The wife and I went again 2 days ago by ourselves. We spent the night, ate, drank, pie selection was fantistic but I am on a pie diet limited to one brand of pie and of course we gambled the grandkids college fund. We do this 2 to 3 times a year. What happens in Biloxi, a lot less than Vegas but I had a good time.

The wife has no interest. We  were at a conference this spring in Niagra Falls and the spouses in attendance were offered a trip to one of the casinos to occupy themselves while we were in our meetings and  she said at the time she'd rather go shopping..so she did. Guess her theory is that  if you're gonna lose money, you might as well have bags in your hands at the end of the day, I haven't been in a casino since I was tossed out of a Vegas casino at about 15 years of age. No interest on my part, either.

I've never even seen a casino.  

I can't figure out why people don't understand that the house has ALL the odds in their favor !!! We live near the largest casino in the country, Foxwoods, and the wife and I have absolutley no interest in even going there for a show or dinner. I've seen pictures and from what people at the office say it's beautiful inside and there is more than just gambling but I just can't see it. The place was designed with the sole purpose to maximize the opportunity to seperate you from your money at every turn. I work far too hard for my money to just give it away.

Gambling bores me, and I have no need to hang out with old ladies with plastic cups sitting in front of slot machines. It's depressing as all fuck for me for some reason.

i have never been to one

me and my buddies were going to go when i was home on leave but we desided not to

It's been well over 10 years since I have been in a casino.  I took my wife to Vegas on our 5 wedding anniversary.

I work to hard for what little money I have to throw it away on some machine or the turn of a card.

I voted 1-5. But in reality, I've only been to a casino once. Just to see what the big deal was.

It was so smokey in there, my eyes where burning after 45 minutes, and my throat hurt the next moring.

I've never been back. Not just because of the smoke, but because I don't enjoy throwing my money away.


A poker game with friends? Might lose $30-$40. It would cost that to go to the movies. But losing the same to a casino? No thanks.

I stay far, far away from Casinos


Just remember, they didnt build them to give you money

Quoted: I stay far, far away from Casinos Just remember, they didnt build them to give you money

Exactly!

I go four days a week for at least 10 hours at a time, on certain days its sometime more.

Gambling is fun if you have the right attitude and you're not a moron with your money. I never blow more than $100.

Oh, if you use slot machines, you're stupid.

I see it as entertainment and I do enjoy gaming the few times I go. I like the shows, eating  and I always limit my self to $100. I have to say that I am about even in giving money to the Casino.

Have never been to one. Went to Tunica Ms for a paintball tournament once and menat to go to check it out. Just never got around to it.

Just when the Reno Gunshow comes around...

God, I live here in Nevada. You can't not go into a casino. It's impossible. No matter how hard you try, you just simply cannot evade gaming machines.

Want to go to a bar? In front of every stool is a poker machine. Want to go to the grocery store? By the doors are banks and banks of slot machines. Same holds true for every gas station and restaruant.

It's so pervasive that it's a huge culture shock to travel to any other state where these things simply AREN'T everywhere. It's strange, bizzare, fills you with a sensation that something is fundamentally wrong with that Safeway at South Shore (across the border) that doesn't have six slot machines in front of the front door.

When I went to college (Arizona), it took me over a year to get used to the fact that there wasn't going to be a slot machine by the door at the Circle K. You have no idea how weird a feeling that is.


Also: having to go to a 'check cashing' place to cash a check? Ten percent fee? Fuck you! I love casinos.

About 260 days a year... nine to five.

Visit one to gamble? I work at one, puhleeze! I know how those things operate

Hell if you want to throw money away just give it to me.....I will put it to good use

Last time I went, I had more fun drinking than I did gambling.

I'm sorry.  I will not judge.  I find it retarded that people go into a casino and expect to earn money.  Further, I find it retarded, becasue ammo funds are being drained.



Yes.......EVERYONE but me is making money...


Casinos. =Suckerhaven

I live about 5min from the 2 largest casinos in the world. So I go atleast once a week but I do not gamble all the time. Usually we go to the bars or just out to dinner..
It has its perks..

I haven't been in about 8 years.

Quoted: God, I live here in Nevada. You can't not go into a casino. It's impossible. No matter how hard you try, you just simply cannot evade gaming machines. Want to go to a bar? In front of every stool is a poker machine. Want to go to the grocery store? By the doors are banks and banks of slot machines. Same holds true for every gas station and restaruant. It's so pervasive that it's a huge culture shock to travel to any other state where these things simply AREN'T everywhere. It's strange, bizzare, fills you with a sensation that something is fundamentally wrong with that Safeway at South Shore (across the border) that doesn't have six slot machines in front of the front door. When I went to college (Arizona), it took me over a year to get used to the fact that there wasn't going to be a slot machine by the door at the Circle K. You have no idea how weird a feeling that is. Also: having to go to a 'check cashing' place to cash a check? Ten percent fee? Fuck you! I love casinos.

You don't have a bank?

Quoted: I stay far, far away from Casinos Just remember, they didnt build them to give you money

They wouldn't have all those lights if they were charities.  And beware anyone who is willing to feed you free alcoholic drinks all night.

I have programmed some of those games for the computer. I used the regular house odds. Anyone who does so will never gamble in a casino again.  I hear Las Vegas casinos absolutely hate the Comdex convention because there are lots of computer programmers who won't gamble at all.

I have been on a casino boat once. I was not moved to gamble at all. The allure absolutely eludes me. I don't get it. It is more foreign to me than homosexuality. I don't share the taste, but I can at least get my head around the idea that a guy is attracted to guys. I cannot begin to grasp the "thrill" of gambling.

I enjoy playing poker with friends occasionally, and I have passed time shooting craps with the bailiffs while waiting for a jury, but gambling for its own sake strikes me as being about as pleasant as chipping paint or chewing marbles.

I live in the trifecta of Mohegan Sun, Foxwoods and Lincoln park...and they can all bite my butt: If I am gonna plunk down Andrew Jackson, I either wanna eat it, drink it or wear it...
I dunno...I blow my money on silly stuff by comparison, I am sure...but I 'd rather blow 20.00 on vodka than on craps any day.............

Quoted: I have been on a casino boat once. I was not moved to gamble at all. The allure absolutely eludes me. I don't get it. It is more foreign to me than homosexuality. I don't share the taste, but I can at least get my head around the idea that a guy is attracted to guys. I cannot begin to grasp the "thrill" of gambling. I enjoy playing poker with friends occasionally, and I have passed time shooting craps with the bailiffs while waiting for a jury, but gambling for its own sake strikes me as being about as pleasant as chipping paint or chewing marbles.

Nice homo reference

I agree.

Never have, never will.

I go to Las Vegas once or twice a year.

I gamble for fun, and I budget several hundred dollars that I expect to lose while there.

One time I was up several hundred dollars, and I felt like I needed to stay at the table until it was gone.

Quoted: I go to Las Vegas once or twice a year. I gamble for fun, and I budget several hundred dollars that I expect to lose while there. One time I was up several hundred dollars, and I felt like I needed to stay at the table until it was gone.

[

And then you lost.

Quoted: Quoted: I go to Las Vegas once or twice a year. I gamble for fun, and I budget several hundred dollars that I expect to lose while there. One time I was up several hundred dollars, and I felt like I needed to stay at the table until it was gone. [ And then you lost.

I assume I'm going to lose. I think of the money I set aside for gambling as the cost of a fun night, not an opportunity to win.

That night I was getting tired, and didn't want to deal with cashing in chips...So I started making stupid bets---AND STILL kept winning! It took some doing, but I finally cleared out the chips, and went to my room

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I go to Las Vegas once or twice a year. I gamble for fun, and I budget several hundred dollars that I expect to lose while there. One time I was up several hundred dollars, and I felt like I needed to stay at the table until it was gone. [ And then you lost. I assume I'm going to lose. I think of the money I set aside for gambling as the cost of a fun night, not an opportunity to win. That night I was getting tired, and didn't want to deal with cashing in chips...So I started making stupid bets---AND STILL kept winning! It took some doing, but I finally cleared out the chips, and went to my room

That was easier that getting money?

Wow....If I was up, I'd sit ther in line, get money, and, buy my wife a new shotgun or somthing.



I'd not give it back to them


That's just me though.

I think you're out of your mind.

I've never been.

Once every 10-15 years.

Well not never really, I was attending a Trapping Convention in Prescott once and went into the Casino area upon arrival to use the restroom.

I've never seen people GIVE away money so fast as my couple trips to Vegas  (business)



Fools and their money are parted.......rapidly

Quoted: I've never seen people GIVE away money so fast as my couple trips to Vegas  (business) Fools and their money are parted.......rapidly

+1.....


-----And raise you +2

I live in Reno.  The only thing to do here when you're young is go to Casinos.  Not necessarily to gamble... but because thats where all the clubs are (if you're into that sort of thing... I'm not), thats where all the girls are, thats where a lot of good restaraunts are, etc etc.  The Reno Hilton has a driving range into water with islands, bowling, an RV type 'campground' stores on the lower level, 2 go cart tracks, and a couple of amusement part type rides (not roller coasters.. yet) that are pretty fun/cool.  Right now, most of the main casinos have classic car shows going on in the parking lots for Hot August Nights.  There are also concerts for the bigger named bands and some classic rock and things like that almost every weekend.  The casinos are where it's all at here.

On that note, I'm not much of a gambler.  I don't play table games or anything more than penny slots.  I'll play 10 bucks or so, and if I lose, that's it.  If I win, that's it.  I'm pretty stingy when it comes to gambling. haha

Not enough.

I usually win enough to pay for a hunk
of the trip and when you add in the
comps, it makes for a cheap, fun vacation.

I only play Blackjack. 49% odds are as
good as you're going to get. I'm sure that
casinos would stop offering Blackjack if
they could.

When I lived in Las Vegas, I rarely went into a casino.  I only went into one when I went to cash my paycheck or show a visiting friend some entertainment.  However these days there is sooo much else to do, gambling is just a small part of it.

Now when I go to attend shows, like the old SOF (no longer) or SHOT, I only go when it's in LV so I can entertain myself in the off hours.  I go in for food, shows, and gamble only when my day is done and I am soon settling in to go to sleep so finish the day off with some gambling.  I also do this to get casino player rates for my room and comps.  A $249/night room drops to $49, if not flat out covered.  I used to make so much at blackjack that I considered quitting my job and doing it full time for a living, but I wised up and passed, especially after one run of 13 losing hands in a row, doing everything right.  Playing for money wasn't fun - I couldn't be tired, drunk, or otherwise as I had to maintain a card count.  High stakes made it all very serious and when you are playing at a green ($25+) table, the people there are not very much fun.  My normal play was $50 to $500 a hand for many hours.  Then later, I would go to a $5 or less table and have a crap load of fun, playing with people who were all having fun.  That was the entertainment portion.

I did enjoy some of the special comps because I got things I could never normally get like the best seats at the shows (for free of course), special cigars, dinners, rooms, and other "things", heh.

I don't go into that mode anymore, but I still enjoy the fact that pretty much everyone is there to serve me, all it takes is money and you can get anything you want there. (heh again!)

Quoted: When I lived in Las Vegas, I rarely went into a casino.  I only went into one when I went to cash my paycheck or show a visiting friend some entertainment.  However these days there is sooo much else to do, gambling is just a small part of it. Now when I go to attend shows, like the old SOF (no longer) or SHOT, I only go when it's in LV so I can entertain myself in the off hours.  I go in for food, shows, and gamble only when my day is done and I am soon settling in to go to sleep so finish the day off with some gambling.  I also do this to get casino player rates for my room and comps.  A $249/night room drops to $49, if not flat out covered.  I used to make so much at blackjack that I considered quitting my job and doing it full time for a living, but I wised up and passed, especially after one run of 13 losing hands in a row, doing everything right.  Playing for money wasn't fun - I couldn't be tired, drunk, or otherwise as I had to maintain a card count.  High stakes made it all very serious and when you are playing at a green ($25+) table, the people there are not very much fun.  My normal play was $50 to $500 a hand for many hours.  Then later, I would go to a $5 or less table and have a crap load of fun, playing with people who were all having fun.  That was the entertainment portion. I did enjoy some of the special comps because I got things I could never normally get like the best seats at the shows (for free of course), special cigars, dinners, rooms, and other "things", heh. I don't go into that mode anymore, but I still enjoy the fact that pretty much everyone is there to serve me, all it takes is money and you can get anything you want there. (heh again!)

That's ammo money.

Quoted: I only play Blackjack. 49% odds are as good as you're going to get.

Not true.  Perfect play, which is playing according the the cards in your hand and the dealers upcard will yield 49-50%.  Then using doubling down and splitting, depending on the house rules will yield 51-57%.  You will almost never see it get as high as 55-57%, that only happens when the house is dealing 1 or 2 decks out of the hand and is almost out of cards (which they don't let happen much).

Card counting will not make you win more, it will allow you to win more money when you are winning by letting you know when to increase the size of your betting unit or decrease the bet when you know the odds do not favor you.

Blackjack is the ONLY casino game that you can actually put the odds in your favor (over 50%).  Over a period of time, using card counting techniques, you can maximize your winnings and make money on a consistant basis.  I did this for years.  There were always ads in the newspaper "You play my my money, my system, split profits".

The way casinos win money is by the slim to moderate margin of odds in the game, over a period of time.  Some games only give the casino a few percentage points of odds, but that is enough to slowly strip you of your money.  Besides Blackjack, the only other game that approaches fair odds is craps.  Roulette would be 50/50 (black/red, odd/even) if it weren't for the extra 00 number.

I've only walked out of a casino 3 times with less money than I went in with, won thousands of dollars, over periods of days.  You must learn perfect play and card counting, watch the house rules and pick the most favorable places to play based on the rules, and make full use of splitting and doubling down.

The biggest trick I learned was that you must have a bankroll.  If I am playing for $100-$200 hands, I must have at least $5K-$8K in my pocket to begin with in order to make it through the lows.  If you lose that last of your money, you are done for.  It's really just a matter of time.  After 8 hours I might have only won $400 or maybe up to $8000  (my range was usually $400-$4000).  It all depends on the unit of bet.  It is professionally recommended that you have at least 40 times your base unit, so if you play $5 then have at least $200 in your pocket, minimum.

The cool thing is that no matter if you win or lose, you are earning comps.  It's a simple calculation.  They take your average bet times the time you play, figure the average amount of money they will make off of you (a hard constant house figure not based on you), and then you get half of it back in comps.  You must ask for the comps, they just don't give it all to you without you asking.  Sometimes if you play big, the host will volunteer some free nights stay (so they can have a chance to fleece you in the future), or perhaps free meals/buffets.  Players rates (meaning the average house minimum for 4 hours, which at a place with $5 tables thats $20 bets for 4 hours average), will earn you the players rates on the rooms which are CONSIDERABLY lower.  At the end of my stay, I ask them to comp as much of my rooms as possible and usually all are comped for free and if not, the rest are at players rates.  I don't just go for a weekend, I used to go for a couple weeks at a time so you can see how much this would save me.

If you win a little, you could have won a lot -it's a matter of your betting unit.  You can likewise lose a lot so you better have a large bankroll to begin with to prevent that.

If you just want to have fun and not earn serious money, go get a guide card from the gift shop - it will tell you how to use perfect play (what to do depending on what you see) and that will get you 49% odds.  They will even allow you to use it right there at the table.  If you decide to card count, it's really not hard at all after just a little bit of practice, and there are many systems with varying accuracy and difficulty.  The original method devised long ago by the first card counter was simply keeping track of how many 5's had come out of the deck.  It's all good.  It's not against the law, but the casino may ask you to leave.  However, unless you are winning mad money, they generally don't care, just don't rub it in their face about what you are doing.

Sorry to hijack the thread with my sermon.

Never been, never will go.

Some more mumblings.

I got so spoiled down there that if I actually had to pay for a drink (sacriledge!, the nerve!), there had better be someone dancing up there for me.

When I lived there and did gamble, I would go in with $20, win $20, and that used to be enough for me and my girlfriend to watch a show/go to a comedy club, eat a prime rib buffet, and still have some dollars to dump down a slot machine (which I abhor) - or we could go to a club.

Another trick I learned to keep from losing.  I would walk in and begin play, once I won $20 I put the original $20 stake in my pocket.  From then on, I could not lose any money I went in with - only my winnings.  3 times I lost my original $20 stake, over several years.  AI must admit a bit of luck was needed to only have lost that many times.

Never been, ain't going!  The ones here are all tribal owned and we give them enough money already... they are not getting it straight out of my pocket too.

1911fan

Quoted: I work far too hard for my money to just give it away.

+1 and I have a bigger monkey on my back called BRD to keep happy.

wganz
¶

We usually only go to please my mom who goes at least once a week.

But I am getting into this poker, I find it a lot more fun than a lifeless poker or slot machine.

Quoted: Sorry to hijack the thread with my sermon.

Not at all. Thanks for the info!

Now you are making me want to go
back to Vegas ASAP!

Craps is the game to play.