First trip to Vegas in two years

Last Sunday-Tuesday, I decided to make a trip to Vegas for the first time in two years, and I had amassed a large-for-me bankroll ($5000) from Blackjack, UTH and live poker winnings at the Gila River Casinos in Arizona. I wanted to play live craps and baccarat as neither is legal in Arizona. I used a travel site's deal function to get a 5-star property on the north end of the Strip for $105 a night prior to taxes and the resort fee. I booked it and got the Wynn.

I drove in from the Phoenix-area on a straight shot, but it was partially delayed due to Arizona drivers becoming very unsure of themselves due to some rain falling leading to slower speeds on SR 74, US 60 and US 93. Wynn self parking was easy to navigate and not overly busy, it being close to 2 PM on a Sunday.

I decided to play a bit before checking in, so I went to a $10 craps table and played the pass line with 1 or 2 come bets at the minimum with 2X odds. I went down about $200 until a roller on the other end of the table hit a few of my come bets and points, so I left up $320.

I then checked in and even though I booked through a third-party service, still had an option of a Strip-view or golf course view. Since I had never had a Strip-view room, I took it, and received a room on the 19th floor. I had a decent view, even if the Palazzo dominated the skyline. I relaxed a bit before getting ready for dinner at Lakeside at the Wynn.

Prior to dinner, I sent to the EZ Baccarat tables and sat down at the $50 minimum table (two EZ tables open, the other at $100 minimum) and bought in for $500. I simply bet on the banker and after about 40 minutes of play of between $50-200 a hand, I was up $800 (and got my first every yellow chip) and left the table to go to Lakeside at Wynn. The cocktail waitress asked me "Mr. [jetzzfan], can I get you anything?" so I assume she got my name from the pit.

Dinner was very good. I had the foie gras and snapper and enjoyed the twice an hour shows on the big screen in the lake.

On my back from dinner, I saw that the high limit craps table had lowered its' minimum to $50, so I decided to give it a try buying in for $1,000. Dealers seems very engaged and I instantly had cocktail service again who addressed me by name again. I stuck to $50 pass line bets and 1 $50 come backing it up with 3-4-5x odds. I hit a couple of points and comes, and sevened out to put me at about even, before I hit a streak of 4 straight points, then a seven out. I left the table with $1,850 and a second ever yellow chip, putting my winnings on day one at $1,920.

The next morning, I took a cab to Downtown Vegas as I had never been and bounced between casinos losing at every craps table I played at. I lost $800 and couldn't get anything going either on the pass or the don't. I then go to Fremont and see that they had single deck blackjack at a $5 minimum, so I bought in for $100 and played for about 45 minutes at $10-25 a hand staying between $50-$150 in front of me. At the end of one deck, I was up $44, so I left and took a cab to New York New York.

I went to NYNY because I wanted to walk a bit of the west side of the strip back to Wynn, but due to a knee problem wouldn't be able to make the trip from Luxor or Excalibur. I went to the only open craps table which was a $10 3-4-5x table and bought in for $500 making $10 pass and come bets. The first shooters do decently well for a right way player and I'm up between $250 and $300 when the shooter just to the right of me starts. He sets a point of 8 and then continues to roll everything but a 7 or an 8 for about 15 minutes. I end up with by $10 come with odds on all numbers. so every point number roll is earning me $70. There was a big cheer when he hit the small/tall/all clear with a yo, as there were several players betting them. I believe he rolled 17 numbers, 3 craps and 2 yos before finally hitting the 8. He then sets a 4 and sevens out on the next roll. I take my roll which I ended up winning just $10 (5-5-8-7) and left up $1,350.

I had lunch at the Irish pub an NYNY and it was decent enough. I was given a $10 match play for an even money bet, and since I never play roulette played it on red and lost. After I browsed the extremely expensive Hershey's store, I walked back to the Wynn after being a tourist a bit. I placed 3 $20 sports bets for that night as well as a few $10 futures bets, mainly as fun for friends back in Arizona.

I had dinner scheduled at Sinatra at Encore that night and I went and played more EZ Baccarat with a $25 minimum at Encore. I bought in for $500 and the table runs player heavy. I start picking up some wins on the banker and ended up leaving the table up $50.

Dinner at Sinatra may have been the best restaurant meal I've ever had. I started with their octopus appetizer (first time having octopus) and then had their dual cut pork chop special. I finished with their chocolate dessert shaped like a fedora.

I took a cab to Rio as I had a ticket for Penn & Teller. While waiting for the show, I played some $5 Mississippi Stud. Eventually, my $100 runs out, and I go to the theatre. As always, P&T are great. I saw several new tricks, and after the show I got my requisite selfie with Teller and photo with Penn. I took a cab back to the Wynn.

As I was tired and up, I decided to not play again. I did stop by the Wynn's red card desk to see if I could talk to a host to see if my play warranted any comps. The reluctant Red Card agent got me on the phone with a host who said that he could comp me my room service charge from the previous day as well as a buffet. He also told me how many hours I had logged at Wynn as well as average bet, which was definitely not counting odds at craps (not that I would expect that they would count them).

The next morning I ate at the buffet which was quite good, collected on my 2 sports bet wins and packed up and left back to the Phoenix area. I figure my expenses (room, food, ticket, cabs, gas, tips, futures bets) were $1,300, but with $2,350 in winnings, I came out ahead. I definitely had an enjoyable time and would like to stay at the Wynn again when I return, which will probably be in about six months or a year.

Good report. Uber is cheaper than taxis, but the pickup is usually less advantageous.

Hopefully you get a teaser offer somewhere.

Nice report, jetzz. Hopefully I have the same good luck as you this week.

Quote: ahiromu

Good report. Uber is cheaper than taxis, but the pickup is usually less advantageous.

Hopefully you get a teaser offer somewhere.

Thanks. I honestly didn't think about Uber. I used the black service when I was in San Francisco a couple of years ago, but just getting into someone's car is a bit weird in my mind.

An offer would be nice, but I probably won't make it back there until baseball season is over, I'm a D-backs season ticket holder and have a couple of baseball stadium trips planned.

Quote: Deucekies

Nice report, jetzz. Hopefully I have the same good luck as you this week.

Thanks, and good luck to you!

Great trip report jetzzfan. Sounds like you had the ideal Vegas trip! Winning, shows, good food, etc. =)

JEZZ,

Was this a solo trip? If so, what inspired you to do a solo trip? If it were a solo trip, how did it feel? What are some pros/cons other than the obvious ones? I'm trying to plan a solo coupon run trip this summer. Mrs. Siegfried is letting me go to a trip alone because she knows she'll slow me down (plus, I promised her a girls only trip with her friends in the fall).

What was the Fremont single-deck conditions to be exact? (6-5, 3-2)?

Yep. It was great. Just what I needed.

It was a solo trip. Almost every trip I take is solo, so it was fine. I think the difference to my only non-solo trip was I did less touristy non-gambling items. Over multiple sessions, I probably gambled 12 hours. When I went with friends that number was closer to three.

Fremont was 6:5, double on any 2, no doubling on splits.

Great trip report. I'm glad you did well and had fun so please do not be offened if I now discuss some serious mistakes you made.

Third part service for room rental: This means that no matter how willing the casino is to comp you to all your room charges they can not do it. They can only comp you to the misc. charges that you add to the room bill.

Play prior to registering. Okay but only if you already have a players club card. If you play without a players club card, you don't get credit for the time or the money.

Other casinos: fine. You explored, You had fun,,, but you should sign up for a card. Freebies? Specials? MAILERS?

NYNY: Always visit the high roller room in NYNY. You get drinks right away there is a buffet in the back and you don't have to stay long. IF you do not have a card...order it from the high roller room...I'm told that your account starts off with a 'plus sign' if the pit clerk from the high roller room delivers the paperwork.

Anyway, it was fun for you. Rained water on the road and rained orange chips in Vegas. Great job! By the way, I think you doing 6:5 downtown and didn't realize it. Well, only a few of our members will shoot you for that.

Good trip report. I noticed in there that you tried Mississippi Stud. I've always wanted to play that game. I know that there are a lot of swings in it since people tend to chase. But, I think at $5, I might be able to stick it out for a while. I'm going to Vegas in March. Do you know of any places on the strip that offer it around that price? I saw that you were at the Rio when you tried it. I probably won't be off the strip too much.

Quote: FleaStiff

Great trip report. I'm glad you did well and had fun so please do not be offened if I now discuss some serious mistakes you made.

Third part service for room rental: This means that no matter how willing the casino is to comp you to all your room charges they can not do it. They can only comp you to the misc. charges that you add to the room bill.

Play prior to registering. Okay but only if you already have a players club card. If you play without a players club card, you don't get credit for the time or the money.

Other casinos: fine. You explored, You had fun,,, but you should sign up for a card. Freebies? Specials? MAILERS?

NYNY: Always visit the high roller room in NYNY. You get drinks right away there is a buffet in the back and you don't have to stay long. IF you do not have a card...order it from the high roller room...I'm told that your account starts off with a 'plus sign' if the pit clerk from the high roller room delivers the paperwork.

Anyway, it was fun for you. Rained water on the road and rained orange chips in Vegas. Great job! By the way, I think you doing 6:5 downtown and didn't realize it. Well, only a few of our members will shoot you for that.

No offense taken.

I get the room thing. I don't know if I could have gotten over $200 in room comps, which would have been the price difference.

The box man got me a card right away so my early play counted.

I signed up at Golden Nugget, Binion's, Golden Gate and Fremont for their cards. Forgot 4 Queens.

Thanks for the NYNY tip.

The blackjack was more just fun to play. I know HE was high. No pitch games in Arizona. They recently allowed RSA here, so that's nice. Now if they'd stay on soft 17...

Double posted by mistake

Quote: Wulfgar1224

Good trip report. I noticed in there that you tried Mississippi Stud. I've always wanted to play that game. I know that there are a lot of swings in it since people tend to chase. But, I think at $5, I might be able to stick it out for a while. I'm going to Vegas in March. Do you know of any places on the strip that offer it around that price? I saw that you were at the Rio when you tried it. I probably won't be off the strip too much.

I didn't see Mississippi Studio in the strip casinos I was in, but I wasn't looking for it.

Quote: Wulfgar1224

Good trip report. I noticed in there that you tried Mississippi Stud. I've always wanted to play that game. I know that there are a lot of swings in it since people tend to chase. But, I think at $5, I might be able to stick it out for a while. I'm going to Vegas in March. Do you know of any places on the strip that offer it around that price? I saw that you were at the Rio when you tried it. I probably won't be off the strip too much.

MS Stud is a fun game but be careful when thinking $5 table. You can get sucked in for $40 on a $5 start and whiff on the hand.

Quote: jetzzfan

I get the room thing. I don't know if I could have gotten over $200 in room comps, which would have been the price difference.

Its always a bit of a toss up, but by using a separate entity to get your 'discounted room' you definitely preclude a full room comp. I like to 'stay where I play' and go thru the hotel itself for my room. Its not always the best deal, but at least they are ABLE to give me a full room comp if they are so inclined when I check out.

Quote: GWAE

MS Stud is a fun game but be careful when thinking $5 table. You can get sucked in for $40 on a $5 start and whiff on the hand.

I agree with GWAE. It can be an addicting game, but you'll burn your money. I saw Ballys having $5 Mississippi stud during week days. I can't speak for weekends. Good luck.

Thanks for the great trip report! I enjoyed the details of your craps exploits, and was glad the bad taste from the downtown dice was quickly washed away at NYNY!

Did you have a brief chat with Teller? Because he never talks on stage, it feels like a decades-long act and a treat to chat with him in person!

Great trip report!