Sending money in advance to a casino

I try to go to Las Vegas a couple times a year. I always find myself carrying a lot of cash and I am somewhat uncomfortable, even though I've never had a problem. I had the idea to call the hotel, which is the four queens which I've been going to for many years to see if I could send them a check in advance. My idea was if I sent him a check for two or $3000. I could just draw it down in chips when I got there.

I was extremely surprised when they said they either couldn't or wouldn't do it. Instead, they put me onto a website Which they said would allow me to cash a check once I got there. I went to the website and they wanted a lot of information and some authorizations which I wasn't comfortable giving to them. As a result, I'm just going to bring cash again.

Does anybody have an idea why they wouldn't let me just send them a check? To me it seems illogical not to take a check a couple weeks in advance. The check would have time to clear and they essentially be guaranteed that I would be playing at the casino.

Comments, suggestions? 

I bring lot of cash too.I put in hotel safe.Have to be extra careful at airport.Take out what I use for the day.How about using ATM.My son does that.Ether your bank or any one that may charge a small fee.I don't know what the casinos charge to use ATM.

Crazy that casino doesnt cash your check.

If you have a pretty good relationship with a casino that you stay at pretty regularly, you could probably call them to see about getting a line of credit or marker.  If you do it in advance, there shouldn't be any issues getting money.....$2k-3k, and then just pay it off when you leave with a personal check, or possibly even when you get home....or even better, pay it off with your winnings.  

There should be a lot of others on here with some good advice for this. 

They were probably considering the amount of time it would take to negotiate the check, with the surety that the funds would be secure. That would take several business days and involve some risk, or at least some trouble, on their part. I can see them doing it only for established players, if at all.

I'm wondering why you want to bring/carry that much cash, with ATMs everywhere. Yes, you have to pay fees to use them, but isn't that worth it to negate the discomfort you feel from carrying large sums of cash?

You could also bring a large sum of cash and immediately deposit it at the cage as "front money." You can draw on it from the pit by signing markers. At the end of your trip, ask them to cut you a check for your remaining balance. Easy.

With ATM fees getting out of hand, I set up a line of credit at my favorite casino.  Yes, you do have to set up an account and give them your banking info, because, basically, they are extending you credit.  However, it just verifies you carry an appropriate balance in your checking account.  It does not show up on your credit report.  You can then draw on it or write a check.  I love it when I draw on it and easily pay it back with my winnings!  If you normally play at the same place, it makes life much easier.  This really hit home on my last trip when I absent mindedly left my purse in the airport bathroom.  I had my wallet in my pocket, with my ID and main credit card, so that helped.  Thankfully, a good samaritan turned it in untouched and I was able to retrieve it the next morning.   It was a distressing start, but that lucky recovery led to more good luck and I had a nicely profitable trip!    

You can always wire funds as well. Wiring funds has zero risk of backsies as opposed to personal checks. MGM and Caesars do it. 

What is missing from your question, and why the agent you spoke with turned you down but DID tell you a correct procedure is...to whom would you write/send the check?  "To:  The Four Queens"?  Anybody in receipt of the check?  No, of course not.  That is why they have the line of credit and check cashing procedures once you get there as mentioned by other responders.  Yes, you fill out papers detailing your life, your bank accounts, etc., which you may not be comfortable with.  You have to decide.   Good luck!

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Candy

Their reluctance might have been that had they negotiated the check, for the time between when it cleared and when you arrived, they would have had custody of the funds--without any guarantee that you would show up or if you would stay/gamble there when you did. A lot of potential liability for them, with no immediately visible upside.

There's also the tangle that could have happened if you had arrived while the check was still in the process of clearing. Not likely, but again, why would they risk it?

As far as Candy's question, yes, you WOULD make it out to the casino, with something in the memo like "Joe Gambler player funds," and maybe your players' card number.

Lastly, I'm sure that if you hooked up with a casino host before arrival, the above process could be made easier. Particularly if the front money was several thousand $$$.

Schwab bank used to refund all ATM fees with their debit card if you wanted to go that route