Leaving in 3 days -- Forgot to Make Money Transfer Plans

#1 07-24-2006, 12:07 PM

So I'm a procrastinating idiot, and I'm first realizing that having money to indulge in the Vegas cash games will actually require me to withdraw/transfer some money. Anyway, I'm leaving Thursday morning, which leaves me with the following few questions...

1) If I play to bring ~$3-5K, is it even necessary to plan any workaround to simply carrying the cash on the plane with me? Should I wire? Traveller's checks?

2) If I do need to wire, is there more lead time required than just 3 days in order to have the money waiting for me? Can wires be done over the phone?

3) Worst case scenario, if I don't take any money with me, will I be able to withdraw $3-$5K from a casino ATM machine without getting charged up to wazoo?

Help me salvage my vacation.

kutuz_off · #2 07-24-2006, 12:16 PM

Can't you write a personal check to yourself and go cash it in a bank in Las Vegas?

ohkanada · #3 07-24-2006, 12:16 PM

I will be bringing similar amounts on Thursday and I plan to go to the bank and get the cash earlier in the day.

Ken

Superfluous Man · #4 07-24-2006, 12:17 PM

What's up, procrastination buddy! I've also completely forgotten to do any such planning!

I was actually just planning on taking $3-5k in cash, as, if it's not an international flight, I don't think you'd catch any [censored]. I would just plan on keeping it on my person (or in my carry-on, which would never leave my sight). Secure pockets (like, ones that can be velcroed/zipped/buttoned shut) should work. So should putting it all in a condom and shoving it up your ass, if you're really paranoid.

I don't know the answer to #2, but I'd imagine the answer is to #3 is a solid "no," and your bank/the ATM probably limits withdrawals to make this inconvenient, if not impossible, to do in 1-2 days.

Todd · #5 07-24-2006, 12:30 PM

If you use a national bank like Bank of America, you should be able to go to any branch in Vegas, and transact your business.

I have done this, tho not for the same level of cash.

T

TripleQ · #6 07-24-2006, 01:31 PM

1) I have carried similar amounts on flights, across international borders to boot - no problem really

2) The whole idea of a wire is that it's instantaneous. Now whether you have the appropriate account/routing numbers might be subject to your planning ability. I'd call your bank for details on this one before leaving.

3) I have withdrawn similar amounts from ATMs in a casino... yeah, the game I was playing in was so good I had to withdraw so much :P Got charged pretty obscene amounts in fees though so I'd avoid this if possible.

Temp Hutter · #7 07-24-2006, 01:49 PM

[ QUOTE ]
So I'm a procrastinating idiot, and I'm first realizing that having money to indulge in the Vegas cash games will actually require me to withdraw/transfer some money. Anyway, I'm leaving Thursday morning, which leaves me with the following few questions...

1) If I play to bring ~$3-5K, is it even necessary to plan any workaround to simply carrying the cash on the plane with me? Should I wire? Traveller's checks?

2) If I do need to wire, is there more lead time required than just 3 days in order to have the money waiting for me? Can wires be done over the phone?

3) Worst case scenario, if I don't take any money with me, will I be able to withdraw $3-$5K from a casino ATM machine without getting charged up to wazoo?

Help me salvage my vacation.

[/ QUOTE ]

On domestic flights, cash is not a problem even over $10K. Wires can be done over the phone and in my experince the money is available within hours. Most ATM's have daily limits.

Speaking of carrying cash on an airplane - my last Vegas trip I had $17K in cash in the two front pockets of my shorts. I forgot about my cell phone and set off the alarm going through security. The security officer made the usual speel about "do you have any other metal in your pockets" and I said "no it must have been my cell phone." She kept insisting that I had something in my pockets because she could see it and I was reluctant to say out loud in front of a lot of people that it was cash. After a brief exchange of her pointing at my pockets and me saying "its nothing" she leaned closer to me and asked if it was cash and I said "yes" and she waived me through without a problem.

#8 07-24-2006, 01:54 PM

Anyone else use BofA? I seem to recall them not allowing over phone wires.

Seems that most people think brining ~$5K on a plane won't be too big of a deal anyhow, so I'll probably just go down that route. I'll certainly look into the wiring option though.

I seem to recall there being a thread devoted to the logistics of wiring to a casino cage. I'll search, but if anyone finds the link, please post.

integrate · #9 07-24-2006, 01:54 PM

Wasn't there a woman while back to was either flying into or out of Texas carrying $45K and was detained/questioned? I believe they only detained her for the only reason that she was carrying quite a sum of money.

AcesUp · #10 07-24-2006, 01:56 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Wasn't there a woman while back to was either flying into or out of Texas carrying $45K and was detained/questioned? I believe they only detained her for the only reason that she was carrying quite a sum of money.

[/ QUOTE ]

Anything under $10K shouldn't be any problem at all. I regularly carry $10-20K on planes to Vegas, and the couple times I've been questioned, it took about 20 seconds to resolve the issue...

-Aces