Vegas Spending Money

TexasChainstoreMascara

Any Vegas veterans that could help please?

I'm travelling to Vegas for this years World Series of Poker and have a question about travel money. I'm taking a large sum but not an obscene amount. How am I best to take this money?

A) Cash US$. I've been advised that this is best but I have security concerns about splitting notes between my luggage, person and hand luggage. I have heard that casinos will only take cash for entry. Is this true?

Travellers Cheques. I am just worried that I will not get a great rate to buy these and I will be charged a commission for exchanging them in Vegas.

C) Prepaid Card. Could I load up a card and use it like a debit card over there? The problems I see with this is will casinos not accept for tournament buy-ins, and would I be charged fees for drawing cash on it, would this also be restricted to maximum withdrawals per day?

Any help appreciated.

silvercar

Never, ever put cash in your checked-in luggage!

Lots of cash machines around, so a pre-paid debit card would work. You need to find one that won't charge you a lot for drawing cash. I have seen Caxton fx cards recommended.

the other option, maybe as a back up, is a UK card.

jonesMUFCforever

Don't forget if it is going to be more than $10k to declare it when going through border control.

Moto2

silvercar wrote: »

Never, ever put cash in your checked-in luggage!

Lots of cash machines around, so a pre-paid debit card would work. You need to find one that won't charge you a lot for drawing cash. I have seen Caxton fx cards recommended.

the other option, maybe as a back up, is a UK card.

If you're talking large sums, you'll need to be careful of daily limits on withdrawals so you'd need to cover yourself with more than one card if you're likely to exceed the limit on any given day. There are often limits on the number of withdrawals per day too.

eDicky

A business in the USA that doesn't take card payment would be a rare thing, but I've no experience of casinos. $100 bills would reduce bulk. Travellers cheques are expensive and outdated. See:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cards/travel-credit-cards

- and links there to prepaid cards, travel cash.

blindman

TexasChainstoreMascara wrote: »

Any Vegas veterans that could help please?


Any help appreciated.

Ask in the Las Vegas thread ??

StuieUK34

Do what I do....
I take lots of cash, and also have my 'FairFX' $ card... (prepaid)
Not sure if just me, or for any account holder, but my limit I can store on that card went from $7500 to $50k !

U can use the card in the casinos no probs, and get hit with a fee (tells u on the machine how much it will cost on how much u take out - referring to MGM hotels)... lets u withdraw Lots, but could spend a few bucks getting your money!

Or you could use CasinoRoyale casino opposite Mirage, they have an ATM that charges $1 , but think the Prepaid card is limited to $1k per day withdrawal...
U withdraw $500 = $503 ($1 fee + $2 fee), and next transaction would be $490 ($493).


We take just short of $10k in cash, and have 'x' amount on the fairfx card....

TexasChainstoreMascara

Thanks guys,

I think I might pre-register for some tournaments online, take some cash, and load up a prepaid card for the rest.

I'm obviously hoping to win big, and my other concern is that I heard casinos will only pay out in cash, will not give a cheque or wire transfer. Is this true?? Worried about bringing a million dollar cash back on my flight.

agrinnall

TexasChainstoreMascara wrote: »

Worried about bringing a million dollar cash back on my flight.

Blow it all on hookers and booze before you leave :cool:.