Las Vegas is the 28th most populous city in the US and one with too many nicknames to count. Internationally renowned, it is a tourist destination that draws in over 40 million visitors per year. People from all corners of the globe flock to this spot within the Mojave Desert to discover its buzzing boulevard and explore its endless entertainment options. It has warm weather, sights, a fascinating history, 24/7 activity, and money-making opportunities that lurk behind every corner. Find how to Make Money in Vegas
From the Red Rock Canyon to the Vegas Strip, we can list dozens of reasons why this city is not only worth visiting but also a viable location to call home. It has a vast metropolitan area and is Nevada’s leading financial and cultural center. If you ever find yourself in it and are looking to turn a buck, here are a few lucrative endeavors that you may want to consider.
If you are wondering how fast and how much money can you make in Vegas? Know that none of these suggestions will make you rich, but they all can lead to some quick cash in your pocket. All you have to do is show initiative and follow-through.
Winning at the Casinos
You were expecting this one, weren’t you? It is a reasonable option to mention as Las Vegas houses over 130 casinos, which is more gambling venues than any other city in the world. However, you may be thinking – casinos are a good way of making money? Yes, if you know what you are doing and can exercise self-control. Naturally, gambling involves chance, which includes risk. That said, if you are aware of industry workings, you can minimize the operator’s advantage and look to exploit their comps system. With a little luck, some persistence, and a few smart moves, you should be able to come out ahead.
Your best bet is, pun intended, to visit smaller off-strip casinos, which have less overhead and can afford to feature low-stakes games. Since poker is a game of skill, if you are proficient at it, try your hand at a luxurious poker room. If you have a terrific memory and can count cards, then blackjack should be your game of choice. However, if you are a newbie, stick to low variance slots. Reel-spinners that payout small prizes often. You can check a machine’s specs on the internet or ask a pit-boss about it. Though, know that you can also play American casinos to win Money in Vegas. Such sites feature an even more robust selection of slots, and they offer comparable prizes while featuring games with better payback percentages.
Selling Water Bottles
As we when through the most obvious option, gambling, if you cannot win money in Vegas, what are ways to earn it swiftly? Well, for many residents, Sin City is all about side-jobs, and one of the best ones is the water bottle hustle. We mentioned the weather, and given that this is a desert town, things often get hot, really hot. Most tourists that visit in the summer forget to factor in that temperatures in Vegas reach over 110°F or 43.3°C, which makes going out during the day unbearable. Dehydration is a real possibility, and not everyone can afford to sit by the pool and order drinks. Thus, you can take advantage of all the foot traffic in the city by selling water bottles on the street or the highway. Though technically illegal, since you need a street vendor permit, most officers do not bother chasing-off street sellers if they are not causing a public disturbance. If you do not want to risk getting a ticket, you could stick to selling water bottles roadside and apply for such a permit. It is a cheaper alternative than one for street peddling.
If you are looking to make Money in Vegas without gambling, this is an excellent alternative. You can pick up a 24-pack of 16.9-ounce water bottles anywhere between $3 to $4 and a five-pound bag of ice, which should run you about $1.5. All you need is a $5 investment to get started and a sign that says – $1 per bottle. Most people that engage in this hustle move anywhere from 20 to 50 bottles per hour on a good day. Seeing as the profit margins here are high, it is entirely sensible that you could make $100 within a few hours, easy.
Become a Human Billboard
We covered street selling, but how about street advertising. Las Vegas has hundreds of entertainment venues and dining establishments, and they all are fierce competition to each other as they vie for tourists. It is hard to stick out in such a saturated market. Thus, street marketing is a superb way to drive traffic to any local business, as thousands of people circulate the Strip and its intersecting streets each day. According to one study, most visitors spend a little over four hours walking the Strip when visiting Vegas, and 71% of them make their dining and entertainment decisions after arriving there.
Though experience is beneficial for a human billboard job, most positions are entry-level. You may get employed by an advertising company or work directly for the business whose services/products you will be promoting. A basic understanding of marketing, and especially sales, go a long way in this line of work, as you’ll often have to converse with people and give out fliers and advice on how to get free money in Vegas and where to eat. Most companies that specialize in this field provide digital boards to their workers, which display broadcast-quality ads. They unleash teams of three or more human billboards to cover a specific area of the city. Remember, if you opt for this work, you may have to wear a costume and even perform choreographed moves.
Flip Items
What does flipping an item mean? It is buying a specific commodity at one price and then re-selling it at a higher one. Thus, turning a profit. The concept is simple, but what makes it particularly suitable for Las Vegas? The City of Second Chances is famous for having over twenty pawn shops that buy everything from sports memorabilia to antique furniture and weapons. If you have the History channel, then no doubt you have seen an episode or two of the hit show Pawn Stars, which has been running since 2009. Vegas also has countless thrift stores, public auctions, and flea markets.
The key here is to recognize a value and jump at opportunities. You do not have to leave your home to give this business a go, as you can start by searching Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. A quality tip is to do so near the end of the month when rent and bills are due, and people are more likely to part with items. Make sure to search using phrases such as moving out of state/country. People in such situations are looking to get rid of stuff in a hurry, so they are not seeking top-dollar for their items but a quick deal. It is also a good idea to familiarize yourself with university schedules. So, you know when students are moving back home. During these periods, students are looking to dump stuff. Frequently, these include electronics that they do not want to haul back home.
Become a Rideshare Driver
Many people believe that they can make the trek from one end of the Strip to the other but forget to bring comfortable shoes and that such walks are a few miles long. The Las Vegas monorail helps visitors get around quickly and safely for $5 a ride, and The Deuce bus transport is another popular public option. Nevertheless, most people prefer to avoid these and aim to move via a taxi or utilizing a ride-sharing service. Cabs are a prevalent form of transportation in Vegas, and there’s an abundance of them throughout the city. However, in recent times, ride-sharing services have gained popularity, and more and more people utilize them as a convenient way of travel.
In Vegas, like all major cities in the US, Uber, and Lyft dominate this market and are your best options for driving people around town. Before burning rubber on asphalt, you will need to know the lay of the land, and while you may think GPS will do the trick, be aware that hotels have specified areas where ride-sharing companies can pick up guests, which you must use. Most drivers make around $11 to $13 per hour, but prices go up during holidays and when special events happen in the city.
Conclusion
If you are coming to Las Vegas to stay for a few months or are potentially moving here, you are probably worrying – how much cash should you bring, and how fast can you earn some. Do not. While living with the heat may be uncomfortable, you get used to it, and this desert city offers countless side-hustles that can produce a living wage. The terrific thing here is that most of them let you interact with people and enjoy the pleasures of Sin City itself.