Players Card

[Kirby]

Do you have to get a players card when you go to a casino? I've received many recommendations to get one but I don't plan on gambling much, just a little slot playing at the most just to say I've done it. My husband has no desire to gamble at all.

 

[sonnyjane]

It's not required by any means. If you're the type to spend hours at the slots, get one, but if not, it's not worth it. I've had an MGM card for years and always showed it at the table games but never got any perks. I finally talked to them and they explained that you need to spend about $500 a day gambling before you start to see any comps. Ehh, I'll just pay $30 each for the buffet that I might get "comped" and save myself $400 bucks. We gamble a little for fun but not enough to make the card worth it.

 

[Kirby]

Thank you for explaining this to me. I am taking $100 to gamble, if I lose it all, okay. If not, that's even better. It would be nice to bring home more than I took but I'm not counting on it. I don't imagine we'll go back to Vegas, there's too much out there in the rest of the country to see but I just can't go and not do a little gambling. Well, I guess I could but then I'd always wish I had.

 

[sonnyjane]

Thank you for explaining this to me. I am taking $100 to gamble, if I lose it all, okay. If not, that's even better. It would be nice to bring home more than I took but I'm not counting on it. I don't imagine we'll go back to Vegas, there's too much out there in the rest of the country to see but I just can't go and not do a little gambling. Well, I guess I could but then I'd always wish I had.

This sounds like what I do. I usually set aside $100 to gamble ($200 if it's a longer trip). If I lose that money, then I won't take out any more. If I win, say I turn my $100 into $200, then I'll put my original $100 back into the safe and I'll gamble only with my winnings. The bottom line is, know what you're going to gamble with and do NOT take out more cash. One thing I'll mention though is that Vegas ATM's in the casinos spit out $100's, not $20's, because they want you to spend that whole $100 gambling, so if you want to go slower and pace out your gambling, use an ATM outside of the casino or bring some cash with you from home (but not too much).

 

[mamacatnv]

Ahhh comeonnow come to Vegas and gamble we (the state) needs the bucks!

Players cards are good if you gamble frequently or with a lot of money. They are basically a way for the casino to track your play and send you email offers etc. once you leave. They offer up a few perks in exchange for adding you to their mailing list.

Even people who don't gamble a lot but perhaps frequent the same hotel/casino often can benefit.

I have several for local casinos and I do not gamble at all, never, but I use them for meal discounts etc.

Only one other tip, if you play a "progressive" (MegaBucks etc) type slot machine always play with maximum bet, if max coin is not your gig, stick to non-progressive slots they will pay better in the long run.

 

[Kirby]

Does it say on the machines that they are progressive? I'm not sure exactly what you mean. I've never played the slots before.

Is a progressive machine one with multiple lines? I've been looking at some slots on youtube to get an idea on what they look like.

 

[Peri]

1. YEs, progressive machines are marked.

2. SIGN UP for player's cards, even if you don't gamble much.
Here's why

A. Freebies when you sign up!! (for example Wynn buffet meal used to be a freebie, not sure if still true) - this was based on JUST SIGNING UP!!

B. Sign up is FREE

C. Offers for cheaper room rates for next trip come in your email - again, even if you don't gamble much.

D. You often get some free play your first day (gamble on their five or ten bucks - why not do it?)

I suggest getting a player's card at every casino you enter.

Good Luck!

 

[Peri]

A progressive machine just means that the wins are linked to other machines either in the same casino or even across to other casinos. The odds are WORSE to win on progressive machines, because the payout is usually better, also more people play them, etc etc.

The way a machine "looks" (like number of lines) does not matter.

For a beginner, your most fun will be the penny and nickel slots - they take paper money, dont bring pennies (Lol) - Bet the second down row on top (the number of combos) and then bet one penny on each line - this will still make each pull cost you between 20 cents and a buck fifty on a penny slot.

If you are playing quarter machines, usually best to bet the three or five it takes (I rarely play five coin machines because my money goes away faster). The reason is (and this HAPPENED TO ME!!!) - I had one quarter in the machine and got the jackpot but it did NOT pay unless all three coins were in!! So I didn't win the 2 grand that I could have won. Sob sob.

You will find it all fun and easy-peasy!

 

[sonnyjane]

1. YEs, progressive machines are marked.

2. SIGN UP for player's cards, even if you don't gamble much.
Here's why

A. Freebies when you sign up!! (for example Wynn buffet meal used to be a freebie, not sure if still true) - this was based on JUST SIGNING UP!!

B. Sign up is FREE

C. Offers for cheaper room rates for next trip come in your email - again, even if you don't gamble much.

D. You often get some free play your first day (gamble on their five or ten bucks - why not do it?)

I suggest getting a player's card at every casino you enter.

Good Luck!

Unfortunately none of the perks you mentioned (other than it being free to sign up) apply to the MGM Player's card I get some discount offers through email, but that's because I'm on the hotel's mailing list, not because of my card. You get no free play, no discounts on dining, and money that you spend on food, drinks, and rooms are in no way tied to the card. I don't have a Wynn card. If they still offer a free buffet I'd look into it! As far as "every casino you enter", all of the MGM hotels (Bellagio, Aria, Mirage, Luxor, MGM, NYNY, etc.) use the same MGM players card, you wouldn't need one for each casino.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I hit a progressive slot once in the ventian, I did not have a players card. Dont know what I would have got but I took my money and ran.

 

[Peri]

Unfortunately none of the perks you mentioned (other than it being free to sign up) apply to the MGM Player's card I get some discount offers through email, but that's because I'm on the hotel's mailing list, not because of my card. You get no free play, no discounts on dining, and money that you spend on food, drinks, and rooms are in no way tied to the card. I don't have a Wynn card. If they still offer a free buffet I'd look into it! As far as "every casino you enter", all of the MGM hotels (Bellagio, Aria, Mirage, Luxor, MGM, NYNY, etc.) use the same MGM players card, you wouldn't need one for each casino.

Wow. Sorry your M Card has not worked out for you! I have received player's club offers from that card for hotel stays and also for shows. I would estimate I have gambled about 100 dollars at NY NY and maybe 200 at Luxor over a period of several YEARS (total!) So I am not a big spender by any means. At least not there!!

Yes, you are correct that each casino group has it's own card - downtown, Boyd gaming issues a card for Main St.Station, Fremont and Calif. that works at all three, for example. What I should have said, was that a person should be sure they have a Casino card for whichever property they are on. I still think it is valuable, and since it is free - why not do it?

 

[Kirby]

I appreciate the gambling tips! We'll only really be in Vegas on our own for two nights/one day. My husband's cousin is showing us around for two days/nights, we're headed to the Grand Canyon for a couple of days and then back to the strip to end our trip. The cousin is not a gambler, so no dipping my toe in the water then.

 

[kmedina]

I do not go to the Strip Casinos often and rarely gamble there. My family all has Stations player club cards (local casinos). Even though I rarely gamble, I get offers once in a while just for having the card. It not only allows the casinos a way to rate your play, but it helps with direct marketing campaigns. You cannot get any offers if you do not sign up. You just might get some if you do. All you need to do is give them some personal info. If you never get anything, you've wasted 5 minutes of your life (no big deal). I'd sign up and ask if there are any promotions for signing up.

 

[woody73]

You cannot get any offers if you do not sign up. You just might get some if you do. All you need to do is give them some personal info. If you never get anything, you've wasted 5 minutes of your life (no big deal). I'd sign up and ask if there are any promotions for signing up.

We were in Las Vegas last week.

My DW and I each brought a copy of the "American Casino Guide." Using the free slot play coupons and signing up for Player Cards, we got $170 in free slot play between us, and cashed out $164. In other words, using the coupons, we were up $164 cash (less the cost of the books).

Woody