The power's out, I can't gamble, blargh!!!

[CrazedClerkthe2nd]

We had a power failure at the casino a few weeks ago. Thankfully it was only out for around 15 minutes but that was enough to cause plenty of problems. You see even though the lights were back on, many of the slots weren't. You can probably guess where this is going.

In a span of less than 10 minutes on the casino floor I was subjected to the following:

- A guy wondering why the slot machines would not take his cashout ticket. I explained to him that there had been a power failure which had FUBARed the machines and it would be awhile before we got them all up and running again. Then he asked me if I thought he should try it in a few more machines, just to be sure.



- A woman FURIOUS with me that her favourite slot had (GASP!) just shut down due to the outage. Despite my assurance that it would more than likely be back up within 20 minutes she started demanding a manager and all kinds of comps for her trouble. I waited until a manager arrived and then got out of there fast. I wish I could have hung around to see what happened.

- As I am tidying up around some of the machines I feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn around and a guy, without saying at word, just points to one of the darkened machines. "Can I help you?" Again the silent point. "You want to play that one?" He nods. "It's down right now you'll have wait awhile". Then he grunted and left.



And to top it all of when I finally got back to my work area I had to reset all my systems and check them to make sure everything was functional, setting me back about 30 minutes.

Also, an interesting observation: Casinos are eerily quiet when the power goes out. You really do get used to all the blings, dings and beeps the machines make all the time.

[Crossbow]

Sudden, unexpected silence is often more jarring than loud noise. I'm so used to the stupidly loud HVAC system in my office that it's really disconcerting when it shuts off. The sudden silence is very distracting.

As for the SC's, I'm so terribly sorry you can't get your money-losing fix. They're probably the same ones that scream at the cable company when the power failure keeps them from watching their favorite shows....

[Jetfire]

Always wondered. Do the slot machines have a battery backup or anything to last long enough to cash out, or do you just lose your money completely if you have funds in there when the power goes out?

At least if you use a player card, they cna probably track enough to comp/refund you what was in the machine when the power dies, but I guess if you play anonymously, you're in for a tougher time.

[starsinthesky]

I am really used to low hum all things in my house make, so when there is a random power outage the lack of sound is unnervering. It also seems to happen right before I am about to use the computer.

[smileyeagle1021]

At least if you use a player card, they cna probably track enough to comp/refund you what was in the machine when the power dies, but I guess if you play anonymously, you're in for a tougher time.

Actually the players club cards (at least the ones I've dealt with) don't track how much you put in the machine... just how much you've spent on spins and how much you've won (I can put a C Note into the machine, spin once for a $1 bet, and the card is only going to record that $1). That said, cash count knows exactly how much money is in a machine at any time, so I imagine that one way or the other they could figure out how much credit you had on it.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

Whaddaya means you can't gamble without electricity?

Just fill out an NCAA bracket like my stupid ass did.

[PepperElf]

A woman FURIOUS with me that her favourite slot had (GASP!) just shut down due to the outage.

As if you did it to her on purpose? Or that you can somehow pull electricity out of your buttocks to power the machines during outages?

[XCashier]

- As I am tidying up around some of the machines I feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn around and a guy, without saying at word, just points to one of the darkened machines. "Can I help you?" Again the silent point. "You want to play that one?" He nods. "It's down right now you'll have wait awhile". Then he grunted and left.

Jeez, would it kill you to speak to the employee, human being to human being?! Basic Good Manners 101.

The only pointers I like are these.

[emax4]

As the power went out, it would be funny if some clown actually yelled out, "I WON!!! I WON!!!" haha. I hear you though about the eeriness. First time I went in to a casino I was amazed by the lights and sounds (so they're marketing team did good work), but all the machines are hung up on that same note everywhere in the casino (except for the men's room). When the power goes out, I imagine that it would feel strange.

[smileyeagle1021]

You should try walking into a closed casino. I interviewed at a place that had closed down several years ago and was in the process of being re-opened... talk about eerie, when none of the lights are on and there aren't even any machines left either (but you can still tell it's a casino).

[dalesys]

Or working alone all night in a theater building (not movie).

[Chromatix]

FWIW, I'm reliably informed that the single creepiest form of silence is...

...when all the engines of a jetliner end up shut down in flight.

Yes, it's pretty rare.

[KatherineB]

Jeez, would it kill you to speak to the employee, human being to human being?! Basic Good Manners 101.

The only pointers I like are these.

Well, hang on, what about these?

[XCashier]

Well, hang on, what about these?

Yeah, those are fun too, though not nearly as nice as the cute fluffy kitty.

[Seshat]

But they make the kitty even CUTER!