How to bring your bankroll for a trip to Vegas
 

I haven't played in Vegas in about 6 months, and my bankroll (and thus stakes) have tripled since then.

For those of you who make regular trips to Vegas, how do you handle bringing your bankroll?

Specifically, my ATM will only let me withdraw $500/day, which is basically one buy-in -- yay. But I don't want to withdraw for weeks beforehand and be carrying around wads and wads of cash. Or if I get a bunch of travellers checks, but have a very good day or two at the tables, I again, don't want to be carrying around huge wads of cash in my wallet, for security reasons.

I also don't want to pay exorbitant fees for using a credit/debit card.

How do you guys usually handle this kind of thing? I tried a search, but I'm thinking I don't know which keywords to use or anything because I didn't get useful results.

Thanks for suggestions.

Re: How to bring your bankroll for a trip to Vegas
 

Just make a bank transfer to the cage at the casino where you are staying. Call the casino, i am sure that they can provide specifics.

Re: How to bring your bankroll for a trip to Vegas
 

This is a great question. I am bringing my largest bankroll to date and am leaving in the morning. I don't know about you, even though I consider this a large bank roll it will still fit in my pocket. I am staying in a higher end hotel and when I check it, I will put most of it in the safe.

I have a buddy who plays a little higher stake and he has a host. But I think he still stays less than 10K. I believe he told me one time that he wires the money to the hotel or an account and he has access when needed.

Re: How to bring your bankroll for a trip to Vegas
 

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Just make a bank transfer to the cage at the casino where you are staying. Call the casino, i am sure that they can provide specifics.

[/ QUOTE ]

So if you are bouncing around lots of casinos, do you take cash when you leave the casino that you first wired it to?

Re: How to bring your bankroll for a trip to Vegas
 

for less than 15k, use rubber band + pocket

Re: How to bring your bankroll for a trip to Vegas
 

wrapped in a rubberband stuck in pocket.. but if you are carrying a grip of scratch, you can go lowbudget and put it wrapped in rubberbands in a brown lunch sack, or if you wanna go high class wear a suit and put the greenbacks in a briefcase

Re: How to bring your bankroll for a trip to Vegas
 

Are you moving to vegas? I wouldn't think you need to bring your entire roll, and if you are playing 2/5 NL you shouldn't need more than 5k or so. Can't you just withdraw in person at your bank and then just carrying the paper?

Re: How to bring your bankroll for a trip to Vegas
 

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for less than 15k, use rubber band + pocket

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Re: How to bring your bankroll for a trip to Vegas
 

ya. 5K in hundos. rubber band. pocket. you're all set. and yes you can walk around in vegas with 5k in your pocket no problem. you could strap it to your head with a sweat band and still wouldn't get robbed.

Re: How to bring your bankroll for a trip to Vegas
 

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Are you moving to vegas? I wouldn't think you need to bring your entire roll, and if you are playing 2/5 NL you shouldn't need more than 5k or so. Can't you just withdraw in person at your bank and then just carrying the paper?

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm just taking a trip. I'm concerned precisely about carrying around $5k in my wallet in Vegas (fear of being robbed/pickpocketed/etc), but it sounds like many of you think that I'm paranoid.

Re: How to bring your bankroll for a trip to Vegas
 

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ya. 5K in hundos. rubber band. pocket. you're all set. and yes you can walk around in vegas with 5k in your pocket no problem. you could strap it to your head with a sweat band and still wouldn't get robbed.

[/ QUOTE ]

don't try this at home kids

Re: How to bring your bankroll for a trip to Vegas
 

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[ QUOTE ]
Are you moving to vegas? I wouldn't think you need to bring your entire roll, and if you are playing 2/5 NL you shouldn't need more than 5k or so. Can't you just withdraw in person at your bank and then just carrying the paper?

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm just taking a trip. I'm concerned precisely about carrying around $5k in my wallet in Vegas (fear of being robbed/pickpocketed/etc), but it sounds like many of you think that I'm paranoid.

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wallet in back pocket. roll in rubber band in front pocket. you have to realize that this is not a lot of money in terms of walking along the vegas strip. you will be fine.

Re: How to bring your bankroll for a trip to Vegas
 

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[ QUOTE ]
Are you moving to vegas? I wouldn't think you need to bring your entire roll, and if you are playing 2/5 NL you shouldn't need more than 5k or so. Can't you just withdraw in person at your bank and then just carrying the paper?

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm just taking a trip. I'm concerned precisely about carrying around $5k in my wallet in Vegas (fear of being robbed/pickpocketed/etc), but it sounds like many of you think that I'm paranoid.

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Keep one hand casually in your front pocket with the rollif you're worried. Cargo pants can also provide a good, modular storage system. I can attest to Velcro pockets saving my wallet at least once.

Re: How to bring your bankroll for a trip to Vegas
 

Most just fill their pockets. If you can't fit hundreds use cashier's checks.

Re: How to bring your bankroll for a trip to Vegas
 

Give the fine folks at Brink a call and rent one of their security officers for the weekend, He'll carry the money around in a big bag with a $ on it and it will only cost about $600 a day. You also get taken too and fro in an armoured car.

Or just do what everyone else does and wrap that rascal and throw it in the front pocket.

Re: How to bring your bankroll for a trip to Vegas
 

Probably being a little paranoid, just remind yourself that a lot of other people probably have $5k or more on them

If you will be staying at one poker room for most of the trip just keep your cash in $1k/5k chips and cash them out at the end of the trip, those fit pretty easily into the wallet and take up less space and you shouldnt ever have more than 5 chips at a time

If you start to talk > $15k cash you will probably be playing one room for the whole trip and can start to just wire it back and forth

I am much more afraid of getting robbed at my local casino vs getting robbed in Vegas, just dont be the idiot that walks between the strip and Palms/Rio area late at night..

Re: How to bring your bankroll for a trip to Vegas
 

In the poker poker room, everyone has a roll over 5K. Your roll won't even turn the waitress's head.

Re: How to bring your bankroll for a trip to Vegas
 

Exactly. Go to a big sportsbook Sunday at 9:30 am. You'll see guys pulling rolls out of their pockets and putting 5 grand each on 4 or 5 games.

Re: How to bring your bankroll for a trip to Vegas
 

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for less than 10k, use rubber band + pocket

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't bring more than 10k on a plane, unless you want to be detained in the event its discovered.

I can't recommend the tinfoil & cucumber method that used to be very popular:

http://www.cinema.com/image_lib/4153_st1.jpg

TT [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]

Re: How to bring your bankroll for a trip to Vegas
 

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Don't bring more than 10k on a plane, unless you want to be detained in the event its discovered.

[/ QUOTE ]

Far as I know, $10K is only important when traveling abroad. You can't come/go outside the US with >$10K without paperwork. But domestically, there ain't no laws about this that I can find. Doesn't mean some power-tripping law enforcement officials won't get a bloodhound to bark at your money and try to take your wad if you bring a bunch, but I know of nothing magical about $10K.

Re: How to bring your bankroll for a trip to Vegas
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Don't bring more than 10k on a plane, unless you want to be detained in the event its discovered.

[/ QUOTE ]

Far as I know, $10K is only important when traveling abroad. You can't come/go outside the US with >$10K without paperwork. But domestically, there ain't no laws about this that I can find. Doesn't mean some power-tripping law enforcement officials won't get a bloodhound to bark at your money and try to take your wad if you bring a bunch, but I know of nothing magical about $10K.

[/ QUOTE ]

This has been discussed here in the past, welcome to the post 911 world. 10k is illegal overseas, 10k domestically gets you stopped and investigated, but its not illegal.

TT [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]

Re: How to bring your bankroll for a trip to Vegas
 

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This has been discussed here in the past, welcome to the post 911 world. 10k is illegal overseas, 10k domestically gets you stopped and investigated, but its not illegal.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, it's been discussed, and nobody has yet come up with any evidence $10,000 is magic.

It's not just post-911, it's more post-war-on-drugs. I read a story a decade ago about a car dealer driving between Wichita and Tulsa who got stopped for speeding, or some such, and a drug dog alerted on his $50K cash wad. Cops took it, said it was drug money as proven by the dogs finding the scent on it (something like 95% of US $100's have measurable traces of drugs) and told the guy if he wanted it back he could take 'em to court. He did and eventually after a long fight did get it. He was lucky--he was going to a used car auction and obviously had to have cash, and could prove he got the cash out of his business.

But I've still never seen anything official that says $10,000 is magical. It's all rumor. Anybody have any actual documentation to show that $9500 is ok while $10,500 get you hassled?

Re: How to bring your bankroll for a trip to Vegas
 

If you are just carrying 15K in your pocket, how is anyone in airport security even going to know? It's not like cash is going to set off a metal detector.

Re: How to bring your bankroll for a trip to Vegas
 

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If you are just carrying 15K in your pocket, how is anyone in airport security even going to know? It's not like cash is going to set off a metal detector.

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Odds are very very good they will never know you have it. But if a drug dog happens to be sniffing up and down the crowd, it could notice cocaine on your Benjamins. Or if you get selected for extra checking, a "I will now use the back of my hand to check the area" pat down may generate a request that you reveal what the bulge is. But even if it happens, odds are good the screener will just say "thank you, you can put it back in your pocket".

I've never been asked to turn out my pockets despite several times being singled out for extra security (hint: don't book one-way tickets and don't change your flights one day prior). I only once came across a working drug dog in an airport and he was being trained...the cops asked someone in line if they could pretty please hide a scent thingy in someone's luggage so the doggie could find it. Doggie did find it... good boy.

Re: How to bring your bankroll for a trip to Vegas
 

http://www.livetourartists.com/al_si...ns-big-hat.jpg

Re: How to bring your bankroll for a trip to Vegas
 

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It's not just post-911, it's more post-war-on-drugs.

[/ QUOTE ]

It is the long standing war on drugs that brought about all these money laundering provisions.

There is NO restriction on carrying ANY amount of cash or negotiable instruments within the United States. However, there *was* a law that allowed LE to arrest "property" that they had a "reasonable suspicion" was connected with an illegal operation.

Clinton signed the "Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act of 2000" which placed more safeguards to prevent the frequent abuse by law enforcement officers. (Police were going around taking large sums of cash from people on mere suspicion, and that cash made its way into police department related developments, like new gyms, vacation bonus funds, etc.) ANd these seizures were for amounts LESS than $10,000.

Bush in 2001 signed the Forfeiture of Terrorist Assets Under the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 - and that can be read here:

http://www.fear.org/

The Government can seize property based on probable cause. Generally the seizure must be pursuant to a warrant, but warrantless seizures are authorized in exigent circumstances.

Having said that, a trip to and from Vegas for the purpose of gambling is a perfectly LEGAL reason to be carrying a large sum of cash.


The "$10,000 myth". The $10,000 figure comes up alot, and I think there is some misunderstanding regarding it.

1) A financial institution is required to report *any* transaction of $10,000 or more, and at their discretion, report any transaction of $3,000 or more. A casino counts as a financial institution.

2) You can make transactions of any amount, but amounts over $10,000 are reported as a transaction. NOT AS INCOME, SIMPLY AS A TRANSACTION.

3) You cannot import or export from the United States more than $10,000 in Cash, Negotiable instruments, gold, etc. without DECLARING it. But so long as you declare it, you can import and export as much as you want.


I think it is these things that gave rise to the "can't carry 10K or more" myth.

AB

Re: How to bring your bankroll for a trip to Vegas
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
for less than 10k, use rubber band + pocket

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't bring more than 10k on a plane, unless you want to be detained in the event its discovered.

I can't recommend the tinfoil & cucumber method that used to be very popular:

http://www.cinema.com/image_lib/4153_st1.jpg

TT [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

I highly doubt than amounts bigger than 10K will get much, if any, trouble at the airport if you also have a ticket to LV.

Re: How to bring your bankroll for a trip to Vegas
 

I brought 10k on my last Vegas trip...small bulge...lied to customs officer at Coutts....no biggi...brought 13k home...small bulge...lied to customs officer at Sweetgrass...no biggi

But I really want to know how the hell americans can exist without loonies and toonies...$1 bills so annoying

Re: How to bring your bankroll for a trip to Vegas
 

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[ QUOTE ]
ya. 5K in hundos. rubber band. pocket. you're all set. and yes you can walk around in vegas with 5k in your pocket no problem. you could strap it to your head with a sweat band and still wouldn't get robbed.

[/ QUOTE ]

don't try this at home kids

[/ QUOTE ]

Wouldn't home be the safest place to do this??

Re: How to bring your bankroll for a trip to Vegas
 

This is not a problem I've ever had, but when you win a ton of money (like over 20k) and try to cash out at the regular cashier window, do they just count out those 200 Franklins for you to pack into your pockets? How do those guys playing big games cash out big wins if they have no previous financial arrangements with the casino?

Re: How to bring your bankroll for a trip to Vegas
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Don't bring more than 10k on a plane, unless you want to be detained in the event its discovered.

[/ QUOTE ]

Far as I know, $10K is only important when traveling abroad. You can't come/go outside the US with >$10K without paperwork. But domestically, there ain't no laws about this that I can find. Doesn't mean some power-tripping law enforcement officials won't get a bloodhound to bark at your money and try to take your wad if you bring a bunch, but I know of nothing magical about $10K.

[/ QUOTE ]

This has been discussed here in the past, welcome to the post 911 world. 10k is illegal overseas, 10k domestically gets you stopped and investigated, but its not illegal.

TT [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

TT and crew. You guys usually put up good posts but this is the most flawed thing I can think off. I mean 10k with a RUBBER BAND..... That's SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO old school.

We are in a new century and a specialized money clip is now in order [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: How to bring your bankroll for a trip to Vegas
 

rubber band is way more pimp than a clip.

Re: How to bring your bankroll for a trip to Vegas
 

Lets see: Rubber band, envelope, paperclips, wire transfers, checks, travelers cheques.

Ok, how the hell is this thread still going and being reposted ever month? LOL [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] too

Re: How to bring your bankroll for a trip to Vegas
 

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carry the money around in a big bag with a $ on it

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This is really the only suggestion worth doing IMO.

Re: How to bring your bankroll for a trip to Vegas
 

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This is not a problem I've ever had, but when you win a ton of money (like over 20k) and try to cash out at the regular cashier window, do they just count out those 200 Franklins for you to pack into your pockets? How do those guys playing big games cash out big wins if they have no previous financial arrangements with the casino?

[/ QUOTE ]

No, they pay you with the bank-wrapped $5k bundles.

Re: How to bring your bankroll for a trip to Vegas
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Don't bring more than 10k on a plane, unless you want to be detained in the event its discovered.

[/ QUOTE ]

Far as I know, $10K is only important when traveling abroad. You can't come/go outside the US with >$10K without paperwork. But domestically, there ain't no laws about this that I can find. Doesn't mean some power-tripping law enforcement officials won't get a bloodhound to bark at your money and try to take your wad if you bring a bunch, but I know of nothing magical about $10K.

[/ QUOTE ]

This has been discussed here in the past, welcome to the post 911 world. 10k is illegal overseas, 10k domestically gets you stopped and investigated, but its not illegal.

TT [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

TT and crew. You guys usually put up good posts but this is the most flawed thing I can think off. I mean 10k with a RUBBER BAND..... That's SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO old school.

We are in a new century and a specialized money clip is now in order [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Metal money clip = sets off metal detector. Somebody needs to come out with a pimptastic carbon fiber money clip.

Re: How to bring your bankroll for a trip to Vegas
 

[ QUOTE ]
This is not a problem I've ever had, but when you win a ton of money (like over 20k) and try to cash out at the regular cashier window, do they just count out those 200 Franklins for you to pack into your pockets? How do those guys playing big games cash out big wins if they have no previous financial arrangements with the casino?

[/ QUOTE ]

Most people at these limits play frequently so they just turn most of the money into large chips, 5k "flags" at Bellagio or 5k "pink chips" at Commerce and use those chips to buy in the next time they play. Some slowly turn them into cash so as to avoid having a CTR filed by the casino (for 10k in withdrawals over a 24 hour period I believe). At Commerce the players' bank is a great way to avoid this problem where you have an account with them and can deposit / withdraw whenever. I have no clue what the really really big players do (say over 100k up/down in a day) but hope to one day find out.

To OP: I can empathize with your fear as I still remember the first time I got a $100 bill from a casino and was carrying that around, I remember my first $1000, and $10,000 in my pocket, and you just get used to it. Whoever said turn it into casino chips, that's a great idea for someone used to carrying around a lot of money because its smaller, but for someone already worried, its smaller and easier to lose. The first time I had a 1k Bellagio chip I was checking my wallet every 5 minutes to make sure it was still tucked away in the pocket I put it in, so much money in one little spot is scarier than a bunch of hundred dollar bills IMO.

-DeathDonkey

Re: How to bring your bankroll for a trip to Vegas
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
for less than 10k, use rubber band + pocket

[/ QUOTE ]

Don't bring more than 10k on a plane, unless you want to be detained in the event its discovered.

I can't recommend the tinfoil & cucumber method that used to be very popular:

http://www.cinema.com/image_lib/4153_st1.jpg

TT [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

I highly doubt than amounts bigger than 10K will get much, if any, trouble at the airport if you also have a ticket to LV.

[/ QUOTE ]

But you are still likely to be detained while they make sure your story checks out. They just want to make sure your not wanted for a crime when your carrying big dough. Of course they wont know unless you get searched - and I have been searched.

TT [img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img]

Re: How to bring your bankroll for a trip to Vegas
 

Do you have a bank that has a branch in Vegas? If so, transfer some cash to that account, and you can always withdraw extra or deposit winnings there.

Also, you can call your bank and arrange for a temporary suspension of your withdrawal limit. You wouldn't be the first person who wanted unlimited $ access during a weekend in Vegas.

If all of those options prove too difficult, just get a marker.

And FWIW, I've carried more than $10k on both domestic and international flights without any issues. The only hassle at all was doing a little paperwork on the international flights. And yes security has found my cash on a domestic flight. No, they didn't take it. (Disclaimer: I'm a 30-ish white guy.)

Re: How to bring your bankroll for a trip to Vegas
 

I had around 20k on me going from Orlando to Buffalo. Since I booked my flight so late I guess they searched me. They found my stash, and stopped me for a little bit and asked me to explain myself. I told them I was going for WPT event, and you could just google me and find out I was a poker player. Shortly after, I was released.


FWIW I've walked around Vegas with ~50k in cash on me. No worries, just get used to it. When you were a little kid I bet the 1st time you had a 20 you felt really nervous about losing it. Then the same thing with a 100, etc. etc.