Bankroll Security When Traveling

I frequent a Florida cruise ship to "nowhere" casino and never take
over $1000 for the 4-hour session. However, next week I'll be in
Gulfport for a couple nights so will need to have a larger bankroll
available. (Probably play both Grand casinos and the Beau Rivage.)
I'm most comfortable with KO at the face-up 6-deck games.

From the experience of the pros on this board, how do you folks travel
safely with a large bankroll? Traveler's checks, money belt, stick
it in your shoe (never mind ... they check shoes at airports now).

Is it best to use a casino's safety deposit lock box at the front
desk? Does anyone really trust those little safes in the hotel room?
Is there ever a good reason to maybe set up a line of credit at a
casino (or deposit your bankroll at the cage) and just use markers?

Thanks in advance. Hope I come home with more than I take with me.

Let's see you said usually play a 4 hour session with a $1000.

2 $1000 sessions = $2000

Take extra Franklins and stick them in your pocket, they dont bite!

Good luck.

But I consider them safer than the alternatives... carrying everything on you or a box at the desk. I have used $1000 denom AM Expr travelers checks, but do not do it frequently. I generally have a third to a half of it on me and the rest in the room safe.

I work for the Hotel industry and everywhere I have been, they have TWO keys to each lock box. You keep one... the Hotel has the other. Just like a lock box at the bank. A record is kept for every entry into the box. Every Hotel that I have been associated with goes out of their way to secure the area and provide access ONLY to the rightful owner who must have the key AND must prove his identity.

Sure... you could "break" into the lock box (not easy)... but that will cause MAJOR problems if valuables are missing.

I can't imagine a casino hotel being any different but I personally do not know for sure.

...for a typical 9-day, 8-nite trip (which is exactly what my last gulf-coast visit was) is to take cash sufficient for 3, big-losing days of BJ. I carry all of it on me the first day or 2 while locking the safe in my room with $50 in it. I once read that if there were to be problems with the security of the safe, it's liklihood of happening are heavily tilted toward the first day or 2 you're in the room. By day 2 or 3 (depending on the venue), 2/3 of the BR goes into the safe and a sufficient BR for any given day accompanies me.

The backup is having a bank with a national presence and knowing what you need for any withdrawl you may need. I've blown a trip bankroll 4 times in the 11 years I've been playing and have needed the bank. My bank specifically requires a check, not just a debit card or deposit slip, for sizable withdrawls.

When leaving a casino, ALWAYS be as observant as possible of who may be observing YOU. If you're ramping into 3 figures and color up to a lot of black or purple, you're going to draw attention and I've been watched/followed exactly 5 times over 11 years. In 3 of the cases, I got an escort to my car but in the other 2, I was using the 302 in Vegas so I stayed in the casino.. ducking in and out of bars and slot-banks, until I felt safe, then left while talking to somebody.

I use many appearances but I mostly use jeans and baseball cap with some beard growth because I don't like to appear loaded, especially somewhere like the express bus from Sparks to Downtown Reno at 2 in the morning. People have said baseball caps appear suspicious but I don't agree.. they are very good at blocking overhead surveillance.

The good news.. I've never once lost money to theft. Hope my luck stays this good.

Spok