Vegas is all about taking chances.  Before betting in the casino, make your first gamble on getting a complimentary room upgrade.  Hand a $20 bill to the check-in clerk and ask if there are any complimentary upgrades available.  If you're in the right hotel (see below), odds are good you'll get a deluxe room and the clerk will get a nice tip.


Technique of the $20 Trick

Place a $20 bill between your ID and Credit Card and hand to the clerk when prompted.  Look the clerk in the eye and ask, "I was wondering if there are any complimentary upgrades available?"  You will either get an upgrade or the clerk will say there are none available and hand your money back.  There is no guarantee you will get the upgrade, but some hotels have success rates of 80% to 90%.

To increase your chances, be friendly with the clerk, make eye contact and be discreet when handing over the $20 bill and asking for the upgrade.  Don't be nervous, the $20 trick is well known in Vegas, and clerks are very familiar with it.  The hotel's goal is to provide a pleasurable stay for all guests, and if the clerk cannot upgrade the room, they will politely say so and hand the money back.

Note: If you really want an upgrade, or if you are in a high end hotel (Bellagio, Caesars Palace, Venetian), the $20 may need to become a $50 to pull off an upgrade.

Play the Odds - Choose the Right Hotel

Not every hotel offers the same chance of getting a room upgrade.  Here are the top ten hotels where your odds are good:

1. Palazzo
2. Planet Hollywood
3. Las Vegas Hilton
4. Mirage
5. Caesars Palace
6. Palms
7. Wynn
8. Bally's
9. Tropicana
10. Treasure Island

What to find out the odds at a different hotel?  Two websites collect user experiences and show the odds of pulling of the trick in all the major casinos:
The Front Desk Tip and $20 Trick.

Remember, its Vegas!  So take a chance and try the $20 trick next time you are in town.