Cell Phones

[gamalicious]

Yo, Stupid Kid here...(and considering changing my Login to that)

So what's the deal with cell phones? I am from Buffalo, NY and have been going up to Casino Niagara since I was 19. However, they're likely to chop your head off (or at least yell at it) if you even think about reaching for your cell in a casino. I guess they are a bit neurotic about cheaters :confused: That's weird! Who would do that???

Anyway, what's the deal in Vegas? I'm going with buddies but I plan on sneaking away from them a couple times to make sure they're not bad luck and just to relax (with all the bells and whistles going off around me). Also, at over 100,000 square feet in some of these suckers, I may want to bring a GPS device, homing beakon, or Native American tracker to find anyone ever again. So the main question is, Can you make calls in the casino? I'm guessing you'll have to leave the casino, but still thought I would ask. Thanks again.

Double Deuce and hittin' Vegas,

The Stupid Kid

[barfar1]

Hi Stupid Kid,

From my experience, you can use you cellphone in the casino just NOT in the Sportsbook.

[kestral]

You can use them except at the sports book or while actually playing a table game; but there are many, many places inside where the signal disappears. So if you want to get in touch with your friends, textmessaging is sometimes your best bet, knowing they will get the message eventually.

You're in Buffalo? I'm in Rochester. Are your flying SWA?

[fungirl]

It is very hard at times to get a signal in the casino!! And while I'm not a Sportsbook person (crazy I know!! LOL) I am an avid table player and they will give you an evil eye and shoot you down if your hand is on your cell phone! Sometimes, if you know you're going to be in a big casino with your buddies it's good to have a backup plan. We'll meet at X:00 at XYZ Spot just in case we don't meet up sooner. Good luck to you! And remember, there is no such thing as a stupid question!!!! ;)

[sawsman]

As to the use of cell phones in Sports Books, they are banned by Stae of Nevada law. :(
I believe the reason is that they don't want odds, point speads, etc. communicated around very rapidly.

[hockeymom26]

Cell phones are really frowned upon at the tables (even rapid roulette is considered a table game) and taboo in the sportsbook. If you do stay at the Excalibur,your cell will not work in the casino. At least ours doesn't. But that is the only casino we found that they have no signal. Text messaging is a good idea.

[gamalicious]

Hey Kestral,

I'm from Buffalo but live in Cleveland. Have you ever been to Charlies in Rochester? That's gotta be my favorite restaurant in the world. Anyway, I got a sweet direct flight out there on Continental because it's a hub here. I got it for 293. Is that any good? I hope so, if not just say no and don't tell me by how much. I love flying direct though, and I like Continental, so, meh.

I am staying in Excalibur, but don't plan on being in the casino too much. I'll definitely use text messaging elsewhere, so that's a good tip. Keep the comments coming if ya got 'em.

~The Stupid Kid

[sonntex]

We use our cell phones all the time in the casinos. We play slots, and it is a good way to find each other or report big winnings or hot machines. Sometimes all the noise inside the casino makes it hard to hear, but it works for us. Occasionally I don't hear mine ring, so I check my voice mail regularly.

Once we got lost from each other at McCarren after going through security. I called hubby and he did not answer. I was worried. After a few minutes he called me back and we found each other. Thank goodness for the cell.

[kestral]

Wow, Sonntex - using your cel phone to report hot machines. Can I give you my number? :p


Gamalicious - depends on which Charlies you mean. The one that specializes in awesome burgers, or Charlie Brown's with incredible homemade food - breakfast or lunch only - in a bit of rough neighborhood. Or is there another one you're thinking of.

I think $293 is a great rate for the holiday time period. And by direct I assume you mean nonstop? Direct can mean the plane stops, but you don't have to change planes. Im sure you mean nonstop which I can Never get from Rochester (sigh)

I guess Im kinda glad I don't live in a city with nonstops to Vegas - too much temptation!

[sonntex]

Once in a riverboat casino, I was hitting on three hot 50 cent machines. Had just won $1875.00 on one and $900 on another. I called Hubby to come help me and he left his machine on the other side of the casino, sat down and helped me play. He won another $1875.00 and we won a few hundred more. We walked off with over $5,000. Yeah, if we get a roll going or see someone leave a machine that had some pretty good payoffs, we call each other and play to win.

[CeeJayRocker]

Cell phone in casino: okay with the management, but annoying to all others, unless you're taking pictures, and then it's annoying to everyone.

Cell phone in sports book: First time - yelled at by everyone. Second time - potential for escorted trip to sunny outdoors.

[smmoo]

They work in some spots in the Casino and not in others, in which case leave a voice mail or text message and check your messages ofter. THey are not annoying if your coversation is "Where are you? I'm by the Starbucks, meet me there." which is the length of our conversations. If you are going to check on everyone back home and give them all the details of your entire trip minute by minute take the phone OUTSIDE!!!! :mad: :p

[Buick Riviera]

Hey Kestral,

I'm from Buffalo but live in Cleveland. Have you ever been to Charlies in Rochester? That's gotta be my favorite restaurant in the world. Anyway, I got a sweet direct flight out there on Continental because it's a hub here. I got it for 293. Is that any good? I hope so, if not just say no and don't tell me by how much. I love flying direct though, and I like Continental, so, meh.
comments coming if ya got 'em.

~The Stupid Kid
Continental is the only way to go! Plus they are the "official airline" of the Cleveland Indians. :) As to the price your paying let's just say I've never paid that much, I always fly Contenental, and I know the rates vary a lot depending on how far in advance you make reservations and what time you are willing to fly. I've flown everything from that sweet 9:00 a.m. flight to the red eyes, all non-stop.

Check the rates constantly after you've made your decision to take a trip. They can change several times per day. Have a goal of nothing more than $200. In 25 years I've never paid more than $210 or less than $161. The most common is $180 to $199.

Have fun and good luck!

Buick

[gamalicious]

Hey Thanks Buick. Those sound like some great rates! I have to say tho, I think I'm probably paying 40% on top of every Vegas price there is on account of going for New Years! Oh well, next time I go it'll either seem like everything is free or I'll stay at the Bellagio and won't blink an eye!

Kestral, if you happen to read this again, I mean Charlie Riedel's, the hamburger joint. I go there every time I'm in town. I've been to Charlie Brown's too. Great breakfast, however I appreciate eating for free at the burger joint more (I date a family member). See ya!

~Stupid kid

[ChicChas]

Being somewhat of a Luddite, I never got a cell phone until last summer when I was heading for LV for the first time. I'm glad I did. Even though my friends and I made meeting arrangements ahead of time for shared events (dinner, show, etc) occasionally we wanted to meet up. It came in very handy. I was able to use it in the casinos, but the signal wasn't always the best. Someone mentioned theirs didn't work at Excalibur, but mine did. Have a great time!

[VivaLasVegas]

Definitely signs are posted no cells in Sportsbook areas in Vegas. All casinos in Ontario, Canada ban cell phone use inside the casino slot and gaming areas.

[KenoMom]

We use cell phones a lot in Vegas but like others have mentioned, there are occasional problems with signals. We've been told by many casinos that phones are not allowed at the tables.

I have a phone with vibrate mode and I find that it works great when the area around you is too noisy to hear. It can vibrate and I can step away from a table or at least know someone is calling.

My son, on a trip to Vegas this summer, used his cell phone to snap a few photos. Security didn't say anything but I certainly did when I noticed him doing it. He wasn't aware about the no photo policy in a casino and was simply wanting to take a photo of one of the exotic cars on top of a bank of slots.

Now.....if we could just halt the phone conversations in bathroom stalls, that would be a huge victory. There's just something unsettling about that whole situation....

[Pops904]

gotta have it! Almost panicked when i lost my wife in the crowd on Freemont St. We had been bouncing from casino to casino and I had no clue where to find her! Whipped out the phone, called, and found she was about 40 feet behind me, just couldn't find oach-other in the crowd! Just use your head..nobody is going to bother you for sitting at a slot or VP machine on the phone, unless it's got a great view of a table game or the sports book. Excuse yourself from a table game to make or recieve a call, the dealer will watch your chips for you. Turn it OFF and put it in your pocket, not on your belt, in a race or sports book unless you want problems from everyone from management, security, law enforcement, and guys named Rocko that can break your knees and make you disappear into the desert. In other words, just use courtesy and common sense!

OK, they SWEAR no more Rockos breaking knees, but I've been lied to before...

But that's just me...

[pdJY]

I've played Blackjack at Paris and they didn't mind that I used my phone even while I was playing. Picture my left hand holding the phone and my right hand making the hit/stay gestures. To be courteous to my fellow players, I keep my conversations short.

This was before the Harrahs acquisition however so YMMV.

[wildpitcher]

As about 15 others have said, you can always use cell phones in a casino if you can get a signal, except in the Sports Book or at a gaming table.

I find vibrate and text messenging comes in handy in the casino because it's too loud to hear much anyway.

Getting a signal in the casino can be hard at times.