I don't need to go to a casino,,,I did a lifetime worth of gambing in divorce courts

I love blackjack, but I'm not very good at it. We were in Vegas in April for a meeting which I needed,otherwise would not have chosen Vegas. I find the whole place kind of disgusting. The smoking in the casinos bothers me, and the general excess of food and lights is bothersome. I guess I would think differently if I was better at blackjack and not intimidated. Plus I'm too cheap to waste my money gambling.

Don't like it, don't understand how people can throw away their money.

Here's a story for you. DH is a bill collector for the power company. Years ago, he had to go out to a house where the owner was a little old lady who couldn't pay her bill. After he turned off her service and left, he got a call from his boss berating him for doing that to a little old woman. Well, really--why put the work out on the street if you don't want it worked, right? Hours later DH went back to the office and had a word with his supervisor. "You know that account you called me about earlier? Well, right after you called, I stopped at a convenience store and there was the customer buying FISTFULS of lottery tickets." If she'd put the amount on her bill that she wasted on gambling, she wouldn't have been turned off.

My parents went to Vegas 2 or 3 times a year, and both loved gambling. My BIL and his wife go to a casino several times a week.

I have never been to Vegas, and never intend to go. I went to Atlantic City in the early 1980s, and still have not recovered from the fact that I allowed them to steal $14 of my money! I did go with my parents to a local casino two times, and they got almost $5 from me each trip. I won't be going back!

There's a reason why I am so against gambling. When I was about 7 years old, my best friend lived next door. Her father was a compulsive gambler. One day, Linda and I were playing outside and her father came walking up the street toward the house. Linda asked her father what happened to the car, and he said it was "gone". He lost their car gambling. Shortly thereafter, he lost their house, and her parents divorced. They remained friends for life, and our fathers remained friends until her father passed away in his mid-80s. Although he was a master electrician, he lived in a room in someone's rundown house and died penniless...because of gambling.

I hate it, I never win anything. I could be the only name in a hat and still not win...HAHAHA!

Not any more. When we lived in Montana, gambling was legal there, with a real nice casino/restaurant in Butte. My friend and I would meet there once a week for lunch, then we would spend the aft noon playing Keno. It was a fun time. Now we are in Minnesota and I have no yen to go the local Indian casino.
My sis & bro-in-law go to the casino weekly. They have one daughter and she is such a poop, they decided they would enjoy their money and not leave any to her. When they go to the casino, they say they are going to go SKI-ING. Spend...Kids....Inheritance. LOL

I can count on one hand how many times I have been to Vegas. Neither of us gamble at all, when we go there we like to do some shows and see the sights around the area. The only time we actually gambled we lost a roll of nickels between us and never won a dime.

Never been to Vegas. We spent our Honeynoon in Atlantic City 32 years ago and have been back many times. I bring rolls of quarters and play the slots. I consider it fun if my money holds out. I never won a big jackpot but I like the lights and bells. I've gambled at all the casinos there, my favorites are Resorts International and the Playboy Club. I haven't been there in a while, not sure what's there anymore. I used to go with hubby and his mother, but she passed away in 2005. Hubby once won $700. we were so happy-that was a weeks pay to him at the time.

Just got back from Vegas, and no I do not care for it. Too many people, and the sound of the casinos and the cigarette smoke are very unpleasant to me. That said--we did have a nice time visiting friends and seeing a couple of fabulous shows. But I was glad to get home.

I am not a gambler, but maybe once every couple years we will go to the gambling boats in St. Charles, MO or in Illinois. I never play the tables, feel more comfortable playing quarter slots or the poker machines. Don't spend more than $25. I look at it as entertainment.. and about the same as I would spend on bowling or other recreation.

I was in Vegas around 1985. Didn't gamble much, but I loved the atmosphere at night and all the lights. Doubt I would enjoy it as much now.

I'd definitely take advantage of the free hotel room like you got! Sorry you were sick.

I've been to Vegas several times. I am not much much of a gambler, other than video poker. DH likes poker and craps. I hate cigarette smoke and crowds so I limit my time in the casino. What I enjoy about Vegas is that it has become a culinary mecca and being that I am a foodie, it's sheer heaven! 2-3 days is about all I can take of Vegas.

I've been to Vegas a few times and enjoyed it. I haven't wanted to go back this last few years because I stopped winning and casinos have switched from giving tokens to giving paper slips. The first time I gambled, I didn't want to, but dh explained it to me like this. People go out to the movies and pizza and or some other form of entertainment. They pay money to have a night of fun. That is what we do when we go to the casino. We don't go to the local Indian casinos. We always go someplace where it is a big deal to get there and we go for the entertainment. Nobody will be losing food or shelter because we made the choice to go. We show up with a set amount of money. When it is gone. It is gone. Dh likes to blow through his money. He plays various games like roulette or slots. Me. I like the $.25 slots. I've hit the jackpot on a couple. I like to play such that I only spend the money I brought. Any money that I win goes into a separate cup and gets cashed in for me to take home. I never go home broke even if I don't end up with as much as I brought. That is why I hate the newer paper system because it doesn't let you cash out. It's lost its fun.

years ago, I worked for a So California based company. After a week long meeting, I used to route my flight home on Saturday morning thru Vegas and then take the red eye home to Pa.
For a few years, DH and I used to go there to the DI for a yearly golf tournament for country club teams that he played in.

I used to love Blackjack.

Stayed there about 4 years ago, and It just isn't the old Vegas. I don't think I'll go back again.

I don't really gamble as I don't like the cigarette smoke either and I am not a lucky person but I was in Vegas about 2 months ago for a night and it was fun to wander around and people watch. I enjoyed wandering though all the ritzy shops and pretending I was rich enough to buy whatever I wanted, haha.

I like to play the penny slots.

Not my kind of entertainment.

I don't like to gamble at all. I don't like the casinos because they are too noisy and the smell of cigarette smoke is not good for my asthma and allergies.
I would rather save my money and go to the mountains.

Never been to Vegas.

Friend (who's socially aware) won the lottery a few months ago, didn't cash in for about 4 months, as they were busy and he (somewhat temporarily, we hope) not well. His wife, formerly on the elected executive committe of our city, was campaign manager for someone running to be a member of our legislature, provincial parliament.

Lady doing video of his reaction, he's a quiet, laid-back kind of guy, said he was the worst client she'd ever had - boring! Planned to share wih family, give some to charity, some to political support, invest the rest.

They're of retirement age, nice home with, I expect, no mortgage: there'll be no mortgage, now, in any case.

I'll never win - don't play.

If you want to give me a dollar (or any number of them that you choose) ...

... I'll give you back about 35 cents for each of those dollars that you care to part with.

ole frugal

We go to Vegas at least a couple time a year, but my daughter and her family live there..so I go to visit them and by grand babies!! We will be spending a week at Christams. I do not gamble when we go, but DH will play poker.. he usually does VERY well almost always comes home with several hundred from the poker table.. There is a lot to do and see in Las Vegas even if you do not like the casinos.. But the best activity for me is spending time with family !!!

I like to play black jack. but Las Vegas doesn't have any appeal for me. I've never been. I have been to Reno... a VERY VERY VERY long time ago. I liked the smallness of it and we practically walked around the whole town. I imagine things have changed since then! lol

Casinos bore me to death. I can stand them for about 15 minutes. Was at Circus Circus in Sept. and never spent even a nickle. Took a lot of walks during the day to get out of there. LOL

I am meeting some Red Hat gals for dinner at an Indian casino next moth for dinner. They have a really nice buffet. I won't be gambling there either. Unless I get a club card to discount my dinner. If they give me a twenty buck voucher I'll use it up at the slots or something but that's it for me.

Never been to Vegas. Don't care. DS goes a lot for conventions. Finds it boring too. I might go just to people watch and see the sights just once but it's not very high on my travel list.

One casino I would like to visit again is the Casino de Monte Carlo. Back in the 70's, we spent a week vacationing in Monte Carlo, and the Casino was an after dinner visit, and it always made me feel like I was in a James bond movie.

For those of you who hate the gambling part but are going to a casino, I have a great idea for you, and I promise loads of entertainment: people watching. Find a good spot somewhere in the casino where many people walk by, get yourself a beverage and people watch. I think that is the best part of my job, every time I think I have seen it all, the door opens and someone else walks in. It is truly the best free sport ever.

I agree with all of you on the smoke. I don't smoke, but in my casino we have the luxury of floor vents that blow straight up and push the smoke to the ceiling where we have good ventilation. I rarely come home smelling smoky, although that is part of the business.

For those of you afraid to play the table games, don't be. The dealer will help you (they can't tell you what to do but they will give you tips on what the best strategy is - remember, they work for tips almost exclusively, so it is in their best interest to help you) and the other players will help you as well. You are all there for the same goal: win and have fun.

For those of you who play slots, did you know that the penny slots are the tightest, quarters and nickles are second, and the higher denominations pay out the most frequently? If you play slots, ALWAYS play the max coin. If you only want to play one dollar in the dollar slots, save your money and go to a quarter machine and play the 3 coin max. You will get a higher payout in the long run. It just kills me to see people playing penny slots and only playing 5 or 10 pennies, save your money and play the max coin on a nickle machine!

And never, ever forget to tip your beverage server for even the "free" sodas or coffee. Most servers are charged 20 cents for each soda they put on a tray to carry around, then people take them without tipping. If you just give them 50 cents or a $1 for a couple of sodas they will make sure you always have what you need. Same with slot people, they work for tips too and LOVE when people hit jackpots. Dealers are the same. Ours make less than $5/hour so they totally rely on tips to make their money. Betting with the dealer is what they love best, they want you to win your bet because then they win the tip bet as well. It makes for a lot more fun with the dealers.

Just my casino tips.

Not much for gambling, just not that lucky. The only time I've been to Vegas was years ago on the way home after a Grand Canyon rafting trip. We arrived about midnight after days on the river, so the indoor plumbing and a long, hot shower held more attraction for me than the casinos. The guys in the group, on the other hand, took a quick shower and hit the casinos. I did go down for about an hour the next morning while DH was sleeping in and played the slots just for the experience. Have been to casinos in Tahoe on ski trips and a couple of trips to to riverboat casinos on the Mississippi, but only because that's what our friends were doing. It was fun, but you can have fun doing just about anything if you are doing it with good friends.

My middle son lives in Lost Wages and works at the Bellagio as a poker dealer. I took the Grandsons and spent a week there this past summer, but didn't gamble once - just not an endeavor I would enjoy. I did go the the wonderful buffet at the Bellagio and took the kiddos to Circus Circus to the rides area, but beyond that, I'm not interested.

As I said above, I don't buy tickets ... but I think I won $10.00 or $14.00 several years ago, for ome gas stations gave lottey tickets if one bought above a certain volume of gas, so, gas being about the same everywhere and theirs being no more expensive, I bought above the stated amount sometimes and had a small winner or two.

Freebies I can handle.

ole joyful

hated it..but, lol, met my dh there, and married there...my parents lived there..think the last time i played a slot machine was on vacation when we drove around lake mi, and stopped at one of the indian casinos...

there are some really nice things to do if you don't gamble..we've visited the north rim of the grand canyon, brice and zion nat parks...closer a visit to the dam, red rock...ethel m's candy factory and gardens...and think ocean spray cranberry has a tour as well...

think what got me was when i was shopping at the local supermarket, and this mom was playing the slots with a small child clinging to her and just knew it was food money she was spending...

from what my dd tells me it's not the cheap eats anymore either..she and sil went on a couples weekend and spent alot! and it wasn't all in the casino...

We've been to Las Vegas and also to Reno. It's fun, but neither of us are big on gambling. He has better luck at it than I do, though.

We have a new casino in town that is just a few blocks from where we live. That could have been bad if we'd been hooked. lol We've only been there twice and neither one of us has a desire to go back.

I'd rather buy something for the house and have something to show for the money, than to throw it away.

Most of the cruise ships we've been on have casinos. They make good money from a captive crowd. I noticed more 'winners' early in the cruise -- good business.

I've never been to Vegas, although we fly over that massive electrical power waste amidst the soft darkness of Earth when we take the redeye home from Maui. (Evokes some 'Biblical' thoughts.)

The history of Monte Carlo, including how it came to exist, is a great story. I can't imagine ever being as bored with life as the idle nobility who sought some semblance of stimulation there. We've visited the casino there and at Caribbean ports. The scenes are something to observe, but I can't say exactly *what*.

I chuckle at the TV ads for casinos near Chicago. Note the young men and women, beautifully groomed, laughing and exuding glamor. (Hugh Hefner is still trying that sell.) Have you seen footage taken *in* casinos? I see geezers in lawn-mowing clothing and sneakers, sitting mesmerized by flashing colored lights until the free bus arrives to ferry them home.

Very seldom. Drove through Vegas one night, spent a couple hours there at most. About every 3-5 years I go to a casino for a couple hours. That's plenty for me. But I usually enjoy myself when we go.

A lot of people don't understand that casinos and gambling are entertainment. I don't understand people throwing their money away on a $100 meal in a restaurant, $60-$75 to go into an amusement park, $50-$200/mo for a gadget to talk into and annoy people, $10-$20 for a movie, hundreds to thousands on a "cruise", any amount spent on books to read once and sit on a shelf, tens of thousands on ridiculously overpriced cars every few years, thousands on Christmas presents, trinkets that people feel compelled to give and lots and lots of other things. But that's how some people get their jollies. To each their own.

I've only been to Vegas once. I liked it until I got some type of food poisoning. As for gambling, I don't really do much gambling. I hate losing my money. I live within walking distance of a casino. The only time I go there is for the entertainment which happens about 4 times a year. When I go there, we'll both take about $20 each to spend. Sometimes we come home with money and sometimes we don't. We've never won big. As Cynic says, gambling is for entertainment and a person really needs to remember that. I'll also add that casinos are not "non-profits". They will make money and if they do not, they will go out of business.