What Is the Best Options for Accessing Cash in Las Vegas?

For visitors to Las Vegas who will have a sizable bankroll for gambling, what are the best and most cost-efficient options for accessing money?

There are a lot of ins and outs to the money game all over the world and it’s a very big game, with more options, in Las Vegas. Especially when it comes to cash. This answer is the Cliff Notes version; we could delve into each one of these options in much greater detail.

The best way to access cash in Vegas is right at the casino cage. And the best way to do that is to set up check-cashing privileges or a line of credit in advance.

Casino cages cash checks for customers who just walk up and ask, but for how much is always the question. There are a lot of variables — amount of check, if you’re a guest at the hotel, if you’ve ever cashed a check there before and for what amount, if you’ve cashed a check at a casino cage in the last xx number of days, whether the information on the check matches that on your ID, how much money you have in your checking account, even if you look suspicious to the cashier.

Most cages will cash a walk-up check up to $100, up to $300 if you’re a guest, but it’s not automatic. Better, especially if you want to cash a four-figure check, is to call the casino in advance (ask for the cage; you might be forwarded to the credit department) and make arrangements. You’ll divulge some personal and banking information and be approved or not depending on your bank balances.

You can also set up a casino line of credit from home before your trip; most of the large casino companies have credit applications on their websites. Or you can just show up at the cage and ask for a credit/marker application; most cashiers will be happy to help you fill it out. The problem with that is it can take a few days for them to review your references and approve a withdrawal amount. That’s why it’s better to do it in advance.

Once you’ve established credit, you can go to the cage and withdraw chips, or cash if you’re playing the machines, or sign a marker at the tables. A casino "line of credit" is more of a short-term loan; you settle up with the cage before you leave, unless you have terms; if you don’t pay, the casino runs the marker through your bank account, just like cashing any check you wrote.

Another option. With the proper approval, you can EFT or wire-transfer money directly into the cage, though you’ll pay your bank’s fee to do so.

And yes, you can have a casino host set up a line of credit or an account for you to deposit money in advance, though you probably won’t get the attention of a host at a major property for a few thousand (walking-around money on the Strip). Also, you’ll be on the hook for giving the host’s casino a shot at the money you have on deposit in the cage or in your line of credit. You’ll get more comps that way, but you can’t fake it. At some point, you’ll have to play.

It’s better, perhaps, if you have only a few thousand on deposit or in your line, to sign markers right at the tables and hustle the floorman or pit boss for your comps.

Finally, if you do your banking at a large institution with branches all over the country (B of A, Wells, Chase, Citi, etc.), you can simply cash a check when you get to Las Vegas. For a sizable bankroll -- say, the high-four or five figures -- you can have a cashier's check made out to yourself that you cash at a local branch of your bank when you arrive. That way you won't have a hassle in trying to withdraw a lot of cash from your account. You’ll still have to carry the cash between the bank and your hotel (where you can stash it in your room safe or in a safe at the cage), but that will avoid all the casino-credit machinations and fees.

Note that you’ll generally have an easier time getting help from a casino in putting money into an account at its cage than getting it out by having them write a check or wire money back to your bank if you happen to win big. The major casinos will do this as a matter of course if you’re well known to them as a player; if not, they’ll generally do it, but often grudgingly.

If you have an account at a bank with branches in Vegas, most are easily accessible downtown or you can drive to a branch and deposit the money.

Another idea, submitted as a comment the last time we answered this question (in 2017), is if you have a credit-union account. All credit unions that participate in the "shared-branch" program allow you to access your account anywhere in the U.S.

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Dave_Miller_DJTB May-24-2023

ATM option

For us low-rollers where an ATM works, use a local bank with branches in Vegas where their ATMs are free for account holders.

For that purpose, I use Bank Of America. They have one ATM on the strip,  on the 4th floor of the M&M store, and downtown there's a branch 2 blocks south of Fremont at Bridger & 4th. There are also plenty of branches and ATMs around town if you have a car.

And if you win big? As mentioned, ask for a check. Then do a mobile deposit with your bank app. That way, you don't need to worry about losing the check.

Edso May-24-2023

Same Here, Dave

I have Wells Fargo, so I just stop by one of the branches, usually over by Hughes Plaza, which is between where I stay and the Tuscany, where I tend to play mostly.  It's also a quick couple minute drive from the Tuscany, if I end up staying there.

[email protected] May-24-2023

Casino Credit

Casino credit is so easy to set up and use that I wouldn't dream of visiting a casino without arranging for credit before I go.  Just go to the cage, present my player's card, ask for a marker, and walk away with my playing money.  Many casinos will give you your money in the form of a machine voucher, which avoids the hassle of feeding a large number of bills into the bill receptor.  Then, right before I leave I write a check to cover any outstanding markers and away I go.  Of course, if I had a fruitful trip I can just pay off the markers with my winnings.

Hoppy May-24-2023

Bank at LAS

There is a Wells Fargo at LAS.

rokgpsman May-24-2023

Casino credit

I've had casino credit setup for several years and it's remarkably easy to do even for someone like me that's a low-roller ordinary person. By having casino credit I don't have to bring a lot of cash with me to the airport and worry about it while going thru the TSA search process or losing it anywhere along the way traveling. I just go to the casino cage sometime the first day and get whatever amount I want, up to the approved credit limit. Very handy way to do this and much safer than carrying a lot of money on your person. There's pickpockets and purse snatchers in all vacation spots including Las Vegas, with casino credit your vacation won't get ruined by an incident or a careless moment during a busy distraction. It's also great when you have a last minute decision to buy tickets to a high cost show that you didn't plan for. The casino does not charge for this service and they give you 30 days to payoff whatever money you withdraw.

AlwaysTails May-24-2023

ATM

Good tip about m&m store. I have an account at chase and get ATM fees reimbursed (3 or 5 times per month). I think there's a chase not far from pinball Hof as well.

Eileen May-24-2023

ATM - Casino Royale

Fee to withdraw funds from checking account was cheapest using the ATM in Casino Royale, mid strip - $4.00 a few years ago.  Probably a bit higher now.  But I believe it was LVA that alerted me to this "best deal" many years back.  Thanks again, LVA!

Kevin Rough May-24-2023

ATM Fee Refund

My credit union will refund ATM fees up to $20 per month.  So I rarely worry.

However through my credit union, I can get free ATM withdrawals at most 7-11s and Walgreens which there are quite a number of on the strip.

I also have an account at Bank of America.  Since I usually have a car I often visit the branch on Maryland Pkwy by UNLV.

I also have check cashing privileges through VIP Preferred which is the system that the Stations Casinos use.

So I rarely worry.

AL May-24-2023

the Cliff Notes version?

The Answer mentioned "the Cliff Notes version" of responding.  Why the Cliff Notes version?  Wouldn't it be more appropriate to say "the Monarch Notes version"?  Cliff Notes are black and yellow, but Monarch Notes are black and RED, which are the 2 colors associated with gambling.  There's roulette, in which all the non-zero numbers are either red or black.  And there's also the general concept of "being in the red" or "being in the black" with respect to a gambler's financial status after having gambled.  But then again, maybe "cliff" is more appropriate because many losing gamblers feel like jumping off of one after losing a bundle.

AL May-24-2023

OK, a serious response

I would strongly recommend against any option in which you are carrying around a lot of cash while you are not inside a bank or inside a casino/hotel. You could easily get robbed, and there goes all your money (and maybe your car or other things too). And there's a chance that the robber would do you physical harm. I strongly recommend that you get your cash while inside the casino, whether it's getting it from an ATM or getting it from the cage.  I also don't recommend taking your checkbook with you on your trip with the intention of stopping by a local bank branch, because you could get robbed and see your checkbook get stolen; if the robber also took your wallet that has your ATM card in it, you'll be up [feces] creek. No, the only safe plan is to get your cash while you're inside the casino, with one of the methods discussed in the Answer. $10 or so is a very small price to pay for peace of mind and prevention of financial (and maybe physical) harm.

Susan Johnson May-25-2023

start early

Just be aware that setting up casino credit can take months for the casino to approve.  When I asked why, (at the Southpoint)  the associate told me that they verify your average balance over time to qualify your credit limit.  The next year when I asked for an increase, the same timeframe was used.  No problem as each request was granted, just a long lag time from application to approval.  But the easiest way to access cash for no charge.

Question of the Day - 24 May 2023

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