How to Score Free Drinks at the Sportsbook

As a sports fan, there is no better way to enjoy watching your favorite games than putting a little money on the line on your favorite player or team. And there is no better place to make a bet than at those Las Vegas sportsbooks.

Part of what makes these establishments the best place to watch and wager are the perks that are associated with them. The most popular is, of course, the comped drinks or free drinks that bettors get to enjoy at the sportsbooks.

However, the free drinks scene in Las Vegas has changed in recent years. Unlike 5 years ago when sitting in a sportsbook would always guarantee you a couple of free drinks, these freebies are hard to come these days.

The reason for this is the drink ticketing system which is also being implemented in most of the casinos in Las Vegas. The system is simple: you make a minimum bet, you get a free drink. The more you bet, the more free drinks you get. That’s awesome. But there are times when you don’t want to gamble. There are times when all you want is to have fun and have free drinks. Well, that is still very possible these days.

The drink ticketing system is not fool-proof, though, and while it’s not as easy as it used to be before, you can still score free drinks in several sportsbooks. Here are some tips to do so:

>> Tipping – You give some in order to get some. It’s as simple as that. When you are generous enough to give the ticket writer a tip, your chances of being given a free drink ticket are high.
>> Horse Races – Horse racing bets always earn you more free drink tickets. That’s because the sportsbooks’ take on horse racing is really very high. It’s not as easy as in sports games, especially…
>> Peak Season – During peak season, like the NCAA’s March Madness or the College Football Bowl games, free drinks are hard to come by as ticket distribution gets a little tighter. But that doesn’t mean you can’t score free drinks.

But the most important tip is the most basic one: choosing the right sportsbook. Sure, drink tickets aren’t easily given out these days, but if you go to certain sportsbooks and follow our lead, well, you will probably score some free drinks.

Check out the sportsbooks below.

Harrah’s

The Las Vegas Harrah’s sportsbook is one of the best places on the Strip where you can score free drinks. Its large full-service bar is a main part of the room, so you don’t need to go too far away to use your drink tickets. A $5 two-team parlay tip to the ticket writer would be sufficient to get the free drink tickets rolling, and each trip to the sportsbook window should earn you several free drink tickets.

Westgate

Westgate was one of the last sportsbooks in Las Vegas to use the drink ticketing system, and up to now, it’s still one of the favorite sportsbooks when it comes to getting free drinks. Although Westgate has a posted minimum of $50 to get a free drink, that policy isn’t strictly followed. The key is to get the right ticket writer and throw a couple of bucks his way. But even if you don’t give a tip, you can still score free drinks if you make a bet and make your betting tickets visible.

Fremont

Downtown spots like the William Hill locations in Downtown Grand, Plaza, The D, and Binions are a catch-as-catch-can with their free drinks ticket system. But the smaller sportsbook Fremont does a great job with giving free drink tickets to both sports and race bettors. Just be cordial, give out a tip, and your free drink tickets will follow.

South Point

The South Point sportsbook uses a drink ticketing system, but it’s loosely followed. Out of five visits, there may be one time when you will be told that there is a minimum bet to make in order to score free drinks. Otherwise, getting free drink tickets should not be a problem. The strategy here is to remember the face of the ticket writer who denied you a free drink and avoid that counter on your next visits.

Flamingo

The Flamingo isn’t the flashiest of sportsbooks, but it’s one of the top places when it comes to scoring free drinks. The ticket writers here are very friendly, and they take good care of you even on the busiest of sports days. Tipping makes them extra generous with drink tickets.

TI

Unlike in most sportsbooks, it’s the sportsbook managers and not the ticket writers who hand out the drink tickets at this venue, so that’s the key here. You just approach these managers and ask for drink tickets. Just be sure to flash your sports bet tickets when you do. They’ll give you a pair of drinking tickets without asking any questions whatsoever. The catch here, though, is that the bar is quite too far from the sportsbook, and you get to be at the mercy of the servers as to how often they go there and take orders.

Mirage

The Mirage is famous for having loose drink tickets, especially when you catch a ticket writer in a good mood. However, you’ve got to be wary of their managers, who sometimes lurk behind ticket writers. With these guys around, getting drink tickets may be tough. So pick a window without these sportsbook managers, and you’ll have an easy time with comped drinks.

Gold Coast

The Gold Coast is more of a horse racing spot than a sportsbook, but when it comes to drink tickets, they are very generous. Even if you just make a small $30 bet on the game of baseball, you’re still going to have no problems getting your drink tickets at Gold Coast.

Golden Nugget

The Golden Nugget also uses a drink ticket system. If you’re betting on horse races, getting these tickets are easy. But if you’re betting on sports games, you may get a varied amount of success. Looseness with drink tickets depend on ticket writers, so it’s wise to choose the ticket writer. And don’t forget to ask for your ticket after placing your bet. If you get your tickets, though, you’re in luck because the Golden Nugget uses 16oz cups instead of the smaller ones for their free drinks.