We're not set up for this

[Anakah]

It was like two mins until midnight. That's when our players club closes. They handle promotions, concert tickets, issuing of player cards, etc

Well we're currently having this promotion where if you LOOSE a hundred dollars, you can get UP TO 100 back. Well there are a LOT of fine print that comes with that. Number one, it's not my department and not the cage's promotion. We just cash it out. I know the basics to it but I don't know how they add up the points or how things get processed. Our computers are not set up for it and we have no control over anything. Basically the players club "flags" what the guest has and then we can pull it up in a certain program on our computers.

A few catches are: If you win anything it takes if off the hundred, you MUST have your card in at all times and you have to present ID to us. There are more but again its not my promotion. They don't give his too much information on it.

Well these ladies came up and said to my new co-worker "We'd like to redeem our losses" Which is what they're supposed to say. They hand over their ID and we use their numbers and look them up. Well, if the players club doesn't "flag" it for us it says: "No transactions found" and they are basically screwed because we can't do a damn thing about it.

CO=co-worker
SC=the group of rude ladies
S=supervisor

Co: "Have you already been to the players club?
SC: YES! They said I have sixteen dollars coming back to me!
This CO has been here like six days... Poor guy.
CO: Let me get my supervisor.
S: So you guys went to the players club? I'm assuming since they were trying to close, they probably didn't set it up properly. I am very sorry about this but there is no way we can bring anything up in our systems.
(note: He explained this better and was all suave about it but I'm just trying to remember what he said exactly)
SC: This is unacceptable! I pulled out a hundred dollars that I don't have just to do this and now you're telling me you won't give me my sixteen dollars!?
S: I'm sorry ma'am its not us. We cannot do this. The players club has too. And unfortunately they are closed for the night. You're going to have to wait until morning.
They're all fuming but there's NOTHING we can do. So they leave.

The supervisor then helps me with something crazy where this woman's ID has a different last name than on her credit card. That was fun... But she wasn't an SC.

So... like ten mins later these women come back. The notice I am open but I heard them whisper: "Don't go to her! Go to the other woman!" I then smirked because I knew why they were there!

They thought they could out smart everybody by going to a different cashier. They got the same results AND the same supervisor...

The just couldn't get it that we CAN'T do that procedure... He was so nice about it. My supervisor is the coolest. He is good at being sympathetic with them and stern at the same time. I do agree with them--it does suck but they are bitching at the wrong department. The people at the players club always screw up and leave us with the mess.

But then I couldn't help but be annoyed because one of the women came to my window trying to cash out her dad's players card and was very upset when I told her he'd have to be present.
SC: But he's asleep....
ME: I'm sorry but I still need him to be here.
SC: this is ridiculous!
ME: Sorry...
Quite honestly there wasn't anything I could do. We ask for ID, if you aren't the cardholder you're SOL. It's really to protect them. Would you want someone to cash out on your card?

What really gets me is that people actually get upset when they win because they wanted their 100 back!? But the whole point is to give you the freedom to win and if you don't--money back!! So...!?

[MadMike]

SC: This is unacceptable! I pulled out a hundred dollars that I don't have just to do this and now you're telling me you won't give me my sixteen dollars!?

So she purposely blew $100, just to get $16 back?

I think my brain just went

[Tuxian]

It's called "Gambler Logic", Mike. I see it in action all the time at work.

People will play, and play, and play, trying to hit a big hand. Three Card Poker is a good example, as the biggest hand on that, a Straight Flush, pays 40:1 on the side bet. People will spend HOURS trying to hit this 40:1, usually spending more than they will win if/when they DO hit it... And then when they do hit, they'll just sit there and feed all that money back to me!

One person won $600 from me on a straight flush one night, and over the next 3 hours lost every penny of it.

[MadMike]

It's called "Gambler Logic", Mike. I see it in action all the time at work.

I guess that's why I don't understand the appeal of gambling. My type of logic doesn't work that way.

The first and only time I actually set foot in a casino was on the cruise ship my wife and I went on. I pissed away about $30, not counting the little bit I managed to win here and there and spent again, and said, "Screw this!"

I later found out they had video games on another floor, so I started doing that instead.

[Tuxian]

To tell the truth, Mike? I'm not a gambler either. Yes, I work in a casino for a living, but I don't gamble. Why? Simple.

Because I see how obsessed people get with winning. Yeah, some people do win. But on the whole, if you walk into a casino, you _should_ be going for the fun of it. Take what you can afford to lose, and no more. Treat it like going to the mall, or the boardwalk, or whatever. Have fun, and if you win, so much the better. Broke even? That's cool. Lost? Well, you had a good time anyway, and you didn't spend yourself into the poorhouse.

The gambler, and even worse, the Compulsive Gambler, are different. They are bound and determined to win as much money as they can from the casino, come hell or high water. And it's kinda sad to see the same people, night after night, spending thousands upon thousands of dollars chasing their losses.

[Greenday]

Yea, you see those people at the racetrack I work at. People come in, bet their entire paycheck on horses and lose it all. Yea, I'll blow money at the track if my bosses aren't around or if it's a day off. I'll miss the money but it's not money that I need. I mean, when you are still young and not paying bills and everything, losing a little bit of money can be fun and unharmful. But you'd have to be crazy to bet all the money you have when if you lose it, you are in some serious crap.

I also play texas hold'em. I never play expensive tournaments. Most I'll bet is 20 buck entries. It's money I can afford to lose. Not money to pay bills or live off of.

[LdyJedi]

My husband's work takes him all over and to some of the strangest venues. When he's close, though, I join him. Years ago, he had a gig in Atlantic City and the crew stayed in one of the resort hotels.

Late that night, as they were breaking down, I went back to his room and went to bed, only to be awakened by someone trying to get into the room. Finally, this person realized they were in the next room. What I heard after he got into his room has me sworn off doing anything over $20 (I even leave my debit card and such in the room, won't even bring it onto the floor):

The gentleman's wife let out a wail that I'm sure woke half the hotel. "You lost our life's savings?!" The crying and screaming went on for hours. It still chills me, thinking of this guy losing everything.

[Canarr]

Personally, I like to gamble; a few friends and I hold a sort of semi-regular poker game (where we'll rarely play for more than 10-20 Euros a night), but I've only been to a casino twice in my life.

The first time was during my stay in the US, on a day-trip to Atlantic City. That was fun; huge place, lots of people, free drinks.

The second time was back in Germany, with a few friends. And man, that was something different:

1. In the US, it was pretty much come-as-you-are; all kinds of people, all kinds of dress code. More or less, we don't care what you look like, give us your money. In Germany, it's jacket and tie for the men and dress for the women.

2. In the US, you could walk right into the casino from ten different directions, with no one to stop you. Well, I assume you'd be carded at some point if you look too young, but I've never had that problem. In Germany, only one entrance, ID check - and they'd look up your ID in the casino system. Checking both for people on blacklist, as well as for Obsessive Gamblers who shouldn't be given access.

3. Small place in Germany. Very small. Elegant, nice, but small. And no free drinks. Not even cocktail waitresses.

Still, it was fun both times. Managed to win more than 100 $ in Atlantic City, but lost a bit more in Wiesbaden. Nothing that'd hurt me, though.

[friendofjimmyk]

When I moved to Omaha last year, I discovered that there are casinos in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Which, I can pretty much spit on from my door step. Anyway, before moving here, I had only been to a casino once and that was in Niagra Falls right after that one had opened. I've been to the casino a few times since I've been here. I only take what I am willing to lose and that's usually only between 20 - 40 bucks. I know that is not a lot especially if you lose it fast - but that's all I am willing to go with.

[Worker-Intellectual]

The house always wins...

[gijoecam]

The house always wins...

Exactly. You can play the odds to maximize them, but at best the odds are STILL better for the house,a nd overall, the house will win.

I want to open a casino. I mean, when was the last time you heard of a casino ANYWHERE closing due to a lack of funds??? Lack of clientele, sure, but lack of funds? Never!

[South Texan]

Maybe I have a pseudo gambler's logic, but on the few times my wife and I have been to Las Vegas, we have budgeted the grand total of $25 each for gambling. We head to the nickel slots as it is the thrill of the chance/gamble that we enjoy rather than the risk of our money. We have won some money and lost it all back. To us, the $50 is for pure entertainment (like spending money for dinner and a movie) and normally is spread over three days as we also stop and enjoy a show or two - and those shows cost way more than $25 a ticket!

I really feel sorry for the people we see who obviously are hooked and spend all their time and money in the casinos.

[Cia]

South Dakota's getting another Indian casino. Pine Ridge is putting up one called Prairie Wind. So that will make three that I know of West River.

It's been many years since I've actually stopped in Deadwood to gamble. I find it gets boring after awhile but if I actually play than it is usually nickel slots.

[Mighty Girl]

You know, as cheesy as this sounds, I only play the slots. I suck at cards- doesn't matter what game I'm playing. Plus, with slots you don't have to fraternize with other people- always a bonus

[Canarr]

What's the line? If you have a system, we definitely want you in our casino?