It is conceivable to go to Vegas and not gamble. But if you approach the activity as amusement, and budget how much you are prepared to risk, it will be fun and not too dangerous. Big wins are possible -- but it helps if you know what you’re doing.

Set a daily budget and be realistic about what you can afford to spend. Figure this out in the sane surroundings of your home, not in the crazy atmosphere of Neon City. Set win and loss limits. When you’ve reached one or the other, quit. There are lots of other things you can do besides gamble.

If you like blackjack, but not at $10 and more a hand, leave the strip and head for a small, one of the "locals" casinos, off the strip. There you’ll find $5 and even $1 games. You’ll enjoy the laid-back atmosphere and congenial dealers at low-limit tables. Don’t be lulled into forgetting that the chips you play with are really your hard-earned dollars.

You’ll be astounded at the cheap meals offered in Las Vegas. Steak dinner with crab legs for $8.99? Be skeptical. It won’t be a terrific steak, the crab legs might be soggy. And be aware that between you and those cheap buffets lies a huge hurdle -- the gambling floor. I once had a wonderful breakfast special for $1.49. Then on the way out I dropped $10 into a slot machine. For $11.49 that breakfast wasn’t so special!

Going to most shows in Las Vegas is not a class event. Many theaters are designed to jam the most number of people into the tiniest space. You and eleven other people might get seated at a table designed for eight. In places where there is no reserved seating, the size of your tip determines where the usher will seat you. To find out what show is playing where while you’re in town, pick up one of the free entertainment guides found everywhere.

A good choice for upscale shopping is the Fashion Mall, right on the strip between Treasure Island and the New Frontier. Most the big casino-hotels also have their own shopping arcade, the most famous of them being the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. You may not have the budget to actually buy anything there, but go and look; you’ll be impressed.

Besides gambling and shopping, there are plenty of other things to do and see in Las Vegas. Many attractions are free or cost relatively little. Practically all larger casinos offer things worth seeing or doing. Among the choices: the canals at the Venetian, the Pirate Show at Treasure Island, the Roller Coaster at New York New York, the Volcano and the White Tigers at the Mirage, the Art Gallery at Bellagio, the Gamblers Hall of Fame at the Tropicana, and so much more.

If you hanker for a break from the endless action of the strip, here are a few of the many options:

* Rent a car and drive to Red Rock Canyon. You’ll see magnificent rock formations, plus wild donkeys that plant themselves in the middle of the road so you’ll stop and give them a treat.

* Fly in a small plane over the Grand Canyon. Numerous operators vie for your business. I would choose one recommended by the hotel travel desk.

* Pile into an oversized rubber dingy, float down the Colorado river and learn interesting things from your guide about local geology, fauna and wild animals.

* Sign up for a bus tour to Hoover Dam and/or Lake Mead and visit the Ethel M chocolate factory on the way.

Where else but in Vegas can you literally find money on the street. It’s not cash of course, but the next best thing. Coupon certificates that can be turned into real money, or are redeemable for free or half-price meals, drinks and entertainment.

Known as funbooks, these coupon booklets are freely distributed by many casinos to attract customers. Astute visitors can finance a good part of their Las Vegas vacation with the effective use of coupons.

Armed with the funbooks of just four or five casinos, a person can save at least $10 on food and drink a day, collect some free souvenirs and turn gambling coupons into enough cash to cover an evening’s entertainment.

If a voucher says FREE or two-for-one and it’s for something you want or can use, you have a money-saver. Gambling certificates practically guarantee you’ll earn cash, because when you bet with coupons, the odds are heavily on your side.

Sounds too-good-to-be-true? It isn’t. Anyone can do it. Your Vegas vacation can be nearly free! My report, Doing Vegas On The Cheap, explains in detail how to get free funbooks and how to use them to your best advantage.