Topic Of The Week: "What Would You do?"

[Steve]

What would you do?

If you had a big win (not megabucks) on the first day of your LV trip, would that change how you would gamble the rest of the stay? Spend more gambling..conserve to make sure you take it home with you..buy something expensive... What would you do?

[sandlind]

I'd Do The Spa Thing
Gamble More
Stay A Day Or Two Longer
Take Money Home

[henshep1]

I think that i would spend some on an excellent dinner for all of my traveling companions all on me :p. Then i would take the rest home.

[egazuara]

First If possible, try to cover my trip expenses so I can say that it was really a win or a cheaper trip!!!!

good luck to all!!!

[hchafee]

I would find a nice jewelry store and buy myself a ring! Then I would put the rest away and continue on gambling as if I hadn't won anything!

[Bloomie]

If we were with our friends, we would treat them to dinner, I would put away a sizeable portion to take home, and use the rest to play the rest of the week and share (all) with hubby. We would also tuck away the money we brought to gamble along with the portion of the big win and take it home to share with our kids and grandchildren. Having worked in money management for so many years it is hard for me to be extravagant. Creature of habit. Everything is a big IF.......IF I win big!

[jgalt1]

As I always do, I handicap the horses on Saturday the day before I leave and bet the horses at Santa Anita and Bay Meadows Sunday at 1:00.

One trip I played a $48 pick six, that's picking six races in a row, and won it and it paid about $12,000.

I didn't change anything, except that from that moment I knew I'd have winning trip.

[gimp1]

What would you do?

If you had a big win (not megabucks) on the first day of your LV trip, would that change how you would gamble the rest of the stay? Spend more gambling..conserve to make sure you take it home with you..buy something expensive... What would you do?
well last time i was in LV the first day i hit $1600.00 on dollar slots in one afternoon. i stopped gambling bought tickets to some shows and took home a $1000.00

[MHIROTSU]

I'd go to the Chanel store at Wynn, spend whatever money I made and keep the woman happy. I didn't go to college just to eat lunch!

Mike

[johker53]

I lived this very scenario back in 1997, when I flew a friend of mine from Colorado (I lived in Florida) to meet me for a joint birthday celebration. As it turned out, it was more convenient for us to meet on "my" birthday, vs. "her" birthday or any date in between.

We stayed at Treasure Island (my then favorite hotel/casino). After a good night's sleep, I woke up a year older (my 44th birthday). Her 22nd birthday wouldn't occur for several more days, so she opted to sleep in while I went down to my favorite video poker bar (which has now, I understand, been replaced by the lobby expansion they did several years ago). After playing for about an hour with an initial $100 buy-in, I was up about $450. Then it happened. The mother-lode of all poker hands.... I hit a royal flush :eek: on a dollar machine (maximum bets).... $4000 was instantly (well, almost instantly) mine... After the requisite tipping of the bartenders, buying the "small" bar a round of drinks and signing the dreaded IRS paperwork, I was off to my room with 40 crisp new $100 bills. I was so caught up in being handed all that cash, it didn't occur to me :confused: to ask for it in a cashier's check or other form of "safe" paper.

So.... after sharing the good news with my friend after waking her up from a sound sleep, we probably spent 2 hours trying to find a bank on or near the strip (funny how "few" there are). I exchanged all that cash for AmEx traveler's cheques and we were now $450 richer :) with which to spend on ourselves (my initial winnings before I hit the RF).

We managed to blow through most of that, plus my "planned" budget for the trip, but I held on to the $4,000. Needless to say, it was a GREAT 44th birthday.. :)

Bill
Crystal River, FL

[casinogal926]

I would definitely gamble with a little higher ante but I would also keep some
to defray the cost of my trip. When I win, I will tell you what I did with the
money :D

[katherinemm]

That's pretty COOL! You took home the $$ but what did you do with it? to the guy who took home $4,000.

[katherinemm]

Take the $$ and RUN at least MOST of it. Treat moi and whomever I was with to a spa day and fab meal. Maybe see a show. I hear the one at the Wynn is nice. Depending on how much I win, use it to go back to Athens and the Greek Islands or go to Tuscany / Venice for the first time.

[LV Maniac]

I would add a little money to my trip gambling budget, give some to my trip mates and take the rest of it home. ;)

[MIKE]

What would you do?

If you had a big win (not megabucks) on the first day of your LV trip, would that change how you would gamble the rest of the stay? Spend more gambling..conserve to make sure you take it home with you..buy something expensive... What would you do?
I have a casino check made out to me and sent it home. Won a $6,000 slot at Ceasars playing $5 maximum . My first big win since 1966, and I was intent on keeping it. Then the casino comped me everyting for a few years trying to get recoup there loss. I learned never to give back any money I win. That way I can afford to go to Vegas 4 times a year and have fun.

[parisbill]

Take 2/3 home with me and concentrate on enjoying all that LV offers in food, entertainmet and TOTAL ESCAPE!!

[Lori R]

I would gamble with whatever budget I brought with me and definitely treat dinner but I pretty much would stop. That actually happened a couple of weeks ago in a local casino. My friends went to the restroom and I sat down at a dollar JOB machine to wait for them. Threw a ticket in and, after a few hands, hit a royal flush (no, I did not have max coins in. I wasn't taking it seriously--just killing time). We had just eaten dinner and had not yet sat down to start our gambling. I was done for the evening and just watched my friends gamble.

LR

[captam]

I won 18,000 on the slots and it changed my gambling, I spent more drank more gambled more and in general made a complete fool of myself, I hope to do it again it was the best trip I ever had to Vegas.
Jerry

[jrrestoule]

I would upgrade my hotel room to something that you only see in the movies. I would become a high roller wherever I went, eating at all the best restaurants and seeing all the best shows... first class everything, it would be fantabulous! :D

[spacetek]

I don't think I'd gamble any different I always set my 3K limit and stick too it, I have had some major wins in the past and it did make a big difference in how my girlfriend went shopping lol. ( little story for you ) a close friend and his family went to vegas years ago and stayed at the golden nugget where his wife asked for a couple rolls of nickels while he went to play craps ( 3 kids were in hotel room watching a movie ) about 20 minutes passed when he turned around and found 3 security guards behind him asking his name and first thing out of him mouth was " what did my kids do now ? ) the guards said nothing your wife just won nevada nickels... He said how much ? they said 8 hundred 50 thousand... he said nickels ???? they said nooooo Dollars...... We live in a small town here 3 hrs west of vegas and he now has his 6 stall auto garage and is doing very well... he was paid over 20 years about 30 K a year and he's just the same ol guy....but doesn't turn the wrench much anymore.... LUCK TO EVERYONE

[bobbot]

This has happened to me on five occasions, and each time, I have practiically stopped all gambling, and not lost more than 10% of what I had won.

I just made my return visit much sooner.

[legalois]

I usually take more money with me than I intend to spend, and always bring several hundred back home again. I like to have it with me "just in case."

If I hit big I'd probably spend more of my initial budget, but I most definitely would get a casino check and bring home ALL of the winnings. After the trip, I'd probably put it into a 529 account for my grandson.

[sean]

I would probably start playing Baccarat

[katherinemm]

about 20 minutes passed when he turned around and found 3 security guards behind him asking his name and first thing out of him mouth was " what did my kids do now ? ) the guards said nothing your wife just won nevada nickels... He said how much ? they said 8 hundred 50 thousand... he said nickels ???? LOL they said nooooo Dollars...... WOW That is a funny, amazing story.

[batteryman]

I won 5000 on a dollar machine my first day of a trip at excalibur. i put 4000 in the safety deposit room and played a little harder than usual and still brought back almost all of the 5 grand. i also bought dinner for all 12 of our relatives at the excalibur steak house and saw siegfried and roy. great trip

[GrandCanyon]

This goes back to 1983. I was in the Navy and a shipmate and I went to Vegas. Back in those days I always stayed at the Stardust. I would usually go to Vegas for the weekend about every other weekend and play blackjack and a little roulette. This particular weekend my buddy and I found ourselves shooting craps at the Frontier. We both cashed in for $100. We were playing classic pass line with odds and come bets with odds and the dice were kind of choppy. Finally, I noticed that the dice have been passing and my buddy starts making $25 bets instead of $5 bets. I was a little too whimpy to do this but he soon parlayed his $100 into about $1000. I can remember this like it happened yesterday; I asked my buddy Greg why he was betting so much and he told me "Mikey my boy, the dice are running good and I'm going to sock away what I came with and shoot the moon and see what happens." Soon he graduated to betting blacks, playing the same strategy, and once the dice started to run cold he pocketed a little over $18,000. I did not do nearly as well, but still won a couple of thousand. Anyway, we went down to Nieman Marcus, got some decent threads, and went to Caesars and had dinner at Cleopatra's Barge. To this day it is the most memorable dining experience I have ever had. We topped it off with a round of Golf at the DI the next day. We didn't gamble that much after the win; we just ate well and reveled in our good fortune. After many, many trips to Las Vegas that was not the biggest win I have ever had, but it was my first and most certainly my most memorable. All I can say is, if you have a nice win treat yourself and make some memories. It is an investment that will stay with you the rest of your life.:) :) :)

[mike rye]

I would party like a rock star!!! Get a suite at a nice hotel. Have a great dinner at one of the expensive places. And maybe for a short while play Dollar Video Poker. I usually play quarters.

[JVegas]

I'm surprised that most everyone thinks like me. When I hit for about $1500.00 my first day, I bought some great food and shows. The rest I banked for more trips to Vegas. Vegas isn't really about gambling, its about getting away for FUN!
James

[jo45an]

I would buy something special for myself, or for my home, but keep most of my winnings. It would be tempting to splurge, but my "practical" side would insure most of the money would come back home with me!!!!!!!!!:p

Joan in PA:)

[ERMIEARTIS]

I Would Have To Gamble It All.i Have Never Took A Dime Back Home With Me Yet. Just Wouldn`t Know How To Act

[Souette]

I've won $1000, $1500, and $3000 on slots before. Didn't make a difference, I just tucked it away and took it home.

Now...let's talk BIG money..say $75,000.

I would be expected to be upgraded to a suite for sure! And I would order room service for breakfast.

Yes, I would increase my gambling and spend at least $5,000 of the winnings at Roulette or Slots. It's like getting to play FREE!

I would visit one of the jewelry stores that sells Katherine Baumann Swarovski crystal encrusted purses and buy the one that is made in the likeness of Sylvester the Cat's Head. (I've saved Sylvester the Cat stuff since I was a little girl). Appx: $1500

No difference in where I eat, how much I drink or take in any shows.

When I got home, I would buy my daughter's family a new mini-van that has the airbags not only in the front but on the sides as well. Gotta keep the 2 yr old and 4 month old grandbabies safe.

The rest in the bank.

[mturner]

well.. it would really depend on how much but if it were ALOT.... no question i would stash most away but save back enough to play bigger and more. or even extend my stay by a few days if it was really big!

i dream about that on every flight out!

[Mulberryflash56]

First, I would fly over the GRAND CANYON...then have lunch at the Pahrump Winery....Fly to Scotsdale for an overnight trip and the Spa experience...Then do Vegas for another week....gene

[ronnie2000]

:rolleyes: I would have 90% of it given to me in a cashiers check and it would be mailed to my PO Box AT HOME, right then. The other 10% would be spent splurging, the best restaurants, the best shows, etc. Then I'd go back to my usual frugal ways........still using coupons and still getting a steak dinner at Ellis Island :p

[Nevada]

About three I hit twelve hundred on dollar slot machine first night there cnanged to a nickle progresive machine so that i would not have a lossing trip low and behold hit the jackpot on nickle machine so had no trouble at all coming home a winner:D

[KenoMom]

About a year ago, I hit for $1175 on video keno....literally 2 hours after I had arrived in Las Vegas. I was so confused on how I felt....thrilled at my first LV big win and incredibly sad that it was the first day and there was no way I would do it again. That's a lot of money but I decided that at this stage of the visit (still had 7 days to go), I was just going to use their money to continue my usual gambling and simply left Vegas in the end with my original bankroll intact.

My cousin, on the other hand, is the luckier one. In 6 days time she once hit 5 jp's for $1175 each. It was incredible. Never did manage to hit the $2500 for all of the numbers, but she sure did have a nice run of luck. The only change she made was to play 2 machines instead of 1 for the rest of the trip :)

Amazingly none of our jp's came with a comp...not even a free buffet.

If I were to hit for more then the $1175, I'd save at least 1/2 and play or buy items with the rest. Bigger bucks obviously requires more thought......my husband always worries that I'll hit a big one and come home with the deed to a condo on the strip <G>.

[ASTIDIXIE]

:D First I would have a limo instead of taking the bus..........secondly I would get tickets to all the shows/concerts I would like to see AND they would be the best seats!
Gambling.............I probably would try some more costly slots than the 25 cent ones............but I would have already sent most of the money to my bank account..........LOL I would however, play longer on my lil quarter machines........
I would probably also buy more things there that I would have not been able to afford before...........:D

[Lackqueen]

Our last trip I won $3500 on our last night...so that was great!! Came home with it all. BUT had I won it on our first day...hmmmm...think I'd take maybe $500 of it & try my luck at some $1 progressives and video poker. If I won a really BIG jp, would go for an upgrade to a suite & get a total body massage :)

[tednewkirk]

Living here in Las Vegas for a long time, I'll tell you what have done. And it very much applies even if you are visiting:

I bank with Bank of America and after having a couple of celebration drinks and spending a little bit of the win hoping that lightning strikes twice, I get a cab to the nearest B of A teller machine and dump most of the cash into the machine.

(Yes ... it is safe to deposit cash .... businesses have been putting cash in night deposits forever ... strippers have been putting cash deposits into these machines since they first started accepting deposits ... I have yet to hear of a problem).

Then I generally do what many of you have indicated: Invite some friends to enjoy some drinks, fine meal, etc. Plus (living here) the cab ride home and cab ride back to the car the next day if I can't hitch a ride from someone.

How does this apply to the visitor?

No matter if you claim the winnings in cash or check, you may very well use a nationwide bank that has ATM's here in Las Vegas. Your cab drive (or if you hit enough, a limo driver) probably knows where they are.

BTW, just give them the excuse you are headed to deposit a business check for a friend who had to fly out early or whatever excuse if you are concerned about letting them know why you need to go to an ATM. This is not abnormal, as casino ATM's don't take deposits (what a surprise, LOL).

Why dump your cash/check in the bank? Many reasons. Cash in your pocket generally gets spent somewhere very quickly in Las Vegas. Cash in the bank is cash in the bank. Sure ... you can use your credit card or hit a casino ATM to pull it back out, but it isn't the same. Most ATM's limit daily withdraw of fund and using a credit card for something stupid (that you would have bought with cash burning a hole in your pocket) usually makes one think twice.

Obviously, what is a "lot of money" differs. Some feel huge if they hit for $200, some can hit a $4000 royal on dollars and not blink. But if you follow the advice to put some in your pocket to party and get the rest where it isn't buring a hole in your pocket, you'll be MUCH happier when you get home.

An alternative is to take the check and immediately drop it in the mail to your house, or take the cash and buy a money order and send it home to yourself. You would be amazed at the things a concierge desk can help you with for obtaining help with the above. And once the envelope is sealed and given to the front desk or put in a mailbox ... it is out of your hands.

Final Note: We are talking about a very good win here ... one big enough that you absolutely want to make sure that you don't leave it all in Vegas. If your are a regular dollar VP player and you hit a royal, burning up the $4000 during the remainder of your stay probably won't make or break you.

But ... if you hit pretty big ... the kind of money it would take you months to make at your job or a huge win for the level of your play, find a way to get it out of Vegas. Otherwise you'll blow through some (or all) of it on a Vegas high, then be sitting at home later thinking of how much it would have paid for in your city at the rate you usually spend.

[starvegasgirl]

If I won big, there are a few things I would do differently.

I would definitely get a much better room. I want to see what its like for celebrities when they stay there.

I would definitely play more aggressively but not too aggressively!

I would try some new games that I have never played and some games I rarely play! I am a regular at roulette and the slots!

I would have some good meals while I am there at celebrity chef restaurants!

Possibly take in a show or 2! I love Blue Man Group!

And DEFINITELY hit up a few of my favorite stores while I am in town... Tiffany & Co and Coach. As well as splurge in a couple of stores I might normally not go into!

[magicfish]

I would save a large percentage of it, but....

I would get a really nice room,

and move up on table limit - (I am a real low roller, playing $5 or less BJ most of the time).

I would go to one expensive show.

The rest I would save for the next visit - the best part is getting to come to Vegas at all!! :o

[John Frawley]

I'd tuck half of it away immediately, and continue to wager the remaining during my visit until I win again or run very low on what's left.

[sonntex]

If I won a good sized pot on the first day, I would give most of it to hubby to keep. (He holds on to it; I gamble it.) We would continue our trip the same as we always do, nothing special. We might be a little more agressive in our play.

If it were a huge amount, we would ask to be paid by check and mail it home.

[tryon4]

It actually happened to us a few years ago. I was playing quarter slots in the Excalibur when my wife found me to say goodnight after a day of travelling. I asked her to wait while I played down the credits I had left. She popped a $5.00 bill in the machine next to me and of course she hit. 5X, 5X, 7 for $2,400.00. Trip paid for in the first few hours. We didn't really do anything that we don't normally do. Actually the trip was one of the better trips in our history. We enjoyed quite a bit of luck the entire stay.

[Sherry]

GREAT QUESTION; Oh whow!! I guess it depends on how much I win, hopefully lots. I would take my husband out for a lovely meal then bring the rest home stick it away for a rainy day. I definitely would not gamble anymore than I took to spend on gambling.

[YSinAppleton]

What a great question of the week! I would save it all and take it home with me. Made it a rule a long time ago that anything won in Vegas goes in a winning envelope in the safe and comes home with me. We usually stay in decent hotels with good rooms, so wouldn't need or want to upgrade. Also, we bring enough to gamble with and would save a big win for our next trip and the next.......!

[divefl]

Big meals all the way, gamble more but not really higher levels. How big are we talking about? If over a couple thousand I would put some aside. Otherwise might as well high roll it guilt free.

[talanhart]

When I win something big, I will let you know how it changes my trip.

[bevierose]

I would definitely enjoy the crap table so much more. Without a kitty to play the way I would like to, I rarely stay at the table long since it's gone before you know it. It seems when I start out with more, I win more. Also, I would treat whoever I was with and shop at the Bellagio and Caesar's Forum. I hope I win when I return in August. Good luck to all of my Vegas buddies!;)

[bonzersmom]

several years ago I won $2500 on a slot machine. We extended our stay by 2 days and then we bought show tickets. Hit every major show on the strip, early show followed by a late show and we went to several of the top restaurants. Places we could previously only afford to walk by and breath heavily.

During the day we went out to Lake Mead and rented a speed boat ($100 an hour plus gas) and tore around the lake for 6 hours. We'd had the hotel concierge (Hilton) pack us a picnic lunch complete with champagne.

One afternoon I went to Jose Eber at Ceasars and had a complete makeover. Hair, makeup, nails, the whole shebang.

At that point in time I stopped gambling for life. Figured I had my big win. Now I buy a lotto ticket as part of an office pool but nothig else.

[earleene]

:cool: See more shows and eat at better places. Gamble a little more, maybe play a few dollar slots, treat husband with a spa treatment fit for a king and go home a winner with money to come back and do it all again.

[cindyinnj]

Depending on how much I won....I would definately change my betting strategies. I would play the $5...$10...and higher slots. I would play with $100 chips on all my table games without blinking an eye. My hubby would put at least 1/2 in the safe, or even send some home, then spend it like me! Hey, it's found money and I'm gonna splurge!
;)

[G-Alan]

Well this is easy. I would first get all the money in cash and after a couple shows and great meals I would then work really hard on giving every dime of it back to the casino. They are,of course, just letting me hold it temporarily, as it is their money! So I would ask to get my own table in the high roller room and play Blackjack for $100 to $500 a hand, play some roulette at $500 a spin and whatever I had left I would play the $100 a spin Wheel-of-Fortune! No seriously, I do not know what I would do cause my wife isn't home so I can't ask her!:)

[Boston_Bill]

What would you do?

If you had a big win (not megabucks) on the first day of your LV trip, would that change how you would gamble the rest of the stay? Spend more gambling..conserve to make sure you take it home with you..buy something expensive... What would you do?

I think I'd see shows and party a little bit more at places Id probably not normally go to. It would be hard not to gamble more.

[leighw55]

If it was over $5000 I would probably stay an extra day or two and stay at one of the nicer casinos. Of course I would head straight to Caesars and Aladdin for shopping. I would gamble more and not worry about eating on a budget. But I would definitely take a good portion home with me. If under $5000, just eat and gamble more expensively and overall - enjoy my trip even more than I already do.

[Steve]

I usually would get conservative with my betting. Eileen always accuses me of getting cheap after we hit something that returns a bigger than normal payout.

Steve

[barfar1]

WHEN I hit the big one this Saturday, I'm going to take the cash and put it in my Rio Suite safe (just in case I need to dip into it later in the week), then I'm going to treat the party of 5 that I'm vactioning with to the dinner of their choice and a crisp $100.00 bill that they must use to gamble (just so they can reciprocate when they win:D ). I will gamble with what I brought with me and hopefully will be able to save my winnings for my October trip.[/B]What would you do?

If you had a big win (not megabucks) on the first day of your LV trip, would that change how you would gamble the rest of the stay? Spend more gambling..conserve to make sure you take it home with you..buy something expensive... What would you do?

[luvmesumvegas]

First thing is upgrade to a suite. Dinner plans will change from buffets to steakhouses. Gambling amounts will increase, but not much. I want to leave with as much as I can.

[BaysiderGene]

It's best to avoid getting W-2Gs, especially if you're from a state like WI, where gambling losses are NOT deductible. When we play video keno, we usually go for 6 of 7, with $2 in, to avoid W-2Gs, except for a 7 of 7, for $14K. When we get a jackpot, we'll have taxes taken out for wins >$5K. If it's >$10K, we'll take $2K in cash, then the remainder by check. Some casinos (perhaps just Indian places) will not give you a check; then we would just take cash. Some states, e.g., MS, take state taxes out of any win >$1.2K.

With a large win, we usually gamble more, either in the high-limit room, or by playing 10-, 50-, or 100-play VP. But we'll still take home a check. With a very large win, we'd probably get the best dinner we could find, and perhaps we would splurge on an expensive side trip--if we were in LAS.:)

Gene
Bayside, WI

[Marla Chi-to-Houston]

Where oh where did my $15,000 go in 2000? I won it the last late night there, and it went home in my tiny casino purse in cash. But, now if I won big, I would get 2/3 in a check, then do things I never do. See a show, have a nice dinner, buy perfume or jewelry, deluxe spa treatment, extend my trip by 3-4 days, move on up, to upgrade. (hopefully they would move me) The rest I'd spend gambling!

[sdorton]

I would first change hotels, I'd probably be staying at a Harrahs property so I'd get a room at the Wynn or Bellagio. I would stop trying to just break even and enjoy myself without getting carried away. That megabucks would help pay for many more vacations in the future!

[Kruzer]

It would depend on just how big the "big" is. I play poker for a living these days so I know I would increase the size of my bankroll. I don't think I would change stakes or gamble any more than I normally do. I would most likely spend a good portion on my wife and children. But again it would depend on how much it was. But money is won or lost in an attempt to improve our monetary situation be it for daily living or to buy the extras that we want but can not afford. So I say have some fun with it if you can afford to and if not put it away. I would probably end up spending it on a new toy. A new laptop or car or some baubles for my lady. Or maybe I would send my best friend to the chicken ranch for a belated birthday present.

Steve

[SandyA]

I had one of those winning trips in February 2005. First night, first 20 minutes with twenty bucks in a vp machine at Sam's Town I won a progressive for $1696. Next day, same place playing a bank of DDB that required ten coins, I won the progressive at $2900. Moved to Caesars for the last three days and hit two .25 Royals for $1,000 each. In addition to that, I was picking up 4 deuces, Aces w/kickers...I just could not do anything wrong<g>. I put all my winnings in the safe and played with my budgeted gambling bankroll, came home with better than 7k...my husband (who hates Vegas and gambling> couldn't believe it. The only "extras" were buying dinner for my friends who were with me and a few souvenirs.

[sinkhole]

Depending on how much, I'd make a sales associate's day by purchasing a rolex (commission cha-ching). Then I would place more money on the numbers I currently bet while playing Roulette. Probably even try other games I usually do not play. Whatever is left I would bring home. :o

[KenoMom]

No seriously, I do not know what I would do cause my wife isn't home so I can't ask her!:)


I just love these men with their priorities right :)

[fyschmidt]

:) Depends on how big the win...

If it were quite large, I would extend my stay and fly my kids out to help celebrate :D

I would definately conserve some of the profits to take home with me. But, I know I would have some good fun with some of it also. "Sigh" Such a nice dream.....

[dreamcatcheril]

From reading the posts I get the impression $4,000. is average on "big" ( a royal flush on a $1.00 VP machine $4,000.). A few people mentioned dollars amounts over $10,000.

To my wife winning a $1,200 jack pot. on a quarter slot was big. She took every penny home so she could spend the cash any way she wanted. She didn't even give me the $40.00 back I had put in the machine for her.

I'll go with winning a $10,000. jackpot on a $1.00 machine. On a guess, My new slot host may upgrade me to a suit with full comp in hopes of making me feel a bit guilty about the free everything and encourage me to play more in hopes the hotel getting it all back..... But on a fast IRS deduction 10K becomes 5K net. No change in my gambling habits or spending. It's going home with me, I would prefer not to have an IRS win, LOSS statement for the trip.

Lets talk 10K at the table with no IRS deduction. I play $5.00 to $25.00 per hand player every once in a while on a good run there will be $100. maybe $200. out there for a few bets. To get up to 10K Your run of luck would have to be so good chances are I moving some much bigger bets. I probably had so much nerve racking fun betting around $4-5-6 hundred a hand that I would take most of it home AND NOT TELL THE WIFE !
She still owes me $40.00

Lets talk 20K combination no IRS and some IRS statements. It all goes home. The wife only hears about the IRS money and I forget $40.00 she owes me.

Lets talk $30K same as above,,, but I might buy her a nice watch.

I guess I am saying the money is going home. There will always be more trips back to vegas.
BUT
let's talk "big win " say 200K. Send the host out to get my wife a nice present. Tell the host to make sure I got on the plane to return home. Get a cashiers check to cover the taxs. THEN laps into a fog of who knows what and only hope I remember the fun I had after I returned home.

Let's talk after taxes $2,000,000. that's net 2 million dollars = divorce.

[philipj]

Some time ago I wrote about an unusual run of luck, winning over $25,000.00 at craps. I delivered twelve Crown Royals with water to the table for everyone who was playing when I won. The next day I took her to a spa and had them give her the works. Afterwards, we went to do some clothes shopping. She "needed' a couple of new outfits, and to see another show. The cash went home in my pocket.

[Hockey53]

I had this happen to me in Sept.2001 staying at the MGM Grand.On Friday night I hit the Jackpot on the MGM Lions (forgot what the name is)dollar slots and put most of it away.Saturday,I hit another jackpot on another MGM Lions dollar slots after the hockey game and bought a couple of jackets.After winning another jackpot on another MGM Lions dollar slots,I ended up paying for the trip and bringing home a few thousand.Needless to say I haven't had that much luck since. It was fun while it lasted though.Good luck to all this year.:cool:

[gail8]

We went to a show.

[hockeymom26]

In May 2000, I won $28,000 on a quarter progressive at Sams Town. I am Canadian, so the US Gov't kept 30 % of the winnings. We took the cash back to the Excal where we were staying that trip, and I won 2 more progressive blazing 7 jackpots that same night. We did spend more gambling than we usually would have.Played a lot more $1 slots, even tried the $5 slots. I also paid the inlaws rooms and meals for the rest of the trip.Our room at the Excal was already comped. Brought the rest home and put in RRSP.
Had another winning trip this past March. Won over 16,000. Bought a lot of Nascar stuff for hockeydad, saw some shows, bought some jewelry, and went back to Vegas in April. Planning on going in July for our 25th Anniversary all courtesy of my winnings in March.:D

[PinkFloydActuary]

I probably wouldn't change my gambling style much, I'm too conservative as it is, and even with a couple grand more in the pocket, moving up to a higher limit table wouldn't be enjoyable. I'd probably spring for a really nice meal for the whole group I was with and pocket the rest.

[MissCyn]

First, big would have to be really BIG! Of course I'd have to pay off my credit card and my student loan first! Then I'd make sure that the entire cost of my trip was back in my pocket with enough to return to Vegas very soon and often, then I'd upgrade to a suite with a sweet view, take a limo to dinner somewhere very nice, and to every other destination during the span of my trip. I'd treat to a night time helicopter ride over the city, and tickets to some big production show that I've been too cheap to pay for in the past. With a really big BIG win, I'd fly my family out to celebrate and then take everyone on a Hawaiian cruise.

Of course, I'd keep a few thousand as pocket change and send the rest home to pay for future vacations. As far a gambling goes, I'd play some of the games that are fun as opposed to the games that have better odds- including those in the high limit room! A girl can dream, right? See ya in Vegas July 9-12th!

[unclemikey]

I would put enough away for a new trip in three months. Then I would enjoy myself this trip.

[babsie]

I'd put away most of it to take home. For the remainder of my trip, I'd play the higher priced slot machines.:D

[dunebugy]

We hit a $1100+ Video Poker Progressive in the first 1/2 hour. Put it away and continued to play with our planned session funds. Coincidently, on the same trip, we hit another $1100+ VP Progressive on the same machine with the same hand during our last hour before leaving. These made a major contribution toward a 25th anniversary trip to Hawaii later in the year.

[Haze]

A big win wouldn't change my gambling habits. I'd get a cheque, take it home and just use it to go more often than I would normally.

[vegasvirgo10]

On my last trip I won $1301 on the first night. The money went in an envelope which we brought back home. By the end of the trip, we had the same amount of money that we had taken, minus $47.00. So, we are re-investing on our next trip in July.

If we win over $1000, we do not touch it. Many times, we've won on the last night so it makes it easier to bring back.

[margekate]

I am inclined to gamble more freely after an early win. I don't go overboard but feel I can take more risk.

[wilber]

I would buy myself a spinning ring, let my husband buy some cowboy boots , and put the rest away as if I never won:p

[vegasgirl]

I would up my play to dollars on VP,try some $1 slots (which I almost never play) take myself and friend to a nice dinner and splurge on an expensive show I have not seen yet. Depending on how big the win was I would up grade to a suite for the remainder of my stay too. However before all of that I would put my original gambling money I had allotted for the trip back in my suitcase to not be touched until the next trip.

[The Gumbo Man]

My response would vary, proportionate to the size of the win. As it is now, my trips are in cheap lodgings, my meals at inexpensive restaurants and buffets, my drinks are plain-wrap standard and the table minimum dictates where I gamble. Take last trip, for example. I hit a $250 jackpot in a Venitian slot machine, so I had dinner at Emeril's Delmonico, a place I can't afford to order a glass of water in. Food was great, and It tasted even better because it was like I won it.
So a lare enough jackpot, and yeah, I'd get the bigger room at a swankier hotel. I'd eat at fancier places, order better brands of booze and maybe even get me a big fat expensive cigar! My trip will be the greatest, no matter what, but I'd use my winnings to make it even greater!:o

[mbjts]

I'd get the winnings, treat who is ever with me to several shows and meals, maybe add a few nights' stay to our agenda, then continue playing like I usually do.

Of course, if the jackpot is large enough, I'd likely need to pay for a hospital visit after I pass out!:eek: :p ;)

[Witty38]

The most sensible thing I would do is SAVE SOME and BLOW SOME! Unfortunately, can't say I have won enough requiring me to sign IRS papers in Las Vegas. But if I was on first day of a 3-5 day trip, I would put half my winnings in my car under the place mat and with the other half I would do things in Vegas I've never done. Crazy things. Like play the $25 slot machine. Buy a steak and lobster meal for guests. Give a $20 tip for a $5 drink. Take a three hour taxi drive all around Vegas. After all, isn't that the reason you go to Vegas...to creat memories by living it up? :p

[hipster818]

I'd first pay off the rest of my student loans off then pay off most if not all of my wife's. Then find some land in Kansas City, Kansas side or Montana and buy it to build a house on it someday. Lastly I'd give the rest to charity.

[dean_1492]

I'd save it for a rainy day, oh then not change my slot habits at all.

[Bevhill1]

I would take out a good amount and then BLOW the rest. I mean really BLOW it.:D