Definition
Front money is personal cash or certified funds deposited by a player into a casino cage account before they begin gambling. The player can then draw against this balance at the gaming tables by signing “markers,” essentially playing against their own deposited funds rather than a line of casino credit.
In context
A high-stakes baccarat player doesn’t want to carry $50,000 in cash across the country. Instead, they wire $50,000 to the casino’s cage as front money. When they arrive at the table, they ask the dealer for a $10,000 marker, which is deducted from their front money balance.
Why it matters
Front money is a security and convenience tool for both the player and the house. It eliminates the physical risk of carrying large amounts of cash and allows the casino to verify the player’s bankroll upfront, streamlining the process of getting chips at the table.
Related terms
In detail
Front money is the preferred method of operation for “Whales” and high-limit players. While the general public often confuses front money with “Casino Credit,” they are fundamentally different. Credit is money the casino lends you; Front Money is your own money that the casino is simply holding for you.
The Process: A player can establish front money in several ways: a wire transfer, a cashier’s check, or by literally handing a suitcase of cash to the cage. Once the funds are verified, the player has a “bankroll” on file. When they sit down at a table, they don’t have to pull out a wallet. They simply tell the floorperson they want to draw on their front money.
The floorperson generates a “marker”—which looks like a check. The player signs it, and the dealer provides the chips. This marker isn’t a debt; it’s a receipt showing that a portion of the front money has been moved from the cage to the table. At the end of the trip, if the player still has $20,000 of their original $50,000 left, the casino wires the remaining funds back or cuts them a check.
Why Casinos Love Front Money:
- Guaranteed Funds: Unlike credit, where a player might lose and then fail to pay back the markers (leading to legal battles), front money is already in the house’s possession. There is zero “collection risk.”
- Player Commitment: Once a player wires $100,000 to a property, they are almost certainly going to do all their gambling at that property. It’s a powerful tool for “player lock-in.”
- Regulatory Compliance: Front money creates a very clear “Anti-Money Laundering” (AML) trail. The casino knows exactly where the money came from (the player’s bank account) and where it went. This makes filing Currency Transaction Reports (CTRs) much simpler.
Why Players Love Front Money:
- Safety: Carrying $10,000 in your pocket makes you a target. Having $1,000,000 on deposit at the Wynn makes you a VIP.
- Speed: High-limit players hate waiting. With front money, getting $25,000 in chips takes seconds.
- No Interest/Debt: Playing on credit can lead to a “gambling hangover” where you realize you owe the casino money you don’t have. With front money, you are only ever losing what you already decided you could afford.
Operational Nuances: When a player wins while playing on front money, they can either “buy back” their markers or add the winnings to their front money account. If a player starts with $50k, draws $10k, and wins $20k, they might return the $10k in chips to “retire” the marker and have their account reflect a $60k balance.
For the casino floor staff, managing front money requires high accuracy. The floorperson must verify the player’s ID and signature every time a marker is signed. If a player is allowed to overdraw their front money, it accidentally becomes a credit issue, which involves a whole different set of laws and internal controls. Front money is the cleanest, most professional way to handle high-stakes gambling.