What you will actually pay
Strip beer in a casino bar: $9 to $14. Coffee at a hotel Starbucks: $6. Buffet at Wicked Spoon or Bacchanal: $50 to $85 depending on day and time. Strip cocktail at a mid-tier bar: $18. Uber airport to Strip: $22. Show ticket (Cirque, resident residency): $89 to $250. Casino minimum bets: $10 blackjack in the day, $25 at night on the Strip, $5 downtown at all hours.
Off-Strip is dramatically cheaper. A beer at a Summerlin brewery is $6, a full lunch under $15.
Tipping
Cocktail servers on the casino floor: $1 to $2 per drink, even if the drink was 'free' while you were playing. Bartenders: 20 percent, or $1 to $2 per drink at a walk-up bar. Restaurants: 20 percent on the pre-tax total. Housekeeping: $3 to $5 per night, left daily since staff rotates. Valet: $3 to $5 on pickup. Dealers: $5 chip toss when you cash out a winning session, or $1 whenever you win a decent hand.
Bellhops: $2 per bag. Skipping tips gets you noticed.
Casino chips and cash
Every casino issues its own chips, only redeemable at that casino's cage. Do not walk out of the Bellagio with $500 in chips expecting to spend them at Wynn. ATMs on casino floors charge $6 to $10 in fees. Cash advances on credit cards run 3 to 7 percent. Most Strip properties accept Apple Pay at retail counters but not at tables.
Sales tax in Clark County is 8.375 percent. Restaurant checks show pre-tax subtotals; tip on that number.
Good to know
Are drinks free in Vegas casinos?+
Yes if you are actively playing, whether slots or tables. Tip the server $1 to $2 per drink or the drinks slow down fast.
How much cash should I bring to Vegas?+
Enough for tips and small purchases; $200 covers 3 days. Everything else runs on card. Do not carry your gambling bankroll in cash on the street.
Do Nevada hotels accept cash?+
For payment yes, but you will need a credit card for the incidental hold ($100 to $200 per night).
Is Nevada sales tax refundable for tourists?+
No. Unlike some countries, the US does not refund state sales tax to international visitors.