OT: anyone else like Casinos?

[Magpel]

I didn't discover this latent vice until my early 30s, when I was forced to go on a family cruise. BTW, I also learned that despite my artsy-anarchistic subversive self-image, cruises are cool too!

 

I learned to love blackjack by drinking heinekken after heine, slightly seasick on a Norwegian liner. While I was extremely uptight about the money (a 3 dollar bet seemed terribly extravagant), I was immediately seduced by the *physical,* material sensuality and high ritual of it all. The felt, the feel of the chips, all the regalia, paraphernalia, and arcane rituals. Next thing I knew I was back home teaching myself the basic probabilties of black jack and planning a casino trip. Now, I'd say I go on average twice a year. The most I've lost in one trip is 300. The most I've won is about 500. Oddly, I have been quite profitable each of the last 5 trips, up at least 150 each time, and as much as the aforementioned 500. I've bought my POD and several Giga libraries with recent winnings! I think I'm due for a whoopin', and I'm going tomorrow on the ocassion of my 40th birthday.

 

It's a stupid vice, this I realize. But I'm not compulsive, I never had a cocaine problem so this is mine, and for some reason I still find it a heady, dizzying, and really fun experience. Especially going with friends. And I think I'm probably slightly "up" for my career and have paid for all my meals, drinks, and transportation.

 

Anyone else share this? Anyone think its repulsive, stupid, and dangerous and feel inclined to vent about it? All responses welcomed!!

 

Johnny "Lemons" Magpel (my gambling name for today)

[Rod S]

Never cared for it - went to Atlantic city twice, more for the hell of it. I can usually make $40 last a long time at one of the $5 black jack tables, so I just hang out there and watch as people loose hundreds of dollars with a smile (their smile - I just stare at them in disbelief).

 

Went to one of the casinos in CT (the names escapes me now), and I was amazed at how my girlfriend managed to loose about $300 in less than 30 minutes.

 

I'm pretty conversative about my money in this aspect - never been much of a risk taker.

 

To each his own, I guess.

[Magpel]

Yeah, Rod. I hear you. The only way to do it is to stick to your limit and treat that money *as gone* when you first set foot in the door. Think of it as nothing more than a recreation budget, not an investment plan.

 

BTW, the 2 Connecticut casinos (2 of the biggest and most opulent in the world) are Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun.

[Steve LeBlanc]

I do...I normally find a .50 Roulette table because in most cases you can play for a long time and it's very social. I just dig drinking and talking to strangers I guess...winning the occasional $150-200 is nice too

[Bucktunes]

I like the fact that they hire musicians to play for their patrons! That's how I've been making my living for the last decade or so.

 

As far as the gambling, no thanks. I'm way too cheap for that. Besides, I have no luck that way. I can't even make green traffic lights in this city, so I'm not going to kid myself into thinking that I'll hit some big jackpot or something. Those big billion dollar hotel/casinos weren't built by paying jackpots!

 

Peace all,

Steve

[Dan South]

Hmm, well, this probably doesn't qualify, but I LOVE Vegas even though I'm not much of a gambler. I like the shows, the party atmosphere, meeting people from all over who are out having a good time. It's kind of like Disneyland for grownups. I like the weather, too, not to mention its proximity to some very scenic parts of the country.

 

I'm about a hundred miles from Atlantic City, and if I NEVER go there again it will be too soon. What a dump! It's like Perth Amboy with gaming. Snooze!

[Monkey Mouse]

I also live quite close to Atlantic City and also do not gamble much. I do go once a year for the DJ convention (Aug 26-30), but its free and they give out more than enough free stuff (not couting deals) to make the trip worth it. The problem is that driving 200 miles just to see some DJ equipment is counterproductive at best. So what I do is go to the casinos and watch people gamble away their paychecks/inheritance/social security in the pursuit of entertainment. About as good as it gets for a cynic like me. I will admit that I will drop $10 on poker machines just to see if I make a jackpot, but otherwise no. For those of you have never been to AC, its an experience you have to go through some of the best slums on god's earth to keep away from traffic (traffic is there for that reason alone). Not to mention the expensive food (like NYC), half-ass beach, and hookers. Debatchurey at its best is what AC is all about.

 

I haven't been to Las Vegas (yet), but I would like to go to see the shows, clubs, Hoover Dam, and the desert (no desert in NJ!). I will be smart and go in the cooler months, 115 degrees in the shade because I wanted to save $25 on airfare is slightly dumb.

[Mark Zeger]

I don't like to bet on anything in which I have no control over the outcome. I'd rather make a big golf bet on the course than a small bet in a casino, football pool, lottery, etc.

 

That having been said, I was in Monte Carlo about 10 years ago. My wife and I go into the Grand Casino. She wants to throw a few francs in a slot machine (kept in a side room, for the ugly Americans). She drops in 1 franc, and hits a jackpot (not big, but about $180). We leave immediately and spend the winnings on dinner. Never gambled again on the trip...figured that was all the luck we were going to get for the week.

[Dave Pierce]

I absolutely LOVE Vegas, the shows, the party atmosphere, and the bizarre combination of kitsch and elegance you find in the casinos.

 

I try to stay away from the gambling aspect, though. My addictive personality lets me get sucked right into the "just one more ATM withdrawal and I'll hit it big" mentality. That's never good.

 

--Dave

[Rod S]

Originally posted by Magpel:

Yeah, Rod. I hear you. The only way to do it is to stick to your limit and treat that money *as gone* when you first set foot in the door. Think of it as nothing more than a recreation budget, not an investment plan.

 

BTW, the 2 Connecticut casinos (2 of the biggest and most opulent in the world) are Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun.

Right - that was almost my thing. I set a limit, which was actually pretty low; usually $40-50.

 

Mohegan Sun - that was it. Heard a lot about Foxwoods but never got a chance to check it out.

[whitefang]

To paraphrase; I like casinos, but they don't like me!

 

Whitefang