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Should I carry cash in Vegas?

I carry little or no cash to Vegas other than some $1 and $5 bills for tipping. The only other thing cash I need there is for gambling and I use casino ATMs for that, aware of and budgeting for whatever fee may be involved. Any other expenses get charged to my room or paid for by credit card.



While Las Vegas in 2026 is increasingly digital, carrying some cash is still highly recommended, especially for tipping and gambling. While you can pay for almost all meals, shows, and hotel charges with a credit card, cash is essential for "on-the-spot" tips for valets, bellhops, and cocktail servers (who generally expect $1–$5 per service). In the casinos, while "ticket-in, ticket-out" (TITO) machines are standard, you still need cash to buy in at table games like Blackjack or Craps. However, you should avoid carrying "large" amounts for safety; use your hotel safe for the bulk of your funds. For 2026 visitors, using an international travel card like Wise or Revolut for your daily card spending is a smart way to avoid high foreign transaction fees, but keeping a few $20 bills in your pocket for the "Vegas ecosystem" remains a standard practice.

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Most restaurants on the Las Vegas Strip do accept credit cards and cash, and it is rare to find a restaurant that accepts cash only. However, there may be some small or local businesses that operate on cash-only transactions, and it is always a good idea to check with the restaurant beforehand to be sure.

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There may be no such thing as a free lunch, but there are free drinks when you're in downtown Vegas and you're gambling! Casinos downtown serve drinks to gamblers free of charge. Different casinos have different policies about free drinks, so make sure to ask a bartender or cocktail waitress about the policies.

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Advantages of using cash If your spending discipline breaks down when you use credit cards, cash may be a better choice while you let loose on vacation. No foreign transaction fees: Many credit cards charge an extra fee of up to 3% on purchases made outside the country, although you can find cards that don't.

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Using chips instead of cash or virtual payment methods makes it convenient for players and the casino to do accounting. With a chip, you only need to look at a stack to calculate the value of a bet. Similarly, casinos use chips to make it easier to track how much “cash” they have on hand on the premises.

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