Las Vegas Outrage: Drink Fees Anger Locals and Visitors Alike, Casinos Mum on Latest Hidden Charge
Posted on: September 9, 2019, 02:21h.
Last updated on: September 10, 2019, 07:02h.
Las Vegas drinks have recently become more expensive at certain Strip properties, with guests discovering mandatory “service charges” on their libations.
Our Casino.org article on the latest fees being discreetly attached to elevate the true cost generated a strong and passionate response from Las Vegas locals and visitors. The report has been shared in the UK by The Sun, and gained hundreds of comments on Reddit,?TripAdvisor, and YouTube.
The article has garnered more than 100 comments on Casino.org, making it one of our most-discussed reports in recent memory. The controversy sparked last week when two Las Vegas travelers shared their bar receipts from Park MGM and Sahara, showing a service charge on their cocktails.
MGM Resorts responded on social media, “This charge you’re seeing is a venue fee. It is not only applied for table service, but for bar service as well, and is being applied to every check in the venue.”
“This fee is applied to all things that keep the venue operationally running, like the gaming maintenance for all bar top games, Wi-Fi, and lounge maintenance,” the casino explained.
But wait – we’ve long been told those pesky resort fees, which are now as high as $45 a day – were to cover such amenities as Wi-Fi. I reached out to MGM for clarification, but didn’t receive a response. The main question I have is whether the drink service fee, venue fee, whatever they want to call it, would be waived if one is staying at the casino resort and already paying the resort fee.
Resort fees are the subject of two lawsuits filed by the Nebraska and DC attorneys general. The complaints allege hotels and casino resorts are participating in “drip pricing,” a scheme where a company advertises one rate and then incrementally increases the cost through mandatory charges.
Out-Of-Towner Opinions
The rollout of hidden fees on drinks will keep some visitors away.
Having been to the US over 30 times, I’m calling it a day,” UK resident Joe Colquhoun said. “The charges in Vegas and New York are crazy and the tipping culture is getting out of hand. Many people are staying in Europe to holiday.”
“I go to Las Vegas three or four times a year, and every time things have gone up,” John Barlow declared. “I will most likely stop going, as it’s getting very expensive.”
“Really appreciate this article and really disappointed to see them milking guests like that,” another commenter said. “I’ll have to ask about resort fees next time I go, and maybe stay around Fremont and Uber over to the Strip.”
Locally Speaking
It’s not only the out-of-town guests – which Las Vegas greatly relies on – who are voicing their opposition to the new fees.
Las Vegas resident Heidi Ennis told us, “I’m a local of 52 years and was employed as a cocktail waitress years ago. I would be mortified to work in the casinos now with all these ridiculous fees.
“They don’t even make sense. What happened to being grateful that a visitor chose your establishment to visit out of all the others?” she asked. “What are you all thinking? Or are you?”?
Another TripAdvisor comment noted that,”One would think that the Sahara, which is attempting to get some new legs underneath itself through a current rebranding/ownership change, would offer a discount or promo to draw folks into their establishment rather than adding another fee. I don’t understand that at all.”
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Last Comments ( 38 )
From the get-go several years ago, I always looked at the "resort fees" charged by properties as nothing more than a pathetic attempt to "disguise" rate hikes. Now these new "mandatory service charges" on food and beverage purchases are adding serious insult to monetary injury! Ridiculous! I've already cut my visits to Las Vegas in half, and it's safe to say that I am "one additional fee away" from simply discontinuing my visits to Sin City!
My wife and I have been blessed and have visited Las Vegas over 60 times since 1986 and have brought well over 100 newbies and many of them have returned. We used to get treated like royalty now with all the ridiculous motel fees and car rental fees, we only visit once a year to catch a hockey game. Really, how rape us so badly, you no longer are my favorite town and you offer absolutely nothing for loyalty. Really miss the Dunes and the Sands!
I remember the days when food, drinks, and rooms were very cheap.... the idea was to get people to come and make money off of the gambling. Now, the shows are ridiculously priced, rooms are expensive, and the food prices out of control. Then to top it off with all these resort or hotel fees... not even worth going anymore.
Wow I guess everyone's told you guys off. I live here. When it costs me $12.00 just to park for 4 hrs to see my niece at her gymnastics event, believe me I do think twice. We need happy visitors. My neighbor is a room attendant, she tells me the tips have gotten "lean" & maybe she needs to rethink her line of work too. These resort fees going directly into the Corporate pocket don't help those who do the "work" & create the experience. It'll be a while before I go.down on the strip again. Just saying ...
Drink fees are yet another reason to pregame before going to any venue. Grab something from one of the many liquor outlets on the strip and consume it on your way. How is it that these places can't survive on their already ridiculous drink prices. Last time I was at Drai's, with tip, a Coors Light was $17. People, including me, are absolutely stupid to pay those prices. Resort fees and drink fees are a big part of the reason I don't consider Vegas an attractive destination any longer.
Drink fees are yet another reason to pregame before going to any venue. Grab something from one of the many liquor outlets on the strip and consume it on your way. How is it that these places can't survive on their already ridiculous drink prices. Last time I was at Drai's, with tip, a Coors Light was $17. People, including me, are absolutely stupid to pay those prices. Resort fees and drink fees are a big part of the reason I don't consider Vegas an attractive destination any longer.
Even when I started going in the 80's, they still had the cheap room's in the back of the hotels on the strip - the old motel type rooms behind the resorts. They still had the cheap buffets, loose slots and good free entertainment on stages just off the casino floors. I started going less when they tore down the cheap rooms and forced everyone to stay in the expensive rooms as they started trying to make it a "family destination" and stopped going personally after they added the "resort fees". I used to go at least 3-4 times a year, now I go once every 4 or 5 years, typically when I have to go for business and the company is paying for it. As for gambling, I just drive 2 hours to the Indian casinos - the slots aren't loose, but at least they are near by so I do not need to stay in a hotel. Screw Vegas - the greed of the mob was nothing compared to the greed of the modern corporations. At least the mob knew that they had to keep bringing the customers back.
Glad I am staying downtown this trip. I hope the lawsuit Wins. How can I join? WkA
I stopped going to Vegas years ago, due to their attitudes toward guests. Rude staff, not just in hotels and casinos, but car rental, parking lots, everywhere. Since I stopped going I hear about all the miscellaneous fees and rising prices and traffic congestion...forget it. Now I hear the big gambling organizations are moving down to Laughlin...Lesson in how to kill a town coming your way.
I have not gone to the strip since parking fees have been initiated. How many more locals like me are there in Vegas. I would venture to say many
Vegas was known for good deals for vacations for everyone. The casino's should remember what draws in the locals, tourist and visitors. If they are treating people like a number instead of the hospitality it was built on. They will lose millions of dollars, cause an recession from greed and most of all they will lose loyal customers. People are still looking for good deals and if Vegas wants to dime them to death. People will go to other states and places where the deals are. The best concept: "Vegas loves money, but people loves deals. Don't forget Casino's without the people, theirs no business. Think back when people wasn't spending money in Vegas and it caused casino's to layoff thousands. Don't allow greed to cause a repeat.
How about slot machines these days.....penny machines are actually dollar machines or more.....way more if you want to try for a jackpot.....and they all say "you have won" when you have actually lost 75 per cent of your bet.....false advertising at best and probably criminal activity at worst.....legal crime but who will fight for the people ?.....I am not leaving my name in order to not have my legs broken or who knows what.....
I've been a resident of Las Vegas for 27 years. In the last 8 years or so I've seen the "fees" rise to ridiculous heights! Well, it can only be blamed on the bigger than life corporate GREED! They've lost touch with the most important factor that keeps Vegas a thriving destination, THE TOURISTS! The locals are necessary as well during the off seasons, (if there is actually an off season). Keep alienating the people who come here to spend their hard earned money you greedy corporate butt-hats! Yeah, nothing can go wrong with that money grubbing! Jerks! The lot of them!
I just returned from the Sahara in Las Vegas. The hotel is just a step over motel 6, yet they charge almost 50.00 a day to stay there. They had a jack hammer going outside my room at 5:50 AM, and a forklift in the building tearing up the place. I personally think they should finish up the place, get internet in their 1970’s decorated rooms with moldy carpet and get smart when it comes to ripping people off with the “I think we are a new modern hotel and can charge a fortune to stay there” attitude. I won’t be back.. ever. Too easy to stay in the surrounding areas for less and have more. Place is a dump. It’s almost funny that they got that bold with their “room charges”and didn’t figure out the consequences to come.
All eyes are on off strip hotels & casinos...they should put more money into updating their properties. They will get the strip customers if they focus on them and ensure the fees are lower and don't rape customers wallets. Taking advantage of the greedy strip resorts will benefit them.