I am waiting for my NV work card to be finalized. A friend, who has her card, but has never shopped there, and I are thinking of cutting costs by making a joint trip so that we can share a room and a rental car and take turns writing dining reports. Both of us are very experienced shoppers and we both do video. (Yes, I know; it is a two party state.)
I am usually in charge of logistics for any trip, so I have a ton of questions about LV shops. Any advice that you want to provide via PM, if not in open forum, will be welcomed of course. (NOT asking which MSC shops which client!)

Are the overnight casino shops best done by two people to get all those observations? What sorts of gaming experiences will be needed? I am a very competent blackjack player but would be a novice at some table games.

Are there LV hotels that you recommend that really cater to business travelers, with a good work space/work chair and high speed Internet, or will we be stuck in casino hotels which often have no desktop space, poor task lighting and inadequate electrical outlets?
What do you consider the best paid sort of MS jobs in LV and the nearby area?

I will also be checking out Airbnb in and around LV, since they often have great Internet speeds and I can “screen” for upload speeds and work spaces.

Any other NV advice welcome.

Most of the casino shops I've seen require a certain amount of slots play and lots and LOTS and LOTS of interactions, all of which must be reported in detail.

Some say you and a companion, some require you go alone.

Some companies allow you to keep small wins; some companies require you return to them any winnings. I wouldn't touch those with a 10-foot pole! If I hit a $4,000 jackpot while I was on a shop, I'm afraid I'd just take the money and flake on the report, LOL!!!

Frankly, you just won't know until you accept some and read the guidelines -- unless an e-mail to the MSC gets you the info you require. Or a phone call.

Have fun!

That does sound like a lot of fun. I was in Vegas visiting my daughter in August (so hot) and we stayed at a cost effective place called Sunset Station. It is not on the strip but only about 15 minutes from the main drag. The place was clean and the rooms were reasonable. I think they may be having specials this month and next month. There was another hotel and casino called Buffalo Bills. Not in the best area but the hotel and casino are very safe and they have a free show every night.

My experience with MSing in Vegas is that the majority of well-paying shops are on the strip (the locals hate going there) and it's not worth taking the hotel shops, because if you know how Vegas works you can usually get discounted or free hotel stays. As obnoxious as the casino hotels are, you are right in the action and can walk to most of the shops.

Another good option is to look into one of the timeshare shops there. They often pay for a hotel with no report required, or allow access to the timeshare for a limited time. You can also accept an offer from one of the major timeshare operators (It seems like every time I check out of a Hilton property they call and offer me a free trip to Vegas the next day) and those are awesome since many are 2-bedroom units with a kitchen. You just have to sit through the presentation...

Well, I have sat through many a time share presentation and survived! Although it was somethings touch-and-go about whether or not I would strangle the sales agent! There was just a blood curdling amount of illegal claims being delivered as "fact."

Also, you know you are able to work while the work card is pending...right?

I can take weeks to actually get the card but the system allows for probationary employees to perform shops.

There are MANY types of casino shops so I won't get into that. The real $$ for me when I started shopping in Vegas was retail, however...which is not something I enjoy, but it always available and they prefer people who appear to be tourists.

This is an interesting topic. I too am considering getting a NV license/work permit and have been wondering how one locates MSC companies that have the required licenses to operate in NV. The wife and I typically travel to Las Vegas once or twice a year anyway so if I could pick up a job or two it would help defray costs. I am aware of one MSC that has a major casino client out there but am clueless as to how to find the others. If you go to the job boards of any of the SASSIE companies and look for assignments in NV it always comes up empty. The company I know about has a totally separate web site for NV jobs. Do the others as well?

As far as advise for the OP, I get free rooms on every trip by playing the My Vegas slot games and accumulating points that can be used for free rooms at most of the MGM properties on the strip. It's free to play. You can down load an app to your phone or tablet and you can play on Facebook as well. If you use both platforms, the points add up pretty quickly.

Many hotels on the strip charge a fee for internet, but are in the heart of the shops. I only do slots, not a gambler.

When I did the Timeshares, I'd go across to Starbucks to do report. I haven't shopped there for awhile, but will start again. I know the strip hotels charge an 18.00/day resort fee. renting an apartment may be an option, there are tons near the strip, so sharing would work depending on how long you'll stay. I go only for a few days, can't take anymore.

My question to you is: Are you getting a work card because you want to work in LV, or are you getting one because you like to vacation in Las Vegas and you want to mystery shop to cover your expenses while you are here? I follow up with some considerations below.

My best advice for new LV shoppers is that you should realize casino and hotel shops are a lot of work and may make your vacation seem like it's not a vacation. You will probably still be writing reports the day after you have checked out of the hotel. When I do those shops, it's my wife who enjoys the staycation while I am running around the casino initiating interactions or setting up things in the hotel for the shop.

Hmmm....If enough of you start getting NV work cards and start making regular trips to LV, and you don't like paying resort fees, I may just start a business of renting you rooms in my house.

I started doing jobs in Vegas as I have been going there for 30 years and actually got married there...no, not a tacky Elvis wedding., in the only Temple (then) by the same Rabbi that married Liz Taylor and Michael Todd.
Vegas has changed so much from the Frank Sinatra days when a dinner show cost $35.00, and nothing for us.
My ex did the Real Estate Appraisal's for Caesars Palace and Bally's. I continued going through the years.
When I started shopping, I took some great restaurants and upscale retail while enjoying myself. Hotels are
work, and since I can stay at Bally's for a nominal nightly fee, I now go for both, vacation and a bit of work.
Since I shop, why not have a great dinner and pick up a few shops.....works for me!! Flying from back East
with airfares up the roof (unless you have rewards),, not sure how that works money wise. Do you have enough parking and where excatly do you live in regards to the strip?

Actually I was kind of musing about renting rooms, because my house is about 13 miles away from the Strip, and the idea came to mind because a friend of mine recently began renting her condo to tourists. She found a website to list it on and people coming to town contact her through the website. I think she gets around 150 a night for her 3-bedroom condo on a non-event day. If you are interested, I'll ask her what the website is where residents list their homes and rooms for rent. Don't come to town Dec 1-10 this year, because places are packed with rodeo finals people.

No, iI was curious because I know someone here who is doing that with exchange students. I stay for 38.00$
a night. I thought you lived in Ariz., so that would be a long ride....it's not a bad idea if you have a large enough house. Vegas always has specials, way under 150.00......

I did live in AZ, but I moved temporarily for the money. Then I stayed for more money, but I will always consider AZ my home. I still do a few shops there most months. I am AZ Wolfman because I used to raise wolf hybrids when I lived in AZ. When I moved to LV, I got a 900 sports line and also wrote a column in a sports paper. They wanted me to have a handle, so I chose Wolfman and used it on my sports website. It stuck and my co-workers in the casino began calling me Wolfman.

I am coming to work, and so is my friend. We are both seasoned route shoppers and video shoppers. We can both get half price airfare as a shop.