Money & Payments in Las Vegas (2026)

Local Currency: USD

Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: tcbpay.com, getawayk.com

Good to know

Good to Know

Hotels and rental services may place temporary holds on your funds. Use a credit card instead of a debit card to keep your cash available.
Always check both your bank's fees and the machine's surcharge before confirming a transaction.
Many Strip machines also enforce lower withdrawal limits, forcing multiple withdrawals, which multiplies fees.
Plan cash withdrawals during business hours at bank ATMs off the Strip to access the lowest fees; avoid casino ATMs during peak times.
Prepare some small change in the local currency before leaving the airport if you can, to tip drivers and hotel porters.

ATM Fees

Fee Reimbursement Strategy: Wise, Schwab, SoFi, or Revolut debit cards that refund ATM fees can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Worst Case: It's totally normal to get charged $9–$15 just to withdraw a couple hundred dollars.
Casino Fees: Casino ATMs usually charge higher fees than those in banks or hotels. In-casino ATMs are often among the most expensive in Las Vegas, frequently charging $8 to $10 (or more) per withdrawal.
Typical Range: ATM fees can range from $3 to $10 per withdrawal depending on the location.
Average Fee Range USD: $5.00

Lowest Fee Options

Bank ATMs
Details
You can minimize costs by using ATMs located in banks rather than those inside casinos or convenience stores.
Locations
Bank of America and Wells Fargo have branches both on and near the Strip and downtown.
Typical Fee
There are some options where you might pay as little as $3 per withdrawal.
Drugstore and Convenience Store ATMs
Details
ATMs located in drugstores or convenience stores frequently offer lower fees than hotel or resort ATMs. Many convenience stores and drugstores on the Strip have ATMs with much lower fees, often around $3. Some examples include CVS, Target, and Walgreens.
Cashback at Retailers
Details
Many major grocery and drugstores—such as Walgreens and CVS—offer cash back when you make a purchase with a debit card. This method can help you sidestep standard ATM charges.

Tipping Norms

General: Many hospitality workers depend on tips. If the restaurant does not include the tip in the bill (although most do), the standard custom is to leave a tip of between 10% and 20% of the total bill.
Currency Requirement: Whenever you tip during your trip to Las Vegas it is important to use the local currency, that is - US dollars. Otherwise you'll leave your service providers with cash they can't use without paying high fees on currency exchange.

By Service

Restaurants (Table Service)
Tip Percentage
15-20%
Notes
Plan to tip around 10-15% in Las Vegas restaurants. However, the exact tip amount when eating out in Las Vegas depends on the place, occasion, and order size. It's customary to give your waiter or waitress a slightly higher tip than you would a bartender, as they are likely sharing their tip with the kitchen staff.
Bars and Drinks
Tip Percentage
15-20% per tab
Tip Amount USD
$2.00
Notes
For bartenders, a dollar or two per drink is common, or 15-20% of the total tab.
Taxis and Rideshare
Tip Percentage
10-15%
Notes
It's common to tip 10% in Las Vegas for a longer journey, and if you were helped with your luggage. For short journeys the easiest option is to round up the bill to the nearest significant amount in US dollars.
Hotel Bellhops (per Bag)
Tip Amount USD
$2.00
Notes
For bellhops who assist with carrying your luggage, it's customary to tip $1-3 per bag.
Hotel Housekeeping (per Day)
Tip Amount USD
$5.00
Notes
Housekeeping staff, who clean and maintain your room, should be tipped $5-10 per day of service.
Casino Dealers
Tip Amount USD
$2.00
Notes
A tip of $2 per drink or 1-2% of your winnings is considered an appropriate amount.
Spa and Massage
Tip Percentage
10-15%
Notes
Budget around 10-15% of the treatment price.

Banking

Overview: Las Vegas has multiple banking options including national banks and local credit unions. Opening a personal bank account is straightforward for US residents and many non-residents with proper documentation. However, business account opening for non-resident Nevada LLC owners can require in-person visits despite some banks offering specialized remote processes.

Business Account Setup

General Challenge: Non-resident Nevada LLC owners often face restrictions; many banks require in-person appearance despite forming a Nevada entity.
In Person Alternative: Banks like Nevada State Bank and some Las Vegas branches accept pre-scheduled in-person appointments; walk-ins are rarely accepted.
Recommended For Remote Setup: Bank of Nevada (Business Edge Program for non-resident LLCs), Nevada State Bank (International Business Division), Chase Bank (less remote-friendly but workable).

Personal Account Setup

In Person Requirement: Most traditional banks require an in-person branch visit to verify identity, though some fintech platforms allow fully remote online account opening.
Documentation For Non Residents: Passport, W-8BEN form (for foreign status declaration), initial deposit (varies by institution, often $25–$100), and proof of address typically suffice.

Major Bank Options

Chase Bank
Setup Ease
Moderate
Note
Large national presence (~50 Las Vegas locations), requires at least one phone verification call but workable for remote clients.
Wells Fargo
Setup Ease
Moderate
Note
Allows non-residents to open accounts with passport and documents; no requirement for Nevada physical presence.
Bank of America
Setup Ease
Moderate
Note
Allows personal accounts with identity documents, though conditions vary by state.
Nevada State Bank
Setup Ease
Moderate
Note
Local Nevada bank with 'International Business Division' for non-resident accounts; requires specific request when applying online.
One Nevada Credit Union
Setup Ease
Easy
Note
Credit union with online checking account options; open to all adults 18+.
Varo Bank (Online-only)
Setup Ease
Very Easy
Note
No credit check, no ChexSystems, no initial deposit required, no monthly fees. Fully remote setup.

Local Currency

USD

Card Acceptance

General: Cards are accepted for most expenses, with most major establishments accepting contactless mobile payments like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.
Dynamic Currency Conversion Warning: Always choose to pay in U.S. dollars instead of your home currency—conversion rates at the terminal are often inflated.

Currency Exchange

Casino Exchange: Most casinos in Las Vegas will exchange foreign currency at the cashiers' desk, often with very low fees.
Foreign Currency: You'll need U.S. dollars for everything.

AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026

Sources cited for this category

These are the sources cited in this money & payments research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.

More About Las Vegas

Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.

Money & Payments in Las Vegas

Good to know

Good to Know

ATM Fees

Lowest Fee Options

Bank ATMs

Drugstore and Convenience Store ATMs

Cashback at Retailers

Tipping Norms

By Service

Restaurants (Table Service)

Bars and Drinks

Taxis and Rideshare

Hotel Bellhops (per Bag)

Hotel Housekeeping (per Day)

Casino Dealers

Spa and Massage

Banking

Business Account Setup

Personal Account Setup

Major Bank Options

Chase Bank

Wells Fargo

Bank of America

Nevada State Bank

One Nevada Credit Union

Varo Bank (Online-only)

Local Currency

Card Acceptance

Currency Exchange

Sources cited for this category

Money & Payments in other North America cities

More About Las Vegas