“Money often costs too much.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
On your upcoming trip to Las Vegas, whether it’s for a bachelor/bachelorette party, your honeymoon (congratulations), or a trip with the family, I am 95% sure that you’re going to devote some time to hitting the slots or tables for your chance at a jackpot.
Now it’s during this time that our party foul is going to occur. I’m no Miss Cleo, but I know this will happen to you because I’ve not only witnessed it happen to friends but also because it’s happened to me.
In the heat of the moment on that casino floor, when you’re sitting at your favorite machine or whooping it up in the pit, you may end up burning through your cash (gotta play big if you wanna win big you) and you’re going to need to hit an ATM. Who wants to leave the casino in search of the nearest Wells Fargo, Bank of America, or whatever obscure bank you need? Nobody. So next best thing? One of the many ATM’s that you’ve seen around the gaming floor. How convenient, right?
Here’s what they don’t prepare you for. That convenient ATM that allows you easy and quick access to your funds so you can run back to your Video Poker machine that you “swear is about to hit” – the machine has a menacing secret.
The ATM itself has its own ATM service fee…usually somewhere in the range of $10-$15. This is on top of the customary out-of-network ATM fee from your financial institution,
To withdraw from any ATM located anywhere inside a casino on the Strip puts you at risk of spending $14, possibly $20 per transaction, no matter the amount you’re trying to pull out. And the worst part is that it’s almost impossible to come to Vegas with enough cash.
You need to spend money on nearly everything here, be it tipping your massage therapist at the spa for the highly recommended wellness day, or tipping the server doing the bottle service at the nightclub where you’re getting White Girl Wasted.
Fortunately, you have other options. Here’s a brief list of some strategies you can use on your trip so never have to pay a ridiculous ATM fee.
1. Credit Card Advance
While more popular, a cash advance may not always be the best option to access your funds while in Las Vegas, as borrowers are usually charged anywhere from 3 – 5% on top of the actual base amount being charged. A credit card advance can be secured at nearly every ATM on the Las Vegas Strip.
2. Tabletop ATMs
Leave it to Las Vegas casinos to provide ATM access to your money right at the gaming table. Not only are they convenient, but they typically feature lower fees to access your cash.
3. Check Cashing
While this was not a common feature when I worked on the Strip, most casinos now offer check cashing services on most checks. They will, however, first run a credit check to see the likelihood of the check bouncing.
4. Traveler’s Check
While this may not be the most common method, this is another good idea, as casinos will usually cash a traveler’s check at no charge.
5. Online Sportsbook Apps
This one feels like a cheat. Download a sportsbook app like BetMGM or Caesars Sportsbook. With this method, there are typically no fees when transferring money from your bank account to the apps from which money can be accessed for free at any MGM or Caesars Sportsbook. Deposit and cashout times are extremely fast, so you won’t be inconvenienced. You might even get a free bet if it’s your first time signing up for the app and you’re not from Nevada.
You do need to be in Nevada or a state with legalized sports betting to set up and use your account.
There you have it. May your trip to Las Vegas be filled with jackpots and minimal service fees.
Stay safe out there.
Mikey :-)
