Gambling, hoping I can enjoy it

I love Vegas, its obvious or I would not be here. I love the vibe, I love to watch people, I love to be around all the excitement that goes with it. I tend to enjoy gambling. But have been a casino dealer for the last two and a half years it has hit me, I may save money this trip, in the most uncanny way, in the casino. As I stand at the table dealing my game, I often wonder how will I ever enjoy playing blackjack again, how can I play any of these games when I look at the people sitting there and realizing how miserable they are. This past week has been worse than usual including the "resident" who occupies the table for literally 24-48 hours and never leaves except to use the restroom, the whiner who all they do no matter what is whine and Ms. Prissy who thinks she owns the place and forces other players to play her way or she runs them off. Seeing how miserable these people are has really had me thinking this week that when I go to Vegas in June, will I even be able to gamble because if these are the types of people I am going to be around when I hit the casino, I am not going to want to gamble.

When I was in Vegas last in 2011, I did not sit at the tables much, I played mostly VP and I really had no clue how to play the games to be honest. I do remember seeing some very unhappy people and hope that it was just a bad table the few times I sat.

I go for the fun and when they act all miserable its not fun and I need to walk away. When I was in Tunica in July last year, it was fun, for the most part I was the only one at the table but when others came I felt I needed to go because they just did not give a positive vibe, but that allowed me to walk away while I was winning so that put me on a positive mark.

I want this to be a fun trip, its not going to be centered on gambling at my maybe $300 a day budget but I don't want to be around a bunch negative energy either.

 

I can imagine how jaded you must get as a dealer. I used to play exclusively tables. Due to the hours spent, I became increasingly jaded myself and it stopped being fun. I started playing video poker and found out that I enjoy it more. I like the solitary time while still being surrounded by chaos. If I want to misplay a hand, I can do that without dealing with other people.

I still use Blackjack for match plays or if I see an advantageous situation but any extended play is more likely to be Pai Gow if I feel that table game urge.

 

My dad would only play VP, and he did not go to many trips without hitting a royal. I have played some, best I ever got was maybe a flush, I don't think I ever got quads or anything but it was nice to be able to sit and play at my pace. I admit, I deal mostly blackjack and carnival games, I know how to play/deal roulette and mini bacc but nothing about craps, I just know when I tried to play craps I lost. I may give it a try again since it is more of a community game, blackjack I enjoy when I can have a good energy table, heck night when I work and have a great table I love my job. And anyone that yells at me for the way I play at BJ game, well, I will do one of two things, walk away or play totally stupid (split 10s, hit 16 against 6) just for the fun of it

 

I picked up VP specifically so I could gamble alone if I wanted to be anti-social. Certainly you see all types of gamblers in Vegas, and some can really get you down. I'm fairly immune to all types but not afraid to put a few choice words in if the person is truly being an ass, especially if it's directed at the dealers. I guess thick skin is a requirement for players as well as dealers.

I agree that table captains are the most annoying personality type.

 

Thick skin is something every dealer needs to have. I use to be a deputy sheriff so I have it, the issue is in the old profession, I did not have to per say take it nearly as much as now since my pay was not based on tips.

Iv seen brand new dealers at our casino work one day and leave crying and never to be seen working there again.

 

Give VP a serious try and also try it at a bartop. More fun, in my opinion, and very quick drink service. For free entertainment, pick a chair near the cocktail waitress service area. Sometimes, it can be a ton of free yucks.

 

I enjoyed playing bar top VP and will give it a go again this trip. I just do not have the patients to sit there for hours on end, its the ADD in me I guess.

 

I play 99% table games, mostly craps. I find slots machines too boring. Pushing buttons. To each their own of course, I enjoy interacting with people. Sure some dealers aren't friendly. Neither are some of the other players. I will play some bartop VP when I'm just looking to have a drink and maybe watch a game on TV.

 

Slots do nothing for me either. I do not know how people sit at them for hours on end playing. I enjoy the social interaction but I need positive energy when I am playing. Im not superstitious like most gamblers seem to be, but I believe that positive energy will bring positive cards.

 

Then you are superstitious!

Table or machine, there are rote games on both sides; react to a certain exigency. It is the social interaction of the former that is appealing to so many. Or off-putting when your tablemates are dinglebags.

 

As a dealer I'm sure you see all kinds of people. as a player I also see those people, just not as often as you.
I don't understand how people with money can be so miserable.

anyway, if I don't like the group of people at a BJ table, I move. I stay downtown because I have so many options for BJ, I don't need to be surrounded by dolts.
I can typically find an awesome table when in Vegas, and it's usually not too hard. "an awesome table" is a dynamic phrase based on my level of alcolhol intake, my level of betting at the time, and my mood.
sometimes I want to be at a fun table w/ all the ppl high fiving, other times maybe a table with one or two people playing strategically sound blackjack.

in summary, depending in your mood, I bet you can find a good BJ table and be entertained while playing!

 

Yeah, I am sure I will find good tables and a good vibe. Your right about people and money, we get some pretty high rollers in our casino (for the area) and quite few celebrities and even when they are betting they are miserable. I can't get over it when they brag about being 50k down and how they can't leave until they get it back, well, they never do but they do eventually leave when their markers run out.

I have one night downtown and four nights on the strip so I will find something. I know i won't find good BJ rules since I am a 5-10 player but I also am not going to make money, just have fun. I hope to take more photos than anything honestly.

 

you just sound beaten down by watching idiots that you cant shoo away at work and idiots that sit at your table when you're gambling

I get up and walk from the BJ table all the time if some stupid, drunk or angry person sits down and brings me down
A. It's Your money you're playing with
B. life is way too short to lose time or money to a strangers BS
C. strip hotels have plenty of tables, just slide on down to the next one or go to the casino nextdoor

 

Some good advice in this thread. I went from a BJ only player to now a majority VP player (only games with 2 coins for 2 pair, ie JOB, BP, or Aces n Eights at Circus Circus). You'll play a lot longer with a much smaller variance playing these VP offerings, and on a short trip, you can survive the variance. There are 100% games (namely Full Pay Deuces Wild or Double Bonus), and if I lived in Vegas I'd probably gravitate toward those games since I have a much longer time frame to ride out the higher variance.

VP is attractive to me because it is relativity easy to play even while drinking, you can drift off without anyone bothering or upsetting you. I still play BJ, but typically only at the decent MGM casinos on the strip (or Bally's / CP when I am staying comped at a CET property), and VP off-strip or downtown. The cool thing about Vegas is there are many decent 3/2 games at the level you prefer, and you can always leave if an angry d bag, drunk, idiot starts to upset you. If you play at a local casino, you typically don't have many other open seats / tables to play.

I stopped playing locally in the 1990s, and don't miss it at all. The bad vibes and too much gambling caused me to have the same feelings you have. The sad thing is, casinos make 80% of their money on 20% of their gamblers, and a large portion of this subset are problem gamblers that exacerbate and compound the problems they have in life by losing large amounts of cash in the casino.

At work you don't have the option to leave a table when these people plop down. In Vegas you will. Enjoy the trip and may you find fun tables the entire trip. The California downtown spreads 2 deck red chip games, the large number of Hawaiians who stay and play there are generally fun and friendly, and you should have a good time playing there (though you can't double after split).

 

I hate the bad vibes too.

Main reason i generally play alone.

 

Your very spot on and you mention the best part, being able to up and walk away unlike at work.