1. Join the players clubs and always use the cards in the machines when you play.

2. Play at the "locals'" casinos, not on the strip.

3. Since you have had little or no chance to study/practice strategy, find a hotel gift shop that carries VP strategy cards and use them in you play.

4. As Charles said, find the best payouts. Probably confine your play to "Jacks or Better" games. As a rule, your payouts for a particular type of game will be the same except for the Full House and the Flush. Look for the highest payouts on those hands.

5. If you have a laptop computer, install your instructional software on it, set the game payouts for the same you will be playing, and spend time in your hotel room practicing the game you will play.

6. Confine most of your play to one or two casinos to maximize the points you accrue there. This will increase the chances that you will receive offers in the mail from those casinos.

Have fun!