Author: Bobby Vegas

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Bobby Vegas — What’s Yer Favorite Vegas Swag?

Bobby Vegas: Friends Don’t Let Friends Play Triple-Zero Roulette

Bag stuffed with goodies after a coupon run, (like a kid coming back from Halloween or the Midway), I marvel at all the T-shirts, coffee cups, dice, playing cards, hats, and more that I’ve collected on my trip to Vegas. Keep your Gucci. I like free.

Yeah, I’m one of those guys taking the soaps and shampoo. But what really gets me going is the twice-daily room service in the five-star towers at Wynn and Encore literally sweeping it all into the cloth laundry bags along with … well … they haven’t gone out of their way to invite me back, but I don’t think it’s the Super Swag runs.

But I digress. I love to collect. I’m into vintage LPs and 45s, Do Not Disturb signs, seashells, everything Japanese (even anime, though I stop at Hello Kitty), and of course anything Vegas.

My question to you is: What’s your favorite Vegas swag?

Come on, I know you sneak some soap and shampoo home and love to sing Bon Jovi, Taylor, Lady Gaga, or Rod Stewart while soaping up from the Cosmopolitan.

Anyway, I considered a Top Five, but it’s even hard to stop at the 10, so here goes.

Soaps and shampoos from Downtown Grand, Rio, and especially Wynn.

Long-gone-casino swag: Crazy Girls coffee cups from the Riviera (you know the one) and my Mirage bathrobe.

Wynn bathrobe and leather long shoe horn. No not for shoes, silly … think kinky!

Circa Stadium Swim towels, (mine cost me $10,000; Superbowl Stadium Swim for 12), though I passed on Circa’s replica gold bars of their Legacy Club Million in Gold Display … a must-see, BTW.

Did I mention my Vegas coaster and matchbook collection and Vegas/Reno/Atlantic City dice collection? Or Shaq’s Super Bowl party at XS at the Wynn? The music was hot — and the swag was off the charts.

Or my favorite LVA MRB online printed free lap-dance coupon I never used? Like the whale in Atlantic City who kept losing millions and on the trip where he won millions, he kept the check in his wallet to show his buds he was a winner? Well, I didn’t win millions and not cash the check (I always cash the check!), but I kept the lap dance coupon, because I couldn’t imagine asking for a dance and handing over a coupon.

Besides, it’s really number two. My number one Vegas swag? The Stardust “Maid service, please” door hangar. I still remember looking down at the pool, wishing I had one of those poolside rooms (before they plowed it under to create Resorts World).

Oh, the stories those rooms could tell!

What’s your favorite swag or swag story?

Best swag story wins a Bobby Vegas T-shirt, the best swag of all.

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Bobby Vegas — Thanks to Slot Players, Apologies to Casinos

Bobby Vegas: Friends Don’t Let Friends Play Triple-Zero Roulette

Another mea culpa. In a recent post I said, “Happiness is positive cash flow. Ours not theirs!”

I’m updating that to, “Happiness is positive cash flow. Ours and theirs,” with apologies to all the — well, many — casino operators presently bleeding money like a river.

We need you to be here. We need you to make a profit.

Without you, there are no games, no fabulous meals, no outlandish and unforgettable shows, no wild nights, no parties till dawn. I don’t hate to say it; in fact, I admit it readily: We need you.

So please, for God’s sake, get it together! Bring back the value and not for a week, but ALWAYS.

And then there’s the other underappreciated group, slot players, the backbone where all, or at least the vast majority, of the profits lie.

Every day, you come to Vegas to play, to drink, to forget for as long as the cash holds out (and hopefully you don’t go to the casino ATM and drain that, too, chasing losses) and for that I want to thank you. Also, thanks for being okay that you most often lose. Are you? I like to think that you’re happy with your gaming experience and the comps that go along with it.

So please, keep feeding the Benjamins into the slot maw, because without you, we couldn’t squeeze out the advantages. There’d be no advantages to squeeze. You allow us to do what we do. And thank you. Really. Keep playing Golden Dragons, Buffalos, and Wheel of Fortune Cash Link Big Money Mega Tower Super Spin. Whatever.

I love Vegas. It’s unique. Yes, I have a local casino, but I don’t go there. I feel captive.

I like the depth and breadth of Vegas. The back alleys, the places where the club girls hang out afterwards, Ellis Island at 3 a.m. for steak and eggs under $10. I like searching, experimenting, treasure hunting all kinds of experiences only Vegas can provide, from rubbing shoulders with Bruno Mars to Rainbow’s Triple B Diner in Henderson.

So thank you, slot players; without you, I couldn’t do what I do. And thank you, casinos, for letting us, the weird 2%ers, the advantage players and even the wannabe APs, the scufflers or even just the well-read, give it our best shot at near full pay. Sure, we often lose, too, but at least we have a fighting chance of winning and can still have as good a time as the slot players.

Casino operators, I know you read this. Many of you have told me so. So do the slot players, the APs, the scufflers, and yourselves a big favor and get your friggin’ act together, okay? Bring back the value. Make NRF (no resort fees) and free parking as common next year as free drinks, free spectacles, and free play are this year. And please, dump triple zero.

You’ll still get our dollars if we feel like you’re giving us a shot. If you do, we’ll be back. In droves. Trust me. I’m Bobby Vegas and I approve this message.

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Bobby Vegas—Ask and Ye Shall Win

Bobby Vegas: Friends Don’t Let Friends Play Triple-Zero Roulette

Advantage players search for edges. In addition to the usual techniques at blackjack, video poker, sports betting, and tournaments, they keep their eyes out for opportunities where the house offers a promotion, but miscalculates the odds.

A good example comes from Anthony’s YouTube channel interview with Jonathan Jossel. The Plaza offered a 30% rebate on W9 taxable wins for 24 hours. APs swept in and played keno — yes, keno — till the cows came home. Not exactly the usual AP game. Being a stand-up guy, Jossel didn’t cancel the promotion when he realized the mistake, even though it cost the Plaza several hundred thou. In 24 hours, no less.

That’s how significant exploiting a loophole can be.

Now, some APs will grouse at me again for publishing this, as they have when I wave the flag about advantage play VP opportunities or stacking promos, but that’s my job, helping you see the (value) light pointing the way to the promised land before the house catches it. And they’re watching, so you have to move quick.

A favorite expression comes to mind: “Happiness is positive cash flow.” OURS, not theirs!

The purpose of this post is to MAKE YOU THINK, to ask, “What if …?”

You should realize that you’ll make mistakes, hit dead ends, find out your hunch was, a buncha hooey. Are you willing to take that risk? Look dumb? Get the door slammed in your face? If so, I can tell you that when you’re RIGHT, it’s so sweet. Positive cash flow sweet.

Ken, an Arizona reader, told me about his experience calling the Virgin attempting to get info on their tier bump requirements. Reaching the player’s club, a very uncooperative staff member hung up on him. Customer service? Fuggedaboudit!

He didn’t get the info needed but that’s okay, because Ken’s ASKING was key. He was SEARCHING.

BTW, Ken got a free Bobby Vegas T-shirt for the tip. “Avoid the Virgin!” Ever since they transformed the truly legendary Hard Rock into this no-winners no-fun land of boring games and well corporate tomfoolery, the “Virgin” is more like a (I shouldn’t be that vulgar, so let’s just say) washed out.

Here’s another example of my thought process.

If less people are coming to Vegas for the foreseeable future, where can I find an undiscovered advantage — beyond great hotel deals? Like if bingo has 30% less people, but the payouts are the same, does that raise our odds for winning substantially
compared to bingo’s edge? YES. Get my drift?

Check it out. Try being wrong. ASK, and win.

Where else have you found an edge or tried to? Share your discoveries and mistakes.

Next up is my favorite math formula (nerd alert):

It’s not “Any X equals X.” It’s “Any X equals ANY X”!

O.M.G. The Birthday Paradox. I love it. We’ll get to it in my next blog. Stay tuned.

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Bobby Vegas — More on Golden Gate, Being Nice, and Vintage Vegas

Bobby Vegas: Friends Don’t Let Friends Play Triple-Zero Roulette

Got an excellent reader tip about still using Golden Gate matchplay chips.

(BTW, if you send a tip I use to [email protected], I’ll send you a Bobby Vegas T-shirt (“fweeee!”). 

LVA’s QOD established you can exchange Golden Gate table-game chips at the D or Circa. Meanwhile, Circa, Golden Gate, and the D give out non-expiring matchplay chips, (way better than expiring 24-hour paper coupons). You may have received some using your LVA MRB matchplay coupons for Golden Gate and the D.

My bud was able to exchange his Golden Gate matchplay chips That’s a 2-for-1 payout on a 50/50 bet. Sweet.

The lesson here, as Jean Scott used to say, is honey attracts more bees than vinegar, so it never hurts to ask and be nice!

Oh — and a late-breaking bulletin. Thanks to Matchplay Bob, who clarified he had a Golden Gate players club manager sign his Golden Gate MRB matchplay coupon and it was accepted at Circa. So take your unused GG MRB matchplay coupon, have someone at GG sign it, and it “should” be accepted at Circa for their matchplay chip.

I didn’t double check the other two matchplay “show your Southwest ticket” at the D or Circa before posting, but I believe both are still active. Anyone?

Here’s one more Bobby V downtown-scuffler special.

I’m not a fan of Garage Mahal at Circa — parking fees and it’s inconvenient. If I’m going to Circa’s sports book or to use my LVA MRB free champagne coupon at Circa’s fabulous rooftop Legacy Club or to play or eat at the Plaza, I valet park at Golden Gate’s tiny lot.

“Checking in or will you be long?”

“Maybe an hour.”

Be a George and give the valet a few dollars *up front* and a few when you pick up*.

And be cool. Go INTO the Golden Gate. Going to the Plaza or Circa? Go out through the front of GG.

Hey.. I just had a why-I-love-downtown Vegas revelation (“Praise full pay VP and pass the cash!”) over the Strip. I don’t like crowds reminding me of midtown Manhattan on New Year’s Eve, bad games and overpriced … well … everything. Downtown is more personal, on more of a human scale. I like that experience, that connection. Why?

“I’m special!”

Plus, better games, rock n roll on every corner, and a meal that doesn’t require you to pawn your jewelry all fill the bill quite nicely.

Growing up, I was more a pinball-at-the-bowling-alley grab-a-deli-“sammich” and go-to-the-state-fair-midway kinda guy. So sue me.

Speaking of pinball, granted it’s wayyy down past the South Strip near the “Bobby Vegas” (oh wait — that change hasn’t happened … yet) “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign, but you can have some vintage fun for spare change at the Pinball Hall of Fame.

Then head on down to South Point for a super selection of full-pay VP, very affordable LIVE table games, and a decent buffet and nobody’s charging you for parking at all three!

I’m old school. Sue me. Again. My kind of Vegas.

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Bobby Vegas—Desperation Breeds Great Deals

Bobby Vegas: Friends Don’t Let Friends Play Triple-Zero Roulette

Haggard corporates huddle over their conference-table laptop spreadsheets revealing red lines pointing down, empty coffee cups, half-eaten pastries, hair askew, bloodshot eyes.

“Ya think if we just get them in the door, we can make it up in …?”

Next month? Next quarter? Next year? Ya think?

Like this is a new idea? Maybe they’re catching on. See, an empty hotel room night is lost revenue forever. By my calcs, they’re staring at 15,000-25,000 empty rooms every weekend night. Midweek. more like 50,000. We may be seeing their breakeven revealed.

And as any good scuffler worth their stacked coupons knows, that’s good news.

Here’s Bobby Vegas’ common-sense recipe for success:

1) lower your costs coming in,
2) spend as much time as humanly possible on their dime, through comps, deals, coupons, WHATEVER,
3) and play the best games for you with the lowest edge.

Winner winner steaks for dinner! You’d prefer salmon? Fine.

Folks, there’s something you must always keep in mind: Time is your enemy. The longer you play with even a slight negative edge, the more likely they’ll win your money. Slots? Fuggedabouddit. The casinos know that many players like to forget it and hope for the best, tipping back the free drinks.

So if you care to win, or at least break even and have a grand old time, use EVERY advantage they give you, playing on their dime and on their time, eat on their comps, and use every free play, matchplay, two-fer, and discount and coupon you can beg, borrow, or fish out of the trash. (Thank you, Jean Scott.)

Old scuffler reminiscing.

“Now way back in the spring of ’25 when the cracks started to appear, there was the Plaza and that young Jonnie Jossel. My oh my, a smart boy, even bringing them in with bingo. Maybe try Bobby Wilson?

Then Downtown Grand followed, almost matching Plaza’s all-inclusive $125 a night deal, food, drinks, parking, and NRF. Now everyone from Boyd at the Fremont to Caesars at the Flamingo is offering two- night stays with $50 food credit for $150.

There’s that NRF again, a Bobby Vegas abbreviation for NO RESORT FEE.

Maybe it’ll catch on, like, a Bona Fide Bobby Vegas-Approved NRF Deal!

Plaza’s doing it, Downtown Grand does it, Four Queens, Golden Nugget, Treasure Island sometimes, and a few others dipping their toes in the NRF pool.

Yo, MGM, Caesars. Maybe you can work on those Strip food and drink prices, so we might get more than French fries and a Coke for our $50. Fremont? No problem, but can comps be used in the very nice new food court?

Me, I’m waiting for them to pay us to walk in. Remember the Stardust? $17 a night, complete with a $10 bounce-back and buffet coupon.

Just wait, people. It’s like fishing or hunting. Patience … patience … patience … then POUNCE!

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Bobby Vegas —Wheel Spins, Tide Turns

Bobby Vegas: Friends Don’t Let Friends Play Triple-Zero Roulette

Getting tired of the mainstream media hammering away at the “Death of Vegas?”

I am. If you are, try the Bobby Vegas angle: “What a time to visit Vegas and get great deals!”

Guess I’m still a legend in my own mind. Heck, then call Anthony.

Anyway, you all are here. That’s what’s/who’s important. You care. And now that I got all that off my chest, I’m also here to say, the tide is turning.

Wynn takes the lead once again. I love the Wynn. The soft fabric, the hushed elegance, the outstanding service, my favorite roulette dealer who used to spin for Kerry Packer (now that’s history). But $50 triple-zero roulette makes my stomach churn.

Not anymore! Gone! Parking fees? Gone! Overpriced mini bar waters? Gone! Now we’re talking.

Maybe some of the other houses will wake up and realize you can still have some of our money, just not all of it. Sure, we know we may lose; we just want to have a good time and go home happy, probably hung over. Just not hosed.

Those that change get our business. Those that don’t, we walk to the next casino that does.

Example: At Resorts World, $21 self-parking is back. Seriously? Apparently. I once paid $25 for a club soda at Zouk. No refills. CLUB. SODA. Instead, I’ll dance at Oddfellows next to EL Cortez.

I guess RW’s casino management got out of their 12-step zealous overcharging rehab program and immediately relapsed.

Step one: Admit you have a problem.
Step Two: It’s bigger than you and you’re insane.
Step Three: Ask for help.
Step Four: Look within at “how you done wrong.”
Step Five: Ask for forgiveness — like, “Canada! Oh Canada! We don’t really want you to become the 51st state. Please! Come back!”

On to some deals and no deals.

I just booked a double play for Vegas. I’m going to The Dream Awards at Orleans with my pal Bobby Wilson, who’s hosting, then staying for Halloween, one of the absolute best times in Vegas ever.

And the super-sale tix from Southwest? I had to call in ( no charge) and speak to a human being (no AI ), who found an even better deal than mine: round trip for $148. I’ve maybe had an under $200 round trip, but this is the first time under $150.

How about a Groupon deal for Caesars Bacchanal Buffet for under $100? Apparently, with the add-on line pass and Mimosas, it was a $150 “value.” And parking for the hoi polloi is $20 (free for locals, 7 Stars, Diamond, and Platinum).

Yes it’s a fabulous buffet, but to me, $100 for it, plus parking, plus tip, is no deal. Better deal? The LVA MRB Palms Buffet two-for-one or half-price, all the lobster you can eat, and free parking. That’s a deal.

Used yours? Buy your friend an MRB and take him or her. I was sick, so I still have mine, but not for long!

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Bobby Vegas — A Pirate Seeking Treasure

Bobby Vegas: Friends Don’t Let Friends Play Triple-Zero Roulette

On a North Carolina Barrier Island, true pirates abandoned horses hundreds of years ago and their descendants still roam. There, I collect seashells, bags full, then haul them back to my lair, happy in my discoveries and tickled by my finds.

I’m a lover of old vinyl. Searching through the dusty worn $1 bins for that elusive find, I saw Ahmad Jahmal’s One. It’s worth $25. A great jazz album or an old Four Tops in near mint condition. Nice.

And in Vegas, I search for that elusive golden moment where all the cards come up hearts or spades. Diamonds are fine too and no, I don’t hate clubs.

And having researched the venue and stacked my deals and coupons, I’ve tilted the odds in my favor, so the winning is just the confirmation. It’s “just a game” for me, less about the amounts I’ve won and more about the adventure. Though the money doesn’t hurt either.

I’ve found that this is what I love — learning a new field, finding some valuable knowledge, applying it and hopefully walking away a winner, then sharing that tale with you. These things leave me satisfied.

Searching for hidden values. Discovering a silver dish in a thrift store. Not quite as adventurous as Black Beard, but a 50/50 matchplay will do fine for me in 2025.

What do you search for? And why? Why do you come to Vegas? To pretend to be a high roller? Or maybe you actually are and just want to live it out guilt free. Your favorite performer’s incredible show? The exotic dining? A sexual fantasy fulfilled? For the whole experience?

Which games do you choose over others? What’s the psychology behind your game choice? The tight win potential of blackjack? The camaraderie of craps?

I like video poker. It’s clean, clear, thoughtful, absorbing. I can play at my own speed and am not at risk to the whims of a roller calling out stupid plays.

I really like craps, but the style of play and the decision tree don’t work well for me.

I’m way too transparent to bluff, so I’m not attracted to poker.

Moving right along to news of the day. With the media all over the Vegas crash, the LVCVA has come out with an embarrassingly awful ad campaign. They still don’t get it. Not surprised at all.

Vegas was once a mecca for many things, an adult Disney World, and most folks willingly came hoping for a score, ready to party and play. But when the hustles got so strong and things got tight at home, well, paying $75 to park and walk in the door just left a bad taste.

Will the house learn? Based on their track records, I don’t have a lot of faith in corporate types making good decisions. But Vegas still has ways to play. For me, rule one is simple: Avoid the Strip.

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Bobby Vegas — A Correction on “RF Money without the RF”

Bobby Vegas: Friends Don’t Let Friends Play Triple-Zero Roulette

Mistakes are made. I’m after all human and believe it’s important to correct misinformation I’m responsible for.

Sometimes I’m a little too enthusiastic in reporting my discoveries. Yeah, yeah, maybe not just sometimes. In this case, I apparently rushed to judgment, even after attempting to verify. But after publishing, I was informed by my source that my reporting was incorrect.

So I’m clearing the air here. And I asked Deke to take down the former piece.

In reporting on Carolina Mike’s royal flush money without the royal flush, I learned at a recent lunch that not only had he hit a royal, he instead made up his “losses in achieving the royal” through a combination of comebacks, extra bonus play, matchplays, comps, and some other nice hits.

This is a very different achievement, like the difference between $500 and $2,000. When you swing for the fences, you also strike out.

What I did learn is:

1) Clarify

2) Verify

3) Confirm

Thought I was onto something. I was, partially, but reality is a bear.

Last time I had a problem reporting was suggesting to Anthony Curtis that the Red Robin “Free burgers for a month deal” be publicized on LVA.com. That was a too-good-to-be-true opportunity. It was true; it just didn’t last.

Advantage plays are time sensitive, so it’s important to jump on them before they disappear. In the case of Red Robin, it was so popular, it sold out in minutes and crashed their website.

And about the recent free cookies for a month deal from Tiff’s Treats, I was wrong too. I reported a dozen free cookies every day for a month. It was, instead, for 45 days! I swear, I am so over cookies.

That last underreporting was a result of heading into major surgery when I discovered it and was pretty blurry in my thinking post-surgery. Still, too many cookies isn’t the worst error of my life.

On a separate subject, I want to alert you to a unique way to create a gambling bank or for that matter just get some extra moolah. It seems almost every bank I encounter has multiple bonus signup deals that are really juicy. I’d been getting mailers and used one to set up a separate account for the Frugal Video Poker Strategy Guide. These offers include Wells Fargo, Chase, Truist, and many others. There are deals for opening both personal and business accounts where you deposit a nominal amount of money in a new account and receive within 30, 60, or 90 days a very nice bonus. Deposit $500. Get $300.

There are deals for both straight deposit and direct deposit. I like the straight-deposit deals. Put money in. Get extra money soon after. You want to check the fine print, the type of account, and if there’s a monthly fee. But any way you look at it, it’s good money.

The adventure continues.

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Bobby Vegas — Why I Came To Hate AI and Luv the Hack

Bobby Vegas: Friends Don’t Let Friends Play Triple-Zero Roulette

“Hi, you’ve reached Orwellian Enterprises. Press six to be lost in an endless maze, seven if this drives you crazy.”

Used to be (in the good ol’ dayz), when I wound up in some company’s maddening phone tree, I could just keep hitting 0, eventually defaulting to a live, you know, human. But they figured it out and eliminated that option. Want proof? Try calling Verizon.

I also manage a number of websites that include BobbyVegas and KeepRaleighSquirrrely, etc., so I deal with web companies — a lot.

When Blue Domino eliminated live customer service, I eliminated Blue Domino and switched to GoDaddy. Go! Daddy!

Recently I encountered this worrying trend at two of my favorite places, the Plaza and Rio. And here’s another shoutout to Jonathan Jossel, president of the Plaza. Yo! JJ! Thank you! You dumped the AI girl on your phone system! My man! Back to old school is cool. Where humans rule!

Meanwhile, at the Rio, a very cheerful voice answers, “Hi! I’m Stacey! How can I help you?”

Being an OWG (Old White Guy) and an easy mark for the female persuasion, I hear a friendly voice, I assume it’s a human. Alas, after one or two questions, it’s clear Stacey is actually a GoogleBot.

When asked for a less-than-direct answer like, “I need to make a reservation using my LVA coupon, but I don’t have my Rewards number,” Stacey responds ever so cheerfully,
“Okay! I can help you with that!” then proceeds to do just the opposite.

My problem? I always have a question. AI’s problem? My query rarely fits auto response.

I recently read a critique of AI that it’s not “intelligent.” It’s just a ginormous database, scouring matching words like auto spell check … which also drives me crazy.

A friend recently used AI for a VP strategy query and literally got the wrong answer.
People, AI doesn’t THINK. It repeats what it finds. Right or wrong.

So I keep asking for a Rio AGENT and lo and behold … a human!

A note about using the LVA MRB coupon for an amazing 30% off the best rate and NRF (NO Resort Fee) saving $57 a night at the Rio: BE PATIENT. They always go, “Wow. Great rate. Let me check with my supervisor.”

Just chill. It’s worth the wait.

My five-night stay — Sunday through Thursday, king bed, Masquerade Tower (my fave, old school, great view of the Strip, and a tub!) was … Oh wait. In my last blog I claimed $135 for four nights. I lied. It was $122 for five nights. Oops. My bad.

I haven’t seen rates like that since the Stardust back in the day ($17 with $10 back and a $5 buffet coupon.)

Oh and one other thing. Why is it always Stacy or Tracy?

Why not KinkyRiotGrrl or UsedToBeASpearmintRhinoStripper? If you’re going to do Vegas AI, I mean, be Vegas. OK?

Better yet … delete!

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Bobby Vegas — Gift Cards, Points, and Straddles Oh My

Bobby Vegas: Friends Don’t Let Friends Play Triple-Zero Roulette

Who knew giving away a dozen free cookies a day would be so hard. Help me. Please. My blood sugar begs you. Or planning an almost free trip to Vegas.

With the launch of the Frugal Video Poker Strategy Guide ebook, the $10 discount offered to LVA subscribers (SUBSCRIBE ) or previous purchasers of FVPSG’s hard copy (HARDCOPY), I threw in a dozen free Tiffs Treats cookies (COOKIE) for pickup through End of July, making the whole package if not free ($48 in value for $9.88), at least a fantastic value play.

You get the FVPSG, my “Best VP on the Strip” booklet, and a dozen warm cookies (good till all cookies are sold). Go to my previous blog for details.

As for gift cards, I love gift card deals. If a retailer wants to give me 25% off on something I buy regularly, I’m in. Here’s the problem. People lose their cards. Or forget about them. Me too. Big time. It’s like TITO tickets at Caesars.

Example: I bought a discounted Alamo Drafthouse e-gift card and lost it recently. Then the excellent live customer service person located my card and noticed I had several in my account. Checking the balances, I had over $200 worth dating back four years ! Holy buttered popcorn, Batman! Would AI have found that? No way. That’s one reason I solicit companies with live customer service — and why so many companies are eliminating them.

Next, our local custard place, Goodberry’s, sells discounted gift cards as gifts for friends and well, me. While decluttering, I found four $25 cards I’d lost. It pays to declutter, at least at my house.

As for points and credits, I’m a big fan of Chase Ultimate Rewards points. I charge everything I can, then pay off the balance and accrue enough points for my Vegas flights. My card gives a 25% bonus using their points on their 24/7 live travel portal. $400 plane flight? Only $300. nice.

Next, casino offers and coupons, oh my. I have two comp nights a month at Downtown Grand where they let me straddle. After stacking, I love straddles. I’ll have four nights over Labor Day weekend — two in August, two in September — for free.

Straddling months also works on casino free-play offers like Four Queens. You get two offers on one trip.

Finally, using my Rio no-resort-fee LVA MRB coupon Sunday thru Friday will cost me $127 total for five nights, saving the $285 in resort fees.

I’ll be in Vegas for nine nights and 10 days, free flight on points. Total hotel cost $135.

I still have to pay for my car. Working on that next. Even paying for that, my out-of-pocket trip cost will be under $500. For nine nights. And there were other very good deals at Plaza and the Grand with no resort fee, free parking and daily food comps I didn’t use.

It’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it.