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.