When retirement arrives, leisure activities like gambling need a little “tweak.” Many recreational gamblers find that retirement requires adapting to a new financial landscape with shifting expenses. This means changes in your casino plans, both locally and at your favorite casino destinations.
1. Play Less, But Play Bigger
If you want to continue the comps, play fewer short sessions. This strategy helps you keep the benefits you are used to receiving. Instead of $100 for three visits, try $300 for one longer visit. Don’t play only free slot play and leave. Your comps will decrease faster. More perks for recreational gamblers mean less visit, but bigger play per visit.
By the way, it’s good to understand how Average Daily Theoretical works and how it impacts your casino play.
2. Be Connected to Casino Offers & Promotions
Check your rewards club for promotions. Look for concert tickets, multiplier days, and more. Multiplier days are a mid-and low-rollers’ best friend!
3. 50+ Promotions
Many casinos have active promotions specifically for those 50+. Play offers, food offers, and free gifts are often on the menu, and are usually pretty generous with retirees in mind. Don’t be afraid to ask at the Rewards Club or check their websites for these sometimes rarely-promoted offerings. It’s something to watch for that can yield additional benefits!
4. Go Where Your Bankroll Is Appreciated
This is an excellent time to break loyalty. Other casinos within a tolerable distance would love to have you play there. Check new member advantages, and how their Rewards Club compares to casinos you frequent now.
5. Continue Making Good Gambling Choices to Protect Your Bankroll
- Understand the odds and rules of the games you play to get the lowest house edge.
- Use your bankroll to plan how long you intend to stay.
- Play with money you can afford to lose. Discretionary income is usually less during retirement. It requires much more discipline in our senior years, especially at these times.
Visiting Las Vegas in Your Retirement
Unfortunately, the most sinful part of that desert adventure now is the price tag. Las Vegas is still a low-mid roller destination. But these days, it takes more money to get the Las Vegas experience you’re familiar with. The gambling retiree must approach Las Vegas differently from, let’s say, before the year 2000.
Gambling On The Strip – Hazardous To Your Bankroll’s Health
More than ever, the odds for players have decreased in the strip properties. So, if you still wish to gamble on the Strip, be cautious with your next wagers. These bets add life to the house edge.
- Triple-zero roulette is increasingly common on the Strip, which increases the house edge to a whopping 7.69%,
- Blackjack 6:5 payoffs instead of 3:2? Just say “No.”
- According to the Nevada Gaming Control Board, strip slots have seen a marginal increase in the house edge, but in some cases downtown slots are now even worse!
- Stadium gambling, electronic craps, and electronic blackjack are everywhere. They can stretch your bankroll, but most earn little to no reward club points.
A Fee For Everything
Food Prices are high and rising, with Free drinks for gamblers being squeezed out. There are fees, fees that seem unavoidable. Parking Fees are the norm.
New Fees added at bars and restaurants along the Las Vegas Strip have various names. They are called a “concession fee,” “venue fee,” and “CNF.” These fees can add up to 5% of the total bill. This is on top of the regular taxes and gratuity. For what? Nothing! Always check your receipts. Many venues will remove the fee if you ask them!
Re-Evaluate Your Last Las Vegas Visit
The value of a Vegas Vacation continues to decrease. For the same amenities you expected in earlier times, you need to double or even triple your budget. Here are suggestions for “retirees” on a low-mid roller budget.
1. Still Prefer the Strip? Compromise Is the Key
If you prefer the Strip, you know even the low-end properties are not all alike. But if you’re used to MGM’s Bellagio, try Luxor. If you’re a Caesars member and always stay at Caesars Palace, try Horseshoe (Bally’s) instead .Your rewards will stay the same.
Treasure Island is the best bang for the low-roller buck. Did I say compromise? At TI, the rooms aren’t average; there are too many kids, and dining is limited. Still, it’s a good location on the north Strip.
2. Try New Properties
In my recent stay on the Strip, I visited the new beautiful Fountainebleau on the North Strip. Since it just opened, I planned a four-hour play – craps and video poker. One week later, I received a mailer from Fountainebleau Las Vegas. They offered me four free nights. I also got $400 in free slot play and $100 casino credit. I was surprised, but excited. I hope it’s still offered on my next trip. So, keep this in mind:
New Hotel/casino, looking for new guests + first time in casino + Big-Play Day = Good Personal Offers
Some off-Strip hotels/Casinos have the amenities you’re used to on the Strip. With ride-sharing available, getting to the Strip has become easier and cheaper than renting a car or hailing a taxi. These off-strip properties treat you like royalty for less and are highly recommended.
- Gold Coast – older, established, a low-roller haven
- The Palms – completely renovated
- Two hotel casinos come to mind as the best places for low-rollers interested in gambling specifically. Orleans and South Point. They also offer bowling alleys and movie theaters,
3. Downtown
Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas is a world away from the Strip. But these properties will show you their appreciation and offer great deals for any size bankroll.
- The Plaza – with more renovations, additions, and suites. A great alternative for a low to mid-roller
- Downtown Grand – The old “Lady Luck” hotel/casino, a block from Fremont. It is now a spanking new resort. A level above many downtown hotels/casinos.
- El Cortez – newly renovated and still Old Vegas personified.
4. Strip Amenities, Friendly Treatment, Local Style, Got Class
One last word. Stations Casinos have three dynamic casinos, all beyond the Strip. Red Rock Hotel Casino, Green Valley Ranch Hotel Casino, and Durango Hotel Casino are favorites of mine.
Takeaway
Know what you want as part of your gambling trip. Plan it according to budget and bankroll and it will turn out to be different, but still a great visit. After all, we deserve to enjoy our retirement in a way that’s meaningful to us. A few tweaks to our plans may make it even better than it was!
Retirement was forced on me June 30 2020. I’ve been 7 Star at Caesar’s and have airline miles (points) Originally went to Vegas 8X plus the first 2-3 years Currently 3-5X. each year. Rooms are comped and resort fee waived
Would the downtown casino offer me a similar deal as I would like to do that for 2/3 nights on a future visit or planned trip?
Hey Mr Mike! We’ve seen players have success in reaching out with their current offers to a new casino, and having the casino match it. In fact, at last check, the Plaza Hotel & Casino had an active offer match program if you were new to their casino, so that may be worth checking out.
If you want the kind of treatment Caesars offers at that tier, the new Fountainbleu may be nice. One 3-hour play on $15 craps and the VP earned me $400 in free slot play, $100 in property spend, and a free 4-day stay. It’s beautiful inside. I will definitely be staying there on my next trip from CT. Depending on how far from the Strip you want to take a chance on, I have received great treatment from Stations casinos – especially Red Rock.
Have you heard anything about changing the jackpot claim amount from $1199.00 to $2000.00 ??
Hey Kathy! Check out our article here on the topic, where we cover the basics and our interpretation.
Kathy, I have not seen anything that says otherwise.