclams]

i always do the $20 check in trick and it always works but i'm also a k-state legend so maybe that's why

[j rake]

i feel like such a mark for not utilizing that $20 trick.

the most optimal time to do it is when staying by yourself on a weekday (monday to thursday). almost no vegas hotel is fully booked and they always have upgraded rooms available. the best rooms are king only, so if you need two queens, you're probably gonna be disappointed in your upgrade most of the time.

the most common upgrades are higher floor (which i hate) and better view (i rarely even open the windows), but every once in a while you strike gold and get the admiral suite or something badass.

Do you think slipping a $100 is 5x as successful/more valuable?  What about starting at a suite level and then hoping to get something outrageous?  I skimmed, but wanted to ask the expert.

I will say that I have used the tip $20 thing a few times in my life and it has been incred
-no reservation at a restaurant in Chicago with a party of 6 and got seated within 15 min
-got a reserved room at a hotel bar which normally was several hundred for $40 with two tips

yeah, cost of room, length of stay, day of week and property are all considerations. if you're staying in a standard room for five nights at bellagio, then $20 probably won't take you very far. but $60-$100 would. and if the tip is only 10%-ish the cost of your overall stay, i'd argue that's not a bad price to pay if the upgrade is good enough.

the other thing is that there's not huge risk to offering a big tip. if they can't give you something that they feel is commensurate with what you're giving them, then they'll probably just return it to you and let you know "that the best we can do unfortunately is just a view upgrade."

okay, now for a real tip, and apologies for anyone already aware of this. but if you ever stay at mirage, there's a VIP option that adds $100 to your reservation. this gives you access to the private lounge for check-in (saves you 30-60 mins during peak hours), and also access to unlimited beverages - soda, water, beer (bottled), wine and coffee. on our most recent trip, we booked four rooms under the same name - and all seven people in our reservation were able to access the lounge anytime from 9am to 10pm.

if you're in a group of 4-5 and plan to stay a few days, it's a great deal. it only takes three rounds of drinks to recover the cost you'd be paying at a casino bar; and just in general, it's centrally located so easy to stop in and grab a drink before a walk on the strip or for when you return.

more info about it here: https://www.vegasmessageboard.com/forums/index.php?threads/mirage-vip-lounge.153617/

[michigancat]

My wife told the desk at the Park MGM that it was her birthday and they gave us like $100 in food and drink

[Spracne]

My wife told the desk at the Park MGM that it was her birthday and they gave us like $100 in food and drink

I'm sure it actually was her birthday, but that reminds me of a related and relatively innocent con when traveling with your wife, partner, sig other, or just friend, which is to tell them you're there to celebrate your anniversary. Wow!

[michigancat]

My wife told the desk at the Park MGM that it was her birthday and they gave us like $100 in food and drink

I'm sure it actually was her birthday, but that reminds me of a related and relatively innocent con when traveling with your wife, partner, sig other, or just friend, which is to tell them you're there to celebrate your anniversary. Wow!

It was the week before and I think she was up front about it. Kinda crazy

[DaBigTrain]

My wife told the desk at the Park MGM that it was her birthday and they gave us like $100 in food and drink

I'm sure it actually was her birthday, but that reminds me of a related and relatively innocent con when traveling with your wife, partner, sig other, or just friend, which is to tell them you're there to celebrate your anniversary. Wow!

It was the week before and I think she was up front about it. Kinda crazy

Smack thwarted!

[catastrophe]

Ok Vegas pros: pregnant wife, celebrating anniversary, but cheap room and overall cheap appearance probably. How do I maximize the check in experience? $20? $40? Fake contractions?

[Spracne]

My wife told the desk at the Park MGM that it was her birthday and they gave us like $100 in food and drink

I'm sure it actually was her birthday, but that reminds me of a related and relatively innocent con when traveling with your wife, partner, sig other, or just friend, which is to tell them you're there to celebrate your anniversary. Wow!

It was the week before and I think she was up front about it. Kinda crazy

Smack thwarted!

No smack intended. I meant exactly what I said, dork.

[DaBigTrain]

Ok Vegas pros: pregnant wife, celebrating anniversary, but cheap room and overall cheap appearance probably. How do I maximize the check in experience? $20? $40? Fake contractions?

I did a person free check-in with mobile check in. They sent me an email when my room was ready with a QR code. Then I went to the nobody in line mobile check in desk, scanned the QR code, and out popped my room keys. Was pretty slick. Although I guess you can’t tip a $20 to a card printing machine.

[catastrophe]

That remote advice is not even remotely helpful.

[DaBigTrain]

Happy to help.

[Phil Titola]

Those kiosks give you the absolute worst room of whatever room type you booked....