If you are talking about setting up a marker account (commonly known as a line of credit or LOC), it is very convenient. You can access your line in increments during a stay and then write one check to pay it all off at the end of your trip, or have the casino send you an invoice.

The three main things to be aware of are:

Legally, a marker is the same as a check - they will use it to debit your bank account if you don't pay them promptly

There's generally a minimum, upwards of at least a few thousand for most strip casinos. The minimum is not per marker, it's for your whole line.

When you take out a marker, they don't give you a copy, so make sure you keep track of how much you've used so you don't get any nasty surprises when you go to pay them off.

I have markers at three properties in Las Vegas and I find them very convenient. One heads up? Markers are only valid at a particular casino. You can't get an "MGM" marker or a "CET" marker. It's a separate application and review for each property.

We have LOCs with three of the major brands (CET, Mlife, and Penn National). Never had an issue using at any of their associated LV properties or other US locations,other than Harrah's Cherokee. I suspect this had something to do with the casino ownership. They still allowed us to cash checks. No negative impact on our credit report status. Very convenient!

While they reserve the right to do a hard pull of your credit, I've only had one casino (Venetian) do that. The others (MGM, Mirage, Paris, Luxor, GN and a few others) did not do a hard pull and it never showed up on my credit report.

Until you get established, the biggest thing they are looking for is a large average daily balance in your checking account. This is crucial at first, and they will check with your bank to get 90/120 day ADB's.

I think playing with markers is very convenient. Sometimes it can be a pain at the tables when you want to jump in right away and play (it sometimes takes 10 minutes or so before you're good to go), but it's a better alternative than carrying $5,000 in your billfold. Good luck!

Also wanted to add that Central Credit is the company most casinos use to monitor customers casino credit habits. Apply for credit gradually (1-2 places at a time). If you apply for four or more marker signing privileges within 14 business days, it sends up a huge red flag and they will deny you.

It's a good idea if you apply for only the maximum amount you are willing to lose during your trip...it's a bad idea if you apply for more than you are willing to lose (and get approved)...

If you lose more than you win, the casino will deposit those unpaid marker(s) with your bank for payment...remember, when you sign for a marker, you are signing a countercheck, with the casino as the Payee....

I used markers on my last trip. I would recommend the biggest advice is to not constantly try to pay your marker off at the cage. Keep a couple hundred or whatever you have in chips/tickets in your pocket because it can be very time consuming to take out a marker and even more time consuming to pay it off for some reason.

If you get a big enough win the pit boss will usually make you pay the marker off that you took out and you can only walk away with the winnings.

It's a great way to not carry much cash but you still have to carry some in case you want to play poker or if you want to gamble at another casino than where you have your line of credit opened at.

Thank to everyone for responding! there are so many knowledgeable members on this site! Good Luck to everyone.

We are Canadian and always took TC with were easily cashed at the cashier. Now we cannot get them and don't want to take all cash with us. Does anyone know that if i get a US bank draft at our bank, will the cashier cash it. If anyone has other suggestions please let me know.