That moment when you are done with not just a job...

[smileyeagle1021]

an interesting conversation

So, I was discussing this with some people on a facebook group for people who grew up in Reno... and I was told in no uncertain circumstances that as a Renoite, I am a, and I quote, dumbass mother for not appreciating casinos and everything they have done for our "culture", that casinos are what made us great and we should be thankful for everything they have done for us. That the only way Reno can be a unique city is to be proud of the casinos (because, you know, there aren't casinos in over half the states by now, and it's not as if Vegas didn't do the whole casino thing better, sorry Reno, you are my home, but I have to be honest, Vegas won).
Yeah, so apparently, I should be proud to work in an industry built on a get rich quick scheme, which offers no career path, and underpays by thousands of dollars.
I am so open for ideas on relocation for places with good accounting jobs, reasonable requirements to sit for the CPA exam (eg, not Texas or Utah which require you to have a full masters degree to sit for the exam, most states only require a 150 credit bachelors), that aren't too expensive, and I won't be accused of being a "dumbass mother " for not being in love with an industry that frankly isn't that lovable (not that hateable either, it's not an evil industry, they aren't out clubbing baby seals or anything like that, but just because you don't have any reason to hate them doesn't mean you need to love them, I'm sure we all have neighbors like that).

[smileyeagle1021]

And it takes a big person to walk away from a good gig because it gnaws at their personal conscience.

Yeah, if only it was a good gig... I'm making about $10k a year less than I should based on BLS statistics with practically no career path. I love my coworkers, and that is about the best thing that can be said about the job.

I've always been told that the best machines are near the entrance because they want you to see people winning when you go by

Legally, all machines are supposed to have the same odds... in reality, all machines will be within a statistical relevance of being the same odds... but, the ones at the more generous end of that statistical margin of relevance, will be near the doors, near the restaurants, and near the cage (the first thing you see, and what you see while you are waiting).

it's likely that nobody short of Pit Boss level management can get away with "cutting off" a gambler if he's not bothering anyone else.

I'm not even front of house... I don't even see the self harm activity until after it is a done deal and truly nothing can be done. And as much as I would love to say, not my circus, not my monkeys, it is hard, especially this time of year when it is more common (most of the time, I have no problem with it, because it is such a minor portion of our business, but this time of year it seems to balloon).

[EricKei]

Just a heads-up, guys: Some posts in here are veering sharply into FTSTS ("Failure to see the suck") territory. Please keep in mind that, especially at a casino, it's likely that nobody short of Pit Boss level management can get away with "cutting off" a gambler if he's not bothering anyone else. In other words, Smiley most likely canNOT tell anyone to go home, or affect much of anything else with regards to how the place is run, no matter how much he may want to. Whether you (or Smiley, or anyone else) approves of the industry a member here works in is irrelevant; this site is here so workers can vent about their experiences. Thus, if all you have are criticisms of the OP himself, knock it off or take it to Fratching.

I do have an interesting question about casinos...

Card games aside, if you start winning decent amounts of money, but you aren't doing anything illegal, can casinos ask you to leave?

but yeah, a Casino can throw you out for just about any reason, IIRC, but you'll only actually be prosecuted for cheating.

sstabeler is correct. Local ordinances about things such as card counting aside, a casino is still a business -- and, as such, can choose who their patrons are. In other words, they have the Right to Refuse Service.

[sstabeler]

If they think you've found a genuine fault in their games which you're using to cheat, rather than simply getting lucky, then they will kick you out. That's what the millions of cameras are for.

Of course, the luckier you are, and more particularly the longer and more consistent your lucky streak, the more suspicious they'll get and the more scrutiny you'll invite.

It depends- I'm not sure they'll kick you out of the casino, but I'm 99% sure they'll 'ask' you to find a different game to play if you're winning a particularly large amount.

but yeah, a Casino can throw you out for just about any reason, IIRC, but you'll only actually be prosecuted for cheating.

[eltf177]

My brother used to do this when we visited our uncle in Las Vegas or when his was in the area of Atlantic City, NJ. He's take US$500 or so and have a night out. Any winnings would be played until he'd lost all that money. Then he'd quit. It was just a lot of fun and he got free drinks and a buffet for his trouble. This was only once in a while, like 5-6 times a decade. He doesn't do it anymore, just too busy.

Unlike me who had a rather serious gambling problem when I was younger, I finally learned my lesson and don't do that anymore...

[Tama]

I've always been told that the best machines are near the entrance because they want you to see people winning when you go by

[Chromatix]

If they think you've found a genuine fault in their games which you're using to cheat, rather than simply getting lucky, then they will kick you out. That's what the millions of cameras are for.

Of course, the luckier you are, and more particularly the longer and more consistent your lucky streak, the more suspicious they'll get and the more scrutiny you'll invite.

[mjr]

I do have an interesting question about casinos...

Card games aside, if you start winning decent amounts of money, but you aren't doing anything illegal, can casinos ask you to leave?

I know it violates the "Gambler's Fallacy", but work with me.

If I follow a modified version of the following procedure here (http://thedailywtf.com/articles/Knoc...-Off-The-Perch)

1. Monitor roulette tables until a color comes up 3 consecutive times.
2. Go to table and bet on opposite color (not a specific number)
3. If the bet is successful, go back to step 1.
4. If the bet is NOT successful, bet 1.5x as much (instead of $10, bet $15)
5. If that bet fails, go back to step #1.

And I start with, let's say $100 in my "bank", but I end up after a time with $5,000, can the casino ask me to leave or ask me not to play anymore? And could I get into legal trouble?

I mean, I've heard stories of people going into casinos, and "cleaning them out" (to use the phrase) and the casino trying to get them into some sort of legal trouble.

Not that $5,000 is a lot to a casino, I'm just wondering.

[LoTech]

The last time I was in a casino, I spent the majority of my time in the arcade. If I'm going to lose money, I might as well enjoy it.

The nearest actual restaurant (as opposed to a bar equipped with an auto-fry) to my house is in an Indian casino in Minnesota. I WISH that they had an arcade in that place! Free WiFi and self serve fountain drinks don't provide much alternative to the one-armed bandits. The SO and I do occasionally take in the buffet.

[Geek King]

Here's one of my favorite sites about the mathematics of gambling. He works (or did work) as a professional odds maker for casino games, and really goes into the nitty gritty of how the calculations go, what strategies take best advantage of game features, and whatnot. He also has some fun industry stories from years of doing this stuff. Also a wonderful way to convince yourself not to gamble

[Ghel]

Casinos do promotions to draw people in, but they also do things to keep people in for as long as possible. There's never a clock or a window in viewing distance of a slot machine. It's easy to lose track of time that way and spend more than you had intended.

The casinos on the reservations here in Minnesota are the same way. Yeah, they bill themselves as a "resort," with boating, fishing, golfing, etc., but those are all things that they use to draw people in to the casino. Then you get stuck in the same maze of machines with no windows or clocks in sight.

The last time I was in a casino, I spent the majority of my time in the arcade. If I'm going to lose money, I might as well enjoy it.

[mjr]

Rule #1 of gambling: "The house" always wins...

To me, it's kinda like the movie "War Games" (the safest strategy is not to play).

However, if you're going to play, your safest bet (based solely on my research and nothing else) is to play Craps, and either bet pass/come or don't pass/don't come.

It only pays 1:1, but the "house odds" are the lowest (1.41% and 1.36%, respectively).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craps#...ds_and_summary

Here's also an interesting article from The Daily WTF about a gambling "strategy" and how futile it is...it's also a good illustration of "The Gambler's Fallacy".

http://thedailywtf.com/articles/Knoc...-Off-The-Perch

[reimero]

I get the dilemma, though. No, nobody is forcing anyone to gamble, but at the same time, it's impossible for someone in smileyeagle's situation to ignore the fact that people do act foolishly and often out of desperation, and that casinos often profit greatly. The key difference between working at a casino and working at a bar is that a reputable bartender or server will recognize when a customer is in a dangerous place (i.e. drunk) and will take appropriate action (e.g. trying to confiscate keys, call a cab, cut them off, etc.), whereas a disreputable bartender or server will continue to serve (in many cases risking his or her liquor license.) Casinos aren't as cut-and-dried.

I'm not saying casinos are evil places: I've gambled a few times myself (and actually am ahead over my lifetime - I hit one medium-sized prize and really don't gamble much; it's not like I'm good). But the nature of casinos is such that they will get people gambling who can't afford to, and they will be taking money from people who can't afford to lose it. In that sense, though, it's no different from the gas station/convenience store/grocery store clerk who sells lottery tickets to people who have to choose between gambling and eating/meds/what have you.

And it takes a big person to walk away from a good gig because it gnaws at their personal conscience.

[Marmalady]

As my father would say, there's a difference between scratching your backside and tearing it to bits.

Sadly, whether it's drinking, gambling, shopping, or whatever, there are always going to be those who can't stop at the first option.

[Aria]

I've been to Vegas. I budgeted 100 dollars a day for gambling. I spent the week there, so I lost 700 dollars. I was cool with that, it was endless entertainment... I could have only lost 400 but I realized I had extra on the final day so I played the progressive slots.

Honestly, I don't think casinos or the industry are evil. Unfortunately, there will always be those for whom gambling is an addiction.