Heading to Vegas? Take Advantage of These Hidden Perks

A trip to Las Vegas is exciting. Flying out to the middle of the desert to gamble, see shows, and eat at top restaurants has become an American pastime. After a plethora of shows and movies have been made about and in Las Vegas, the public is very aware of what the city is all about.

Gone are the days of Mobsters ruling things. Also gone is the perception of Vegas being “sin city”, geared specifically for adults. The city is now family-friendly and owned and managed by huge conglomerates. Being a VIP no longer means the sportsbook teller and hotel manager knowing you by your first name. Now you are a serial number on a plastic rewards card that you have to stand in an hour-long line to check in with.

But there are still some great hacks to be found at Vegas. And unless you travel there more than once per year, forget about the goofy rewards programs where they track your betting action an blow up your email inbox all year long.

Free Bets

In a push to get people to start using their apps, sportsbooks like BetMGM have created kiosks around the teller area that will usually have an agent standing guard. This person will offer you something like $250 in “free bets” (free plays) if you download and deposit at the app. If you are worried about betting not being legal in your home state and therefore being disqualified from downloading the app, don’t be. As long as your mobile device is pinging in Nevada, you can place bets.

The most recent enticement from BetMGM is $250 in free bets. If you download, register and deposit right there they will give you up to 5 X $50 free bets (100% match). The best part is if you win any or all of these free bets you can cash out immediately. There is no rollover. But make sure to do so before you hop on the plane because once you get home (if your state doesn’t have BetMGM) you will no longer be able to bet. I actually wonder how much money has been left on the table because people left for home without using their free bets. Note: You can place your bets all the way up until you leave Nevada’s border. You can withdrawal your cash from anywhere.

Free Drinks

Another Las Vegas hack which also happens to be at the MGM Grand is that you get a drink ticket for placing as little as a five dollar bet. The way you can take advantage of this offer is to simply bet a few horses over at the racebook for $5 each (minimum wager). Get yourself a couple of free drink tickets and the bet is essentially free money. Mix up your horse picks between long and medium shots for a chance to actually cash in. You are playing with house money.

Don’t waste a bunch of time trying to handicap the horses either. You don’t know anything about them and every minute you waste handicapping a horse for a $5 bet is time you could be using to study your big sports bet or walk around the common area and check out the slot machines. If you don’t see a wager that you like being offered at the sportsbook you can always check out offshore sportsbook options. Many an offshore bet have taken place from Vegas for this very reason.