How hard is it to get money to the cashier and register? How safe is it? What if you win big?
How safe is Vegas and what simple acknowledging factors will protect you if you're solely there to play in the wsop
14 Replies
If you mean how safe is it to walk across the floor of the casino with your tournament buy in, that is as safe as having money anywhere else in the world. Actually likely safer, as there are cameras everywhere, so if you actually drop your roll on the floor, it's highly unlikely that someone will pick it up and try to keep it for themself.
If you're referring to walking around on the strip with a lot of cash, then again it's definitely less risky than walking around with a lot of cash just about anywhere else in the country. Nearly everyone on the strip will be carrying more cash than they typically would at home, and unless someone actually saw you cashing out, they're not going to have any reason to suspect you have more money on you than the average tourist. Really the only way you're likely to lose any cash is if you drop it on the ground. Of course put your money somewhere that it wouldn't be easily pickpocketed, but that's what you would want to do anywhere.
I would say you're also very safe in the downtown casino district and the Fremont Street Experience, nearly as safe as on the strip. If you start wandering into other parts of Las Vegas you would be more likely to get robbed, but probably not any more likely than in the average big US city. I wouldn't recommend loitering in mostly empty parking garages or anywhere that there aren't many people nearby, but just going to your car is nothing to generally worry about. Don't be waving around your wad and drawing attention to yourself, as you would also want to avoid doing in any city.
If you're going to Vegas just for the WSOP, it's generally safe: keep your bankroll separate, don't carry cash, use the hotel safe and official transportation. By the way, I sometimes play online games between sessions, but I still love the city for its lively atmosphere.
Yeah, strip and freemont street are pretty safe from robberies, as rob noted, avoid keeping your money in a spot that is easily pickpocketed. Vegas Metro has a very strong presence and interest in keeping the strip safe, if it became known for lots of robberies then vegas would have a massive tourism problem.
As far as, "What If I win big?", for any WSOP event you cash, there is always an option to get a check. There are several non cash options. With the new WSOP app you can buy in with Paypal and CCs so you can even limit the cash needed for buyins if you like, you can also have any winnings go to or buyins come from a tournament account, again negating the need for large amounts of cash.
Cosign chillrob and rubix. Lol at "don't carry cash".
Yeah, there's probably more thieves in LV compared to walking around in other cities (maybe not?), but just don't be dumb. Don't flash your money around, keep it secure, be aware of your surroundings, etc. Also stay on main walkways and sidewalks. Don't take some "shortcut" to your destination that takes you through an isolated area.
I hear a lot more stories about people being robbed by "friends" or by leaving their cash in a hotel room safe than I do random robberies. If you can keep it in a casino account or anything other than cash, that would be ideal. Anything you do carry, a sling bag or secure holding space under your clothes would work.
I've talked with WSOP cashiers and they all have stories about people tossing 5 figures in a backpack and walking out. There's a crazy amount of cash just walking around during the summer, and usually not by people who look like they're loaded. Incidents are rare and often go along with buying and using illicit goods and services. Secure your money before partaking.
Yeah, letting sketchy people or people you don't trust into your room is dumb. I do however think hotel room safes are, well, safe. I know that they are not hard to break into,and people always say don't use them but I think it's paranoia.
I can't recall ever hearing/reading a story where someone was staying in their room, alone, left and came back later to find their hotel room safe cleaned out. I'm sure it has happened at some point but you have a better chance of winning the main event.
I do recall some stories of laptops being stolen or rooms broken into of high profile players, but not to random regular people.
Sorry, I meant people cashing out 6 figures and tossing it in their backpack.
I've absolutely heard of people having their hotel safe cleaned out, either by the cleaning crew or someone they were staying with. They aren't terribly secure.
@Reducto, No need to apologize, and I am not being cagey or "fighting" with you etc...
I do concede that these safes are not hard to break into.
More just thinking out loud here. Yes, the friend angle for sure, or husband thinks he was robbed but his wifey got drunk and lost all the money while he was sleeping.
This just always sounds like an urban legend to me. I can't logically see how the scenario would play out.
Does the housekeeper just pop open the safe in every room she cleans hoping to score and just takes money if some is there? If 5 people reported to the hotel one day that their safe was cleaned out and all 5 people were on the same housekeeper's room list that's going to look bad for the house keeper.
Even if the housekeeper only took from 1 room, it is a one and done crime, same thing, if the hotel occasionally gets reports of a safe cleaned out and it's always on the same housekeeper's list its going to be obvious.
Seems very high risk, low reward for a housekeeper to do this.
I'm not saying you should keep 100k in your hotel room safe, more that keeping a few grand in your hotel room safe is nothing I would worry about, but people should do whatever they are comfortable with.
The strip is generally pretty safe. The biggest danger is probably getting drunk and losing your cash.
That being said if you're really focusing on playing WSOP events, it's all done through the WSOP app now. You can just go the first day and deposit cash (or you can even pay by bank wire). Then there's no need to carry large amounts of cash after that.
If you win an event, it goes into your winnings on the app and you don't have to cash out right away. So if the event wraps up at 2 am, you don't have to walk to your car with a bracelet and a bag of cash. You can come back the next morning when no one will notice you and pick up the cash, or if it's a large amount they'll even give you a check or wire you the money.
As a friend once told me (after I won a tourney and had 5 figs in cash on me)….”you are still the brokest person in the casino!”
I haven’t been worried ever since 😂
[QUOTE=rubixxcube;59245612]@Reducto, No need to apologize, and I am not being cagey or "fighting" with you etc...
I do concede that these safes are not hard to break into.
More just thinking out loud here. Yes, the friend angle for sure, or husband thinks he was robbed but his wifey got drunk and lost all the money while he was sleeping.
This just always sounds like an urban legend to me. I can't logically see how the scenario would play out.
Does the housekeeper just pop open the safe in every room she cleans hoping to score and just takes money if some is there? If 5 people reported to the hotel one day that their safe was cleaned out and all 5 people were on the same housekeeper's room list that's going to look bad for the house keeper.
Even if the housekeeper only took from 1 room, it is a one and done crime, same thing, if the hotel occasionally gets reports of a safe cleaned out and it's always on the same housekeeper's list its going to be obvious.
Seems very high risk, low reward for a housekeeper to do this.
I'm not saying you should keep 100k in your hotel room safe, more that keeping a few grand in your hotel room safe is nothing I would worry about, but people should do whatever they are comfortable with
Back at the Rio I had a late night cash game session....I had 5 figures + in cash in the safe and being tired I forgot to close the safe and went down to play my tournament. Went back to the room at dinner break and discovered the safe wide open and all my cash still there, nothing missing. I am very cordial to housekeeping staff and greet them and I do tip them well. I guess if I was a messy dixx and didn't tip they might have relieved me of some $$, I don't think housekeeping has the tool to open the safe, It's just a long skinny rod and takes about 2 seconds to open. around ten years ago I checked into my room and tried to open the safe, maintenance came up and opened it up, he didn't even check to see if there was anything in it........some dick left a tuna fish sandwich in there no plate no napkin just sitting on the little foam padding.
