Vegas Cocktails

Ok so I am close to coming to Vegas this Christmas, I have read that cocktails are free.
What conditions are required to get a free cocktail? How much should I tip if I want to get served quickly again?
Where are the best cocktails and waitresses? Are the stingy with the measures?

In the UK we have no free cocktails, just soft drinks, and they have only just started to introduce players cards, and they are only good for t-shirts, pens and some average food. None of the casinos in the UK even have a hotel attached, as far as I am aware.

Yes, drinks are free - so long as you are playing.

Bar-top machines are wierd. In some casinos, playing a bar-top machine does NOT earn free drinks, unless you're playing at a specific minimum. Other places they're not free at all.

But walk ten feet to the regular slots, even penny slots, and you get all the free drinks you want.

Free drinks at table games too.

Note that ordinarily, it seems that the waitress will come thru while you're distracted, in a hand, not thinking about a drink, whatever. And they won't bother trying to get your attention either. Only if someone else at the table is paying attention will you have a shot at ordering. If you miss her, you gotta wait until her next trip thru. Since it can be a distance to get to the service bar, one trip every 20 minutes or so is about average. Miss her a couple times, and you're THIRSTY!

Typical tips are just $1.

However, tip $5, and ask that she return often, and she probably will make an effort to stop by twice per loop.

The absolute best cocktail waitresses are at The M Resort seven miles south of the airport. Its a bit of a trek, but they are the best of the best. The drinks ain't so bad either. And the buffet includes free wine and beer (lunch and dinner only, not breakfast).

The SouthPoint is a Sweat The Money, don't chat, don't count cards type of place. The waitresses there are gorgeous and the drinks are generous, but the casino is a Sweat the Money joint. And its a trek too.

Some places like Terribles send a wiatress around once every few decades and the drinks are watered and served in tiny glasses. Don't waste your time. Go to a decent casino, get a decent drink.

You can have pretty much whatever you want but don't make a nuisance of yourself with something that requires umpteen ingredients and a lot of mixing and measuring. The waitress is in a rush, the bartender is in a rush. Know what you want and order it. Don't ask, do you have "X". Order "X" and if they don't have it they will let you know. If cocktails have different names in the UK than in the USA, don't expect the waitress to be a mind reader.

You can tip on delivery or upon ordering. On delivery is standard, on ordering can be more memorable. But TIP!! The free cocktail is not free, its One Dollar. And part of that dollar goes to the bartender and part of it goes to the bar-back, so be sure to tip the darn dollar! Flirt if you want to, joke if you want to... but tip the dollar and keep your paws to yourself. Don't reach on to her tray for change or for an ash tray or a napkin.

Most dealers will see the CW is approaching and will see that you have a few white chips (one dollar chips) available. If not, drop down a red and say "check change" and the dealer will get you some whites. Just be sure to tip that first time or you are likely to have a slow response all night long.

If the drinks come very fast and are large, stiff drinks... well if you are happy, that is a sign that maybe an extra chip or two is in order. If the service is slow, the drinks small and watered down... go to a different casino, but don't blame the poor waitress, she doesn't like serving watered down drinks either.

The Venetian is famous for its Mimosas or something. It doesn't matter. Order what you want. You are likely to get it. Some places want to see good action from you before you get top shelf liquor, well I don't really blame them sometimes. If you are a lower tier casino such as The Sahara don't expect high level booze. If you are at a top casino, you will get good stuff. If you are in the high roller room you will get whatever you want.

is ordering a lynchburg lemonade too much? I'd rather pay $5 and get her back quickly. If I decided to get the drink myself, what sort of prices are we talking?

Free if you are gambling. (ie, one dollar).
Reasonably priced in a casino bar, a bit more expensive in the "snack shop" area, astronomically priced beyond all belief if you are in a casino's trendy nightclub.
Its best to do your drinking in the casino, but its obviously up to you. Some gamblers don't drink while gambling.
Some booze can be comped at the casino bar if you are also playing the bar top video poker machines. Policies vary.
I prefer the free booze on the casino floor.
A lemonade has such little kick to it, you might as well get it free at the tables, but don't think you are in any way going to be limited to cheap stuff. go for the good stuff. In a decent casino in Vegas, you will likely get it.

I am a fan of Long Island Iced Teas and simple Gin&Tonics, neither of which get me completely bombed. I tend to tip $5 for the first drink if I intend to stay a while, otherwise I always tip $2. It helps me get rid of single dollar bills which otherwise just mount up in my wallet.

If you tip $1 you are just another of an anonymous horde. If you tip $5 when placing your order, she will probably remember you and what you're drinking, and return more often.

Quote: Headlock

If you tip $1 you are just another of an anonymous horde. If you tip $5 when placing your order, she will probably remember you and what you're drinking, and return more often.

+1 If I'm there to stay, the first drink is always a red chip, or if I'm at the bar, several one dollar bills in the little glass and pen thing they hand you. If the barman's taking care of you, I take of them.

Some places the mixed drinks are bloody awfully done (not least as they are slinging the drinks as fast as possible) so I wouldn't expect a good Old-Fashioned, Lynchburg Lemonade or the like. But for beer or mixer+spirit you'll do fine. Some places the pours are VERY generous by UK standards. And some places it's mostly ice and fountain soda (blah).

If I want a well-mixed drink or a good beer, I'll stand the charge and go to a bar that's a bit slower paced than the casino bars. I had a couple of excellent cocktails in Caramel in the Bellagio, helped along with a 2for1 voucher on Monday nights.

As other's have said, in some casino bars, $20 in the bar top poker (normally 5 credit 25c machines) will get you a free beer. You can 'game' this, play three hands, cash out and leave with your drink. But after a few trips, I'm of the opinion it's better to just pay for it if you want the beer to go, or stay and play for a while if your looking for a while playing and chatting to your buddies. Some places have good bar top VP. Other places it's a gouge.

Quote: Headlock

If you tip $1 you are just another of an anonymous horde. If you tip $5 when placing your order, she will probably remember you and what you're drinking, and return more often.

I look at the number of drinks on her tray. Then I figure out how many times she comes by in an hour. The answer is that if everyone tipped her a dollar, she would be making somewhere between $30-70/hr. I would be happy with that, myself--so I tip her a dollar.

Quote: Croupier

It helps me get rid of single dollar bills which otherwise just mount up in my wallet.

In Vegas you will be tipping chips and will be taking care to not be taking your wallet out of your pocket too many times in crowded areas.

Already have that covered. Wallet stays in pocket. Singles go in a different pocket for easy access.

Quote: FleaStiff

In Vegas you will be tipping chips and will be taking care to not be taking your wallet out of your pocket too many times in crowded areas.

I have a money clip of singles and fives just for tipping and incidentals.

Do yourself a favor and do what others on this thread have suggested and do your drinking at a high-end casino. I recommend Wynn. Second choice, Venelazzo. Some people also like Bellagio. You can get an absolutely fantastic drink for the same price ($1) as you would anywhere else. Plus you will feel rich and pampered (or at least I do.) Can't miss experience in my opinion.

Just to throw in my two cents. If you decide to do some sports betting Harrah's will NOT comp you a drink (they'll give you a voucher for one free drink) and I'm not sure about the whole of MGM but I know for a fact the Bellagio will comp you free drinks. Have a good time and make sure to hit up at least one seafood buffet.

I've had good success tipping $2 bills. We happened to take some one trip and were very lucky. It has become one of our traditions. The waitress almost always does a double take and them smiles when she realizes it is not play money. They seem to remember us better and provide quicker turnaraound. I am almost always with someone, so I am still only tipping $1 per drink.

I play bartops all over Las Vegas, and the only place I've ever seen that doesn't comp drinks are at Wynn/Encore. The general rule of thumb is to put a 20 in the machine and play 5 credits. Doesn't matter what denomination, some even have nickels.

Quote: thecesspit

so I wouldn't expect a good Old-Fashioned, Lynchburg Lemonade or the like.

I always order at least one old-fashioned wherever I am. When it's good, it's good. But mostly it's comical to see what kinds of crazy stuff the bartenders will put in there.
The closest I have had to a real one was in the MGM Grand, and the waitress actually apologized to me for not having lemon zest.

I actually saw the bartender make it at Fitzgerald's. Ice, whiskey, cherry, bitters, bitters, bitters. He looked at it, and put in about 7 more shakes of bitters, like he was putting ketchup on fries. It was undrinkable, of course. But amusing stuff like that is the main reason to gamble downtown.

Stick to simple drinks, although they are often very weak in cheap joints. If you want to actually know what you are getting, in a pre-determined quantity, order beer.

Quote: dudestupid

If you want to actually know what you are getting, in a pre-determined quantity, order beer.

...Except you could be expecting Heinekin and getting Schlitz.

Quote: dudestupid

Stick to simple drinks, although they are often very weak in cheap joints.

I thought that the opposite was supposed to be true, that the drunker a player got the more likely he would be to make errors playing, as well as bet more. If I owned the casino I would make the drinks as strong as possible.

FWIW I learned not to drink while gambling. However, at the Excalibur last May I asked for a black russian (Khalua coffee liquor and vodka) and it was very good, served in a regular-sized glass. In fact at first taste it seemed a bit too strong on the russian, but as the ice melted a little it reached a nice balanced taste.

The wizard has a personal pal who is THE COCKTAIL DOLL. She has ALL the answers at her site:

http://www.cocktaildoll.com

Quote: DJTeddyBear

...Except you could be expecting Heinekin and getting Schlitz.

The waitress will always let you know if they don't have the beer you want. Although at the Flamingo I learned that Guinness in a bottle is NOT the same as Guinness on tap.

Quote: dudestupid

The waitress will always let you know if they don't have the beer you want. Although at the Flamingo I learned that Guinness in a bottle is NOT the same as Guinness on tap.

That's because Guinness of tap is a MEAL - you need a dinner comp for that. ;)

Quote: JerryLogan

I play bartops all over Las Vegas, and the only place I've ever seen that doesn't comp drinks are at Wynn/Encore. The general rule of thumb is to put a 20 in the machine and play 5 credits. Doesn't matter what denomination, some even have nickels.

The MGM grand doesn't comp drinks on quarters on some of its bars. Nor does the Mandalay bay sports bar.

That's my experience. I've not come across a nickel bar top in ages...

Venetian sportsbook requires $50 action to get a well drink.

That circular bar at Palazzo is one of my faves. Most of the Vp machines are $1 but I think there are 2 25cent machines. 25cent machine requires max credits. Dollar machine requres regular play. However the pay schedule isn't very friendly.

Quote: dudestupid

I always order at least one old-fashioned wherever I am. When it's good, it's good. But mostly it's comical to see what kinds of crazy stuff the bartenders will put in there. .

I ordered one at Ellis Island -- actually 4, with the free drinks coupon. They had to look it up in the book! I got a very small glass with no ice, but I could taste the whiskey, cherry and bitters. Not bad.

Quote: Nareed

FWIW I learned not to drink while gambling.

Nothing like drinking good liquor while doing some cheap gambling. When I'm doing "serious" gambling I stay away from the drinks. I like to do my drinking at Klondike Sunset: $2 minimum blackjack with drink service, and I'm never tempted to raise my bet :)

O'Sheas -- right next door to the Flamingo -- comps Guinness on tap.

Quote: teddys

Not bad.Nothing like drinking good liquor while doing some cheap gambling. When I'm doing "serious" gambling I stay away from the drinks. I like to do my drinking at Klondike Sunset: $2 minimum blackjack with drink service, and I'm never tempted to raise my bet :)

You saw me not drink while I gambled.

Anyway, lately anything above the level of a glass of wine makes me sleepy in short order. It's no fun to gamble, no matter how low the stakes, if you're struggling merely to stay awake. On the plus side, a drink on the plane helps me sleep through the trip ;) Of course airplane drinks are smaller, more limited and overall worse than most casino drinks.

in my experience if you ask for gray goose they will hook you up with a doubleish triplish shot. if you fixin to get drunk. straight vodka.

ive never tried to ask for long island cause it seems like too much work. but they might even have it pre mixed who knows.

I don't believe anyone who claims they don't drink when they go into a casino to gamble. That's like the claims of fishermen, or the claims of LV locals saying "I do not gamble" or "I don't play the poker machines". It's all BS, they know it's total BS, but they still play pretend in the hope that others will think more highly of them for some odd reason.

I don't drink when I go to a casino locally because they charge - my first gambling experience was at LV so I refuse on principle to pay for drinks while gambling. Although when I'm in Vegas I feel obligated to because I mean it's a $1 beer - but I never drink to get drunk. That's one hell of a losing proposition right there.

One of the things I like about Craps is you can drink while you do it. I don't like to handle money when completely blotto, though, so there is a limit even there. I wouldn't want to drink while doing any other games that I regularly play.

For dollar tipped drinks, I've found, for a special request drink or liquor that might be pricy is usually carefully measured, whereas, if you're just making a general order you might get anything from a single shot drink to what tastes like a double. (it's cheap, they don't care I guess)