The one-day bus tour departs from Hampton every Saturday, but you'll want to reserve seats at least a week in advance. The 81-seat bus runs close to capacity nearly every weekend. If you're wary about riding on the top of a double-decker bus - though the ride is smooth - you'll need to make those preferences known when you buy your ticket.

That's where you'll collect your free credits and learn about any other promotions. You'll also receive a player's card that keeps track of all of your playing time (and it holds the free gambling credits). The more you play, the more free stuff you earn.

The vouchers must be used in slot machines, and they must be used at the Tropicana casino. Here's the trick: Every time you win a little bit of money - even 10 cents - hit the "Cash Out" button on your slot machine. The machine will print your money voucher. You can't cash out any of the casino credits, but you can cash out your winnings. Using this method, I walked away with $20 in cash from the free credits, transforming me from a loser into a winner. You can then decide whether you want to keep your cash or spend it in another machine.