If you always wanted to walk a mile in high-roller shoes, now you have a chance to do it thanks to junket trips. These are all-inclusive gambling trips to some of the most renowned casino destinations on land and on sea — if you prefer that kind of adventure. Junket trips include flights, accommodation, food, and a visit to a casino where you get to play the most popular games of chance. The best thing about them is that they are cheap or entirely free, but they come with a single requirement — you have to gamble.
Visualize yourself on a cruise ship where you play poker for one part of the day, and for the other, you get to enjoy coastal sightseeing. Or imagine booking a trip for your entire family to Atlantic City or Las Vegas. You are staying at a luxurious hotel, dining in the finest restaurants, and of course, playing your favorite casino game while your family is having fun at a spa or by the pool. And on top of that, you either got the trip for free, or you paid for it way less than it usually costs. That’s what junket trips are in a nutshell.
These gambling trips are just like regular travel tours, but instead of visiting a country for its rich history, culture, or excellent food, you visit a place because of a particular casino. The package covers flight or transportation costs, accommodation at deluxe resorts, food in restaurants or a buffet at the resort, and all other expenses that you may encounter as a guest in such a place. However, these trips have one condition attached — you have to gamble for a certain number of hours or spend a certain amount of money gambling.
Casino Junkets Are Popular Again
Just to be clear, casino junkets are nothing new. They exist since the ’50s, and in the beginning, they were organized to bring gambling tourists to Las Vegas. Junket travels became very popular over the years. But at one point, their fame started to fade away; that is, until recently. These gambling tours began to gain popularity among U.S. players again. And if you are an avid gambler, junket trips should be on your bucket list too.
Here’s What You Need to Know About Casino Junkets
We’ve made a list of the most frequent questions players ask when they want to go on a casino junket.
Who Can Book a Junket Trip?
Generally speaking, casino junkets are for people who love to gamble a lot, and they know how to play casino games. Earlier, junkets were entirely free trips meant for VIP clientele or guests who spend a lot of time and money in a casino. They would get a free trip to an upper-class casino where they were obliged to gamble. Not a lot of things have changed since then, but now, you can book junkets for yourself instead of waiting for someone to offer them to you.
Casino junket agencies have different rules. Some of them accept almost all types of players, while others allow only qualified players. Also, sometimes, they can impose restrictions based on age because some casinos don’t accept players under 21 or even 25. Furthermore, you are usually required to gamble between four and six hours daily, so you need to have a bankroll that can support that pace.
That tells us that junket trips are not literally for every gambler but rather for those who don’t mind spending a hefty sum of money testing Lady Luck’s mercy in games of chance. Qualified players usually get the trip for free, while others pay a sum that is still way lower than it would originally cost them to go on high-class travel.
How to Become a Qualified Player?
Now that we have mentioned that qualified players get to go on a junket trip for free, naturally, you want to know how you can qualify. What junket operators mean by the term “qualified player” is a person who has achieved a certain level playing in a casino. That level is defined based on the time they have spent gambling but also based on their average bet.
Every operator has different standards, and if you are seeking to get qualified, it would probably be best if you contacted a specific operator directly. That being said, there are different levels of qualified players; some are “good enough” to get an entirely free trip, while others are fit only for certain comps.
What Expenses Does a Junket Cover?
The expenses covered in these kinds of trips depend on whether you are qualified or not. As we have previously stated, qualified players get an entire trip for free. That means no expenses on your account for transportation and/or flights, baggage, and accommodation. Some operators may include free food, beverages, or some activities, such as spa, gym, pool, or any other sort of entertainment that the resort offers.
If you are not qualified, you will have to cover some costs, but we are still talking about spending considerably less money than you would had it not been for the casino’s generosity.
What About Taxes?
Some states and casinos do have fees that gamblers or junket players need to pay. Those taxes will be charged to players directly, and junket operators can’t cover them. But you can always ask the operator to tell you in advance if this sort of fee needs to be paid.
What Sort of Junket Trips Are Available for US Players?
U.S. gamblers get to enjoy an array of junket travels. It can be a weekend junket, a week, or even a couple of weeks-long trip. The operators usually offer popular casino destinations, such as Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Miami, and elsewhere. Your junket trip may include traveling by plane, bus, or limo, and even a cruise ship. Which one you will opt for depends on your preferences and qualifications.
How to Book a Junket Tour
The first step would be choosing the right junket operator. And we admit, it’s not an easy job if you live in America because there are a lot of junket agencies. But let’s try to narrow down your search. Pick the agency or operator that does junkets to destinations or casinos that you are actually eager to go to.
Maybe you have always wanted to spin the reels in the heart of Atlantic City or get Lady Luck’s attention while playing poker at Sin City. Junkets are available not only to those who play table games but also to slot players. So, a fantastic assortment of games in a certain casino can also be a good reason to visit or play there.
The next thing you should do is contact the particular operator to find out what their conditions and prices are. You should inquire about the following: how do you become a qualified player for them, how much time or money are you required to spend gambling while on a trip, do their trips cover virtually all costs, or should still expect some fees to be charged?
The majority of operators don’t disclose this information publicly on their websites, so you’ll have to reach them directly and ask. You can do it by email or phone that’s usually toll free. Or, if you know a representative in your local casino, you can ask them in person.
Top Junket Destination in the US
While U.S. operators organize junket trips to all destinations where you can gamble legally in deluxe casinos, these are top five places:
- Atlantic City
- Las Vegas
- Lake Tahoe
- Mississippi
- The Caribbean
Top Casinos for Junket Tourists
These are some of the most popular casinos that U.S. players usually visit when they opt for junket trips. All these venues are famous, either for their splendid design and interior, exquisite game offer, or amazing location. Besides gambling, players get to enjoy the beautiful surroundings, visit landmarks, or enjoy any other sort of entertainment that the resort has to offer. Some of these junket tours can also be suitable if you want to travel with your family.
| Casino | Location |
| Harrah’s Casino | Atlantic City, Las Vegas, New Orleans |
| Caesars Palace | Las Vegas |
| Caesars | Atlantic City |
| Paris Las Vegas | Las Vegas |
| Rio Las Vegas | Las Vegas |
| Horseshoe Casino | Tunica |
| Harrah’s Casino | Lake Tahoe |
| Harrah’s Gulf Coast | Biloxi |
Top Cruise Ship Junket Tours
There are a bunch of poker tours taking place on cruise ships every year. This is why booking a junket cruise is the best choice for those who love to play poker. Oftentimes, your junket operator can get you in one of the events of the tournament. The whole experience is surreal.
| Cruise | Departures |
| Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas | Your sailing trip starts in Miami, Florida and goes to St. Kitts, St. Thomas, Cococay and Bahamas. Each of these ports will enchant you. |
| NCL Cruise | This cruiser goes from New Orleans and sails to magnificent Caribbean destinations. You’ll even get to see famous Mayan temples. |
| Royal Caribbean Ovation of the Seas | This cruiser departures from Seattle, Washington, and goes to Alaska. The beauty of Alaska’s mountains and glaciers is simply breathtaking. |
Why Book a Junket Trip?
While there are numerous reasons why one should go on a casino junket, we have compiled a list of top five reasons.
You Get to Travel for Free or Cheap
The junket operator covers all or the majority of expenses. All you have to do is play. That sounds great, and you get to experience the high-roller lifestyle for a while.
Visit Five-Star Casinos
Junket tours take players to some of the most renowned casino resorts nationwide. Even if you can afford to visit some of your dream venues, we are sure you won’t get a better deal on a casino trip. Junkets are a memorable experience.
It’s the Best Vacation for a Gambler
It really is a vacation, and you don’t have to worry about plane tickets, waiting in lines, baggage, accommodation, or meals. The operator will take care of everything. Plus, a casino representative will always be at your service on the casino floor. Aside from gambling, you get to do all other things that you would normally do while on vacation.
Meeting New People
Casino junkets are an excellent opportunity to meet other avid gamblers from your area. You’ll get to experience the trip with people who share the same interests and you, so you’ll have plenty to talk about.
Win Money
Casino travels require you to gamble every day during your trip. If Lady Luck is on your side, you might win something. But regardless of the outcome, we are sure that you’ll have plenty of fun playing in a famous casino.
Put It on Your Bucket List
Junket trips are the perfect gambling vacation for avid players. And the fact that they are gaining back the popularity they used to have a couple of decades ago is just another reason for you to try them out. This is a great opportunity to experience fascinating casinos at a low price but with style. If you are a poker player, we highly recommend boarding on one of the cruisers where you’ll have a chance to play some of the best poker tournaments with high pool prizes. All these are reasons enough to put a casino junket on your bucket list.
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