Are Free Drinks in Las Vegas Casinos Disappearing? 🍸🎰
For decades, free drinks in Las Vegas casinos have been a hallmark of the Sin City experience. Whether you're playing slots, video poker, or table games, cocktail waitresses traditionally serve complimentary drinks to keep gamblers at the machines or tables.
However, as of October 2016, major casino companies like Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts have begun implementing new rules to determine who qualifies for free cocktails while gambling.
Are Las Vegas casino comps disappearing? Let’s take a look at how casino drink policies are changing and whether you can still enjoy free drinks while gambling in Vegas.
🍹 How Do Free Drinks in Las Vegas Casinos Work?
Casinos offer complimentary drinks to gamblers to encourage longer play and bigger bets. The logic is simple:
✔️ The more you drink, the more you play.
✔️ The longer you stay, the more money the casino makes.
✔️ Casinos hope free drinks make you "loosen up" and gamble more aggressively.
Until recently, free drinks were provided with almost no restrictions, as long as you were actively gambling. However, new technology is changing the system.
🚨 New Casino Drink Rules – What’s Changing?
1️⃣ Caesars Entertainment – New Comp Drink System
✔️ As of 2016, Caesars properties have installed "comp drink indicator lights" on their video poker machines.
✔️ Gamblers must wager a certain amount per hand to trigger a green light indicating that they qualify for a free drink.
✔️ This system is being used in Las Vegas, Laughlin, Reno, and Stateline near Lake Tahoe.
📢 What does this mean?
- Low rollers who play slowly or at low stakes may not receive free drinks.
- If you want complimentary cocktails, you’ll need to bet at higher levels.
2️⃣ MGM Resorts – Free Drink Vouchers
✔️ MGM Resorts (which owns MGM Grand, Bellagio, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, and others) has introduced a new drink voucher system.
✔️ Instead of unlimited free drinks, players at MGM Grand and The Mirage must earn vouchers by hitting a set amount of playtime.
✔️ Once you reach the casino’s requirement, the machine will print a voucher for a free drink.
📢 What does this mean?
- You can no longer get unlimited free drinks just by sitting and playing slowly.
- The system rewards players who actively gamble for longer periods.
🍸 Can You Still Get Free Drinks in Las Vegas Casinos?
Despite the changes, Las Vegas is still one of the few places where you can get complimentary drinks while gambling.
✔️ Free drinks are still available at most casinos, but with restrictions.
✔️ High rollers and table game players still receive the best drink service.
✔️ Some casinos (like off-Strip properties) still offer free drinks with no restrictions.
💡 Pro Tip: If you want to maximize your chances of getting free drinks in Vegas:
- Stick to table games (dealers tend to call waitresses for drinks more frequently).
- Tip the cocktail waitress well on the first round—this increases your chances of getting faster refills.
- Avoid low-stakes and slow play at video poker machines, where casinos now track your activity.
🍹 Where to Still Get Free Drinks in Las Vegas (2024 Update)
Not all casinos have implemented the strict drink-tracking policies used by Caesars and MGM. If you’re looking for the best places to still enjoy free drinks, consider these options:
✔️ Downtown Las Vegas (Fremont Street Casinos) – The Golden Nugget, Binion’s, and El Cortez still offer complimentary drinks with less hassle.
✔️ The Cosmopolitan – Great drink service for active gamblers, especially at the Chandelier Bar and high-limit slots.
✔️ Tuscany Suites & Casino – A hidden gem off the Strip where free drinks flow more easily.
✔️ The STRAT (Stratosphere) – Still one of the best places for free drinks on the Strip with low-table minimums.
📢 Pro Tip: The fancier the casino, the stricter the free drink rules. If you want free alcohol without restrictions, avoid the high-end resorts like Bellagio and Aria.
🏆 Will Free Drinks Disappear Completely in Las Vegas?
Many fear that Las Vegas casino comps are disappearing, but the reality is:
✔️ Casinos will always offer free drinks—just with more restrictions.
✔️ Casinos compete for gamblers, and some properties will always provide better perks.
✔️ Tip well, play consistently, and choose the right casino to keep getting free drinks.
💭 My Prediction:
- Some casinos may start offering "comp drink cards" for loyalty members.
- Downtown Las Vegas and off-Strip casinos will continue offering better free drink policies than the Strip.
- High rollers and VIP players will always get complimentary drinks, no matter what.
📌 Final Thoughts – Are Free Drinks in Vegas Still Worth It?
Las Vegas is changing, but free drinks are still available for gamblers who play strategically. The key is to understand the new rules, choose the right casinos, and play at the right level to maximize casino comps and complimentary cocktails.
📢 Have you noticed the new drink policies in Vegas? Share your experience in the comments below! 🍸🎰
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