Traveling to Vegas with cash...

[chesspain]

I will be heading out to Vegas next week, and I would prefer to not have to travel with $1500 in cash. Do all of the casino chip cages readily accept traveler's checks?

[mosch]

I don't know about travelers checks, but if you want $1500, you should be able to talk to your bank and ask them to lift your daily cash withdrawal limit for a day, or fill out paperwork to have them lift it permanently.

If you just shove it in your pocket and go, just make sure not to wear your 'This man's pocket contains $1500' t-shirt while you're walking down the strip.

[snakehead]

[ QUOTE ]
I would prefer to not have to travel with $1500 in cash

[/ QUOTE ]

f'n lol. best laugh I've had all week. you must be a wild and crazy guy.

[Homer]

Stop being such a f'ing a'hole, if that is possible.

[Ulysses]

[ QUOTE ]
Do all of the casino chip cages readily accept traveler's checks?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes.

[chesspain]

Thanks for the advice about the daily withdrawel amount. I've decided to bring about $500 cash to start. My bank said I would be able to remove an additional $500 per day from an ATM, which is the max. amount I would access in the unfortunate even that I lose the first $500 cash playing 3/6 - 5/10. I realize that even if I need to pay $2-$4 in combined ATM fees between the two banks, it will still be cheaper than paying a 1% traveler's check fee.

[JTG51]

Wow, I guess you weren't kidding about being more blunt these days.

[andyfox]

"best laugh I've had all week."

-You must be a wild and crazy guy.

[HDPM]

Ah, there's some poker wisdom in snakehead's post. Perhaps it was indelicately worded. But you don't move up to the games snakehead plays if you worry about carrying 1500. Perhaps the good Dr. doesn't want to move up or have the same attitude about money. But regardless of limit, I think you have to be comfortable carrying an adequate amount of cash for it. If you are uncomfortable carrying it, are you uncomfortable playing with it? Not necessarily, but 1500 isn't that much. I don't play big, but if I am playing 10-20 or 15-30, I don't worry about having a few grand on me. I travel w/ it. Fold it once and pocket it w/ a rubber band. Easier than worrying about it, getting traveler's checks or going to the atm. It's just poker money. Carry cash and enjoy. Snakehead's standards are high tho. He chided me for not playing at least 30-60 or the 80 games. I try to conceal my nittiness from him. /images/graemlins/smirk.gif

[Homer]

First off, let me say that my response was in poor taste, and for that I apologize. I certainly could have gotten my point across without being so harsh.

Ah, there's some poker wisdom in snakehead's post. Perhaps it was indelicately worded.

If there was any poker wisdom, it was purely coincidental. snakehead displayed no interest in answering the original poster's question, only in mocking him because he was concerned about carrying $1500 on his person. I would have had no problem had he said, "If you ever want to play mid-high stakes poker, you will have to get used to carrying around large sums of cash", because at least then he is offering some advice. Instead, it seems that his comments were intended only to make chesspain feel bad about worrying over such a paltry amount of money.

Perhaps the good Dr. doesn't want to move up or have the same attitude about money.

Right, and I think that people should keep that in mind when responding to posts such as these. Different amounts of money mean different things to different people.

But regardless of limit, I think you have to be comfortable carrying an adequate amount of cash for it. If you are uncomfortable carrying it, are you uncomfortable playing with it? Not necessarily, but 1500 isn't that much. I don't play big, but if I am playing 10-20 or 15-30, I don't worry about having a few grand on me. I travel w/ it. Fold it once and pocket it w/ a rubber band. Easier than worrying about it, getting traveler's checks or going to the atm. It's just poker money. Carry cash and enjoy.

You make some good points here. Had snakehead done the same I would not have taken issue.

-- Homer

[ChipWrecked]

Could I get a definition of 'nit'? I have a feeling I am one... /images/graemlins/blush.gif

[Vehn]

I'm not positive, but I'm fairly sure that everyone in this thread has way too much sand in their vaginas.

[chesspain]

Actually, my concern relates to traveling to Vegas with the money, given the likelihood that I may be forced to empty my pockets repeatedly going through numerous airport checkpoints, increasing the likelihood that the money may get lost or stolen.

I feel perfectly fine carrying $500-$1000 with me while I am in Vegas, which will be sufficient at the limits at which I will be playing.

[HDPM]

I don't think I've committed any major federal crimes by not putting my cash in the bin at the metal detectors. I don't care if it's 100 or 1000. I have had those magnetic money clips and put that in, but kept the cash in my pocket. Cash isn't illegal yet and it can be carried on board. Keys change metal goes in the bin. Folding green stuff stays on me until some TSA flunkie tells me otherwise. You are right to be concerned about a TSA person getting their mitts on it. But I have not had such a problem. I have heard the problems of people carrying really big cash thru airports, but I don't have those.

[HDPM]

You know, a guy who won't bet a nickel fat meat's greasy, a dollar he's alive, etc..... Basically a person with no gamble in them. Just real tight, cheap, etc... I really don't have a lot of gamble in me, although I don't consider myself a nit. I will step up and play and don't get real cheap about things. But I am sure some big gamblers would consider me a nit. One of those terms without a real definition, a lot based on context. Compared to snakehead I am definitely a nit. Vince told me so too. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[ComboProf]

You won't set off the security alarms with such a small sum of money.
When I was worried I'd carry the cash in a money belt, cheap one from
wal-mart. I also carray two wallets. One has my poker money the other
my expense money. They never mix. Having separate wallets is a good
way to keep track of your wins/loses. If you keep bleeding it off into
expenses it is easy to get confused about your poker success. I bought
a cheap black wallet from Wal-mart with zippered compartment, that
keeps and conceals the bulk of my fortune. I keep a session buy in
in the front compartment.

[M.B.E.]

[ QUOTE ]
Actually, my concern relates to traveling to Vegas with the money, given the likelihood that I may be forced to empty my pockets repeatedly going through numerous airport checkpoints, increasing the likelihood that the money may get lost or stolen.

[/ QUOTE ]
Before you go to the airport, just make sure that you have no metal on your person. Put your keys, cell phone, coins and such in your jacket pocket. And don't wear a belt with a metal buckle. Then you won't have to empty your pockets at the airport.

There are also lots of neat products (not just money belts) for concealing money under your clothing. Generally these are made with plastic or nylon zippers so they won't set off metal detectors. Just go to any travel store.

But to answer your original question, you can redeem travellers cheques at the cage of any casino. Sometimes it can take five or ten minutes however. You have to go to the main cage, not the poker-room bank.

[Homer]

I'm not positive, but I'm fairly sure that everyone in this thread has way too much sand in their vaginas.

Nah, only me. But I just douched so I'll be better until tomorrow.

[snakehead]

I think the point is that anyone who is afraid to carry $1500 with them should stay away from casinos and probably stear clear of the state of nevada.

as for homer's opinion of me, wgas? I'm past the age where I have to worry about such things.

if chesspain had expressed concern about traveling with the money in his initial post, I still would have laughed, but no as hard. for anyone who's interested, you can carry large amounts of cash through the metal detectors with no problem. but I was somewhat embarrassed to have to place some $5000 chips in the basket at the local ins building when I went in. the gaurds got a real chuckle out of it, too. any poker chip will set off the detector.

[snakehead]

well, we just got back from comedy night at the commerce (I was given free tickets, ok!), and there wasn't anything that funny there. not even louie anderson.

[Lazymeatball]

Has anyone read "Bringing Down the House," that book about the MIT blackjack team of the mid 90's. It describes the process of moving upwards of $250,000 through airport security by strapping it to various parts of one's body. Good stuff.

[chesspain]

I wonder if snakehead forgets that in the real world, the average person with a job and good credit rarely has a need to carry more than $100 on his person. Indeed, I consider cash to be a relative nuisance that only serves to make my wallet uncomfortably thick.

So feel free to laugh at the good doctor. I guess I need to reread Poker Nation in order to realize the world in which people like snakehead dwell.

[andyfox]

They should have let Iris perform. The other day one of her shirt buttons accidentally unbuttoned and Sammy the Bull offered her $100 if she would please button it.

I raised.

[snakehead]

if you're such a solid citizen, you won't need to carry cash at all. just contact the casinos where you will play and establish a line of credit. even gamblers know how to do that.

[snakehead]

I would have called the floorman and insisted that all three of you be barred for life and forced to play at hollywood park.

[PokerSlut]

[ QUOTE ]

I don't think I've committed any major federal crimes by not putting my cash in the bin at the metal detectors.

[/ QUOTE ]
It's a crime to not declare if you're entering the country with more than $10k in cash or traveller's checks, and other countries have similar requirements; many have much smaller limits, in fact. So, basically if you're travelling internationally and want to carry lots of gambling money, be aware that you are supposed to declare it at customs.

[Softrock]

A nit is the larva of a louse (singular of lice). Nitpicking comes from picking nits out of ones hair prior to modern treatments for lice.

Somehow I just felt this thread needed a concrete response.

[AgileMike]

I think about 90% of gamblers in Vegas are walking around with more than $1500. I've personally taken 20K down many times, and walked the strip and downtown (scary) with 3-5K. You shouldn't worry about your $1500. Watch the cage at the Mirage or Bellagio and you will often see cashouts of over 5K.

[M.B.E.]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

I don't think I've committed any major federal crimes by not putting my cash in the bin at the metal detectors.

[/ QUOTE ]
It's a crime to not declare if you're entering the country with more than $10k in cash or traveller's checks, and other countries have similar requirements; many have much smaller limits, in fact.

[/ QUOTE ]
Yes, but that's when you're clearing customs, not when you're clearing security to board the plane, which was Chesspain's concern.

And obviously if you're on a domestic flight there's no obligation to declare $10K or any other amount.

[ChipWrecked]

Heh. I knew this one was coming /images/graemlins/grin.gif

[ChipWrecked]

Thanks. I guess I'm not that bad. I am known as 'tight' at the local room, where the locals limp, and limp, and call... and I get to bluff 'em.

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

Why not just use an ATM??

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

Plus, if all you need is $1500, you can get it from an ATM.

[Kurn, son of Mogh]

I've taken out a more than $1,000 in a day a number of times. Do I just have a nice bank?

[Analyst]

The $10k in cash when your return?

[Slacker13]

$1500? In fear of getting robbed I won't even tell you what I carry out when I go.