First time in Vegas, advice please.

Quote: soulhunt79

For me it is all about the little things. Getting up from a table knowing I just took $100 of the casino's money is a good feeling. I know in the end they will get their money. I just want to win a few battles along the way. I also don't want to get up from a table thinking I should have left 2 hours ago. :) If you take the wins when you get them, you should have a reasonable chance of coming back with at least some money.

Taking $10 from Steve Wynn's casino and losing it in the New Frontier felt much better than doing it in reverse the next day, I can tell you :) But yep, walking out the door with a few dollars extra is a nice feeling and a nice buzz for the stroll down the strip (ride to the next off-strip property).

Course, being down $100 from shitty cards in a shitty casino with shitty staff is the opposite (Excalibur and the Luxor back to back, last year), but that's the breaks and a walk to the bar in NYNY and a good craft beer cured that malaise.

Quote: WizardofEngland

Thank you all for the advice so far.
Do you think $6500 is enough to have a good time betting $25 on blackjack? or the pass line in craps?

Or should I just stick to $5 and not be concerned about comps?

I am also looking for $50-80 tourneys, but the PH has a massive $20 admin fee. Any suggestions?

First of all, comps should not be a primary, or even a secondary motivator for your play. And you will still get comps if you bet $5--just not as much. Just make sure you ARE rated--it won't happen unless you specifically inform the floorman. One tip--start off with larger bets, and make sure those bets are observed (for your rating), then drop down to smaller bets after a few minutes. When you color up, inform the floorman that you're leaving, and he will note that your play is over--but you will get credit for the earlier, higher bet amount for the entire play period. Also, don't be afraid to ask for a "discretionary comp"--one that is not based on a strict totaling of your bets, but rather, one based on a subjective observation of your action. The latitude that floormen have in issuing such comps varies widely from casino to casino, but one very worthwhile phrase to use in Vegas is, "It never hurts to ask."

Betting $25/hand exposes you to a possible loss of several thousand dollars. Are you comfortable with that?

In my experience, it is just as much fun betting $5 as betting $25. Even if betting $25 is more fun because it gives you a "thrill", it isn't FIVE TIMES as much fun, if you get my drift.

The administration fee you mention is, unfortunately, pretty common for small buyin tourneys. In general, you should stay away from any Harrah's property if you want to play poker, because they charge considerably more for both live games and tournaments than anyone else in Vegas. In fact, "stay away from any Harrah's property" is good advice in general. I don't know what your transportation options are, but the Orleans has small buyin ($40-$120) tourneys twice a day, and the poker room is always buzzing with live action. Surprisingly, in the tournaments, most of the opposition really stinks. You can get there via a free shuttle from Bill's on the corner of Flamingo and the Strip. On the Strip, you might want to check out the Luxor and Excalibur for low buyin tourneys. Pick up a copy of Poker Player magazine in any poker room for a list of daily tourneys in Vegas.

Quote: thecesspit

Taking $10 from Steve Wynn's casino and losing it in the New Frontier felt much better than doing it in reverse the next day, I can tell you :) But yep, walking out the door with a few dollars extra is a nice feeling and a nice buzz for the stroll down the strip (ride to the next off-strip property).

Course, being down $100 from shitty cards in a shitty casino with shitty staff is the opposite (Excalibur and the Luxor back to back, last year), but that's the breaks and a walk to the bar in NYNY and a good craft beer cured that malaise.

Ugh...this just reminded me of my last time in Luxor. Had a great time in Mandalay bay. I think I turned $800 into $1800. On my way back to Excalibur(I can't pass up $20/night rooms after my comped ones run out) I stopped at Luxor and lost $600 in 10 minutes of the worst shooting I've ever seen. Talk about a buzzkill even when I was still up for the day.

anyone seen penn and teller?

I loved their show. The Harrah's casinos all have 2 for 1 coupons on the show, if you stop by the front desk of one and ask.

Quote: WizardofEngland

anyone seen penn and teller?

Yep. About 10 years ago, in New Jersey, before they took up residence in Vegas.

I enjoyed it, and I'm not really a Vegas show type person.

Quote: dlevinelaw

I loved their show. The Harrah's casinos all have 2 for 1 coupons on the show, if you stop by the front desk of one and ask.

excellent!

Unless the Luxor has changed, their low buy in tournaments are the worst run crap shoot I've ever had the misfortune to play in. It may well have, but the poker tournie there was awful. The Excalibur ring games are fun, the tournaments just so-so. I'd second a run out to the Orleans, poker there is fun and good value. I also liked the IP for poker action in the past, but this was also a fair time ago.

I do have two buddies who've played the $300 at the Wynn and said it was a fantastic experience.

Anyways, I do agree... best laid plans never survive an encounter with the enemy.

Two thumbs up for Penn & Teller. But if you're going to go, I recommend not doing the 2 for 1, and instead sitting up close. Magic you can't see is pretty dumb.

Quote: FinsRule

Two thumbs up for Penn & Teller. But if you're going to go, I recommend not doing the 2 for 1, and instead sitting up close. Magic you can't see is pretty dumb.

I thought Penn and Teller was very boring and unspectacular. I paid full price, real dumb.