Today is a personal tale based on a post I saw on social media earlier this week. Eventually, we all hit a bad place when gambling, and I thought I’d share my most recent experience.
We’ll start with a little of my gambling history for those who aren’t familiar.
Gambling Since Grade School
I’ve been gambling in various ways since learning how to play poker in the second grade and later playing parlay sheets. My perspective on gambling has changed over the years, but my core values have not.
Whether it’s sports, machines, or table games, I’ve always gambled for entertainment. Sometimes the entertainment is the game itself or playing with friends. Other times, it’s simply an excuse to have a few drinks.
When I was young, seeing people with broken limbs sent a clear responsible gaming message: never get too deep into gambling. There’s still a need for more mainstream responsible gaming messages, especially for people younger than me.
I continue to gamble for entertainment. Rewards are secondary and appreciated only when they fit into my life. That may sound like blasphemy for a website and community focused on rewards, but it’s how I approach gambling.
From a work perspective, understanding the extremes of gamblers and maximizing rewards allows me to speak to the majority of people who are in the middle, since that’s generally where I lie. I want the best of both worlds, but don’t have the time or patience to devote my life to either.
Earlier this week, I saw the Chris’ tweet below, and it reminded me of when I made the switch to Pai Gow Poker after too many miserable gambling sessions on the Strip. I’ve written about playing Pai Gow Poker a lot, but not what led me to make the change.
I’m sharing the early days of my gambling because what worked for me won’t apply to everyone. Still, it may help those who feel like they need a break.
Making Changes To Enjoy My Gambling Hobby
I repeat, gambling is entertainment. It stopped being fun a few years ago. I was in the same place as Chris.
That forced me to change things up and take an honest look at what I wanted from gambling.
Gambling should be fun and fit within my budget. This break wasn’t about quitting. It was about changing when, where, and how much I gambled so I could once again enjoy my favorite hobby.
I had too many losing sessions across nearly every game on the Strip, from craps and blackjack to Mississippi Stud Poker and video poker.
The first change was what I played. I dumped most table games in favor of Pai Gow Poker.
Pai Gow Poker has a low house edge and moves slowly. Even though Face Up Pai Gow is designed to speed things up by having players muck hands, I still set my hands myself to practice and intentionally slow the pace.
Even during losing sessions, my money lasts longer than it does in other games. It remains the best gambling value on the Strip and pretty much the only game I play if given the choice. I don’t even mind when limits are higher than I normally play because I usually have a good experience.
Like cutting back on slots, I also started cutting my losses at bartop video poker. If a session wasn’t going well, I stopped. Paying for one beer is cheaper than repeatedly feeding $20 bills into a machine just to earn a comp drink while friends gamble.
I mentioned this nearly 10 years ago when discussing the unintended consequences of drink monitoring. That economic reality is still an issue in Las Vegas.
Switching to Pai Gow Poker wasn’t my only adjustment. I also spent less money gambling on the Strip.
While I was banging away on 8/5 Bonus Poker away from the Strip, I only selectively played 6/5 when tourists were in town. Friends + gambling = maximum entertainment – even if the rules aren’t the best.
I spent more time and money off-strip and downtown, where the gambling rules and payouts were better. That hasn’t changed.
My gambling continues to evolve with what matters in my life. However, the change on the Strip was probably the most drastic, and it helped form other adjustments I’ve made.
Everyone can evaluate their own lives and make changes that suit their needs.
Marc grew up on the mean streets of the South Bronx. He's the rare combination of Yankees and Jets fan which explains his often contrarian point of view. He learned about gambling at a young age working down the street from a bookie who took action on anything from the mainstream sports to the last three digits of the purse for certain horse races. Yeah, that's a thing. Today Marc is a freelance writer and social media consultant which allows him to work anywhere there's a wifi signal. This allows him to work from the sportsbook at Red Rock Resort or the food court at The Venetian where you’ll find fast and free wifi. Writing about steak, booze, gambling and Las Vegas is a tough job but somebody has to do it.