moneytalks

You’ve saved your pennies, read my vacation tips and are ready to head out to Vegas for a few days of fun. Your only problem is that your gambling budget is a little slim. No worries, I’ve got you covered. It is nice to think of yourself as a high roller but most of us aren’t, so we must conserve our money so we don’t go broke the first night. First, we have to look at the best games to play. The best games give you the best odds, the best odds give you the best chance at winning or at the very least the best chance at making your money last. Craps, blackjack and Baccarat have the best odds. The house advantage is under 1% for these three games. This means that you are expected to lose $1 for every $100 wagered at the table. Keep in mind these numbers are based off of millions of hands or rolls so this is not exact science for your 3 day trip. But numbers are numbers and you have the best shot at making your money last at these tables. Second, avoid slots and what I like to call, carnival games. These games are your let it ride, 3 card poker, roulette and others. These games carry a high house edge therefore mathematically your money is not supposed to go as far. If you must play slots and are looking for a time consumer, play penny slots and bet the minimum. And take your time between spins. That’s really the only advise I can think of for slots. One of your best bets is in the sportsbook. A $20 bet will last an entire 3 hour game. And every play is just as exciting as your next hand of blackjack. Nowhere else in Vegas will a $20 bet give you 3 hours of fun. Next, use the big name casinos for things other than gambling. Look through their malls, watch their free shows but when you want to gamble, head to the smaller casinos where the limits are as low as $3! Nothing makes your money go further than betting less. Good luck going to the Wynn and finding a table limit smaller than $10, and that’s during off peak hours. Peak times like Friday nights will give you upwards of $20/$50 minimums at most tables. Your $50 is better used betting $3-5 a hand opposed to $20 a hand, that’s for sure. You could even break my “no roulette” rule at some of these casinos since they often have $0.50 limits on some roulette tables. Having fun is key and it’s hard to have fun when you are have to wager a large portion of your budget on one hand so low table limits are key. That about sums it up, stick to low edge games, let some sports betting spread your fun and your money out, avoid the high house edge games and find the low limit games at the smaller casinos. Follow these tips and your low budget will last you days of gambling.