Tips for a newbie in Las Vegas (1 Viewer)

[caperalta]

Good afternoon,

I'm trying to organize a trip to Las Vegas from Spain for May 2026 or 2027. I have a lot of questions. I would mainly go to play poker 8 to 10 hours a day, 5 to 6 days a week.

I'd like to know which casinos offer the best rewards for playing to reduce costs on rooms and/or food. The plan is to go in May and, if the tables go well, possibly stay in June to play some WSOP events.

My main questions are:
- Where would you stay? It would be a 27/28-day stay.
- Where would you play (field level, rake and profit obtained in comps)? AI told me EV is bigger out of the strip.

I would travel by public transport, since I don't want to drive in Vegas, and I would play 1/3 tables and then, depending on the results, probably 2/5 and tourneys.

The budget is around $20,000 for everything (12-15k bankroll). Today, 27 days at Flamingo next year would be like 4k€ and we have to add flights, food, etc.

Any help is welcome! I'm just starting to organize it.

 

[DrStrange]

First rule - have fun! There is a lot to do in Vegas besides poker or other gambling.

Some of the food is remarkable. Not cheap, but excellent. See a show or two. Walk around and take in the ambiance. No place on Earth is more "over the top". Go people watching.

Second rule - For a such a long trip, bankroll management is essential. Vegas is expensive in many ways. You may feel like a king when you are generating revenue for the house, but that changes quickly once funds run short. The days of bargain food and rooms is mostly a distant memory. Don't blow your budget.

The nature of poker in Vegas is always in flux. Rooms some and go. Same thing with the hotels. a year or two is forever in Vegas. The venues, stakes and players evolve. This decision where to play and stay might be better made closer to the time of the trip.

Poker comps aren't much of anything exciting. My wife plays slots and is beloved by the house. I play poker, best I hope for is not to be spit upon. Last time I bothered to check, poker comps were $1/hr. Maybe that has changed somehow?

Third rule - foreigners with five figures in cash need to be mindful crossing into and out of the USA. Pay close attention to your nation's travel advisories. Almost worthwhile to pay for legal advice if you are physically moving such a large sum of money. The less physical cash you have, the better - credit cards and wire transfers will serve you better than currency. Get your visa in order WELL in advance. and then keep an eye out for changes to the rules.

As for where you can maximize profit potential, assuming we are talking poker, - - - - that is going to change all the time. WSOP completely alters the poker economy. Be flexible and keep an open mind.

Also, other venues host smaller events. Check them out.

Again, first goal is to have fun. A month in Vegas can quickly turn to tedium. Plenty of time to do almost anything. -=- DrStrange

 

[caperalta]

I'll use the two free days for sightseeing, shooting, seeing a show, etc. My initial plan was about $5k for travel + accommodation and $15k for bankroll + food, considering I'd save a bit with comps. Thank you so much for your advice, much appreciated!

I'll definitely keep in mind the need to be openminded of day-to-day tables and events and try to play profitable games.

As for money, it would be perfect for me to exchange cryptocurrencies for dollars once I'm there, using crypto ATMs or even better if I could get some P2P in person. I'll try to figure that out later.

If I make a profit, or a big profit, I wouldn't mind making a deposit to come back another year, but it's definitely something I have to look into. Thank you for your tip!

I didn't know that I needed a visa to stay in the US for a month. It would be my second time leaving Spain, and the first time was to Italy, where there's no problem since it's EU. According to the AI, being Spanish I can apply for a visa for a stay of up to 3 months, which would be ideal for this case.

Thank you @DrStrange!