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5 Different Punters You Meet At The Casino

One thing I love about casinos is the varied mix of people. For the most part you will simply brush shoulders, perhaps a little bit of chit chat, or nod of acknowledgement. Gambling brings together rich and poor, regular faces, tourists or someone going to the casino for their very first time. The next time you go to a casino stop and look around you and consider the story behind your fellow gamblers. Your thoughts may be right or wrong but, to me, the story behind each person brings the meaning to the experience. Here are 5 different punters you meet at the casino.

1) The First Timer

Let’s start at the beginning. You can often see those enjoying the casino experience for the first time because they are a little tentative, wet behind the ears and usually more interested in watching than betting. Many casinos offer talks prior to the tablets opening to run you through the rules and answer questions. They may even give you a free bet to get you started. Gambling should always be a considered action and not taken lightly but it can also be a new venue of excitement and pleasure. It’s not everyday you go to a casino and it’s an experience that I would suggest you dip your toe whether gambler or not.

2) The Regular

The majority of casino customers are regulars. It’s like going to your local pub you see the same old faces and they are often known by the staff and each other. Whether these people are recreational gamblers, compulsive, or addicts who knows. They are most likely a percentage of each. They usually have their favourite game and flit in and out. Even regulars aren’t playing every night of the week but they probably keep the casino afloat and keep the staff on their toes.

3) The Compulsive Gambler Or Addict

If you see some frequenting the casino more than a regular then the chances are they have a gambling problem. I’m not quite sure if the casino have a quiet word with these individuals to detail where they can get help or if they just regard them as a lost cause and just hope they have some luck. You can usually spot a compulsive gambler because they look a little dishevelled often betting small money and some whose life is very much like ground-hog day. It’s a hard life to lead because it ultimately leads to someone’s demise.

4) The Gambling Deviant

Where there’s money you will always find a small number of vulture-like individuals – predominantly men – who are there to take advantage of situations. It might be someone laundering money, the chancer who wants to befriend a winner, or the bloke who texts a message that the big fat man wearing a red shirt is going to leave the casino in five minutes time and he has £5,000 in the left pocket of his trousers. Always be vigilant of your surrounding and people, especially if you notice the same person watching your every move. When playing at the tablets, especially roulette, keep your eye on the table and your chips. It’s easy for someone to steal a couple of £25 chips off your stack if you turn your back for a second. Think safety first when leaving the casino because you could well be mugged if you have been a big winner. Ask the casino to call a taxi and only leave when it arrives.

5) The Professional Gambler

You don’t see many pro gamblers about these day in casinos. They are most associated with blackjack (card counting) or playing poker. You will need to be a very slick operator to get away with card counting. If spotted they will ask you to bet level stake or leave. You will know a pro gambler by the money they bet and the manner they bet. They aren’t usually flustered by losses and have a lonely demeanour. Often fascinating people to talk to if you get a chance.

Photo: Pixabay (free)

5 Pet Hates About Non Gamblers

5 Pet Hates About Non Gamblers Each to their own. Classic last words. In the universe of gamblers and non gamblers you are talking a world apart. In fact, I think the opposing sides really do hate each other with a simple lack of understanding. No one is all right or all wrong. However, I’ve had the misfortune to chat with many people who are anti gambling to a point of irrationality. But these are my 5 pet hates. Don’t shoot me down if I’m aiming at you.

1) Non Gamblers Know Everything About Gambling

It’s illogical but true. Somehow even though a non gambler couldn’t even tell you how many metres are in a furlong, what is a median time, and how much money do you have to bet on a horse price 100/7 to win £100 they ‘’know’’ more than a seasoned gambler because they fall into the trap that no one can beat the bookie so anyone who says they can is foolish and wrong. It’s truly a ridiculous thought akin to going to your doctor and telling him you know more because you read a page from an encyclopedia. The trouble with this kind of person is that they will never get to a level of understanding beyond the classic stereotype.

2) If You Are Good At Gambling Then Tell Me A Winner

If only it was that easy. Any gambler works on long term profits. You could have ten losers on the run and look like the biggest idiot on planet Earth. Then you follow that up by ten winners. One person would think you are a genius the other some nut who has escape from the asylum where they looked after a pet horse. From a horse racing approach the idea of giving a horse as a tip hours in advance of the race is truly absurd. The illogical nature of the non gambler is truly astounding. It’s the reason I don’t talk to the everyday person because I’d get a better conversation from the closest wall.

3) You Will Be Left Wanting While Others Want More

Trying to impress the non gambler is a futile endeavour. They will take every winner as if it is worthless and remember every loser until the day they die. I’ve had a day where I gave an each way treble – all three horses won. Someone emailed me to say their brother had bet on the selections and won £2000. Did they offer to buy me a drink? No, they wanted more free tips and couldn’t see the problem with their attitude. On the other side of the coin, you give someone a loser and they will never forget. In fact they will reason they were correct all the time that you actually know nothing. They will take delight in their assessment. I often go to the races and rarely bet. I had a friend ask what I fancied. I said nothing today. They thought I was taking the piss and was keeping the info for myself at their expense.

4) You Just Sit Around All Day And Do Nothing

It’s true that the non gambler thinks you don’t actually do any work. You just sit watching TV and somehow make money betting without work. There used to be a bookmaker at Great Yarmouth racecourse who loved to say: ‘’Money without work!’’ When I walked past I should have shouted out ‘’Wanker’’. But that’’s the mentality of the non gambler. That you will without doing any work, have no knowledge or discipline and you just got lucky. If only they realised that most professional gamblers are exceptional in all they do. In fact, they are more knowledgeable about their subject matter than anyone with a PhD.

5) Even Your Own Family Don’t Understand

It’s a sad fact that even your own family cannot get their head around your occupation. It’s as though you are tarnished by the very words and thoughts. They forget that you actually work. They will not realise you have to be working at strange times of day. They will say things that make you feel as though you are wasting your time. Why don’t you go and get a proper job? When they see you winning they just want your cash. When you lose they never understand. The best any professional gambler can do is keep their thoughts and their knowledge to themselves.

Photo: Pixabay (free)

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5 Ways To Get A Freebies From Your Local Casino

5 Ways To Get A Freebies From Your Local Casino What’s better than your bog standard bet? A free bet. Now, I know a lot of you will be moaning about free bets because they are the first step to a slippery slope for many an addict. But free bets, offers or incentives are both a brilliant marketing tool for the gambling industry but also their Achilles’ heel. They have to give you the goodies and then hope you go completely out of control and blow a grand on the roulette. Yes, I am prone to hyperbole. But what are the best ways to get a lovely free bet from your casino?

1) For starters, it’s a good idea to join their membership, you’ll get a card, online access, and regular emails keeping you informed of all the free stuff going. I’ve been given free bets up to £75. And I can tell you now, that’s no because I’m losing money. Also, join their Facebook Page, Twitter and any other social media. You don’t have to, but if you are in control of your gambling, and you need to be, then all these match bets, free bets and discounts on food are literally up for grabs.

2) Be patient and don’t go to the casino that often. That’s when they try to tempt you back and will give a decent match bet or something to make you interested. The key part of all these freebies is to stick to your betting like glue. A £20 match bet means next to nothing if you bet £1,000. But if you bet small, you are doubling your chance of winning and beating the house edge. In truth, you are odds on to win. How many times do you hear that.

3) Although it pays to be quiet, it can be handy to keep the casino informed of your plans. If you intend to turn up with a group, tell them you are organising a night out and if you and the Groovy Gang get a few match bets or a discount off the food bill then you will be there on the dot. Surprise surprise you will see something heading to your mailbox. Considering you are going, what have you got to lose.

4) The classic survey. Take a moment to complete a survey about your last visit and they will give you a £5 free bet or more. It takes about two minutes and is money for nothing. Also, give the casino your feedback in person or via email as they are interested in improving their customers’ experience.

5) Quite often casino restaurants have few customers. They seem more interested in gambling than eating. However, a number of these establishments are fit for royalty and you are dining in a room which is akin to a mansion. Also, the food is often greatly discounted to get punters in the casino to bet. You can simply go for a meal and have no interest in gambling at all. The service in casinos is head and shoulders above your general restaurant so make the most of it. If you turn up on specific dates and one person signs up for their membership card (doesn’t cost you any money) the whole bill will be half price. That can easily be worth £100 if not a lot more.

Who says nothing is for free?

Photo: Pixabay (free)

by casino free spins no deposit promotions 0

5 Time Slots At The Casino: Who Will You Meet?

5 Time Slots At The Casino: Who Will You Meet? I guess many casinos are open 24/7. Most likely those in Las Vegas. Living in the UK I’m not sure many have similar open and closing times. I’ve been to a good few Grosvenor Casinos. My favourite being Great Yarmouth. Being on the coast, you have the horse racing and casino if you fancy a bet. Also, you have the greyhound racing so there is no end to your options if you’re a budding addy.

The latest time I’ve left the casino is about 2 am. I’m not that much of a night owl and the thought of going home at 6 am (when the casino closes) isn’t my idea of fun. I like my sleep more than the chance of winning a grand!

Each to their own.

One of my cousins left at 6 am. I saw him sitting down ready for breakfast at the hotel at eight. He didn’t have much of an appetite under the weather with a hangover.

Choosing which time you arrive at the casino for a bit of a gamble offers a varied clientele. Who you are likely to bump into at these selected times?

1) 12 Noon –

The casino has just opened so you may have to wait for the gaming tables to warm up, probably preferring to play the slots or the roulette terminals. However, you can play on the live tables and it’s often a lovely, quiet time of day to have a bet. Certainly not so noisy as an evening and the staff who are most likely rested are even more upbeat than normal. You may have a few die-hard regular waiting to try their luck on the slots. If you like a relaxed atmosphere or a novice just wanting to learn the ropes you really couldn’t ask for a better time of day to visit a casino. It reminds me of the good old days going for a drink on a Sunday lunchtime but quieter.

2) 7:30 –

The classic going out time, hey. It’s no different at the casino. Ideal if you want to go to the restaurant and have a meal before you get stuck into your dessert of 3-card poker. And there’s me thinking you just wanted a mouthful of spotted dick. Anyway, enough about your carnal thoughts. It’s a time where the live play is warming up. Remember most gamblers are night owls so this is like 7 am to a normal person. It’s a pleasant time of the day. There isn’t too much hustle and bustle and you can enjoy your gambling without waiting for someone to lose all their money and vanish to cardboard city. Ideal for the everyday gambler, couples and those who aren’t into chatting to drunkards.

3) 22 HUNDRED HOURS (MILITARY STYLE)

I’ve change this to the twenty-four-hour clock. Almost military in nature as you might turn up to the casino and feel like you’re in a war zone. OK, it’s not that bad but it’s getting than way. The tables are crowded. If you’re lucky enough to get a seat at the roulette table, you’ll probably have some Chinese bloke almost laying on top of you to get to his favourite number. Or you’ll see an arm ten feet long place a bet on every number which sees your face is nestled within his BO armpit. The zoo-like experience worsens with a punter losing a grand a spin. You will be met by a younger crowd who are betting for the first time and just as keen on chatting up the croupier as winning a fortune. Neither is likely to happen – ever. If you love a bit of a rowdy edge to proceedings you’ll be at home with this crowd. It’s the true casino experience where you are just as likely to find someone’s tooth on the floor as you are a £5 chip. Thankfully, there’s always a quiet spot for a moment of peace and quiet.

Not on the tables though.

4) 2 AM (THE NEXT DAY)

It’s like a scene from one of those old movies where most people have to sit down else they would fall down. The drink has been flowing, the bets have been flying and the atmosphere is similar to that of a bomb disposal unit. It’s a mix of hope and despair. Those who have been on the end of a betting hammering are muttering discontent while those who are winning are cheering louder and louder with a crowd of hangers on looking for a free bet or a glimpse of ludy luck. Most normal people have gone home so you are left with a melting pot of naive or deviant characters. Some look like they want to take you home while others want to beat you up. And that’s just the women. If you like a hostile atmosphere and you wear dentures (no fear of losing your own teeth) you may be having the time of your life. However, unless you are three-parts drunk, a part-time boxer or desperately hoping for a change of luck you may be better off in your crib.

5) 5:55 AM

Even betting addicts rarely see this time of day. Even they have given up the ghost and been asleep for a couple of hours. It’s that time of day where you know anyone left in the casino has a story to tell. It’s probably the kind of tale that will haunt you for years to come or make you rush into the toilets and slit your wrists. Be careful, the chances are someone is already in there and they’ve died. Most punters still hanging around 5-minutes before closing are on the edge of bankruptcy or nervous breakdown (probably both). They may have been winning good cash at 4 am but it’s all turned nasty since and they are on a recovery mission and it’s all gone pear shaped. Their eyes are squinting, their breathing fluctuates with the highs and lows of each hand while a couple of the staff have been assigned to hook up dehydrated punters to a drip in a darkened room out the back. With the quiet word to each person left standing, they realise it is time to go home even though they feel they need just a little more time to win their cash back. You may see one person with a smile on their face because they won big. They are told to leave one-minute before the madding crowd just in case they are mugged on the way home.

Never attempt to enter a casino at 5:55 am.

It will only end in tears.

Photo: Pixabay (free)

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3 Slot Winners That Hit The Jackpot

3 Slot Winners That Hit The Jackpot Slot machines are said to account for 70% of the big casinos profits. Quite remarkable when you think they equate to billions of pounds in revenue. When you consider the average casino cut from slots is 3% just think of the money put in those machines. Personally, I find the old style fruit machines and one-armed bandits more interesting than these multi-lines which make understanding whether you have won or not difficult. If you want to be a big winner then play progressive slots. Take a look at these players who literally pocketed a fortune.

1) $39.7M

Venue – Excaliber Casino, Las Vegas

Winner: Anonymous

Date: 21^st March, 2003

Story: A 25-year-old software engineer asked for anonymity after winning this colossal payout on the Las Vegas strip. He bet $100 and looking after for a moment turned to see the winning symbols lined up.

He said: ‘’I’m still stunned; it doesn’t seem real yet. Both my parents are still working, so some of this money will be used to fund their retirement.’’

2) $34.9M

Venue: Desert Inn Casino, Las Vegas

Winner: Cynthia Jay Brennan

Date: 28^th January, 2000

Story: The cocktail waitress won the second largest payout after changing her normal routine. She said: ‘I had played the $21 I usually play and turned round and was going to leave but decided to put another $6 in and the last $3 hit the jackpot. So she bet $27 before lining up the three Megabucks symbols which had been the talk of the state for several months.

‘It’s unbelievable. I’ve been in shock. I didn’t sleep much last night.’

She said she would share her winnings with boyfriend and Monte Carlo hotel-casino co-worker Terry Brennan.

She continued: ‘The money might change me but the people I had in my life last week are going to be the people who are in my life next week.’

3) $27.5M

Venue: Palace Station Resort, Las Vegas

Winner: Anonymous

Date: 18^th November, 1998

Story: The 67-year-old long time Las Vegas resident hit the jackpot while waiting for a table in one of the resort’s restaurants. Wishing to keep her anonymity, she said: ‘I want to still go to the supermarket without being recognised.’

She continued: ‘Everyone will be taken care of…’ meaning the casino employees would get a big tips.

Intending to spend $100 she continued and won the jackpot playing $240.

by slots 0

5 Different Punters You Meet At The Casino

5 Pet Hates About Non Gamblers

5 Ways To Get A Freebies From Your Local Casino

5 Time Slots At The Casino: Who Will You Meet?

3 Slot Winners That Hit The Jackpot

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