I'm a Las Vegas local who knows a thing or two about the best ways to get the most for your money in this city. Whether you're a player or not, you can get a lot of value for your dollars in Las Vegas... you just need to know a few "insider" tricks. I'll be adding some of my best tips and tricks to this page over time. If you have your own tips for Las Vegas visitors please leave them in the comments section below. Thanks and enjoy!

Here are a few of my best Las Vegas tips and tricks for getting the most out of your trip...

Get out and walk -- If you're staying on the Strip or Downtown, you can really get around well by simply walking. You don't need to take a taxi, tram, or bus to get everywhere. Plus you'll get to experience all the interesting "craziness" that only exists in Las Vegas!

Check out older properties -- You can often get much better deals, comps, etc. at the older casinos, both on the Strip and in Downtown Las Vegas. Many of the older properties even have much better customer service than the billion-dollar Strip mega-resorts.

Always get a player's card -- If you're going to gamble at a casino you might as well be rewarded for your play and get access to special deals. It usually only takes about 5 minutes to get a free player's card at most properties -- definitely worth it!

Stay away from the slots -- Your odds at winning anything significant on a slot machine are very low. The percentages just suck on nearly all slots so stay away from them!

Set playing limits -- All good gamblers know that you MUST set limits on your play in order to avoid losing your butt and to maximize your chances at winning over the long-term. Set a dollar amount that you're willing to lose before you walk away for each and every gambling session. Also set a time limit for each session. Once you reach either limit just get up and walk away and, in most cases, don't return to playing for the rest of the day. Trust me, you'll lose less, win more, and enjoy your Las Vegas trip much more!

Tip your cocktail waitresses -- You'll get better service (and more drinks) if you tip at least $1 per drink while you're gambling.

Tip your bartender -- Here's a great tip that almost always guarantees better/faster service and more "lenient" comps when you're playing video poker at a casino bar: as soon as you sit down, put a $5 or $10 dollar bill (or more if you can afford it) in the bartenders tip glass or tip area. You've now become a top priority for that bartender during the rest of his or her shift!

Guard half your winnings -- Anytime you win a significant amount of money (e.g. $100 or more) put half of your winnings in your pocket. You might have to keep it on the down-low while playing blackjack but it's worth it. Continue to do so until you've lost the money left on the table or in the video poker machine. This simple strategy almost guarantees that you'll walk away a winner... or at least you'll have broken even!

Note: I'll be adding more Vegas tips here in the near future!