10 Dumbest things to do in Las Vegas

1.       Gamble more than you can afford to lose. This is the single dumbest thing that you can do in Las Vegas. Look around you; who pays for all the free shows, drink and subsidised meals? The punters of course. The chances of you beating the house are so slim that they are not worth calculating. Think of gambling as a way of paying for entertainment and not as an investment.

2.       Jay walking. The Strip is one of the busiest roads in the US cross where possible at bridges where not only use proper crossings and only cross when signalled to do so. Failure to comply with this could not only ensure that you become a short term Strip attraction but could land you a night in Jail. Jay walking is illegal in the US and you will get arrested for it.

3.       Carelessness with your valuables and money. Whilst I have never felt threatened in Vegas you are constantly reminded that pickpockets operate in this area. It is easy to get distracted with so much to see and do that I am sure it’s easy pickings for these criminals. Be careful particularly when at slot machines and tables. Keep your wallet/purse in front of you; I now wear mine on a chain since the Venetian incident. (see Casino report)

4.       Pay anything less than 100% attention whilst driving down the Strip. There is a lot to see, it’s very exciting but pay attention. There have been many accidents caused because proper attention was not being paid to the road. There have even been cases of people trying to film and take pictures whilst driving. The police are very tough on motor offences on the Strip so be careful and keep safe.

5.       Not use sun protection. It’s very dry in Vegas; as a result it feels a lot cooler than it really is. 100F in Vegas only feels like about 80F at home! Don’t be caught out cover up, use sun protection lotions and ensure that you drink loads of fluids throughout the day.(Medical tip: Beer / Alcohol doesn’t count as fluid! it will dehydrate you further)

6.       Play the slots in the Airport. With average slot payout in Vegas around 92-96% it’s a good bet, rumour and experience have shown that the slots in the airport are much lower than this. Despite this I played last trip and turned $10 into $150 !!!

7.       Gamble whilst drunk. The drinks are free in Vegas whilst you gamble, any ideas why? You got it; it’s a proven point that people will take more risks when they have had a few beers. Don’t let them fool you make it 1-0 to the punter!!

8.       Play Keno. Odds closer to the national lottery with much lower jackpots than Bingo. Has house odds stacked up so high they reach the casino ceiling; this really is a mugs game.

9.       Try to cheat. This is really stupid; casinos have cameras everywhere and are familiar with every trick in the book. You simply will not get away with it; if you are in any doubt I suggest that you watch the film Casino prior to leaving home!

10.   Turn up in Las Vegas on a Friday, Saturday or Holiday without a reservation. Although you would have to be very unlucky not to get any room, except for Mid November when Comdex is on and all rooms tend to be booked. You will probably not be able to either get in to your first choice and will most definitely pay a lot more than you would if you had pre booked.