Top 5 Mistakes People Make in Las Vegas Casinos

Around 40 million people visit Las Vegas every year, but too many of those visitors don’t do any research before coming and make some very common mistakes! Improve your odds for a fun and successful trip by avoiding these five common mistakes that people make in Las Vegas casinos.


Mistake #1 – Playing the wrong denomination

We’ve seen too many people sit down at what they think is a penny machine and lose everything the first time they hit the button. Why does this happen? It’s because penny machines have many different denominations and betting options. Most penny machines start at 88¢. However, if the last player was playing on 10¢ max bet, that bet would be $88.00. So before you start betting, be sur to verify the denomination and select the appropriate bet level.

If you’re unsure, consider putting in a smaller denomination bill in case you make a mistake. If you put in a five dollar bill to test out a $1.00 bet and accidentally select a $100 dollar bet, the machine won’t let you proceed and you can figure out how to lower your bet without risking your bank roll.


Mistake#2 – Not Understanding the Game

Table games can be a fun and very social activity. However, many people play these games without understanding and they end up making huge mistakes. Unlike slots, which are mostly luck, you can improve your odds on table games if you use correct strategy. Before coming to Las Vegas, consider downloading a trainer app to learn basic strategy for Craps and Blackjack so you’re prepared before it’s time to put real money on the line.

While in Vegas, consider taking a class at Casino Quest. They offer lessons in Blackjack, Craps, and Roulette for all ages – so feel free to bring those up-and-coming gamblers too!


mistake #3 – Not Using a Players Club Card

Each casino has its own Players Club program. These cards track player gambling and, in many cases, other casino spending. As you play, you earn tier credits to help you move up levels and reward credits. With reward credits, you can comp yourself free food or other things in the casino. Be sure to sign up and use your player club rewards card every time you play!

Use your rewards before leaving Las Vegas, as many will expire 6-12 months after you earned them.


Mistake #4 – Not Paying Attention

Casinos can be loud and have a lot going on, which means that it’s easy to forget where you are and what you are doing. If you add alcohol into the mix, it’s gets even easier to be taken advantage of. Unfortunately, there are people paying attention to you and looking to take advantage of your inattentiveness. Keep your purse and other personal belongings close to you and never walk away from amachine with your money in it.

If you accidentally leave a ticket in the machine and it’s gone when you get back, immediately alert a slot attendant. If you were playing with your players club card in the machine, they can void the voucher and pay you out if it hasn’t already been cashed.


Tip #5 – Blowing Your Budget

As with all vacations, it’s important to have a budget for your Vegas vacation. If you decide to gamble, you should budget for this expense upfront. It’s easy to get sucked in and gamble more than you intended. Gambling losses can add up fast, and so can ATM fees in casinos if you have to keep getting more money out. It’s always important to know when to stop!

Consider using the envelope trick! Take your gambling budget and divide it by the number of days or gambling sessions you plan to have. Put all the envelopes in your hotel safe and only take out that day’s or that session’s envelope to help you budget throughout your trip.


You will hit the jackpot if you avoid these five biggest mistakes people make in the casino. Here’s to you being a Lucky Lady or Man on your next Vegas vacation.