Would You Still Visit Vegas If The Drinks Weren’t Free?

I'd still go, making by (rather loose) annual pilgrimage, but I would't drink as many free drinks anymore.

"Free drinks" is a misnomer - everyone who is gambling and who gets a "free" drink is actually paying for or has paid for those "free" drinks with their past play. The bean counters are once again chipping away at your bankroll by charging for these "free" drinks. Newbies and future newbies will of course pay for these drinks while those who helped fund the growth of Vegas will be disgusted to see another used-to-be Vegas mainstay go by the wayside. There are those who post here that will say that it is OK, just like the ripoff "resort fees" 6/5 blackjack and the ever tightening of the games. I say "BULLSHIT"! Just how G.D. greedy do you have to be? Of course Vegas could care less about what I say or feel, after all I am not the type of "customer" they want. So be it. The Vegas we used to know and love is swirling the bowl and as long as the future visitors keep paying for what used to be free the bean counters will keep raking in the money and tightening the screws.

I don't take advantage of the free drinks as much as most other players probably do. when I do, it is water, coffee, tea and maybe alcohol once in a while. If I had to pay for them I would probably go to cvs or the liquor store. they should give me a rebate or free play for not drinking like a fish. and as drmilled said, they are not "free" anyway. anyhow, the less love they show me, the less I show them. as I have stated before I like to vote with my feet and or dollars. I like a good gamble, I don't want to fly across the country for an overpriced night club or fine dining. in the end, when the bean counters have chased all of us away, I suppose it will save me some $$.

it would be in their best interest to keep the liquor flowing. a (drunken) fool and his money are soon parted. nothing removes inhibitions like alcohol.

NO, I would stop visiting Vegas. Just would not be worth it anymore to me. Expensive resort fees, increasingly expensive food, just not worth it anymore. I don't go to shows. At Grand Casino Hinckley here in eastern Minnesota, I can get free cocktails at $10 tables with 3/2 bj, high limit slots, and certain areas of the gaming floor where machines pay back less than 90%.

I don't drink well liquor if I can avoid it - and thats what they comp at most places I frequent. If I'm going to imbibe a massive calorie bomb I want it to be the good stuff - hence I dont drink much in casinos.
You can still get good draft beers at some video poker bars: El Corterz offers Guiness on tap for VP players. So thats about it for me.

But I would still go to Vegas if they charged.

Free drinks and "better" gambling choices are just about all that differentiates Vegas from local casinos. Without Free Drinks, why go?

I'd think charging for all drinks for gamblers would put a significant dent in the tip income of waitresses and bartenders.

I wouldn't mind too much if they priced drinks like the South Point did a few years ago...$2 bottles of beer and well drinks 24/7. They still make money at those prices.

If Vegas did this, this would be, yet another, reason they would lose more GAMBLERS! Vegas was for gambling, shows and cheap eats, period. And yes, drinks are not "free" for gamblers, lol. I call comps "prepaid". I was born into a gambling family. We play cards and games daily, all day long, as opposed to turning on the tv, sports, etc...camping and music being the other summer activity. Real gamblers just go park it at machines or tables all day and then grab a bite or show in the evening. Most states now have this either within an hour or used to be 3 hours if you have to go to neighboring state. I know my family doesn't really come to Vegas much anymore and if I didn't live here they wouldn't at all. If they take away free parking too, that is going to be another notch in the destruction of Vegas. Be careful how much you let the Fremont craziness influence life around here. There is a reason half of California live here.

Believe me, you may get these party kids to pay $20 a drink or $100 for dinner, but guess what....that machines very often eats my hundreds much quicker...be careful who you cater to.