Question: My husband and I are thinking about going to Vegas, and I was wondering how much money we should take since this is our first time going. He knows how to play the card games and I'll probably be at the slots.
Felicia in Kenosha, Wis.
Answer: The No. 1 rule on budgeting for gaming is to only take as much money as you're willing to loose. Odds are that you will, in fact, lose it.
Gambling should be viewed as entertainment, not as a way to make money. When doing your budget before you leave, think of it the same way you would think of money set aside for shows in New York City or theme-park admission in Orlando. Then consider that money spent, gone, not coming back. After all, when you put aside $200 to buy tickets to a Broadway show, you don't think, "Maybe I'll find $100 in the lobby on the way out!"
Of course, what type of gambling you do is a big part of it. If you play the nickel slots, $500 is going to last you a lot longer than if you play the $1 slots where, you could lose that inside of an hour. Likewise, if your husband is sitting at the $2 blackjack tables, he should be able to play a lot longer on $100 than he can if he's sitting at a $10-a-hand table unless he's really, really bad at blackjack.
But that shouldn't be a huge consideration. Set your limit -- whether that be $100, $1,000, or $10,000 -- and stick to it. Leave your ATM card and checkbook at home and only take one credit card with you to pay for stuff. If you have a credit-card that doesn't allow you to take a cash advance, that's even better.
I hope all of this helps. Have a great time.
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