Comments on: Interesting Reads https://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/frugal-vegas/interesting-reads/ A Las Vegas Advisor Blog from the "Queen of Comps" Wed, 15 Apr 2020 18:17:26 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.7.4 By: Michael Hunter https://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/frugal-vegas/interesting-reads/comment-page-1/#comment-8614 Sun, 05 Dec 2010 21:03:38 +0000 https://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/frugal-vegas/?p=886#comment-8614 The idea of looking at a gamble with the “total cost” in mind is important. But assumptions are bad. In Max Rubin’s classic _Comp City_ he talks about getting free drinks by putting a $20 in a video poker bar machine and getting a drink. It works (well, swap in a $100) these days. And yea, if you then get in a car that is a cost not only to you but to society[1]. But I’ve often done it before walking into a show or a nice dinner that I already planned to drink at and had a way home from. The other side of considering “total cost” is considering “total benefit”. Some of us just like to gamble. Increasing the value while keeping the cost the same is a win. FWIW if you are a local somewhere and tip reasonable (not over the top, but not penny pinching) the bartenders and waitresses will help you get those free drinks on the way into shows, etc. Think “total cost/benefit”.

I’m on VPFree. But who can keep up with it?! I search it before I head to LV or Reno. Otherwise I have better things to do with my time.

[1] If you want to be machiavellian about it if you drive drunk the numbers I’ve seen are that you are about 10000:1 against being caught. I’m guessing if you are slightly smart about the odds get longer. Relative to the cost of a DUI vs alternate transportation that is often a “+EV” gamble for you. It is a wildly -EV gamble for society. I’m not suggesting you do this. But if you really think about life as a series of gambles it is impossible not to have thought about this.

]]>