Vegas...eh

[Westernskies]

Too bad. Poker and sports betting are God's training camp for investing.

Plus the AC is turned up, the chairs are comfy, the lights are dim, the cocktail waitresses are cute, and best of all there are banks of the worlds biggest TVs.

No better place on a Saturday in early fall. Due to time differences you can sometimes get started while you are having breakfast. Watch BC and Rutgers while you eat your bacon and eggs and fill out your parley cards for later games.

Ha

Not for me- the casinos are too smoky; the incessant noise and lights from the slot machines makes me crazy, especially with 400 TV's going at once- it is just sensory overload, I feel like an epileptic locked in a closet with a disco ball. In my opionion, the whole casino scene is a sham, all paid for by the losers you never hear about. I do admire the hotel architecture and the world-class engineering, however.

Ever notice how many people on the plane are smiling on the way into Las Vegas and frowning on the way out? I am just the opposite, seems like I usually get a bad attitude when I am assaulted with slot machines at the airport gate, but I am smiling when I get to leave.

 

[haha]

In my opionion, the whole casino scene is a sham, all paid for by the losers you never hear about.

I think most of us have heard plenty about losing. But you are right about losers-casino games are based on being willing to take a bad bet, in hopes of getting a run, or probably smarter, one lucky shot. Of course many players do not understand this, just like many people in all areas of life don't really understand what underlying probabilities apply to their quest.

In my life I have probably not passed $1000 through any of these games, unless I was indirectly cashing discounted Canadian money at par or some other special case. The math on this one can be pretty good, which the Casinos eventually figured out.

But skill games like poker or sports betting are different. Like everything, there is always a cost to be borne -the rake or vig. Good bettors keep a very close eye on this. But even if the best you can do is break even, you do learn a lot about probability and reality in the world, which was my original assertion. You also get a soul level understanding of volatility. Too many investors get this only after their retirement portfolios have been badly damaged. Better for them that they had figured this out through interacting with randomness via betting.

As to the ambience- I guess it's a matter of taste. I am a fairly downscale guy, so really uncouth things have their appeal for me.

Anyway, in the better sports books down on the Strip, the books are fairly well isolated from the floor. The patrons of each type of gambling are different. For example, I have never heard a sports bettor call himself a "gamer". He knows that he is gambling.

Ha

 

[TromboneAl]

I'm probably in the minority, but I saw Cirque du Soleil when it was on tour, and I was bored.

 

[clifp]

Too bad. Poker and sports betting are God's training camp for investing.

I agree I've meet many young poker players who are interested in investing. Needless to say I heard more about the stock market at the poker table before this bear market, but that true everywhere. Well maybe not on boards like this.

For risk seekers (mostly guys) the progression seems to be
Casino games
Sports betting and/or Poker
Day trading and/or options
Stocks
Active Mutual funds
Index Mutual funds

For risk avoiders (slightly more woman)
Savings accounts
CDs
Financial advisers
Index Mutual funds.

Of course a lot of people (like Ha Ha and myself) never progress.

But gamblers definitely learn about variance much early than typical investors.

 

[nphx]

my top picks in vegas are: splurge (under $70 for 2) for dinner at 4 queens for a nice night out, hilton buffet(off strip) - free beer/wine and oysters at the buffet, and hoffbrauh house (near hard rock) cuz i want some german beer. Otherwise I hike Red Rock Canyon or a unmarked trail by Lake Mead. I do drop some dough in the slots and usually work it up to $20 gain before i cash out but its not a big attraction for me.

 

[Meadbh]

You all have convinced me NEVER to go to Vegas. On the few occasions I have walked through casinos, I just don't get it. I hate extreme heat, and manufactured environments have no appeal for me.

 

[lazygood4nothinbum]

i'm with meadbh. i've seen pictures. seen some on t.v. that's close enough for me. i don't like even disney. but a day in a real city like new york, that i love.

i've been in a casino once with family in the bahamas. i noticed immediately on our way in that not one person leaving that place was smiling. all those lights and shiny machines don't fool me. look into the faces there. you will find no glitter.

 

[bright eyed]

hey hey! I said it's not my favorite place either - but it will be my only shot at a real vacation in the next quarter or so...so i'm trying to put on a happy face!

 

[Goonie]

I hate extreme heat....

But it's a DRY extreme heat!

 

[lazygood4nothinbum]

hey hey! I said it's not my favorite place either - but it will be my only shot at a real vacation in the next quarter or so...so i'm trying to put on a happy face!

oops, sorry, my bad.

i hear they have lots of all you can eat buffets.

 

[Meadbh]

hey hey! I said it's not my favorite place either - but it will be my only shot at a real vacation in the next quarter or so...so i'm trying to put on a happy face!

Well, maybe it'll be so bad, it'll be good!
At least you can go to see the Grand Canyon!

8)

 

[Moemg]

hey hey! I said it's not my favorite place either - but it will be my only shot at a real vacation in the next quarter or so...so i'm trying to put on a happy face!

The bright part is you'll have help with your kids and lots of great pools to hang out in .

 

[bright eyed]

The bright part is you'll have help with your kids and lots of great pools to hang out in .

Yes! that I look forward to! the 5 year old has been in swim lessons so she's eager to show off her new skills! It will be fun, i'm just being a grump!

Any other food recommendations are appreciated...O0

 

[kumquat]

Missed the thread topic.

Are you Canajun eh?

 

[Notmuchlonger]

Yes! that I look forward to! the 5 year old has been in swim lessons so she's eager to show off her new skills! It will be fun, i'm just being a grump!

Any other food recommendations are appreciated...O0

Ate at Emerils Delmonico steak house in Vegas. Food was excellent so was the service. Ill go back someday.

 

[bright eyed]

Missed the thread topic.

Are you Canajun eh?

Had to google that one! I'm like totally from southern california dude!

 

[bright eyed]

Wondering if folks have any money saving tips for travel -

I'm packing food and snacks and found a trader joe's 5 miles from the strip so will probably go there at least 2x's during my trip to reload - i want to eat about 2 meals per day in the hotel to save $. I'm also taking my brita so we don't have to buy water. I have a hot pot to make warm milk for the little one and will bring my own coffee beans to use in their pot...anything else?

Also, heard recently people are stressed about tipping in vegas - what is the standard for the bell captain (?), maid service and valet service?

Thanks all...

 

[chrisjul]

Drive out of town for a half hr and you will be in some of the most beautiful country anywhere.....we always head out to the country when we overdose on the strip.

Good luck,
Chris

 

[Gworker]

If your into Elvis check out the Big Elvis show at Bill's Gambling Hall. It kills an hour and it's free. It's at 3:00, 5:00, or 6:30 pm.
It's kind of fun to watch. There's plenty of non gambling things to check out there.

 

[meekie]

The Brita is a great idea - the Vegas tap water tastes really metallic and you'll want to drink a lot of water.

Check out this site, they have some great tips on some cheaper stuff to eat and do. It's not really kid friendly, but some of the things will be good for your kid.
Cheapo Vegas - Your Guide to a Better Vegas Vacation
Linked off that site and by the same guys, here's a good list of the free stuff to look at:
Free Stuff to See - Big Empire - Las Vegas on 25 Cents a Day

You don't mention where you're staying. There may not be a coffee pot in the room.

There are cheaper (and nice) places to eat all over the place if you look for them. I love the Main Street Station casino that's downtown, they have a brew-pub that has some good happy hour specials M-F, I think it's 4-6pm. A few appetizers from there make a pretty good light meal, and follow it with an ice cream from Lapperts (great hawaiian ice cream) at the Californian next door. Main Street Station also has a steak house that I enjoy that's reasonably priced, and they have incredible antiques (including a piece of the Berlin Wall in the men's room). While most downtown casino's aren't great for kids, you'll be fine there. Hit one of the overhead shows on Fremont, and you've got a great evening.

One of the most fun cheap things I did in Vegas was check out the Pinball Hall of Fame museum. Las Vegas Pinball Hall of Fame Pinball Museum, Nevada NV, Tim Arnold
The AC wasn't very strong, but the games were cheap to play, and worth the drive over there if you have a car.

 

[clifp]

Also, heard recently people are stressed about tipping in vegas - what is the standard for the bell captain (?), maid service and valet service?

Thanks all...

Hope you are having fun.

Tipping is out of control in Vegas. I think it is easiest just to open up your wallet and invite anybody with a name tag, or uniform on just to help themselves.

At the end of your trip empty whatever is left in your wallet and leave it as tip for the maids.

 

[ItDontMeanAThing]

For now I plan on staying indoors until 4pm or so, hit the pool for a few hours, and maybe go "see" something in the evenings - but what is worth the effort?

Use the mornings for outdoors activities, then don't go outside again until the sun sets. The temperature doesn't start dropping until the sun goes down - and then it drops s l o w l y.