Staying At The Casino Differences

The most I have so far recorded staying for free at casinos in one year was 42 nights. That's absolutely true, and they were all absolutely free nights. If you haven't got the free offers then that's probably because they don't know your address. Almost everyone who joins up get some kind of offer to stay. And when they say its free they mean it. The only time they don't is if you are already a known shark, stay in a huge suite, maybe get a limo to pick you up from the airport or have dinner with your host/ess - in those circumstances (and I have friends that are invited that way) there is a 100% expectation that you will be gambling to the level of their expectations or you may be liable for room fees. But the way I do it, there is zero expectation. I have been on enough trips to casinos where I've not put one single cent in a slot machine (usually because I was busy playing at another establishment, but sometimes because I went with my family, and when I do that I am there to be fed, sunbathed and/or otherwise entertained, and then rarely gamble). The point is I've already done the work to get the freebie, so the freebie is FREE, with no obligation attached.
Anyway, what I'm actually trying to say, is that I have stayed at casinos overnight A LOT. And what I want to say on this page is that playing for a few hours and then driving home, or staying at the casino and then waking up at the casino and perhaps staying there for a length of time (the longest I actually stayed in Vegas on one trip was 2 weeks - about 4 days too long frankly, but you learn your lessons the hard way!) are two very different things.

Staying overnight means if you spend your allocated funds you are FAR more likely to dip in to your un-allocated funds. Often. So you have to be far more cautious in your play. Also in your ploys to not let yourself do that.

The number one rule is simple. If you don't trust yourself just go downstairs with your room key, ID and cash - no credit/debit cards at all. You'll feel the pinch immediately. A niggle that says play conservative, it's going to be a long night (hopefully) and I don't want to have to go upstairs to continue. Also, when you do go upstairs the fire in your belly usually burns out and you end up turning the TV on and phoning room service for a burger instead. I don't think I've ever gone down to carry on playing if I'm staying more than one night. What's the point? I have plenty of time to carry on playing the next day.

If you trust yourself a little bit more, but not too much, then I've got a nice half-way trick for you. I bought a Bluebird American Express card from Walmart a few years ago. I have it connected to my bank account so in theory I could load it from the floor of the casino with my phone, but pretend I never said that. Anyway, I use it when I'm at a really dodgy looking liquor store or 7-11, but I also use that as my back-up cash card when I'm at the casino and don't trust myself with my real money cards. It's great. Mostly because I forget I have it when I need it most of the time. (I should add I have a second wallet for taking downstairs, and often an ugly hip fanny pack, and the card is in the wallet in the fanny pack. So when I run out of cash the number of times I forget I took the card with me is in the double-digits by now. Which is fine). Point is, stick a couple of hundred on the Amex card, and if you need it (I mean feel you need it), then it's there for you without the trip upstairs. Ok, you get my point.

Now, there's another thing I do on the longer trips (to Vegas) that I don't do on the drives to the local casino - I always start my day buying some random $10 Keno tickets (100 plays). Then I go the sports book for an hour and place literally 100's of random 50c bets - I've spent decades betting on horses and know two things - you can't win, and you have no idea who will win. So lucky numbers, colors, any old combination you like, is just as good as reading the form, following the jockeys, knowing the weather and which track is considered most favorable. It's all total luck, unless you know the owner and the jockey. Then maybe. But in general I bet for fun only, and 9 times out of 10 when I go back at the end of the day I get most of my money back from two or three races where 4 beat 7 beat 11!

After I've had all the free coffee and orange juices I can handle at the sports book, I move to a comped breakfast to get me ready for my day. Then I go to the poker area and sign up for the afternoon poker tourney. I love tourneys. I hate cash games. If you play cash games good luck to you, but in my opinion there's always someone richer, stupider or luckier at the table, and I'm never the rich, stupid or lucky one. But in tourneys I have two advantages. Firstly, I already know my total outlay (OK, that's not always true as sometimes there are buy-ins, but I know the approximate outlay in those games anyway) and second of all, every second I am playing poker I am not playing slots. I want to be playing slots, and so I don't mind losing at the poker, but if I win then I've got more money to play with without dipping in to my funds, so hoo hawwww. And, as it happens, I seem to do very well at poker. I just don't rate myself as a player in my head. And I'm not there to be a poker player. I'm there to play slots and use the poker to keep me off them for a while. Also, sometimes I sunbathe, but that's like super rare.

Anyway, I play slots for a bit until the poker starts, then I try and focus on the poker game till I'm done. And as another side note can I say I frickin hate getting to the final table and then negotiating how to divide all the money so we don't even play another hand. I hate that!

OK, pokers finished, got plenty of cash. Have dinner and then...

Well. Actually. I usually go to bed! Because I hate playing slots when there are literally a million people walking past me. I much prefer to play slots after about 1.30am. But whatevs. To each their own, I can't make you be a night time crazy bird, so play when you like, but keep your wallet upstairs OK!?

I have some friends who are shark-like (not HUGE sharks, but shark enough to not have to pay for anything, and therefore eat like kings, which I jump in on thanks very much) - and they play slots all day, then sleep, and wake up at 4am to play serious blackjack till 8am. I then join them for breakfast and have to hear endless stories of how that stupid drunk guy ruined the first table or the hot dealer was a total bitch, or whatever. Don't care. I'll listen to their moans for free Kobi steak in the evening! The point is they focus their energies between 4 and 8am. I focus mine from 1.30am until I drop.

So the point of all this is to PACE yourself. It's a much longer game plan for an overnight or short vacation than for a drive to a casino followed by a drive home. Change your game, make a plan, add in other things because you cannot afford to play slots all day and all night. Not even me! I'll add plenty more about other things to do another time.

Alright, I think that's enough for tonight's entry. Go to Walmart and buy a Bluebird card (no monthly fees is why its the one to buy) and load it with an emergency $200 and then leave your real cards upstairs the next time you stay overnight at the casino and see if you ever go upstairs and then back down ever again.

And finally, don't ever ever EVER cash in your comp points for cash. NEVER. First of all you lose 50% by doing that, and second of all, the whole comp thing works to spend that money appropriately, and wasting it as a cash back up ruins that whole set up. So don't. Please.

And one other caution, if you have a gambling problem seek assistance with gamblers anonymous. I have had friends with the addiction and it is so close to looking like exactly the same level of fun that I am having it is hardly noticeable that at the end of the night I had a great night and they have lost everything they had. It's a shame but some people can't control the fire. For those people I am sorry, but this isn't for you. And if you are halfway between the two then at the very least never ever mess with your wife's joint account money!