retirement/supplemental blackjack

[desertwolf]

Hello Blackjackinfo. Happy New years to everyone. Let me introduce myself. I am a small stakes parttime player for many years, playing mostly in the blackjack crap game capital of the world Atlantic City and this year at some new east cost venues in Delaware and Pa. More of a hobby and little supplemental income than anything else. I also am a long time lurker of this site, having taken advantage of the opportunity to learn from you all, but have not felt I should join in until now.

I am newly retired and relocating to Las Vegas next week. I am renting a small apartment within a few blocks walk of the strip and am looking forward to escaping the rest of the winter here in rural Pennsylvania. I am single and receive a small Social security payment each month that will cover my basic living expenses and have a small bankroll of barely five figures that I hope to use to supplement my income with by $500 to $1000 each month. So that is my plan. lol Incidentally, I have made several trips to vegas and am aware that the low limit games are not much better, if any than other places but at least Vegas still has low limit $5 and $10 games readily available, something pretty rare back east, although more common than it used to be.

So what I am wondering if anyone has made such a move recently or are there other players who while not professional, supplement their incomes in this manner. Would greatly appreciate ay advise or comments on my situation, plan or even just advise on making such a move to the desert.

 

[Southpaw]

Hello Blackjackinfo. Happy New years to everyone. Let me introduce myself. I am a small stakes parttime player for many years, playing mostly in the blackjack crap game capital of the world Atlantic City and this year at some new east cost venues in Delaware and Pa. More of a hobby and little supplemental income than anything else. I also am a long time lurker of this site, having taken advantage of the opportunity to learn from you all, but have not felt I should join in until now.

I am newly retired and relocating to Las Vegas next week. I am renting a small apartment within a few blocks walk of the strip and am looking forward to escaping the rest of the winter here in rural Pennsylvania. I am single and receive a small Social security payment each month that will cover my basic living expenses and have a small bankroll of barely five figures that I hope to use to supplement my income with by $500 to $1000 each month. So that is my plan. lol Incidentally, I have made several trips to vegas and am aware that the low limit games are not much better, if any than other places but at least Vegas still has low limit $5 and $10 games readily available, something pretty rare back east, although more common than it used to be.

So what I am wondering if anyone has made such a move recently or are there other players who while not professional, supplement their incomes in this manner. Would greatly appreciate ay advise or comments on my situation, plan or even just advise on making such a move to the desert.

I think very few here depend solely on the blackjack tables for income on a long-term basis. I'm relatively new to the game, and I quickly decided that this is not something that I'd want to make a living doing. Most, it seems, have a supplemental income. Luckily, you have social security payments.

Just remember that in this game, there is no guarantee that you'll show a profit over a week, month or even a year.

SP

 

[shadroch]

I'd concentrate more on scooping up the various offerings casinos offer Seniors. Getting a dozen or so free meals a month goes a long way towards stretching your income.
Hopefully, you'll have a car as the better games are not within walking distance of the strip, nor are the cheap,giant food markets. Shopping for food and basics at convience stores is not an AP move.

 

[desertwolf]

I'd concentrate more on scooping up the various offerings casinos offer Seniors. Getting a dozen or so free meals a month goes a long way towards stretching your income.
Hopefully, you'll have a car as the better games are not within walking distance of the strip, nor are the cheap,giant food markets. Shopping for food and basics at convience stores is not an AP move.

I wasn't are of special offers for seniors only. Are these new? can you elaborate?

 

[shadroch]

Many casinos give great breaks to Senior Citizens, or in the case of Boyds, you only have to be 50 or over.
Have you read Jean Scotts Frugal Gambler books or checked out her websites? Those are a great jumping off point for someone like yourself.
The Las Vagas Advisor web site list the various promos casinos offer, and although it is incomplete and often out of date, it's a good resource.

 

[moo321]

Agreed, the comp hustling will go a lot longer to helping your bottom line than the actual wins from blackjack. As a red chip counter, you could probably use a small spread (like 1-4 red) on double deck games, and get most of your meals free. Get some plastic baggies, and you could live on 1 buffet comp a day if you want to.

Your actual wins per hour may hover around minimum wage, but with free meals you've lowered your personal overhead significantly. $500-1000 a month will be hard to pull off. $200 a month and cutting your grocery bill to nothing is quite possible.

Be very careful to slowly build up your bankroll. Don't overbet it, because it will be hard to recover if you lose it. Try to slowly get some other investments going, like utility stocks which pay a strong dividend. Try not to spend your bankroll at all until you can get it to a much higher level.

Also, you'll want to become a coupon expert. They'll send you stuff in the mail for a $10 matchplay and a free meal. Very good for your situation. Use funbooks as much as you can.


And congratulations on retiring! Make sure you have fun in Vegas, and make sure you stay a vibrant, balanced, spiritual person. Meet new friends out there, find some hobbies and live it up!

 

[kewljason]

Welcome fellow former Pennsylvanian. I don't know much about special senior citizens discount, but it wouldn't surprise me. I think they ride public transit including the strip buses for half price. They also get all those early bird dinner specials. :laugh:

A far as Vegas blackjack: For a low limit player like yourself, the games aren't really much better than AC as far as rules. You will find some surrender and some resplit aces, but most low limit games are h17. There also are a few decent low limit double deck games, which AC doesn't offer. Most players heading west after playing a lot in AC find the big benefit is 'quantity' of games. AC has only 1 or 2 places offering $5 blackjack (unless you are willing to play that ante per hand crap) while Vegas still has many $5 games.

Make sure you hit some of the outlying "locals" type casinos. They have decent low limit games. Also recomment picking up a copy of American Casino Guide. They have many $5 and $10 match play coupons which can benefit a low limit player. Have fun! Welcome to and enjoy Vegas!

I know you said you are from rural Pa rather than Philly, but the closest thing to Philly cheeze steaks I have found out here are Capriotti's sandwich shops. The original owner was from Phila. A number of locations throughout vegas, closest to strip area is Paradise road across from Hard rock. They also are the only place I have found that sells Tastykakes, although they do so at a premium price.

 

[eandre]

2 quick tips- 1st- Don't let the casinos know that you are a local...they treat visitors better and if you slowly build your bank roll your expectations are not too unrealistic. Everyone has to start somewhere and your age will provide some cover. 2nd- Keep sessions short, look for best games, spread the play around as much as possible.

 

[zengrifter]

have a small bankroll of barely five figures that I hope to use to supplement my income with by $500 to $1000 each month.

That's doable - you'll need to play a lot of hours, assuming your skill is sufficient.
You should be able to acquire most if not all of your meals comp, as well. zg

 

[Sucker]

Would greatly appreciate ay advise or comments on my situation, plan or even just advise on making such a move to the desert.

After you've made 10 posts to this site you will be allowed "private message" privileges. At that point, send me a P.M. and I will be able to impart to you some very valuable information regarding someone in your situation.

 

[Automatic Monkey]

I agree with all of the advice given so far. Another thing I'd like to add is bet sizing. If you have a five-figure non-replenishable don't you even think about a max bet over $100! But that should be sufficient for your goals, and with skilled play you should be able to get what you are looking for right on the Strip.

Consider trips to Laughlin as well. It is a place full of healthy and active retirees so you will blend right in demographically and should be able to get some aggressive hit-and-run play in, if you so desire.

 

[shadroch]

As far as Laughlin goes, there are a number of casino bus lines that offer free day trips to Laughlin and Primm that include a funbook that gives a free buffet. or a MP or such.
Downtown- the El Cortez offers an excellant $3 DD game and even gives about $2 an hour in food comps to players.

Try to keep a Pennsylvania address where you can get casino mail forwarded to you, then get a second card with your new address. Casinos send different offers to locals than to tourists, and it's a win if you can keep them sending stuff to both addresses.

 

[Shoofly]

Coupons

I live in an area with only a fraction of the number of casinos as Las Vegas, and I collect $50 a week in cash and free play mailings. In Las Vegas, I would think you could make your $500-1000 per month with very little effort, leaving you plenty of time to play blackjack at whatever level you want.

 

[kewljason]

As far as Laughlin goes, there are a number of casino bus lines that offer free day trips to Laughlin and Primm that include a funbook that gives a free buffet. or a MP or such.
Downtown- the El Cortez offers an excellant $3 DD game and even gives about $2 an hour in food comps to players.

Try to keep a Pennsylvania address where you can get casino mail forwarded to you, then get a second card with your new address. Casinos send different offers to locals than to tourists, and it's a win if you can keep them sending stuff to both addresses.

Free bus trips from where? Details please Mr Shad.

 

[aslan]

Welcome fellow former Pennsylvanian. I don't know much about special senior citizens discount, but it wouldn't surprise me. I think they ride public transit including the strip buses for half price. They also get all those early bird dinner specials. :laugh:

A far as Vegas blackjack: For a low limit player like yourself, the games aren't really much better than AC as far as rules. You will find some surrender and some resplit aces, but most low limit games are h17. There also are a few decent low limit double deck games, which AC doesn't offer. Most players heading west after playing a lot in AC find the big benefit is 'quantity' of games. AC has only 1 or 2 places offering $5 blackjack (unless you are willing to play that ante per hand crap) while Vegas still has many $5 games.

Make sure you hit some of the outlying "locals" type casinos. They have decent low limit games. Also recomment picking up a copy of American Casino Guide. They have many $5 and $10 match play coupons which can benefit a low limit player. Have fun! Welcome to and enjoy Vegas!

I know you said you are from rural Pa rather than Philly, but the closest thing to Philly cheeze steaks I have found out here are Capriotti's sandwich shops. The original owner was from Phila. A number of locations throughout vegas, closest to strip area is Paradise road across from Hard rock. They also are the only place I have found that sells Tastykakes, although they do so at a premium price.

I can't think of a worse piece of advice to a new retiree than sitting around eating Tastykakes! :laugh:

 

[shadroch]

Free bus trips from where? Details please Mr Shad.

Grab any of the magazines geared to the tourists crowd, and look thru them for the bus ads. They usually feature the expensive Grand Canyon/ Bryce Canyon trips but at the bottom are the free Laughlin and Primm day trips.
Last year, there was a $5 a person fuel surcharge, and it might still be effect. Generally, they pick up only at hotels and resorts- you might have to walk to the Grand Desert.