Would You Still Visit Vegas if the Drinks Weren’t Free?


Ever since Benny Binion instituted the practice of “liquoring up” his customers, the Vegas-going public have enjoyed free drinks while we gamble.

We all realize in our booze-addled brains that the drinks aren’t really free, but we like to tell ourselves they are. This time-honored tradition has been going on for so long that we have come to see it as our right. Establishments who have attempted to put restrictions on the “free drinks when gambling” rule have met with howls of disapproval both in real life and on social media.

So I guess the question is this; would you still visit Vegas if the drinks weren’t free?

Certainly it is within the casino’s rights to try and save money where ever they can. Although I can testify that a slightly tipsy me is more likely to slip another bill into the slot machine than a stone cold sober me. So I am not sure that cutting off the liquor is in the casino’s best interests. I also would feel bad for the cocktail waitresses whose livelihood depends on getting those drinks out as fast as they can. I would assume their tips would take a huge nosedive. My personal response to this question would be “Yes, of course, I will still come to Vegas, free drinks or no.” I still visit my local casino and begrudgingly pay $6.25 for a beer while I play. I don’t like it, but I do it.

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I would certainly hate to see the free drinks disappear completely. This has always been part of Vegas’s wild and crazy, “anything may happen” charm. But having to buy my drinks wouldn’t stop me from visiting this incredible city. There is no better conglomeration of entertainment, restaurants, hotels and gaming on this continent in my opinion.

Paying out of pocket for a few drinks won’t keep me away.

Will you still visit Vegas if the drinks aren’t free?

[Images: BrassHoney, Jeff C.]

What do you think? Sound off in the new, easier to comment, comment system below.

11 thoughts on “Would You Still Visit Vegas if the Drinks Weren’t Free?

  1. I usually only allow myself one or two drinks per day in LV, if that. Vegas dehydrates me terribly, and I don’t want to jeopardize my precious time with a headache or wasting it on nap time while in my favorite city. That said, I would still feel a bit abused if they charged per drink while I’m putting twenties in a VP machine, or buying in for a hundred at a table. Our local casino charges for drinks and we never imbibe while there.

    If they continue in the direction they are going, Las Vegas will soon have taken away the very things that bring me to the city (good gambling, free drinks, cheaper food and shows, comps, etc). If I don’t feel that”I’m going to WIN” vibe, even if winning means breaking even after hotel, shows, drinks, food, I won’t keep booking my trips. I can get the same quality of food and shows at home. The Vegas vibe, hospitality and gambling is what keeps me coming back.

  2. Thanks for the link to my story. Over time, I’ve started purchasing my drinks even when I’m playing at a table because I like seeing my preferred brand of liquor poured from its bottle. (When you’re on the casino floor, assume your order is being swapped for a generic brand.) I have first-hand knowledge that some of the biggest casino companies in Vegas are champing at the bit to eliminate comped liquor completely (one of the big players will have to pull the trigger first, though), so it’s bound to happen. Great item, and enjoy discussions along these lines.

  3. No, I wouldn’t stop going but in my opinion they would kill their “bartop” business. what’s the point of sitting at the bar

  4. I wouldn’t stop going altogether, but trips would probably be reduced. Knowing the cost of wholesale liquor for a major casino, I have a hard time believing this would be a wise decision for the vast majority of gambling establishments. Twenties have a way of just disappearing around 3:00am and I know that even if I’m really tossing them back, the house is still winning…

  5. I currently gamble at our local Indian casinos and they make you pay for drinks. I have gambled at Harrahs and Ameristar casinos in other states and paid for drinks. So, if Vegas did not provide drinks for gamblers I would still go for the entertainment. I must say I enjoy the perk of getting drinks in Vegas but that is not the reason for going.

  6. Vegas for me is the value equation. As I lose my money, does what I get in return in entertainment, hotel value, food, and experience worth the gaming loss. Free drinks play large in the equation and add another reason to stay home for better odds if removed.

  7. As many have stated, my trips would decrease quite a bit. Currently I make the trek to Vegas at least 3 times a year. Vegas has already reduced the player’s advantage on table games and machines quite a bit. Comps have been reduced, free play money tightened, rooms harder to get free, resort fee’s, etc. If free drinks were taken away as well, I don’t see the urge to get to LV there. I can hit a casino an hour away, sports bet online, eat good food at local establishments….

  8. We would not go to Vegas. I agree with Funkhouser, free drinks are part of the value question. We go to Vegas for the party! I can gamble all kinds of places near my home, but the party isn’t even close to the same, because we don’t get free drinks. When we go to Vegas, we typically go for 4 days, and the way we party, that would be about $500 if we had to buy our drinks. That is airfare or gambling budget. If Vegas stopped doing free drinks, I believe their gambling revenue to drop dramatically. That’s why I don’t believe they will stop the comped drinks.

  9. some family and friends buy their booze and bring it from cali – most of these people don’t spend time gambling a lot if any at all. would it stop me from going? no – ill just bring my own and carry it with me unless they put an end to that. but vegas would be stupid to end such a tradition like that. exactly my thoughts when I read how it would impact the servers as well as people not gambling as much. how many times have we lost $20 on video poker and get one beer. that’s a $20 beer versus me walking in and only paying $6 for it. besides they don’t usually comp the higher end stuff anyway. theyd be dumb to let it go or even THINK about it..

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