Graywings, my take on this exactly. Don't care for Vegas either (except the shows are tremendous). It's so phony, impersonal, loud, smelly, crowded...etc.

Humans are so silly! Everybody *knows* the house always wins. Yet there is an endless supply of people who don't want to know what they know.

I've met two gambling addicts. One was 'in recovery', but he'd lost every dime and every person he loved. The other was still pretending to himself that he wasn't sick.

Sad to see casinos sucking cash our of the poorest pockets and bussing in people from retirement homes.

I've gambled in many Casinos - from Vegas to Monte Carlo. But it's not fun anymore....most, if not all of the games are electronic now...Booooring.

The casinos are plentiful here, native American businesses - an hour or so in three directions here and I could be at one of the tribes casinos. We go only occasionally and usually when meeting friends or family - their attached restaurants and hotels, service are quite good.

One of my SILs often does well, but she has more disposable income and begins with much more than the $20 or so I will risk. There's many times she has to fill out the obligatory tax forms when leaving.

But the gambling part of the casino enterprises are dark, smoky, not someplace I want to spend hours and we might go in twice a year. We did meet a group at one for breakfast a couple of months ago and I turned my $20 into $200+ at a slot machine when leaving. It's a whole lot more fun when having won something ;) but I don't risk enough to win 'big'.

My parents retired to Las Vegas in the late 80's and my brother followed a few years later. He got married there in 95 and we all went out for the wedding. We stayed at a smaller casino hotel in north Vegas. The wedding was at 5 so we left the casino around 4:30. Sitting at the end of a row of slots near the exit was an older woman. When we returned to the hotel after the wedding and reception probably close to midnight...she was still there! Unbelievable!

Two in my husband's family have gambling problems and also live in Vegas. My DH enjoys to go now and then if we are traveling and near a casino or in Vegas. He plays blackjack but he can take it or leave it. We have two casinos within an hour's drive but I've never gone. I am bored with slots after 5-10 minutes and don't play table games.

About 10 years ago my sisters, our daughters and myself did a road trip to Rhode Island to visit one of my nieces. We went to the Mohegan Sun one night, basically just so we could say we went to a casino, haha.

We each got $20 worth of quarters and played the quarter slots til we each lost all our money. Correction, one of my sisters won $187 before spending her twenty. She stopped. She's smart!

Just can't bring myself to gamble. It made me sick to lose twenty bucks!

We use to go to Laughlin NV years ago, because we belonged to the membership park across the river. At that time there was a free bus for members, which was nice, because I could come back anytime. DH seemed to do well on the machines and enjoyed it. I liked the stores there were just building in the outlet center. I try to spend what I felt I could. We did go to Mystic Lake and had great rooms, good food and again I contributed, and DH won nice. But we had fun Now, I haven't been anywhere due to transportation and change of budget. I do not like the new machines now either.

But to each his/her own.

I really enjoyed taking the two hour "cruise" most of the time. We would go to Metropolis, IL and cruise the Ohio River. A lot of good memories made there with my Mom and Dad.
There were times I went though and my money ran out before the two hours were up. lol
Have a casino 35 minutes from me now and hardly ever go. Last time I went I came out $150 ahead after playing blackjack for several hours.

Laughlin was a nice smaller location. Small boats would ferry you up and down the river to different casinos, free. Vegas used to be a bonanza of great, cheap eats, all meals. Reel slots are being taken over by dumb video slots. Penny machines were laughed at, but are now the most popular. They can also sock you into $4-5 a pull! Why not play a $1 machine? Gone too is the magical sound of tokens clanking into your tray. All paper ticket payouts. Too quiet. Last month one casino was complaining they only took in $30 million. Ha.

Monte Carlo was built on the boredom of the English and Continental landed gentry. Gentlemen couldn't actually do much without risk of being thought 'common'. Gambling was a diversion many of them could easily afford -- even needed to appear to be able to afford.

I think the wives and mothers of Hawaii are still prevailing against legalized gambling there.

I enjoyed playing the nickel slots when on ski trips to Lake Tahoe. That was back when there was a lever to pull on the machines and the nickels tumbled out. All the fun is taken out now with the electronic machines. Casinos are way too smokey for me.

Vegas is certainly not just gambling. The themes and attractions in each hotel are fun,the shows amazing,the restaurants top notch and you can take side trips out into the desert.

I do feel sorry for people who think that are going to strike it rich. Some people do win big (very few) but enough to cause a ruckus, so those around them feel encouraged to keep going.

Windsor has a casino operated by Caesars and the Ontario government. We used to have another casino at the horse racing track but the government closed both of those down. The casino was good for the City at first with millions of dollars going to the City, provided lots of employment, lured in tours from across the Midwest and other points in Ontario. If you played in US money you won US money in return. At times you would wait for a slot machine to open up it was so busy. Then "they" stopped coming. 2 casinos opened in Detroit, having to have a passport to cross border came into legislation, and new casinos opening up across Ontario and in nearby US states didn't help, then the City of Windsor no smoking ban came fully into effect, the casino had a reprieve for awhile. Casino Windsor stopped making the money like they used to, people started losing their jobs. Build a casino and they will come, well they did for a few years but now not so much.

The purse strings at Casino Windsor have really closed up tight. I would never go there expecting to win anything

I did go to the casino the other night with a friend for my birthday. She gave me $20 in my birthday card so off we went. The place was empty, the Black Jack tables that used to be $25 to play are now $5. Didn't see too many employees walking around like there used to be. And I really, really don't like those video type machines where you play multiple lines with multiple coins, haha I can't figure them out. I used to love playing the ordinary 3 quarter slot machine, you knew why you won or didn't win. Not too many of those left. I also miss putting the money in the machine, it seemed you played longer, now you just hit a button and the money is gone, too quickly. I used to be lucky with my $20 and used to come home with more than I started with but we realize going in that we have a better chance of losing that $20 but it was a night out and it would have been spent elsewhere. Did I tell you I really detest those video machines haha. I think you lose more money at a 1 cent machine than at the old fashioned quarter slot machine, at least I do.

The nights there is a show on at the casino the floors are busier or when people have to come to pick up their tickets. I sure was surprised it wasn't the bustling and hustling place it used to be. We go to the casino for dinner buffet every once in awhile but not to gamble.

I used to love going to Vegas not so much for the gambling but because it was so different than anywhere else. I can see why Vegas started promoting themselves as a family destination because with casinos opening up everywhere else they knew they would lose some of that lucrative tourist business. I rarely hear anymore someone telling me they are going to Vegas for the 3 day trip. Those trips were big business for the travel industry in this city at one time.

All locations, not just Vegas, is not just gambling. All have other attractions for visitors to be entertained in some form. Vegas (Nevada) was noted for gaming activity, and promoted as such. Now there is finally competition to the meca. I think Vegas leaned more to attracting high rollers than families. It's the casino fault for investing so much in glitz, then losing money. I could play slots in a tent with a dirt floor. Who cares about a $6 million dollar chandelier? I checked the numbers for our casino from the gaming commission. When they opened, each guest got a FREE COOKIE!! Payouts were higher. Some win, some lose. Winners come back. Then came the era of glitz, and freebies. Free stuff? Casinos aren't about to give away THEIR money. Slot payouts dropped 1 -2%, meaning that's YOUR money they are giving away. I would rather have a chance at winning a few bucks than a free toaster. (I'm paying for someone else to get a toaster.) Then there are points earned. Cash in your points for goodies, or food. FREE? Ha! You probably dropped $800 to get enough points for that $8 burger.
If you are entertained with no more than the cost of a movie and dinner out, have fun and trying to go home with more than you came with. It's called gambling.

We usually go about twice a year. I will lose 60-80 bucks and DH will usually break even or maybe make 20 or 40 dollars.

I agree that it's not the same - I definitely miss the quarters clanging out into the tray when I win! I don't like the paper tickets at all.

And I don't like the video ones either. I don't use them. If I can't figure the machine out, I don't play it (like that's going to make any difference to make me win more - hahaha).

Cherry, I've heard those buffets are good but the casinos here seem to have about three eating type establishments attached and maybe we haven't been there at a buffet time.

Their regular dining room is quite nice, real tablecloths, nice place settings and surprisingly good food. They have a grilled lemon chicken garden salad that I like for lunch or light dinner, and three sizes prime rib that I've found prepared flawlessly the few times I've ordered that.

I can remember Reno years ago and carrying around the bucket of nickels, one hand black from handling the coins. The first time I was in a modern casino, by the time I'd figured out the automated slot machine, I'd lost my initial money and the process probably only took 2 minutes. Very deflating ;) I'd been leaving a retirement party and didn't stay any longer then.

There are always buses of seniors heading out to casinos. There are a number of casinos within an hour and some that are a longer trip. For $10 it's an outing. They leave in the morning and come back at nite.

Not my idea of a good time. Even when we go to see a musical act, we just walk thru the casino. Years ago we went to one, and spent $25 Hahaa. At least they had a handle to pull and the tokens come spilling out. It's all electronic now and busy and I don't have a clue how to play nor do I want to.

The bus is a great deal, for anyone. Lack of transportation, or just the fact it's cheaper than driving. We did the overnight ride once from Frisco to Reno. Plus free gaming coupon and a free meal. Think there are seniors here who just "hang out" for a summer afternoon, in the A/C, free soft drinks & coffee. (I avoid A/C and hit the sunny beach!)
Still think the buffets are a bit pricey. $20-35 per person? Quite a chunk for a party of 4. Can eat elsewhere for $9. I watch ours for a half price special ($10), plus they double your points spent for food, so it only costs $5. Love a deal!

I used to go on Sunday mornings with my ex. You'd go in, register, get a ticket and go play for two hours. (I played the penny slots....very slowly) After two hours you'd go back to the desk and get a voucher for the buffet, which was VERY good. Lots of fresh fruit and variety of food. I have to admit that at least once, we went out to the car and read the paper. Once we even went to visit my dad when we were supposed to be in gambling. I never really won anything, and would only lose about $10, which was half of the price of the buffet, so I still came out ahead.

Don"t forget, folks ...

... the house has to make a buck ...

... deer!

o j

We have 2 places in Indiana. One in Central and one in the southern part of the state. Each place has a casino within 15 minutes from us. I’ve only been in each of them one time. I’d rather hold on to my money.. Was it fun, yep. But the money goes fast from your hands to theirs!! They are not getting mine!!

....there is one I pass every time I go up to Campus, but

never stopped. They seem to have a good crowd when I pass. I have been

in only one...but never gambled. Don't care if anyone else does...just not

for me. I have worked hard for my money and after Uncle Sam grabs his share, I would like to keep the rest for a few minutes. Hard enough to do without giving it to a Casino. It is a great tax generator for the areas that have

one though.

There is a lot of tribal land where I live and every tribal area has its own casino. I can think of at least 8 within a 50 mile radius!! Most have rather significant resorts or hotels associated with them and offer multiple dining facilities and live entertainment. They are a big deal, a big money maker for the tribes and are very popular....if one can judge by the filled parking lots at all times of day and night. The one closest to me even offers free shuttle service from the ferry.

I am not a gambler but have visted a couple just to eat or take in a live show - several nearby bring in big name entertainment.

The ones in Louisiana have great food buffets. One has or did have a fabulous seafood buffet on the weekends. Haven't been in a long time so it might not be the same. I usually play the slots for a few minutes but other than that I don't gamble. I like the shops and entertainment. Just sitting and people watching can be entertaining lol. There's plenty of them around here if I wanted to go. There's a bus that goes to the Louisiana ones every day from here, not far, and it's a good deal they give you freebies. I could ride the free bus to Louisiana, have the free lunch with my family at the casino, visiting while shopping and playing, then ride the free bus back. Never did it before but who knows maybe someday we might.

The person that brought this old thread up has either removed the post or had it flagged. I have four casinos near me. Three of which I have been in. The largest one has movies and has a theater that hosts various musicians. I have only gambled once and decided I could become addicted to the thought of winning. One used to have the most delicious stuff in a small bakery area but it was never open when I wandered though. It has been a long time since I went to a movie and dinner at the one but do not remember it having shops other than ice cream.

RIP, oldfixer. You are missed.

There was a seemingly innocent post that brought it up, but two days later, it was edited to include a spam link to online casinos. It wasn't flagged until the spam showed up.

There are several within a two hour drive of me. The closest is less than 20 minutes. I enjoy going and playing the slots. It's a fun place to watch people and they give me a free buffet at least once a month. I'm about even as far as wins and losses. I win just enough to come back and give it back to them so it ends up being cheap entertainment for me. I have a friend in another state that has one big several times.

We enjoy talking about it and watching the slot games on YouTube. I like the sounds and lights of the slot machine games and I talk to the people at the casino. They are usually very friendly. I usually go with a friend and we have a cheap lunch somewhere and then spend an hour or two at the casino. Our time together is great fun.

I have zero interest in casinos. I've only been in one twice in my life. Once, grudgingly, on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi because the people I was with wanted to stop there. Part of the reason given for going there was the belief that casinos
have good restaurants with low prices to draw people in in the hopes
that they more than make up the difference in the food price by
gambling. That was not the case in the casino I was in. The food was
mediocre, at best, and about twice the price that you could buy it at
other nearby establishments. I walked around the casino some, watched some people playing, and even put a few coins into one of the slot machines. I don't remember winning anything, so I probably lost, but what I do remember was the flashing lights, the ringing and clanging and hubbub, and the subtle sound illusion of a constantly rising tone for the obvious purpose of creating a sense of building excitement. All it built in me was a desire to leave.

The other visit to a casino was forced on me in the Bahamas, where to purchase tickets to see the aquarium at the Atlantis resort, you have to go to a booth in the center of the casino.

I was in Las Vegas a number of years ago and found it very amusing that if you asked for directions, the response ALWAYS started with "you go through the casino....." LOL They so hope that you will be distracted by something shiny! :)

The novelty and fun of casino gambling wore off for me before I was 30. I've since been to a few only as venues to see Penn and Teller, or rock group concerts, or similar shows I've wanted to see. I've been to Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe casinos each a few times over the past half dozen years for such purposes and that requires me to get into town, see the show, then leave town the next day.

They're seedy places full of seedy people, not where or with whom I want to spend time. Indian casinos I've been to for shows (some book reasonable acts on occasion) are more down market operations than casinos in areas where gaming is legal and seem to have even less desirable clientele.

We've got quite a few casinos in Calgary and can play VLT's in most bars now. I have no desire for gambling, other than buying the odd lotto ticket. I only played the VLT's once about 20 years ago. I put in $20 and came out with $28 so I'm ahead and will leave it that way.

I was reading a book that included a section on how scientific the casinos are these days with psychologically triggering behavior in people to gamble compulsively to the point of being broke...the gamblers know they're doing it, they know it will lead to total losses, but can't stop themselves. Really frightening.

"Jeffrey Gregory", are you going to return to edit your post and tell us more?

I haven't been to a casino to gamble in probably 15 years. We go occasionally to eat at the buffets or to attend a concert. I'm waiting for Missouri to allow sports betting in the state before I'll set foot in the actual casino part again. I do pretty well betting football on offshore sites. This year I've won a little over 2/3 of my bets but I only bet 2 or 3 games a week and never over $100 per game. I approach it as a fun challenge. I don't bet on games that I have a rooting interest in and hardly ever watch the games I bet on.

I've only been in a casino one time. We went to pick up a horse in Louisiana, and stopped on the way to eat lunch in one. Like Bob said, I thought the food was very mediocre. Maybe the food is better at night.

I wouldn't mind going just once, but I don't think I would be much of a gambler. If I lost $20, I would quit.

Not a fan of casinos. I grew up in N. NV. My mom was addicted to gambling. I worked in a casino as a teenager. It was gross, and the sketchy men standing outside late at night when I had to walk home used to creep me out. I didn't always get a ride or was able to borrow my mom's car so it meant walking past them and walking clear across town to get home. I worked in the cafe, no windows, no ventilation. The smoke was awful. I would choke and my eyes would tear up for the first hour or so after I got to work.

Not a fan of Vegas either. I don't see the allure. The only reason I would ever go back is to see a concert of someone I really wanted to see. Last time I was in a casino was in Las Vegas. A few years ago, not long after that mass shooting. Walking into a casino my daughter wanted to show me and back out. We both stank of smoke by the time we walked out of there. We had gone to see George Strait.

We have a Caesars Casino where I live and a few casinos across the river in Detroit. Before the pandemic Americans would cross the border to play here instead because of the exchange rate. Canadians don't have to pay taxes on their winnings. We would go to the casino for the shows and once in a while we would play the slots when you used to be able to put coins in. We always expected to lose but once in a while we would come home with more than the $20 we played with. I don't like the slots any longer because most of them are video machines, where you pay so many coins for each line. You press a button and within seconds the money is gone. I used to like playing Black Jack at the charity casinos we had before the big casino came, minimum bets were $2 and I always won. Minimum bets at Caesars are too high. When I worked in the bank so many seniors were losing their pension cheques and their savings to the Casino. Some would come in and ask for extensions on their credit and if we noticed their debit cards were used at the casino their loan was denied. It was terrible seeing people losing their life savings at the Casino. They built the casino to bring in tourists to the downtown area. I don't think that really happened. Really no shops to go to. lots of bars and restaurants but most tourists don't venture from the casino to spend their money. I worked in a travel agency and I used to take groups to Vegas for 3 day weekends. It was fun but I enjoyed site seeing and taking tours and going to shows more than I did the gambling.

Didn't realize this was a very old post.

sushipup keeps a watchful eye on such things.

sal, it's nice that you have an activity that you enjoy and you should keep doing it. But to say you do something once a week that's known to be addictive isn't so for you, well, hmmm. A test would be to take a month off (when weather or other constraints wouldn't prevent you from going) and see how it goes. Going gambling once a week seems like a lot.

I would be interested in any seafood buffet in Louisiana. I've always had good food there. I would otherwise have zero interest in a casino.

In addition to the shows, Las Vegas also has a large convention center, and I worked there for about a week in May 2003, manning a booth that I designed for hospitality furniture for the company that I was working for at the time. The company paid for all of my expenses, and we all stayed at the New Aladdin Resort and Casino (AKA Planet Hollywood 2000 - 2007). It was very annoying to have to go through the casino to get anywhere. I had no interest in the casino, but I did want to use the pool. However, the pool closed at 6PM, and I did not get back from the convention center in time to use it.

One thing I liked was that I could wear all of my sequin and lamé shirts, and people thought that was normal. Women from the Midwest would always talk to me in the elevator and ask me a lot of questions. The person I was working for wanted to meet women and couldn't and was somewhat jealous that I got so much attention from the women. He may have wanted me along so that I could help him meet women.

I did like going to Mt. Charleston, just outside of Las Vegas. There is a decent mountaintop restaurant there. In general, I did think the food was good on The Strip, which is where I mostly stayed, since that is where the hotel was.

I've designed a lot of furniture for hotels in Las Vegas, including gold leaf chandeliers for the MGM Grand and silver plated wall sconces for executive men's washrooms at the Belagio. The hotels seem to have good budgets for public furnishing.

I have never gambled in a casino or at a slot machine in my life, and I also have never bought a lotto ticket.

There are a lot of tribal casinos in the Palm Springs area, including one in downtown Cathedral City, but the closest one to my house is in Rancho Mirage, and we drive past it when we go shopping in RM. I have no idea of whether they have good food at their buffets, and I am not tempted to visit them.