A great casino weekend does not require a high-roller bankroll: with smart hotel choices, a fixed gambling budget, and the city's many free attractions, a mid-range budget buys a full Las Vegas experience.

Start with the two biggest costs, hotel and gambling, and set firm limits for both before you travel, since everything else in Vegas is designed to tempt you beyond them.

Choose a mid-range property with a good location, travel midweek when prices drop, and use loyalty programs and dining deals to stretch every dollar.

For gambling, treat your bankroll as entertainment spending, set daily loss limits, play low-minimum tables and slots, and never chase losses, because the weekend is only a success if you come home happy.