If you’re going to Vegas, should you even bother worrying about being frugal? I mean, I’ve never seen so many Hummers in my life, and you need sunglasses while walking around at 4am. It’s the land of excess.
But one idea for the frugalites out there is the Las Vegas Coupon Run. Many casinos give you sign-up bonuses for signing up for their player’s card, which basically a “frequent flier card” for gamblers. (If you gamble a lot, these programs in themselves can be very valuable. But I don’t, so I just toss them.) The sign-up bonuses are usually in the form of coupons or “Fun Books”, which vary from free drinks, free trinkets, 2-for-1 dinner buffets, free Slot Play, or what’s called Match Play coupons. A $5 Match Play coupon means that if you bet $5 and win, you’d get $10. If you lose, you’re still out that $5. Theoretically, if you play a game that is very close to 50/50 odds, the value of a $5 Match Play coupon would be $2.50. You can also sometimes find them in as ads in the Vegas flyers and free tourist brochures. Get enough of these coupons, and it starts to add up.
So what you do? Basically, whenever you visit a new casino, just walk up to the Player’s Club counter and ask if they offer any sign-up perks. You can also try this FunBook Finder, but it doesn’t look like it’s been updated for a while. Many of the better perks are for places off the Strip.
Although, I’m not doing this myself this time around, I did do this last time I went as a broke college student. We drove the 10 hours to Vegas instead of flying, split a $59 hotel room, and just explored the city since we already had a car this way. We ended up scoring lots of gawdy t-shirts, keychains, shot glass, and cheap drinks. But the best part – we actually made about $200 cash per person! Most of this was after getting a scratch-off ticket and earning $100 in free slot machine credits at Palace Station. Essentially my first trip to Vegas was free! I tried asking around this week and the perks seems less abundant, but they were still out there. If you are looking for some cheap thrills and you want to explore many different casinos anyways, it can be a good time.
For another view, read this article on the Anatomy of a Coupon Run, which also included these hints:
- Look everywhere for coupons.
- Read everything you can about how coupons work. – Understand the difference between coupons that carry risk and those that are risk-free.
- Have a separate bankroll for couponing. – Keep track of your results.
- Be sure to read the fine print – Look for blackout dates and restrictions.
- Make a game plan to maximize your time.
- Don’t be afraid to use a coupon for a game you don’t know how to play.
- Always bet the maximum amount of money allowed for matchplay coupons.
- Never overbet your bankroll just because you have a coupon.
- The more people pooling their coupons on a run the merrier.
While you’re out exploring, consider spending some of your winnings on the Top 10 Bargains In Las Vegas. I’ve had the $4.95 Steak Dinner, the 99 cent Shrimp cocktail, and the $1 Michelob. They all paled in the comparison to the 99 cent deep-fried Twinkie and 99 cent 1/4 lb. hot dog at Mermaids on Fremont Street. 5,000 calories for $2, you can’t beat that 😉 In fact, I should add them to my post on What Does 200 Calories Cost?
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Its pretty easy to get your money’s worth from the American Casino Guide. Try not to pay more than about $13 for it (Amazon or eBay). The Hard Rock coupon includes a $25 matchplay so that alone just about does it by itself plus plenty of $10 match plays and 2 for 1 meals. I usually use my matchplay coupons on craps (pass line) as it has a small house advantage (compared to say roulette).
Its an even better deal to get a book for everyone as suggested. If you are going to drive around from casino to casino anyway everyone in the car might as well be taking advantage.
I like to use the matchplay coupons at the slowest time possible (early on a weekday) so you can get in and out very quickly. If you plan your route you could hit several casinos in under an hour.
My wife and I try to make up for some of our expenses by going to timeshares. We get free show tickets and sometimes cash as well.
Been to Vegas several times myself now, the first several times following a similar mantra. However this last time, I found a 2yr old Frommer’s guide in a used book store and decided to forego the $5 steaks and all-you-can-eat buffets to try some of the finer restaurants and shows. Sure $100+/couple meals and $100/ea+ tickets seem like a waste to some, but in some cases they are just as big a “bargain” as a $5 steak that at best is worth $10.
Unless you are coming from NYC or SF, trust me, you have not had meals this good, and if you did, you waited a long time to get a reservation and paid twice as much. Take the trouble to find Bouchon (It’s hidden in their ritzy tower) in the Venetian and tell me I’m wrong.
Since I was out for my GFs bday, I got her 2nd row seats to “O” (Cirque du Soleil). Yeah they cost more than the Cirque show that traveled to my area recently, but when you see the 1.5 million gallon morphing pool that the Bellagio created for this, it’s a wonder that they make money on it at all.
My point is that there are bargains at all price points in that town. The only sure-fire ripoff is the gambling.
have you tried the 24/7 diner (inside hard rock cafe) YUMMMMM!!!!!
I love using those cupons. I have never really went on a run, but I always use the cupons from the book that the hotel i stay at gives you. The double black jack ones are awesome.
“have you tried the 24/7 diner (inside hard rock cafe) YUMMMMM!!!!!”
Nope, bummer. But I did win $200 at Hard Rock 🙂
If I was by myself, I would have probably blown it on Bouchon. ‘O’ is dark right now, that’s the only Cirque show I’m really interested in.
The coupons aren’t as plentiful and generous as they used to be. The Las Vegas Advisor also has a coupon book for members that might be a good deal.
We had two entrees, two glasses of wine, a cheese sampler, a dessert, two coffees and tip for under $150. You can easily get out of there under $100 without the frills. However, the notion of saving money by eating well only when your wife isn’t around is intriguing! 😉
Actually we are here in a group of 6, so I wouldn’t want to make everyone drop a Benjamin for a meal. My rule is, if you don’t know who Thomas Keller is, I’m not paying $100 for your food 😉
We save money on the shows by going to “tickets 4 tonight”, a half price ticket counter. They’re located all along the strip; our most favorite one being next to the Hawaiian shopping mall on the south strip. We got midweek, same day Cirque du Soleil Mystere tickets for a little more than $60 and sat in the second row.
My Tip: costco travel…great deals!
At first I thought you were referencing this Thomas Thunder Keller
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Keller_(card_player)
Last time I went to vegas I looked everywhere for the fun books and couldn’t find them anywhere