The Top 10 Things You Should NEVER Do in Las Vegas
Las Vegas is a city where almost anything goes—but that doesn’t mean everything goes.
While Sin City is built on having a wild time, there are several unspoken rules, legal boundaries, and massive financial traps that can instantly turn your dream vacation into a nightmare. As a Local Insider, I see tourists make these catastrophic mistakes every single day.
Here are the Top 10 Things You Should NEVER Do in Las Vegas.
1. Take Your Shoes Off in the Casino
After a long night of dancing in heels or walking miles up and down the Strip, the urge to kick your shoes off and walk barefoot back to your room is strong.
CAUTION
Do not do it. Not only are casino and Strip floors covered in spilled alcohol, shattered glass, and unspeakable bodily fluids, but casino security will actually hunt you down. It is considered a massive health and safety violation, and security guards will actively force you to put your shoes back on or kick you off the property. Pack a pair of foldable flats in your purse! (To save your feet from the start, check out our Las Vegas Transportation Guide to learn how to use the Monorail and ride-shares).
2. Try to Hail a Cab on the Street
If you step out onto Las Vegas Boulevard and raise your hand to hail a passing taxi, you will be waiting forever.
By law, Las Vegas taxis are not allowed to stop on the Strip to pick up or drop off passengers because it causes massive traffic jams. If you need a cab, you must walk to the designated Taxi Stand located at the main valet/entrance of any casino.
3. Jump in the Bellagio Fountain
It might seem like a hilarious stunt after a few drinks, or a great way to cool off in the 115-degree summer heat, but jumping into the Bellagio Fountains is one of the worst mistakes you can make.
WARNING
Security monitors the fountains 24/7. If you jump in, you will not get a warning—you will be immediately arrested, charged with trespassing, heavily fined, and sent to a Las Vegas jail. (Enjoy the fountains from the sidewalk—they are one of our favorite Free Things To Do in Las Vegas!)
4. Forget Your Physical ID
Many tourists leave their driver’s license or passport locked in the room safe so they don’t lose it while drinking. This is a huge mistake.
Even if you are 50 years old and clearly look over 21, you need physical ID everywhere. Many high-end bars won’t let you in, clubs will turn you away, and—most importantly—you cannot claim a casino jackpot without it! If you hit a massive jackpot on a slot machine, the casino is legally required to verify your physical government-issued ID before handing over the cash. No ID? No money.
(Note: Photos of your ID on your phone are not legally accepted in Nevada casinos).
5. Use the Casino ATMs
Running out of cash at the blackjack table and walking over to the nearest generic ATM on the casino floor is a financial trap.
WARNING
These machines are notoriously predatory, often charging between $10 and $15 per transaction in fees! If you need cash, bring it with you, or take an Uber to a local bank branch off the Strip.
6. Be Rude to the Hotel Staff
Las Vegas runs entirely on the hospitality industry. The front desk agents, concierges, and VIP hosts have an immense amount of discretionary power.
TIP
If you are rude, demanding, or entitled when checking in, they will do the bare minimum. But if you are polite, friendly, and respectful, these employees hold the keys to complimentary room upgrades, waived fees, late check-outs, and discounted show tickets. Kindness is the ultimate currency in Vegas. (Pair kindness with a $20 bill using our Ultimate Tipping Guide for massive upgrades).
7. Buy Drinks at the Hotel Gift Shop
If you want to grab a quick beer or a bottle of wine to drink in your room, do not buy it from the hotel gift shop.
Because of the convenience markup, a standard bottle of wine that costs $15 at a grocery store will easily cost $35+ in the gift shop, and a single can of beer can cost $11. Instead, walk out to the massive CVS or Walgreens pharmacies located directly on the Strip. You can buy liquor, beer, and wine at normal retail prices. (Or better yet, learn how to get them comped on the casino floor with our Free Drinks Guide).
8. Book Shows at the Last Minute
In cities like New York, you can often score cheap, last-minute Broadway tickets at the TKTS booth. Vegas does not work this way.
WARNING
In Las Vegas, shows use dynamic pricing. As the theater fills up and showtime approaches, the prices actually go up, and discounts disappear completely. If there is a show you desperately want to see (like Cirque du Soleil), book it weeks in advance. (Not sure what to see? Check out our list of the Top Vegas Shows).
9. Use Third-Party Booking Sites (Expedia/Priceline)
While it is tempting to use third-party aggregators to save $10 a night, booking direct with the hotel is always the better move in Vegas.
If you book through a third party, the hotel front desk cannot easily alter your reservation, upgrade your room, or offer you comps. Furthermore, you will not earn any points on your casino loyalty card (like MGM Rewards or Caesars Rewards) for the room rate, which hurts your chances of getting free rooms in the future.
10. Smoke Weed in Your Hotel Room
Recreational marijuana is fully legal in the state of Nevada. However, there is a massive catch: It is illegal to smoke it in public, and it is strictly banned inside every single casino hotel room.
If you light up in your hotel room (even if it is a “smoking” room designated for cigarettes), the hotel will slap you with a mandatory deep-cleaning fee that usually ranges from $300 to $500, automatically charged to the credit card you put on file at check-in.