Casinos and pools with rain...

I have to admit, I'm astonished by casinos and their marketing. Casinos marketing is only beat by cigarettes and alcohol (sadly). I went to our local (native American run) casino today and it was very interesting. I only lost $24 (not a bad visit, experted to lose it anyway. Why don't they just have a donation box in the front? Oh yeah, it wouldn't have been as fun). :)

You walk in and the rooms are typically dark instantly making you think it is night and you do not want to go back out. Plus, all these bright lights, happy sounds surround you from the slot machines. You are instantly drawn in like a moth to a flame. You just walk in ten feet into the mass of slot machines and you already cannot see you way out. You're surrounded by the bleeping and clinging of machines with such names as "Double Diamond", "Lucky Aces", and "Money to Burn" plus the general copyrighted "Wheel of Fortune" and "Monopoly" (personally, I was partial to "Shake Your Booty"). It's all happy! Happy happy happy! Why would you want to leave there? You are further drawn in by the money on top of the machines. Quarter slots! Dime slots! NICKEL slots! Wow! All you need is a nickel, right?

Wrong, little do you see that after you slip your money in you notice that now you have to bet multiple coins, rarely in an amount that would make sense (for example, nine "credits" needed for a nickel slot, or $0.45 a pull?). I guess you wouldn't be drawn in if they said $0.45 slots and $1.25 slots. :) But, your money is already in so why get it out? Eh.

Luckily, I found one of my 1 credit slots ($0.25) that I like (Double Diamond) so I slid my $20 Hamilton into the machine. Sure enough, right off the bat I was on a winning streak. Nice, at one point I was up to $28 and I thought if I hit $40, I'll cash out. Wouldn't you know, I didn't get there. :) SNEAKY! I think they even plan how much you might win and how quickly you can lose it (BTW - a few years ago I did win $80 after I slipped an extra $1 into one and you NEVER saw me hit the cash out button so quickly!!). I then hovered between $20 and $25 and it trickled down into nothingness. Eh, it lasted almost an hour so I can't complain. I usually throw in an extra $5 or $10 after, but I decided not to. I used up a few more dollars here and there no nickel slots. That didn't last long.

I find it interesting and they must have done decades of psychological research to find out how much people need to have to want to cash out and have some crazy math equation that would make Albert Einstein jealous to figure out exactly what point will it tease me with some level of winnings only to quickly grab it all back without me noticing. Sneaky sneaky!!

I spent the next few minutes wandering around noticing the people, the sad state people get in while in these casinos. I don't know their situations, but with the desperation in their eyes you can tell that they need to win. Sorry, if you NEED To win, you shouldn't be there. They take a drink, the push a button. Take another drink, then push a button (no wonder the drinks are free there). It's sad that the casino management allows these people in but, they are paying patrons so why kick out the people who support your business?

My advice to people going to a casino is first, and most important, know exactly how much you can afford to lose and if possible, don't bring any more. Don't bring any credit cards or ATM cards. Do not get cash in the casino. First, it shows how easy you can get it and two their fees are though the roof. :) Third, don't drink the alcohol. The FIRST thing that goes with alcohol is your judgment. That $20 limit quickly becomes $150 out of your checking account. Sure, spending a LITTLE extra is OK (I expected to lose $20, I spent $24) but don't go overboard. Know how long you've been there and where you are. Know where the exits are so if you need a cool down time, you quickly can get outside.

After the casino I went back to my parent's time share and went swimming in the ocean (yes, all of you stuck above the Mason-Dixon line, while you're freezing your asses off I'm swimming at the beach in water that is around 80 degrees. :p I left and went up on their balcony to just relax. It started to rain. Nothing big, just your typical afternoon sun shower. Sure enough, everyone in the pool went running out of the pool and inside. WTF? You're IN WATER. What is rain going to do?

Sometimes I just wonder about people (well, all the time that is).