A Penny For Your Slots
As some of you have figured out, I'm now writing an occasional series of pieces on Las Vegas gambling for the L.A. Times. Here's my latest in this Sunday's edition:
I wasn't three minutes into one of the slot tournaments that can be found throughout this city when I swear that the woman competing next to me had broken out in a sweat. Furiously pounding the "Spin Reels" button, hunched over the screen and chanting, "Come on, big numbers! Big numbers!" I was doing pretty much the same, except I was embarrassed enough to keep my praying silent...more...
April 14th, 2007 at 7:47 am
You see the same conduct on “Deal or No Deal.” I used to pull for the people, but the dumber they act the more that I hope they pick the big numbers first. Like Las Vegas, they do have some good looking babes.
April 14th, 2007 at 8:13 am
Woody…you’ve been pickin’ your nose again.
April 14th, 2007 at 8:29 am
Yeah, and I picked out a prize for you.
April 14th, 2007 at 9:24 am
John Scarne, whose book on gambling still remains my bible on the subject, calls the slots “Gambling for Degenerates.” I’ll take poker or blackjack, thank you. Even roulette or craps. Something about human contact I guess.
April 14th, 2007 at 7:12 pm
I lived there for eight years and went to UNLV and the penny machines in the Henderson casinos to be pretty desolate. On the strip, they’re right next to the elevators, so what else do people live with right before they go to bed at 5am.
It makes sense that all the casinos started live poker tournaments before this; tournaments in anything were not popular when I moved there in 97.
April 14th, 2007 at 7:18 pm
My dad will love to read your articles if you right more; he’s a retired accountant who’s privy to stats like Lefty Rosenthal.
Depending on what machines are called slots, you can win. If you don’t lump the video poker machines in with that term, you’re dead on.
But local casinos have a small amount of video poker machines that have pay tables that allow a long term win; the’re there.
April 15th, 2007 at 9:04 am
Lots of controversy in the Santa Ynez Valley concerning possible expansion by our local casino has led me to create this blog…
http://rml-sulumhasscientia.blogspot.com/index.html
Pehaps you may be interested
April 15th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
Good article, Marc. The “slot tournament” is something that has mystified me every time i’ve been to Vegas or Reno.
April 19th, 2007 at 12:57 pm
Marc: Evertime you write an article on gaming you should preface it with the fact that you and your family had a traumatic experience from gambling abuse. It’s only honest disclosure.