Slot Bankroll Management

New to this site and looking for a few tips.
Ugh I'm pretty bad when it comes cash management.
I've never had a system of managing it just put 2k in my pocket a night and see what happens. Typically I end up chasing something or hitting a decent payout and putting it back in.

I'll be in Vegas again in a week or so and wanted to pick a few brains for a cash management strategy. This trip is pretty typical of my usual 3-4 times a year. $7000 in cash and I've been given $500 in free play for three nights.

Here's what I play: slots any where from $1.50-$15 three 5$ coin on the high $15 bet end. I don't think it's out of range on the higher $15 mark for my bankroll but maybe.
I'll be gambling three two hour sessions (before pool time) and four 6-8 hour sessions.

So what's the strategy to manage the money a little better? What's been effective for some of you to maximize play? What has been useful to keep a little in the bank after the trip for you?
Extra questions on the free play. Do I just roll it all up on like a 25$/pull machine or spread it around?

Just looking for some new ideas!

When you get to Las Vegas, go to the post office and mail $3500 to your home address. You'll only lose half your money with my system.

Learn ddb( double double bonus) really fast and go play ddb dstp (double super times pay). I think it is as cool with big win potential as any slot. Super Times pay is good, but when you're dealt a good hand, it kind of disappoints you knowing you missed the multiplier if you haven't gotten it. The pay table is important but any return you get is better than any slot machine you'll play.

You won't do either because it isn't what you want to do. Free play, use as you normally play, because if you did anything differently, the money would just wind up going where you usually wind up playing. So just cut out the middle man. If there was a better option to use free play, you should also use your cash there.

Onenick- by ddb do you mean VP? I play DW usually there while my wife is getting ready for dinner so like 2 hours or so...

interesting proposition to mail home the money! 7k is what I bring to play with though the worst part of Vegas is heading to the airport down 5-6k or 75% of your bankroll so I was just wondering what slot players do to shuffle it up or what system they play by. I'll post pics and updates on my trip using any of the advice offered. (I'm pretty sure you won't see a pic of the post office🤑)

If you have a money management issue (whatever that may be)....I'd think you'd be better off if you play more sessions for a shorter period of time, or with a smaller session BR.

Perhaps play 14 sessions with a $500 session bankroll. Play until you've doubled it or 2 hours has passed, or whichever comes first. Or 7 sessions with a $1k session bankroll. Leave the rest of the money in the room. Preferably a 15 minute walk to the room from the slot machines. That way if you run bad and lose it all (the $500 or $1k), you wouldn't just grab more money and put it back in. You'd stop and do another session in a few hours after dinner or whatever. And if you want to try to head back to the room and grab more money to keep playing, at least you'll have 10-15 minutes to cool down and think about it. Maybe by the time you get to the room you'd be cooled down and decide to watch a movie or go to the pool or eat dinner or whatever. And if you're not cooled down or whatever -- well, it didn't really hurt you either way, did it?


Idk if it's a gambling problem or a self control problem or you're just not aware how much money you're losing at the time or you lose sense of time when gambling or what it is you're looking for or want.


But if you do 14 sessions with $500 each, and once you double the money lose it all or hit 2 hours (or whatever your plan is), as long as you don't put that $500 and then some back into the machine, you're walking away with at least $500 and whatever winnings you had from that session. Maybe you win 5 sessions and lose 9 sessions, you'll walk away with $5k, only having lost $2k overall.

Of course it's not a way to win money or anything like that, since you'd be playing slots or VP at a disadvantage. But it might help. And if it doesn't help, well, you'd be back to where you were before anyway, right?

Welcome to the forum, and I hope you get some good advice, and enjoy your trip.

I don't think you'll be able to post your pics as a new member, though, so don't get frustrated trying. Think you have to get 20 posts in the bank before you could link to pics (all photos are on 3rd party hosting like photobucket, imgur, or tinypic). Just update us via text to start.

I'd figure out how many days you'll be gambling. Let's say it's four.Divide each day in two so you have eight sessions. Divide your bankroll into eight envelopes. Play one envelope. If you go broke, call it a session. If you have money left or are ahead, seal the envelope and take it home with you. Once one session starts,all previous envelopes are taboo.
Will you win more? No, but this might let you go home with money. Never play more than one envelope a session, nor more than two sessions a day.. If something happens and you don't gamble one day, those envelopes go out of play and go home.
Good luck.

I agree with billryan on this one--secure the win, don't add it to the bankroll. However you break down the bankroll, put the money left from that session or day away and don't touch it. I won't say that it has made us "winners" but it has kept us from losing the entire bankroll. Since I count the money as "gone" when the plane takes off, any money we bring back feels like a bonus.

@RS Thanks for the reply. Shorter sessions could be better. I tend to run on longer sessions and time is basically the enemy. Using the basic theory of 200x bet on dollars for 3 hours instead of lumping into 6-8 would break up play and reset the clock.

I play for fun and entertainment, I play within my financial limits and come on I'm playing slots mainly or 3card or let it ride which isn't going to give me any edge. Rather than grinding away with perfect play I'd rather play house advantage games. We all have most likely played a few chips or two of roulette.

Just figured everyone has some sort of "system" when it comes to managing their bankroll. I've never played with one and fortunately even after a few bad 2-3K sessions I make a few bucks and keep playing til it's time to go back home. Was curious to see what people do.

@bill & ron banking wins is prolly best. I tend to recycle the tickets to the next machine without banking. Just thinking well I put in 200 I have 300 so I'm playing on 300 not two any more.
Also never thought of breaking up the bank into seperate play periods. I like that idea. Say waiting for the wife the bank is 200 and when it's gone that's it or if there's a win put it away to take home. Just like Ron when it's wheels up to Vegas that money is "spent" so in concert with that money spent idea I don't pay much attention to specific periods just overall trip.

Sent you a PM

Quote: onenickelmiracle

When you get to Las Vegas, go to the post office and mail $3500 to your home address. You'll only lose half your money with my system.

You mean like a check, right? Because I wouldn't want to send cash in the mail, that would be almost as risky as... oh, wait.

Mrs. Mosca manages her bankroll by playing slowly. She lets all the wins tally up on their own, no matter the size; she pauses between spins, she is chatty with other players (who want to be). Me, when I play slots I hit that freakin' button to get to the next shot. Her banks last longer than mine.

Taking into account bet size/bankroll, and of course short of not playing slots at all, that is the only sensible form of bankroll management. They are a bad bet that can provide a lot of fun if you can keep from getting gassed too quickly. So, slow it down and get your money's worth.

My friend leaves a machine as soon as he hits and completes a bonus round. He'll walk almost to the opposite end of the casino before looking for a machine. Switching like that cuts down the number of spins and gets him a little exercise. He also steps outside to smoke once or twice an hour. It all adds up to him putting a lot less money in play per day.

OK, first of all, you have to realize that you're going to lose roughly $10 for every $100 you put through the machines. You can improve greatly on this by hitting the locals' casinos (Coast, Stations, etc.), but I have the feeling you aren't going to do that.

Play as slowly as you can. Chat with other players. Drag out the bonus game. Take frequent breaks, Savor those "free" drinks.

Play newer slots with bonus games. The payouts tend to be set higher on the newer, especially the themed, games (then reduced later). A game like Goldfish, which is all about the frequent bonus games, is fun to play and while the bonus game is running, you aren't putting in any more money.

Play somewhere where you get extras/freebies. While the Strip is almost devoid of things like bonus point days and the like, try to play at the "second tier" properties. Places like the Platinum Palace and the Golden Commode think you should be grateful just to be allowed to play, and set their machines good and tight, while awarding very few benefits.

Play video poker instead of slots! While you may not be inclined to learn any strategies (most slot players would rather not involve their brains in their gambling activities) the fact remains that the worst VP, played badly, still returns much more than the best slot.

To analyze your bankroll requirements: if you play dollars on the Strip, let's say $3 a spin, you're playing 10 spins a minute (a pretty moderate pace actually), so $1800 an hour, so an expected loss of $180/hr. Your bankroll can easily withstand that. Jack it up to $5 ($15/spin), and...not so much ($900 an hour--yikes!!). And those are average figures. You could easily torch three grand in even a relatively short session of $5 slots.

So since you're evidently prepared to lose that $7000 but just the same, would rather salvage some of it if you can, I would recommend that you hold yourself to $3/spin, however you arrange it. Now, do what others have suggested: divide your bankroll by the number of days you will be playing. Physically sequester all but today's bankroll somehow (room safe; cashier's cage, etc.). Now play for A FIXED, PREDETERMINED NUMBER OF HOURS. When you're done for the day, cash out what you have left. THAT MONEY IS NOW INACCESSIBLE TO YOU FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE TRIP. This approach all but guarantees that you a) won't blow through your entire bankroll before the trip is over (an awful outcome) and b) you will, actually, salvage some money from your (inevitably) losing trip.

The suggestion of mailing each day's remaining bankroll to yourself has merit, as it's easy to convert funds into a cashier's check. That way, that money's out of the reach of temptation.

And I'm not even going to mention that the very very bestest slot money management system is to play something else, as slots are by far the biggest moneymaker for the casino (and therefore, the biggest money loser for you). Those of us who are perhaps a bit more jaded regard playing a slot machine as equivalent to handing someone a $100 bill, receiving $90 in return, handing that $90 back, receiving $81 in return, etc. etc. until it's all gone. What fun!

Quote: Joeshlabotnik

And I'm not even going to mention that the very very bestest slot money management system is to play something else, as slots are by far the biggest moneymaker for the casino (and therefore, the biggest money loser for you). Those of us who are perhaps a bit more jaded regard playing a slot machine as equivalent to handing someone a $100 bill, receiving $90 in return, handing that $90 back, receiving $81 in return, etc. etc. until it's all gone. What fun!

That is true of all casino games... just at different rates...

There is only a question of how much money can be saved while maintaining the comps. Otherwise bankroll management playing negative expectation only works by essentially not gambling. Video poker could cost you your comps, but the comps are a factor of your losses.

I've known many to bring double what they want to lose just so they can feel good thinking they lost half their money rather than all. Has its merits just because psychologically some attempt to prevent total loss by creating a total loss gambling unless they get lucky.

All in all, seeking a lower house edge gambling is better even if comps are lost in exchange for lowered comps. Either way it's pretty difficult and expecting failure is the norm.

@onenick: yes comps are always important even though I never ask my host for anything. I get picked up at the airport, comp RF&B with some limitations but never asked specifically for this or that. Hosts never really break the comp metrics down for you other than "it's a mix, and you played x hours at x a hand on the tables, x coin in..." I consolidate them to MGM properties only unless the wife wants to hit DT Vegas for a bit.

Lower house edge means B/J to me. Or Craps which I've been learning but it's a steep learning curve for someone who is easily distracted. What's the opinion on other lower house edge games? What's worth looking into? I've got 72 hours before wheels up so I have a few hours to study.

Thanks Beach! Boning up on my VP play as I type! Hope to update with the albeit money losing (over time) strategy derived from the good people on the forum.

Craps is really pretty easy if you don't try to "get" every bet at once. Focus only on what you are doing until you learn and only work on learning for a few minutes at a time to lessen the chances of distraction. Buy in for $100 (or so). You can simply put down a minimum bet on the pass when the puck is off, let the shooter roll, and go from there. If you lose before the point is established (2,3,12), simply replace the bet. If you win (7,11), collect your winnings. I there is a point established (4,5,6,7.8.9.10), place 1x or 2x your ass line bet behind the line bet.

Let the point play out. Collect your winnings or watch your loss get taken away.

It may not be the "best" way to play (more odds is better but variance is higher) but the house has a small edge and you are not making huge bets.

If you lose 2-3 times in a row, walk away.

This is a simple way to learn more about the game and keeping the playing time short will let you learn one bet at a time. Once you are comfortable on the pass line, look at other bets. This will not net you the comps of the slots and you may lose faster if no one hits a point while you are at the table since you may have more $$$ on the table at risk. It just gives you a different game to play...

I would try to play a $5 game if you can fins one...

Betting 1 or 2 times your ass might not be the most prodigious advice to a new craps player ;-)

My advice to you is to only play with half of your winnings. :) Say you put in a $20 and a lucky spin nets you $500. Just play with $250 and then run like a crazy person home with the other $250! :)