What do you carry in vegas?

For those who posted that they make sudden stops to check if anyone is following them, or go down one hallway only to turn around suddenly and go down another:

Is this only when you have a lot of cash/chips on you, or is this something you do all the time?

Quote: soulhunt79

I tried just depositing the money in a cage, but after 1 very bad experience I'm not sure if I'll ever try that again.

Quote: odiousgambit

what happened?

First I only did this twice and the first time went off with no issues at all.

I had asked the casino before I arrived if it was possible to just go to the cage and get some money out for spending money. This was a deposit of around 5k and I would be taking out ~1k at a time. My first trip I had no issues at all with this. The second trip they simply wouldn't allow as I tried 3 times. I could get it on a table and gamble a little bit and then go cash it in which I did a few times.

The whole experience of them telling me I could do something and then flat out refusing later on just ended up not worth it to me. If I have to put half in the casino cage and then carry what I want to spend elsewhere on me, I might as well just carry everything on me.


FWIW, I had heard this might be an issue and that is the reason why I asked twice ahead of time if I could do what I wanted. If they would have said no, I wouldn't have gotten annoyed. :)

Quote: soulhunt79

First I only did this twice and the first time went off with no issues at all.

I had asked the casino before I arrived if it was possible to just go to the cage and get some money out for spending money. This was a deposit of around 5k and I would be taking out ~1k at a time. My first trip I had no issues at all with this. The second trip they simply wouldn't allow as I tried 3 times. I could get it on a table and gamble a little bit and then go cash it in which I did a few times.

The whole experience of them telling me I could do something and then flat out refusing later on just ended up not worth it to me. If I have to put half in the casino cage and then carry what I want to spend elsewhere on me, I might as well just carry everything on me.


FWIW, I had heard this might be an issue and that is the reason why I asked twice ahead of time if I could do what I wanted. If they would have said no, I wouldn't have gotten annoyed. :)

I'd be interested to know which casino was involved in this issue.........

I have gone to the cage and "put up front cash money" at Paris, Rio, Aria, Beau Rivage, and Harrah's Tunica.

I have taken money from the cage, and I have taken it from the craps table. On one trip Paris did make me take a minimum draw of $750, but other times I have been able to do $500.
I did have one trip to Harrah's Tunica that was a disaster. I guess instead of telling them I wanted to deposit "up front cash money", they thought I wanted to put cash on deposit. This locked all my money up at the cage. I was not allowed to draw against it at the table. It took awhile to get that straightened out.

We used to carry quite a bit (higher than the average in the poll) until a couple years ago. Now we open a credit line with the casino(s) we know we'll be gambling in, with the balance in traveller's checks. Vegas has branches of the bank we use at home so we I suppose we could go access our money there too (haven't tried yet though). As another poster remarked, I also use a "giveaway" wallet....

.....

Quote: gofaster87

Thank god Im not living in paranoia like some of you are. Many times I have carried 20K+ and didn't even consider looking over my shoulder. You people must have some serious phobias. I could understand if someone had previously been mugged but to look for shadows and change direction out of precaution is just plain fear and ridiculous. Only other reason that this behaviour would be excusable is if you actually thought you were a secret agent and trying to hide from Goldfinger.

Haha I had to laugh at your post but I do agree with you 100%

Quote: gofaster87

Thank god Im not living in paranoia like some of you are. Many times I have carried 20K+ and didn't even consider looking over my shoulder. You people must have some serious phobias. I could understand if someone had previously been mugged but to look for shadows and change direction out of precaution is just plain fear and ridiculous. Only other reason that this behaviour would be excusable is if you actually thought you were a secret agent and trying to hide from Goldfinger.

I think it's also dangerous. If I were a mugger, I'd be paying attention to the paranoid dude.

Personally, the only time I've ever carried $20k is when I've accidentally won money at the tables. But I will regularly carry $5k-$8k at the start of a day. Also, I no longer leave any money back in the hotel. After being robbed by the Rio maids last year, I do not consider my room to be a secure place.

Quote: gofaster87

Thank god Im not living in paranoia like some of you are. Many times I have carried 20K+ and didn't even consider looking over my shoulder.

The original guy who started the Computer Group in the early 80's would often walk around Vegas with 100K on him. He was a paranoid mess and would run full out from casino to casino (I'm serious) and stand shaking next to a security guard till he thought it was safe, and run to the next casino. If he was driving, he would have security walk with him to his car. Talk about drawing attention to yourself. It got so bad he almost had a nervous breakdown and got saved by pro's like Billy Walters and others.

I was followed out of a casino by some gangbangers right after cashing out.

I was lucky enough to run into a crowd of people coming out of late theater show though on what was a minute before an empty sidewalk. When I checked back behind me, they had done a 180 and were headed in the other direction.

That was my closest call. Never been mugged though.

Yeah, if you're a guy, and generally can take care of yourself, there's not as many situations where you have to get worried about. But that was one that made me be a little more careful about being too carefree.

Quote: gofaster87

Thank god Im not living in paranoia like some of you are. Many times I have carried 20K+ and didn't even consider looking over my shoulder. You people must have some serious phobias. I could understand if someone had previously been mugged but to look for shadows and change direction out of precaution is just plain fear and ridiculous. Only other reason that this behaviour would be excusable is if you actually thought you were a secret agent and trying to hide from Goldfinger.

I wouldn't call it paranoia but rather "situational awareness." I doubt people are doing the James Bond stuff all the time, but it does not hurt to be aware. And unlike the TSA you can profile who is following you. The little old lady you can ignore. The burly looking dude you want to be careful around.

Stratfor.com has good stuff on "situational awareness" and how you cannot do it all the time, but should when you need to. Actually they are a great source all around for interesting insights. Most readers here would like them.