I can never rember the name of this out door bar but there's always a good band playing & its always packed with people. Its between the Quad & The Flamingo & when I heard one of my favorite songs being played live, I had to take a quick video.
Hotel California:
http://youtu.be/xpo8GqcU0EY
For a low end hotel/appt, it actually has a really nice pool.
Harbour Island Pool:
http://youtu.be/DZoi7vsZ9MM
The daily game & the game I enjoyed most was the $2-$6 spread game at Monte Carlo. Arriving at 9:00-10:00 was usual for me.
I felt it was a smooth relaxing way to start a day of gambling. Doesn't require a lot of focus so, you have time to research sports & slowly wake up with a special coffee or two.
Everyday I walked through those front doors, I felt a hint of renewal in the air. Like it was a new day & no matter what happened the day before this was a brand new opportunity to make money.
The Office:
http://youtu.be/YvDrFMCdMdQ
Slowly learning to not bet against the streak
Black streak:
http://youtu.be/a7ZG7mpzgHY
Alright, enough of the random videos, on to the trip summary..
THE CLASSIC
Let's start with the Aria. I was at the poker room for the chip out on the final day of the opening round & was able to get a glimpse of the pre tournament routine.
Aria Chip out:
http://youtu.be/beZeEs45td4
After they got started I went to the Buffet & posted some of my dishes but, here's a shot of the entire buffet.
Aria buffet:
http://youtu.be/J5W6dVOA6OY
The food was incredible & I'd say it was arguably the single greatest meal I had in Vegas.
The next evening I arrived back at the Aria when there were 6 tables remaining & they were setting up the Final Table.
Aria Classic Final Table:
http://youtu.be/16ZXkI12l6s
Immediately after I shot that clip someone was busted out & made $9000.00.
I was standing beside a guy who started texting on his phone. He put his phone back in his pocket & looked at me and said, "That’s my buddy who just went out."
We talked for a bit & I think he said he was from Arkansas and I learned that he staked his buddy in the Classic so they were both really excited.
Shortly after that, someone came up to us and said, " He wants you to come to the cash out table".
I guess you get your picture taken at the cash out table when you bust out.
I didn't stick around all night to see who won so, I couldn't tell you their name but, I can tell you that they are now a millionaire.
The Aria is by far the most esthetically eye pleasing resort in Vegas. It’s nice to pretend I'm one of the rich people for the 20-30 mins I spend there! High minimums & overpriced food. Just what you need to keep dirt bags like me out of Your casino!
Vegas Joke: What's the difference between a poker table & a toilet?
A toilet only seats ONE ass hole!
I lost $60 playing Pai Gow at the Aria & another $45 playing BJ. I also played slots for the 1st time in my gambling career. Back to the Future. Lost $50. Wish I had a McLaren & 2.2 jiggawats so I could travel back & never play a slot machine!
I’ve never won money at the Aria. Well, once I won $200 Playing roulette with a dealer who said he was Novak Djokovichs' cousin. But that was over 7 years ago.
Maybe next year I'll try my luck in this tourney, but this year my BR just couldn't justify it. I think in hindsight, I made the right decision.
THE WSOP
A shuttle bus leaves Bally's every 1/2 hour for the Rio. I arrived at the Rio ready to pop my WSOP cherry & I did just that, in the 6:00 pm Deep Stacks. Before I took my seat I was able to get permission to tape, not only the entire poker area but also Chris Moneymaker at the feature table. The 1st security guard I asked said, No. So, I made sure to thank the guard who allowed me to take a quick video. Footage is blurry when I zoom in at the Feature table but, he is sitting at seat #1.
C Moneymaker @ feature table:
http://youtu.be/DhlH17DIgo8
Word around the Rio poker room is that he is still a true degenerate & only getting worse. If you believe everything that you hear at a poker table, and I DO, he recently stole or borrowed $70,000.00 from his Father & if he doesn't cash in the Main Event he's broke again!
Is it any wonder why this guy is one of my gambling heroes. He's Truly making a run at my all time favourite gambling icon, Stu Unger.
I was seated at table 301 in seat 4 & within the 1st hour I had taken out 4 players. Too bad it wasn't a Bounty Tourney! So, there I was, quadrupled stacked & ****ting my pants in the most important tourney of my short career with sweatty palms & a nautious stomach, when they call 3rd break. I burst out of my seat, ran to the bathroom, pissed & then RAN out to the smoking area to chain smoke for 20 mins. While I was out there I talked to a restaurant owner from L.A. who helped to calm me down a little with stories of how he busts out of the Deep Stack events all the time.
This guy was cool as $hit and built like a brick house. His Rolex was only worth $10,000.00!
We returned to our table & I was dealt A-Q as soon as I sat down & made a small raise preflop & was reraised. I called & when the flop came A-10-5 the villian pushed all in & I snap called. When bricks fell on the turn & river I beat his pocket kings & took out my 5th runner!
They collapsed our table & we were sent on 4th break, I'm sitting just over $5,000 more than stack avg. On the way out to the smoking area I saw a guy who I remembered from my last Vegas trip & whom I had been playing with in the $2-$6 game at Monte Carlo all week. He recognized me but, didnt remember me from last year. Can you blame him?
He asked me what game I was playing in & when I told him it was the 6:00 pm Deep Stacks, he said "Me too".
I was honest with him and told him how I was so nervous & intimidated and he stopped walking, turned around & said, "I'm gonna give you 2 pieces of advice, "This late in a Deep Stacks event you aren't going to see many more hands. So, play Aggressive in late position, Early in the hand."
I reassured him that I understood what he was saying & why. Then he said, "...& the second thing is, the worst thing that is going to happen to you is that you might lose $185 tonight."
He shrugged his shoulders & made a quick laugh.
Easy for him to say, I thought to myself. If he does for a living, what I think he does for a living, this might not all seem like a great big deal. A mini cash in this tourney gets me into the 3:00 pm. Deep Stacks tomorrow, which is quite a bit more expensive with a much larger pay out & a FT gets me very close to a seat in The Main Event!
He wished me luck & turned and walked away, presumably to the smoking area. I know he smokes because I saw him smoking at Monte Carlo & he always seems like he's in a hurry for something.
My suspicions were later confirmed when he played in the Monte Carlo free roll on my final day. I'll go into more detail when I discuss the free roll later.
When we sat at the new table things changed. There were 90 players left & I felt that it was "coin toss city". I folded pocket fours on my big blind after two raises & folded 77 preflop when the large stack moved all in after a small raise.
I thought I was going to be able to limp in with pocket 3's when the BB raises all in for what would be exactly 1/2 my stack. I must have thought for nearly 3 minutes before I finally mucked.
I went to 5th break having accomplished nothing besides contributing to the blinds & antes.
Another 40 minutes pass & the blinds & antes raise twice more & I fold 2 more pocket pairs but, finally pick up a black pair of pocket eights. I have to call a substantial raise but I'm gonna see a flop this hand, even if I happen to be in early position. Even if it costs me a little more, I’m going to see a flop because I got this guy covered.
If I don't hit my 7 to 1 shot, I can utilize my position & overbet the pot, try to push him off, or check in early position & fold if he makes a play at the pot. The flop comes K-10-5, all diamonds. I'm 1st to act & all I wanna do is throw them into the muck after crumpling them in my fist. But, I calmly & quickly check & BB thinks for a few seconds, then looks at me, then looks at the pot, counts it. Then he looks at my chips & at his chips, then looks at the board & counts all his chips, then looks at my chips again & then he looks down at nothing & looks at the dealer??? Then he counted his chips again & looked at me again & then looked at his phone ...lol
...And finally shoved his stack in.
Two seconds later I folded.
About 3 minutes, before the next break, I get dealt jk & find myself heads up with the player I believe is the Loosest player at our table. After we both check on the flop, the turn pairs the board with 6's and he throws out, what I believe to be a test bet, so I make the min raise & he calls.
The river brought 2 pairs on the board & after two quick checks his ace high beats my k high with the two pairs on board.
I've just given away 1/2 of my chips & there's no doubt in my mind that I just played that last hand horribly.
With 58 players left after the 6th break, I know I have to make a move & quickly because I'll be blinded out by 7th break.
Queen - Seven Clubs was the best hand I saw after paying 4 sets of blinds so I shoved & was called by, you guessed it. Pocket Vowels. I turned a fourth club but when a brick came on the river, I wished everyone good luck, told pocket aces not to give my chips away & made the walk of shame down the WSOP hallway to the casino to play some 2:30 am BJ.
Depressing.
DAY 15
I woke up with an ample hangover. Even after a shower & a bowl of Capt’n Crunch, I could barely think.
The night before was a drunken blur.
I Tilted like a pinball machine at casino royal to the tune of $925.
That's a substantial portion of my bankroll. Up until this point I was careful to not bring more than 20% of my BR with me every time I left the apartment. This way if I get tapped I have to walk all the way back to ****sville if I wanna lose more.
But, not last night. Last night I carried almost everything I had.
There's nothing quite as sobering as waking up with $240 & a hangover that makes you wish someone buried you in the desert the night before.
But, I came to Vegas for a reason so, I dragged my ass out of the apartment & headed back to the Strip.
Day 15:
http://youtu.be/uCuyHEFPVco
We know how the WSOP turned out for me & I actually cashed out of the $2-$6 game for $170, for an over all profit of $90 after drink tips.
Vegas tip: Special Coffees with Baileys or Kaluha are great cures for hangovers!
I missed a huge parlay payout when the Pirates gave up a 5-1 lead in the final inning. $470 swing.
I made absolutely no financial headway on Day 15.
Day 15 provided me with a great opportunity to reflect deeply on money management strategies & how important it is to never play on tilt. No matter the size of your BR.
My father called me that day & could clearly tell that I was feeling really down & tried his best to encourage me & cheer me up. When I get into those types of moods its hard to shake myself out of them. After I hung up with him I realized that one bad night does not a bad gambler make. I had the big cash in the freeroll & hit some horses at Mandalay Bay hours before I made the walk to McCarran.
Vegas Tip: If you're gonna walk from the Strip to the airport, walk from Mandalay Bay.
Over all Day 14 was a pretty bad day for Jayvegas but, piecing it together made Day 15 even worse.
THE FREEROLL
I arrived at the Monte Carlo early, around 10:00 am & the 1st person I saw was Al Schoonmaker, setting his bag down at one of the tournament tables. I had my travel bag with me as I was preparing to leave later that night so, I placed my bag a few tables over, out of the way of the other players. I walked back to Dr. Schoonmaker's table & asked him if he'd mind taking a quick picture with me & he politely agreed.
Dr. Alan Schoonmaker:
http://youtu.be/YKw6XlLGiKg
He sat & shot the $hit with me for a few minutes but, shootin' the $hit with Dr. Schoonmaker is unlike picking anyone else's brain. You always learn something new when you talk with him & he is so humble that it’s easy to take and absorb his constructive criticisms. Before he told me to, "Get out of here & go register." He said this, about my frugal ness...."Jay, did you know that when they surveyed Fortune 500 executives an overwhelming majority of them were all found to share one common quality. They all admitted to being frugal."
"Jay", he continued "there's a difference between being cheap & being poor.". I smiled because here's this esteemed, educated, world renowned author telling me something that I have been saying for years.
I can't think of a better way to start my day than to sit at a table with my favorite author and talk shop for a few minutes before I start work!
It helped me keep the day's objectives in perspective & also helped to take the edge off of the last day in Vegas, which is always the most depressing day in Vegas.
The goals for the day began simply, keep the $100 in my pocket so I could eat & safely get to McCarran that night. Didn't sound like a very tall order as I walked through the front doors of the Monte Carlo.
Final Day:
http://youtu.be/UfK5r4jdT2A
I made my way to the back of the poker room to register for the free roll. They swiped my card, informed me of how many chips I'd be starting with & asked me if I had a preferred seat #. I asked if I could sit directly to Al's left & they said, "No, but we have a seat immediately to his right."
I replied, "Sold!"
I paid the extra $10 for the $2,500.00 add on, which went to the dealers. I had no idea that most of the dealers came in to work on their day off to deal the free roll on their own time. They are compensated only by tips & the $10 add on. Some of my favorite dealers are Monte Carlo employees & they all deserve every penny they earn on Saturdays. I'll go into greater detail in The Dealers section which follows.
I realize this is only a freeroll as I take my seat but I am feeling the adrenalin none the less. I'm reminded of how seriously people can take these tourneys on the 1st hand, when I play this local like a fiddle after rivering a tight.
I think for a few seconds about how much I can get out of this loudmouth on the river & he says, "C'mon buddy, it’s the 1st hand of a fricken freeroll & you're sitting there staring? C'mon, let's go, it’s a free roll, hurry up & play."
Now, I should explain that the whole time during card count, shuffle up & deal, this guy hadn't stopped talking. Through the entire 1st hand this guy, Cliff, hadn't stopped talking & I heard Al remark to our friend on his left side that, "Cliff never shuts up." Even the dealer heard what Al said & gave him the eye roll & nod of approval.
So, to get further under this guy's skin & rattle him even further I start playing with my chips and stare him down for another half minute until he blurts out, "aww, c' Mon buddy am I gonna have to call time?"
"$600", I say as I toss 6 blacks into the pot. Now, I don't know if you know who David Suzuki is but, Cliff not only sounds like DAVID SUZUKI but he also looks just like David Suzuki.
I tried as hard as I could to not laugh when he went on a little rant, complaining that it too long to get to this point in time took & this is all time that he could never get back.
Analyzing the hand & discussing it, just like David Suzuki would, on one of his shows!
He was putting on a little show for the table but at the same time I truly believe I had him considering a call but, after a few more wise cracks he mucked his rags & I felt like I had put myself on the map. At least at Table #1.
I made all the right moves in all the right positions & made the 1st break in close to 3rd or 4th place overall.
I was obviously behind Alan Schoonmaker who starts most freerolls with close to $100,000.00 to my $5,400!!!!
During the break I see that my buddy from the WSOP was already smoking by the side doors and as i approached him he was talking with another local about his cash in the event we played in at the Rio.
"Jamie", I asked "Did i hear you say you came 15th?"
He began to describe the bad beat he took which led to a final hand where he had his money in good & lost on the turn. I was happy to hear that he finished ITM & congratulated him accordingly. If i remember correctly 15th place might have paid over $600. The winner took $9,000.00+.
He told us that he wasn't looking good in the freeroll & would be lucky to make the bubble. We sat back down to $300-$600 blinds & Jamie busted out at another table, shortly after. Then I got involved in my favorite hand of the trip.
Al, Cliff, our friend Rita & I are still at table one, with a few newcomers from the feeder tables & I look down to see two Beautiful Black Ladies.
There are four callers behind me including Rita & Al. I raise $1,200 & Al re-raised $2,400, the other players fold & I gotta see a flop against the Dr. so, I call. The flop came low, perhaps there was flush potential but, I came out with a $2,000 bet & Schoonmaker instantly threw $6,000 more into the pot. I thought for about 20-35 seconds but after the 1st 5. I knew he had aces.
I said, "Good Hand, Al." & folded my cards tits up.
After what seemed like an awkward silence, one of the players said, "That's not what I expected to see."
Then someone else asked, "Why would you fold that?"
Next thing I know Cliff's chirping in now Asking ,"What's going on? Is this amateur night?", he continues "I would never fold over pocket pairs on a flop like that."
As the dealer awards Al the pot and begins to gather the cards , now Rita looks at me & asks in her Hungarian or Greek accent, "No, really why did you fold that honey?"
By now nearly everyone at the table had thrown their 2 cents in and Al sat back, smiled & said, "I guess he thought he was beat."
No one said a word after that.
Rita looked back at me & without saying anything I smiled at her & nodded my head, indicating that I couldn't have said it any better than Al just had.
The dealer called for blinds & started dealing the next hand.
Rich people see opportunities
Poor people see obstacles
I thought Alan Schoonmaker said that, but, a few hands later when I leaned over towards him to ask him about that quote he leaned back in his seat & waved his hand & said, "I don't talk during tournament play."
"OOh", I said " I'm sorry Al, I didn't know!"
He leaned forward to grab his cards for the new hand & said, “well, how could ya?"
I don't know why I found this funny but I laughed & said, "Yeah...how could l?"
He barely spoke a word after that. All the way to the final table I didn't hear him say more than 5 words. We walked to the final table & they counted our chips & gave us our slips to collect our winnings with. Before I cashed, I went back out the side doors to talk with Jamie again & before I can say anything he asks me who Lawrie from my Jays jersey is?
I tell him he's a 3rd baseman & then I ask him if he works & he tells me that he picks up the odd construction job but he plays in tournaments all over Vegas & has been living there for well over 10 years. I knew he was a local pro but, I just wanted to confirm my suspicions.
The Freeroll paid $500 & I picked up my bag & started towards the front doors when I saw Al walking from the cashiers cage & he stopped me & asked where I was going & when I replied, McCarran he said that he didn't know I was going back to Canada today, even though I'm sure I made it clear before the tourney when I took the video.
I said, yea today's my last day & he said, "Listen Jay you showed a lot of balls today & played really well. You folded those queens when I had aces well, you knew that! You're a good player."
I thanked him, shook his hand & he walked away towards the poker room.
I had just enough comp points for one last buffet at the Monte Carlo.
Monte Carlo buffet:
http://youtu.be/56fiTj_20S0
Plate 2:
http://youtu.be/MhJtbl8dRV0
Plate 3:
http://youtu.be/jSCea2Tl8vo
I grabbed my bag & took the rest of the money I had to Mandalay Bay & bet longshots , trying to hit big in the Racebook before my 11:00pm flight.
Tough but Scared
Scared but Tough
If I'm awake & breathing I'm scared. Its not a choice, its how I was raised. My old man thought me to question everything & trust no one.
This makes me a very analytical & cynical person. When you have a mouth like mine & ask so many questions, you'd better be tough.
THE DEALERS
After dealing in casinos & underground games for over 13 years & playing in them for over 23 years, it’s fair to say I can distinguish between a good dealer & a bad dealer. A good dealer generally knows that when his players are winning & having a good time they tip better. A bad dealer will cheer against his player & doesn't care if they are having a good time. Some of the best dealers barely say a word. Some of the worst dealers say too much, to the point where advice quickly turns into criticism.
I've never understood the mentality behind cheering against the player when you are the dealer? Some dealers are just so competitive that they can't stand losing? Even when it benefits them to do so?
I don't buy that. I am an admittedly competitive guy but, when I beat my players I rarely got paid & when my players won I was tipped more often than when they busted. This is a simple premise. So, even if I didn't like a player personally, I still wanted his hands to win more often than lose, to better my chances of being tipped.
When I dealt at underground poker games where I was responsible for taking proper rake, you're damn right I was cheering for the runner who tipped bigger & more consistently! But as a dealer I was no more responsible for his wins than I was for his losses. I was just a dealer. Ripping cards out of a shoe based on what you, the player, tells me to do. That's why I only tip dealers when Im up money but, tip the server no matter how much I'm down. Dealers aren't really doing anything for you. I mean, they're not really doing anything that a machine can't do. Find me the machine in Vegas that can bring me a $22 drink, FOR FREE & smell like heaven as it walks away & its hair almost touches your face but for a moment......whoa whoa WTF? What happened? Where am I?...I check.
Anyway...where was I.....?
Oh yeah, my favorite dealers on this trip were:
Lou at the Casino Royal! When things were going good Lou was running good too. There was a really drunk Latino in seat #2. He was clearly the most twisted at the table. Seats #3 & #4 were buddies from Minnesota one was the joker the other was the drunk who was ready to go home any time now before he passes out. Seat #5 stays empty for a while & I am playing #6 & #7.
In a blink Im up $65 playing $5 a spot & Latino is up over $200 & he's tipping Lou $5 a hand nearly every third or fourth winning hand. I never tip outright but, when things are hot I Toke bet for the dealer so if, I win the dealer wins.
Things were going so well, at one point I think I bet 8 tips straight & win or lose Lou never forgot to thanks me for the tip.
The server was at the table every 15 mins & the table has to take a break for a fill, & I head to the bar to get $1 Michelob s for the table.
When the fill is done a new dealer is coming in to relieve Lou & the drunk Latino, Freddie, who meant well but was so drunk that by this point he was staying on soft 15s & soft 16s says, "Who's this ass hole they got coming in now?"
Lou looks at the relief dealer & rolls his eyes & I hear the relief dealer say to Lou, "Really nice, haven't dealt a card yet and I'm already being called an *******."
Lou puts his head down & Even over the loud Casino Royal music I could hear him say "yeah well they're tipping well ...seat 2, nickles & these two, singles & especially my man here & he knocked on my betting square.
Lou talked about old time Las Vegas & stuff like meeting hall of famers like Walt Fraiser during old Vegas Summer League games.
I can't remember the relief's name but the late night shift dealer that came in & started my inevitable downfall was Big Bad Charles. Charles Sweat more than Jayvegas & I'm from Canada but, they pack so many people into that place that its hotter than hell. I was more than happy to wait for Chuck the Truck to take out his handkerchief & wipe away the sweat every 4-5 hands , even though he was slowly pushing my **** in with every back door ace he pulled on me!
Between him, the relief & Lou I'd say they went home with $450 in tips just from that table alone.
A good night for the Casino Royal table game dealers!
All the lady dealers at the Monte Carlo
Holly, Deb, & Donna Marie, all the gals in the poker room.
It's my favourite poker room, with my favorite poker dealer Steve the Korean & my favourite sportsbook with my favourite servers. There's this dark haired server which has this angry sexy thing always going on & she Wears that referees Top with the short black skirt & when she walks by...whoa wait ...
What happened? I did it again. OK, I'm back.
Anyway ..Where was I? Oh yeah, my favourite dealer Of the entire trip was Michael at the Wild Wild West. another BJ pit that drained my roll. But I tipped a lot there as well because when things were going good they were going really good & I was tipping Michael just so he'd tell more stories. The good thing about his stories was that they were not long & drawn out they were concise & to the point. The game never slows down for his stories unless he wanted to stop the game to make sure you're listening. He's been in Vegas since he was a teenager & told stories mostly about boxing & boxers. He Met Ken Norton & Trevor Berbick. Told stories of drinking & gambling with his buddy Michael Nunn.
His stories ranged from meeting or dealing to Ann Margret & Bo Derek to Liz Taylor & BB King to Chuck Berry & Frank Sinatra. When he was really young he biked down the street to watch them film Viva Las Vegas the movie. Ironically he doesn't remember ever seeing The King.
He said he was in the cafe at the Flamingo one night & BB King Jammed with Chuck Berry on an amp right in the middle of the cafe. This guy was what old Vegas is all about.
Vegas Tip: If you wanna cash your cheque, cash it at Wild Wild West & spin the wheel !
The restaurant of choice is Chey Denny's. I ordered, ate & paid all in less than a shoe & a half.
Special mention to old David at the Excalibur who never remembers me,even though he’s been dealing to me for 5 years now. Can't blame him, I'm sure he's 80 or 75.
LIMOS, BUSES, CABS & WALKING
If your funds are unlimited, take limos everywhere you go. If you're a millionaire, take cabs everywhere.
If you're grinding it out trying to make $1,000 per week, you need to take the bus . If you show up with $2,7000.00, you're walking everywhere.
Just like the guy who shows up with $2,700.00 has to decide if he wants the $2.70 bus....The Millionaire has to decide whether he wants a $1,000.00 limo or a $100 cab. Its all relative.
I feel like there would be so much of Vegas that I would be missing if i spent 10-12 hours per week in a cab or on a bus. Soon will come a day when I won't be able to walk 5-6 miles up & down the strip so, I'll enjoy it while I can.
THE HOMELESS
There was a time when I was a little kid & I remember wanting to be, at one point or another, every character on Sesame St.
Big Bird, cookie monster, The Count....didn't matter. I was 5. I even thought it would be the coolest thing if I could live with Oscar the grouch. He pulled all sorts of cool things out of that garbage can!
And bonus...He got to live in it!
Well, as it turns out when you grow up dumpster diving isn't all you thought it was cracked up to be when you were 5. In fact its quite indignant & sad. A lot of people who believe in Karma, donate to the homeless. I give to the homeless during my travels through Vegas but, it’s not with the expectation that my generosity will be returned in some sort of mystical or spiritual manner. I give purely out of sympathy & pity because, "there but by the grace of God". When I lose a bet in the bottom of the ninth or get chased down by a flush on the river, I don't attribute that loss to the fact that I didn't donate that day. Just like when I hit a 5 team parlay or win $500 at a BJ table, I don't think to myself, " Well, that happened because I gave that lady all those cigarettes on the overpass this morning." I win because I encounter good luck & I lose primarily because of bad luck. I donate to the homeless because as unlikely as it seems, there are people out there who are encountering much worse luck than I.
Another strange thing I noticed about the indigent population in Vegas is that they tend to dress like they are enduring a Canadian winter. Dark tattered pants with heavy long sleeved jackets, while I am in a T-shirt & shorts, feeling like I have reached the body temperature where humans might burst into flames. Why are they so resilient when it comes to the desert heat.
I've never given the homeless money. Generally I give cigarettes & McDonalds instead of cash. This is not because I care what they spend their money on. I just feel, at times, that I need the money as bad as them so, if I'm full I'll give away my McDonalds or if I have a few extra cigarettes, what's the difference to me?
DRINK TICKETS
Most sports books don't offer free alcohol without drink tickets. I don't believe that any of them prohibit you from bringing your own with you either.
If you're in Vegas to earn money, you shouldn't be drinking but, if you need to drink, you should not be paying for your alcohol. Poker rooms with hungry hustling servers are always your best bet. 2nd are sports books with quick servers. Some sports books require $100+ bets for a drink ticket. Find a sports book that offers drink tickets for minimal bets. Race books administer tickets too & usually for a much lower minimum bet, like $10 in some cases. Most KENO wickets also administer drink tickets.
If tips are substantial, table game servers will husttle back to a table promptly & consistently. But now you're paying a little more for the same drink you could have received for $1 in the poker room or sports book. Also, keep in mind that no matter whether youre winning or losing at BJ, you might wager $300-$400 before the server returns to the table. And thats betting the table minimum.
Same goes for 2 for 1 drink deals, you are paying for a drink + tip to get the free drink.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Poker Room offers bottles of wine & alcohol for so many hours played. Casino Royal offers $1 Michelob bottles, 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
Bottom line, if you're not sure you can last in a poker room , long enough to be served 12-15 drinks then betting $10 show tickets at the race book & cashing 80%+, is the best way to get free dink tickets in the Vegas Strip.
FOOD
Without a doubt some of the best food in the world can be found on the Vegas strip. There is no shortage of free food offers in Vegas but, what is the inevitable cost to you? FREE in Vegas is almost never entirely free. It’s usually correlated to the amount you are willing to risk while gambling.
If a sports book requires you to wager $2,000 before you are comp’d a free buffet, that will be a rather expensive meal, regardless of whether you win or lose. If you traveled to Vegas with the sole intention of placing $2,000 & only $2,000 on one particular game, then, a free meal awarded for doing something that you were going to do anyway , doesn't seem so bad. talking to the sports book manager or the brush in the poker room is always good advice when seeking out the best comp offers.
Poker room comps are usually separate from all other casino comps. If you are going to play poker more often than any other game, it makes sense to play in a poker room that provides the best promotions that suit your needs. If you gamble on sports more than any other form of gambling, find a sports book that offered the beat comps for the least amount risked. There are many other factors involved in choosing your table games & sports books like weak players & weak lines but from a food comp perspective, try to gain the largest comps for the smallest amount risked.
A king's Feast:
http://youtu.be/Gfo4t5fKOwY
If you can't accumulate the food comps you need on a daily basis, you can still eat off the $1 menus at McDonalds or find $3 sub's at various Subways'. There's a $1.99 foot long hot dog at Casino Royal, right on the strip. I am one the most frugal Vegas travelers you know & I have never found myself eating off of discarded food trays that sit outside hotel rooms in casino resort hallways. Nor have I ever had to resort to rummaging through food court garbages to find empty drink cups. I’ve done both those things, drunk with buddies back in college but, haven't been forced to since.
Vegas Tip: Don't miss the Cravings Buffet at The Mirage.
Cravings Buffet - walk through:
http://youtu.be/-xkdVfbvWmg
Drinks at Cravings:
http://youtu.be/bfWSgQVVBbA
HOOKERS
It's always a good idea to stay away from hookers & strippers when staying in Sin City but, what kinda thread would this be if Jayvegas didn't offer up some divorce bait for the trolls!
JayvegasRodeThisMother****erTillWheelsFellOff:
http://youtu.be/mrfS_pauJmw
Look, if you have 10,000 + posts & you haven't kissed a real girl in over 3 years maybe you should take a hooker out for a night. I don't know what your situation is but, if you're reading this, there's a good chance you have a lot time on your hands!
Either way, if you want to make money in Vegas you'll stay as far away from strippers & Hookers as you can.
Vegas Tip: Always take a video od the fountain at the Bellagio. Its what everyone's gonna ask you when you get back.
Typical cheesy Bellagio Fountain Video:
http://youtu.be/ElSwhjnUTZs
THE ODDS
All day, every day, everyone's always talking about the odds. In the sports books, players want to know what the odds are the game goes over. At the poker table they want to know what the implied pot odds are. We are always wondering what the odds are that an ace comes out of that shoe next deal. Everywhere you go in Vegas people are talking about the odds. In the bars, in the restaurant, even back In the room people go over the math & try to figure out the odds. The odds are inescapable & as gamblers, we are all bound by them. We can analyze the odds until we're blue in the face or we can choose to ignore them but, the odds are always there. Begging us to understand them. Begging us to manipulate them. Odds are finite & the aren't going anywhere.
Some times we get good odds & other times we receive horrible odds but, we are gamblers & we live & die by the odds.
Well, I've got some odds for you!
Odds are I am going to to return to Vegas.
The odds will be, as they always are, in the house's favour.
And odds are ..I will lose again & again.
I don't know for sure.
But what I do know for sure is that my odds increase dramatically with each attempt.
Never stop trying, even when the odds are stacked against you.
Thanks for reading.
Jayvegas
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