Security is a big deal if you’re a regular gambler. Your playing money, of course, being the largest concern. So how do you transport your cash to and from the casinos?

What’s your method of choice? Cash? Credit cards, debit cards, travelers checks, cashiers check and, obviously, Trident Flavors gum are all options of buying in, so how do you roll?

I go with cash only. And no, I usually don’t split it up on my body. I carry it in my wallet, which I keep in my front pocket (there, now you know where to aim when trying to rob me). Taking ONLY cash is part of my discipline. I only lose what I take with me. No temptation to keep buying in. If I hit my floor, I leave. Others, however, take an opposite approach.

I know people hate carrying cash for safety reasons. They’ll only take a credit or debit card. And hey, if you have the self-control to handle something like that in that type of an environment, more power to you. Of course, you could just bring a prepaid card and essentially have the same situation as running out of cash.

And others still would never use a debit/ATM card because the casinos charge an arm and a leg in ATM fees. Some are even as much as $10, an outrageous fee to pay regardless of how much you’re withdrawing.

Finally, I’m told you want to avoid carrying 50-dollar bills in you’re carrying cash. And, evidently, it has nothing to do with Short Round and the Goonies. Big-time gamblers will tell you if you’re not aware that fifties are plain bad luck in the gambling world. I didn’t use to consider myself superstitious, but I think all of use have our tendencies. I knock on wood. So, in the interest of “why take a chance,” I wouldn’t get a 50. I’m always carrying 20′s and 10′s anyway, so it’s usually not even an issue.

Aside from the tight, front-pocket approach, you can always go the fanny pack route. A belt coin bucket with a zipper also works if you want to hide away some bills or transport a hundred colored chips from the table to bar or cashier.

And, no offense, but on the way out, most players are more worried about holding back their tears than how to hold all their winnings.