Roulette Lessons
Jan. 24th, 2010 09:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jamesqI've been to casinos before, but I've never really done anything in them other then play the slot machines occasionally. That changed yesterday - we decided to go in and "practice" before our trip to Vegas. My big problem is I don't know the etiquette of gambling, so this was an opportunity to learn it.
I learned quite a bit last night. The most important thing I learned was that gambling can be a lot of fun when you're with your friends. Not so much if you're by yourself.
After about a million stops along the way,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
conejita_diabla, othelianna, thebrucie and myself made it to Grey Eagle casino on the Tsuu T'ina reserve. We were joined by IB, thekillerb69 and naughtynat07. The venue was chosen to allow IB to smoke indoors.
Grey Eagle casino was smaller then I imagined it would be - it was about the size of the other casinos I've been to in Calgary, but smaller then ones in other centers. Obviously smaller then the Vegas casinos, but also smaller then the Rimrock resort in Vancouver. It was busy though.
We all dressed up and there were lots of other folks dressed up too. There were a bunch of people who were not dressed up either, so it's obviously not a dress-up treat for everyone.
The casino has a bar & grill and a buffet. Neither are there for any reason other then to service the gamblers. The food and drink is just good enough to keep you from leaving, but not good enough to prevent you from spending any time there other then to satisfy your craving prior to gambling. You do not go to the Grey Eagle Casino buffet unless you're already going to Grey Eagle casino.
The casino is nice. Everything is clean and well laid out. The staff is discreet and professional. There seemed to have enough tables for the gamblers present on a Saturday night.
Walking through the joint, I was overcome with an immense feeling of nostalgia. It took me a few moments to put together why - it was the cigarette smoke. It's been so long since I've been anywhere that allowed indoor smoking and this reminded me of going to the Legion with my dad back when I was a kid. It would have been a lot of fun to sit next to the old man while playing roulette.
We found the others after sampling the buffet's wares. I watched IB andthekillerb69 play for a bit and then I bought $40 worth of chips. Each chip was worth 50ยข, which was the minimum "inside" bet. That's when I started learning the rules - and not just the rules of roulette. for the most part, these rules are listed in the wiki article.
Playing at a table full of your friends is a lot of fun. People are joking, everyone is spreading their chips around. It's joyful even if you're losing because usually someone you know is winning. I was the big winner last night. I suspect beginner's luck as the cause.
First couple of bets, I was suddenly up $40. Every now and then I'd throw a $25 chip onto on of the outside portions (black, for example, or the second dozen). I did this about six times and only lost once. I was, by any reasonable measure, freakishly lucky. IB andthekillerb69 say I stole their mojo.
I outlasted all of my friends at the table. They slowly ran out of chips (or decided to cash out what they had) and went to the bar. I was the last one, withothelianna keeping me company. I bet $15 on the second dozen and placed the rest of my stuff onto inside numbers, reasoning I'd either lose all my chips (aside from the money I'd stashed in my pocket) or I'd go out with a bang. I lost, but it was fun while it lasted.
Here's the thing though, as my friends left, their spots were taken by strangers. The strangers were silent, dour and very very serious. No fun at all. I was happy to lose, just to get back to where it was fun. Would I have enjoyed myself as much if I had been losing? Probably not, but I'd have still had a good time. I did set aside $100 to "lose" at which point I'd have stopped. Never needed to get anywhere near that of course as I had won big on outside bets.
I walked away with $150 in chips in my pocket. A decent haul for two hours of entertainment and a $40 investment. I feel well prepared for Vegas, except that I'll be drinking, and likely my luck won't return. Who knows, maybe the fact that I'm unlucky in love means I'll me lucky in gambling.
I ended up spending most of my winnings being generous with people. I still made a profit on the evening though, so I'm happy.
I'd love to do it again sometime, but it likely won't happen until I'm in Nevada. The next time in Calgary won't be for awhile as it won't be fun unless I can convince a bunch of people to join me. I look forward to it.
I learned quite a bit last night. The most important thing I learned was that gambling can be a lot of fun when you're with your friends. Not so much if you're by yourself.
After about a million stops along the way,
conejita_diabla, othelianna, thebrucie and myself made it to Grey Eagle casino on the Tsuu T'ina reserve. We were joined by IB, thekillerb69 and naughtynat07. The venue was chosen to allow IB to smoke indoors.Grey Eagle casino was smaller then I imagined it would be - it was about the size of the other casinos I've been to in Calgary, but smaller then ones in other centers. Obviously smaller then the Vegas casinos, but also smaller then the Rimrock resort in Vancouver. It was busy though.
We all dressed up and there were lots of other folks dressed up too. There were a bunch of people who were not dressed up either, so it's obviously not a dress-up treat for everyone.
The casino has a bar & grill and a buffet. Neither are there for any reason other then to service the gamblers. The food and drink is just good enough to keep you from leaving, but not good enough to prevent you from spending any time there other then to satisfy your craving prior to gambling. You do not go to the Grey Eagle Casino buffet unless you're already going to Grey Eagle casino.
The casino is nice. Everything is clean and well laid out. The staff is discreet and professional. There seemed to have enough tables for the gamblers present on a Saturday night.
Walking through the joint, I was overcome with an immense feeling of nostalgia. It took me a few moments to put together why - it was the cigarette smoke. It's been so long since I've been anywhere that allowed indoor smoking and this reminded me of going to the Legion with my dad back when I was a kid. It would have been a lot of fun to sit next to the old man while playing roulette.
We found the others after sampling the buffet's wares. I watched IB and
thekillerb69 play for a bit and then I bought $40 worth of chips. Each chip was worth 50ยข, which was the minimum "inside" bet. That's when I started learning the rules - and not just the rules of roulette. for the most part, these rules are listed in the wiki article.Playing at a table full of your friends is a lot of fun. People are joking, everyone is spreading their chips around. It's joyful even if you're losing because usually someone you know is winning. I was the big winner last night. I suspect beginner's luck as the cause.
First couple of bets, I was suddenly up $40. Every now and then I'd throw a $25 chip onto on of the outside portions (black, for example, or the second dozen). I did this about six times and only lost once. I was, by any reasonable measure, freakishly lucky. IB and
thekillerb69 say I stole their mojo.I outlasted all of my friends at the table. They slowly ran out of chips (or decided to cash out what they had) and went to the bar. I was the last one, with
othelianna keeping me company. I bet $15 on the second dozen and placed the rest of my stuff onto inside numbers, reasoning I'd either lose all my chips (aside from the money I'd stashed in my pocket) or I'd go out with a bang. I lost, but it was fun while it lasted.Here's the thing though, as my friends left, their spots were taken by strangers. The strangers were silent, dour and very very serious. No fun at all. I was happy to lose, just to get back to where it was fun. Would I have enjoyed myself as much if I had been losing? Probably not, but I'd have still had a good time. I did set aside $100 to "lose" at which point I'd have stopped. Never needed to get anywhere near that of course as I had won big on outside bets.
I walked away with $150 in chips in my pocket. A decent haul for two hours of entertainment and a $40 investment. I feel well prepared for Vegas, except that I'll be drinking, and likely my luck won't return. Who knows, maybe the fact that I'm unlucky in love means I'll me lucky in gambling.
I ended up spending most of my winnings being generous with people. I still made a profit on the evening though, so I'm happy.
I'd love to do it again sometime, but it likely won't happen until I'm in Nevada. The next time in Calgary won't be for awhile as it won't be fun unless I can convince a bunch of people to join me. I look forward to it.
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gambling
Date: 2010-01-25 11:21 am (UTC)My dad would bet on a cockroach race, or anything else - hell, he and his buddy had a bet once on which of them could tan faster on a single afternoon. He always went that little ways too far: he couldn't just walk away once he'd started. That's the gambling gene.
OTOH: I'd be delighted to go to a venue where I could have a beer and a cigarette at the same time. When I get home, let's do it!
Re: gambling
Date: 2010-01-26 04:56 am (UTC)I've engaged in low-level lottery gambling my entire adult life. Probably wasted about $500/year on it over the last 15 years. My brother calls this "paying the daydream tax", which is somewhat more complimentary then other terms for the lottery I've seen (math-illiteracy, redneck or stupidity taxes).
Re: gambling
Date: 2010-01-26 09:41 am (UTC)People with the gambling gene buy a hundred dollars worth of 649 tickets, every week, _instead_ of paying the hundred dollars they owe to the gas company. People without the gambling gene buy one ticket and maybe the plus, when they feel like it.
I'm there for the casino...whenever I get back. (This is an open question...there is a rumour that they will be digging at Catal Hoyuk in Turkey again, and I am wild to go do that next winter. There's a long-shot for you! Hmmm. Maybe I do have a gambling gene of sorts.)
no subject
Date: 2010-01-26 12:39 am (UTC)I always play blackjack. Blackjack and craps have the best odds for payout. (Or perhaps I should say the more favorable odds...) I've never tried roulette, as the odds are so horrific I've always been afraid to. (That said, I just tried craps for the first time a couple of years ago.)
I still prefer blackjack, and usually do well. (Last Vegas trip, I started one evening with 40 bucks, and (breaking my rule) walked away with just over 300.)
That all said, my experience with Calgary casinos has been much the same. Serious players who are there to MAKE MONEY. If you don't know the rules and/or etiquette, they won't be pleased. Not a lot of entertainment there.
Vegas... much more fun. I always enjoy bantering with strangers at the blackjack table. Met people from all over the world.
Best story... the day I was playing in Excalibur sitting between an Aussie gent (who was quite fun) and a gal from the southern states. I'm wearing my HMCS Calgary shirt. Aussie (who I've been chatting with for 1/2 an hour at that point) says "hmCs... what's the C for?"
I respond "Her Majesty's CANADIAN Ship".
American woman looks at me... (and has been non-chatty 'til now) and says, in a thick southern accent, "Her Majesty? Y'all got yer own queen up thar?"
I silently wept and laughed at the same time.
Anyway... my point... the social aspect of such games is a lot of fun. :)
no subject
Date: 2010-01-26 04:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-26 04:52 am (UTC)There are games where skill matters (Poker for example) but you're generally not playing against the house. I'm never going to devote the energy into learning how to play these games well, so I simply ignore them.
no subject
Date: 2010-01-26 04:20 pm (UTC)Thats why I like blackjack though... It requires some skill, but....
As for poker, I avoid it like the plague. I LOVE games with friends, but in a casino against other players? No thanks. Too adversarial for my tastes. I'd rather a gaggle of us try to beat the house. ;)
no subject
Date: 2010-01-26 03:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-26 04:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-26 09:52 am (UTC)But it was a thrill of a limited kind. I tipped the croupier huge, stuck the really high value chips in my purse, and then whiled away the next hour or so slowly losing the rest on outside bets. That part was just as much fun as the winning part. (Always, always, always tip the croupier big on a big win in Estoril. Then he gets the staff to bring you free champagne, real beluga caviar and Sobrani cigarettes, and wheezy old rich men flirt with you and tell you in accented but impeccable English that you are lucky for them too. It's fun.)