Carrying money in Vegas

[moo321]

That case is ongoing. The ruling was as to venue, not the facts of the case itself. The victims long-ago received their stolen money back from the Feds, who recognized that there was no legal basis for the "seizure." But the victims are suing the apparently-crooked police officer for his despicable abuse of power.

Sorry, I wasn't very clear. You are correct, that case is ongoing, and will have to proceed in a different court. I was just pointing out that there was a very good recent example of some professional gamblers getting money stolen and having some difficulty getting it back.

[Sonny]

When asked how much cash you have by any type of enforcement agency, a vague and non-confrontational response is often sufficient.

"Not very much."
"Some beer money."
"About a million short of a million."

All of those statements are true, although perhaps a bit relative. If it is a police officer or sheriff on a fishing expedition, you'll also need to change the focus of the conversation.

"Was I speeding?"
"I thought you pulled me over for (whatever BS reason they gave)."
"I do not give you permission to search (me/my car/my room/etc.). I'd rather address this alleged (whatever)."

-Sonny-

[Baberuth]

Thank you all. Our airport has the see through X-ray so I will put some in my carry on. I will be very aware of my surroundings in Vegas and make sure I am with others who can handle confrontation.
My trip will be a success. Wish the same to all.

Baberuth

[MJGolf]

Let a large bank, such as BofA, transfer your money. Deposit at home. Retrieve in LV.

This isn't a bad idea if you have an account with a national bank like BOA or Chase or Wells Fargo. I have another suggestion for those who are not too "tied up" about privacy. I don't like to carry large sums of cash either. You can always pre-approve a cashier's check with any of the casinos you plan on playing in. Then bring the check made out to yourself. The cashier will cash it as front money for you. Since it's yours and NOT casino credit or on a debit card, etc., you are not limited to those transactions or amounts. If less than $10k, no CTR either. Then when you leave, you can bring cash back to the cage. They will write you a check from the casino/hotel back to you for the amount. Now THIS takes a few minutes and several signature authorizations, so don't be in too much of a hurry. But the security of having to just carry a check may allay some of your cash carrying concerns.

Now if you want to be totally anonymous, this might be an issue. But I know several who stay at one place and play at another. So you can take your cash elsewhere to play anonymously somewhere else if that's your concern. Remember it's front money; and you can control what and how much you draw out from the cage or tables.

[21forme]

It's best not to involve the casino in your BR.

[Tarzan]

It's best not to involve the casino in your BR.

I have to agree with this. Why leave yourself open to more scrutiny than you already have? There's a big problem traveling with cash in recent times. Domestic flights I've always put the cash in the carry on and took it back out after it goes through and never had them pull it out and/or ask me how much it was (so far). Driving with it is a whole different ballgame though. If you decide to drive down into the Native American casinos in Arizona from Vegas LOOKOUT! You have to worry about law enforcement robbing you more than standard issue robbers robbing you in a "guilty until proven innocent" policy. A friend told me that if you are driving down the road in Arizona with say, 10,000 or more on you then they are chomping at the bit to confiscate it if they find it! You have to endure whatever legal process to attempt to get it back? I'm not sure how all that goes and I don't wish to find out. Be careful driving down the road with too much of your bankroll on you because from what I am hearing you have to be wary of BOTH sides of the law robbing you... What a sad state of affairs we have devolved into.

[ZenKinG]

I realize this has been discussed, but times change. Last year I had to take EVERYTHING out of my pockets and hold it in my hands above my head. They asked me how much I had. I lied and they said go ahead.
I was thinking to put some in my briefcase in a wallet and hold some with a rubber band around it.

When in Vegas I usually have ALL my money with me as I don’t want to leave it in the room or the room safe. I have left 4-5K in the casino bank, never needed it and picked it up when leaving. Is this drawing attention?
Looking to not have a disaster as the time is close to visit my favorite place.

Baberuth

First of all don't use a casino bank, just not smart to have them having your money. What if they despise counters and you get backed off and restrict you from getting your money out, although very unlikely, but not worth it. Either sign up for a big bank and deposit before your trip and withdraw at your destination or put all your money in the carry on bag as people have mentioned. If you go through a stand up x-ray they ask you to remove everything from your pockets even pieces of paper as they did with me recently, dont give them that opportunity to then ask you how much is in it, better to just put it in the carry-on and in my experience wallets left in the carry-on are not asked how much is in it.

Im guessing you have a decent size bankroll, so there should be no problem just signing up for a big bank and pay some extra fees that small banks dont charge. That would be my best advice. Deposit before trip and withdraw what you think you need for a particular day trip to your choice of store. Dont withdraw a 3 days worth of money for one night, better to just withdraw what you think you need for that night of playing or however long you think you will play, reason is, if you get robbed in the street, at least you only lost one nights worth of cash, rather than 2,3, or even 4 day worth, which could leave a big dent in your BR. After you withdraw one days worth of playing, rinse and repeat and keep taking out what you think you will need for that particular day of playing.

Lot of good advice in here, take bits and pieces from everyone and make a list in notepad and memorize it until its second nature. Avoid getting CTR'd, dont take out or deposit 10k or more. But don't be consistently taking out 9k or 9.5k because you can be accused of 'structuring', which is illegal thereby alarming the bank that you may be purposely trying to avoid getting CTR'd and then you will get investigated as to why. Better to keep consistent amounts being withdrawn or deposited. I say stick to 5k on average and withdraw and deposit that amount consistently as to not alarm the bank of anything suspicious. Good luck

[bigplayer]

A friend told me that if you are driving down the road in Arizona with say, 10,000 or more on you then they are chomping at the bit to confiscate it if they find it! You have to endure whatever legal process to attempt to get it back? I'm not sure how all that goes and I don't wish to find out.

Arizona isn't the only place. The Illinois side across from St Louis, Carlisle PA, Jennings, LA, certain parts of East Texas, and many other places have reputations for cash seizures.

[RobinHood21]

I have kept large chips with plans on return visits. Cash out winnings or deposit into one specific casino that I have all information at and that I don't count cards at.

Personally, I think in LV it is best to have most of your bullets in the form of chips. It's much easier to walk from the Aria to the Bellagio with three flags then $15k cash. I don't think I can stuff all that into my socks. LOL. When I travel back home same thing. I try to color up to the biggest chips I can get and then put them in my carry on.

[Aslan]

I'll tell you what not to do. If you stay at, say, the Venetian, don't play on the south end of the Strip until the wee hours and then walk along the Strip at 4 a.m. back to your room at the Venetian carrying $10K or more in your pocket,. Vegas, even the Strip, takes on an entirely different character at such hours. You will lose around three years of your expected life span in that single trek with all its lonely areas that were not lonely at 8 p.m. when you left. Take a taxi or drive your car to the casino valet.