100% this

Also, my life has changed drastically from when I used to go. I didn’t value money as I do now. I always played w good bank roll management but now I’m so risk-averse that I’m not sure it’ll ever be the same for me when I go back. But got-damn some of the best times of my life were in Vegas, especially on a heater.

Geez Louise that Black Cod looks like perfection.....drool

That would certainly explain it, but D's host implied comps could be used. And they eventually were obv. Wouldn't have a hard time believing not everyone was on the same page, though.

IMO there's still lots of younger people trying to see and be seen. I'm not a boomer but my wife says I've always been a grumpy old man. Well, this grumpy old man hates the younger element that tries to draw attention to themselves by being as loud/garish/overdoing it with cologne or perfume as much as possible.

I'm definitely the opposite in some ways but I've also changed. As I get older and have a better idea of what the overall financial picture looks like I'm far more risk tolerant. It's only money and you can't take it with you. BUT- I'm also way more gunshy now despite my roll being healthier than ever. I may be willing to play bigger/more but I feel losses much more acutely than I used to. It's weird. For instance, I'm scared money again bc we just paid taxes but I've been far lower than this for most of my gambling career and I wasn't scared then- why am I scared now?

Day 3

OK, this is make or break gambling-wise. We've got a long day, I've had a lot of big hits and I'm still stuck.







Not really getting anything going at spin, so I move to UX. Play 5 lines to keep things small.



We saw almost a carbon copy of this hand yesterday. SO close, yet so far...


J is up. We push buttons together, and find dealt quads number 6!




FINALLY!

So we hold the cards but I tell J to wait. I explain to him that I've been in this exact situation 2 yrs ago, same machine. I actually believe D was there for that trip too. Basically, losing, finally getting dealt quad aces on UX, and getting SKUNKED on the kicker draw. I also tell him I've been skunked 10 ways twice in my life, twice on spin, etc. AND, I admit I've drawn amazingly in the past too- I had a hand long ago where I was dealt quad 3s? And hit a kicker on ALL 5 spots. So, you name it, I've had it happen to me.

All that is prep for the kicker draw, obv. I tell him I'm happy, but I'm mentally prepared to get screwed. It's the only way. Anything else is a bonus. I get the video out, and when I'm ready J hits draw. COME ON!!!!!!


Result-



@#!%#!!!! FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF



Despite all my talk, I don't think I was actually prepared to get F'd. D comes down 2 sec later. I can feel tilt kicking in. Obv we HAVE to capitalize on these draws, and we just didn't. At all. This is less than a straightforward 2x 4 AWAK. I tell J that last time this happened it soul crushed me for the rest of the day (and D confirms). I don't think it'll take as long this time- I'm developing a high pain tolerance LOL, but I know it's going to take a few hrs. F F F F F F F so tilting.

Finally, we play on.



I'm really upset. We need to go get food so I can clear my head.










After, we go to find a craps table. I'm still salty and figure some craps to slow it down is just what I need. So of course we walk right into an ultra-cold table where I lose a few k but the speed of it made the sting that much worse. Back to hi limit- it can't STAY cold, can it?!








As can be seen, we actually had a decent run for once. I think I've clawed back a couple k, still down over 10k for the trip.







After this spin session, it's the early afternoon. J has to catch a flight soon. We settle up and say our goodbyes. He's down a few k, mostly from craps where he had 100% of himself. We're down on VP partnering as well obv, and nothing is a bigger kick in the nuts than for me to pay him his share, knowing we're booking a loser, and finish with LESS money. I head up for a quick nap- we're going to resorts world for dinner tonight and it's Saturday. Zero chance I can last the whole time without a nap, and I'm getting pummeled anyways.

I take a rather fitful nap. Lots of tossing and turning. Still thinking about those aces. Thinking about the fact that I have been dealt quads SIX times, two premiums, and am still stuck. Thinking about the fact that I've hit 3 5 digit hands, which I used to say would "guarantee" a win for the trip. I think I actually have to amend that statement now- I play big enough now that I think I need 4 5 digit hits to survive, and maybe 5 or more to "guarantee" a winner. Finally I get up. With a slightly better attitude, I realize that I'm barely down for this stage of the trip. I've been dead and buried on countless trips before at this point. WHY AM I SUCH SCARED MONEY DESPITE my bankroll being bigger than it's ever been before?

With that thought, I grab some of the big tickets from the room and head down. I'm going to play spin, 15 lines and take a small shot. YOLO









AND- I smash 5 digit hit number 4 of the trip. 2 right in the perfect center spot. 7 quads with kicker. I swear, these machines could make a degen out of anyone. Take a bigger swing still sort of on tilt from the aces before and get rewarded for it. It's like they're just baiting the hook, but I'll take it!

OK, so now I'm UP for the trip! By my math, about 15k give or take.







I give a few k back and decide if I'm playing big, let's play more lines in hi limit.







Played a ton and got myself more up, but then things turned. I think I lost a few k this session too. I'm now up less than 10k for the trip. Still happy.




I mash buttons with D to get some points on his card. I don't think we won much this session at all- I'm up MAYBE a little over 10k now?

We have an early dinner at Resorts World at Bar Zazu. None of us have ever been but the reviews are decent. They're supposed to have live music too. We're eating early bc D and I need to be back at the Wynn at 8:30p for the drawing where we could get 25k in free play chips. We don't expect anything, but you have to be present to win. The other guys will presumably stay at RW and listen to the music. Hopefully we can meet up afterwards!



Thoughts- MEH. Pros- it was quiet, bc it was early and the place was basically empty. Cons- food mediocre at best. Most dishes over-sauced, all the flavors were just sledgehammers- you're having TOMATO!!!!! Taste the TOMATO! Now for CREAM! Smash you over the head with CREAM! Etc. 5/10 at best. Plus, zero live music. Maybe we went at the wrong time, etc, but I don't think so. The guy who made the reservation looked it up and he usually does his research. Sucks. I won't be back here.

While at the restaurant, I think about the fact I don't want this trip to end. I'm supposed to leave at my usual early afternoon slot tomorrow and despite having early bird checkin on SW am already B6. I'm picturing a ridiculously full flight, crowded airport etc. Ugh. So D and one of the other guys explain they're leaving at 7p, I should just change to be on their flight. They both have early As and could save me a middle seat. Hmm, tempting... ok let's do it. I fire up the SW app and have a free flight change still open to me, bc my flight got moved around on me before. I grab their flight- C15 but it shouldn't matter. OK, that's done...

I start having second thoughts. It's awfully degen to stay just a few more hrs in Vegas when I've been here 2 weekends in a row. Zero chance I get any meaningful piano practice or family time in if I come back at 7pm. Plus, I've got a long week of work waiting for me. AND, I just KNOW I'm going to get screwed by the machines if I overstay. Better switch back.

So I do... and I'm now c58!!! UGH that's awful- have to walk all the way to the back, guaranteed middle seat!!! WTH did I just do to myself? Hem, haw.... ok switch BACK to 7p. I now have to pay a 130$ fee and am now c30 (but the others can save me a seat). OK, screw it, 7pm, final answer. My indecisiveness only cost me 130$ and a lot worse boarding position. So, so dumb. I'd better not get screwed tomorrow...

We walk around after and I grab some random shots. D wants to check out the underground Tesla/Musk tunnel which he says is already open. D likes Tesla, isn't a Musk fan but otherwise loves the brand and the tech. I hate anything even vaguely associated with that POS.



I mess with D here- typical Musk nonsense. Overpromise and underdeliver. Sure looks "open" to me.



I grab a donut from here, 8/10. Should have saved up all the bad carbs from that mediocre dinner and just blown my wad on more donuts.

Soon enough, it's time for D and I to grab our ride back to the Wynn.

Part 4 coming soon... dealt quads 6, 2 premiums, 4 5 digit hits.

Huge update Leon. All those pics! Hoping we get a good finish

I 100% empathise with the flight indecision. I do that all the time. I was platinum FF for a few years with my main carrier and not having extra costs associated with changes actually made it worse

people walking backwards or sideways on treadmills

I've never actually done that before. I'm someone who wants things dialed in months in advance. I think I switched back and forth so much BC I'm generally not ok with plans changing last minute.

Sorry, wrong thread!

I saw this at the end of your latest entry:

"Part 4 coming soon... dealt quads 6, 2 premiums, 4 5 digit hits."

And for a minute I thought you'd spoiled what happens on Part 4, but then realize it was just summing up what had happened thus far....lol.....But it does underscore why you have a right to be frustrated at only being up the modest amount you are.

Day 3 Con't

D and I grab a limo back to Wynn. We make it back with plenty of time. The event is a hot pot dinner following by this drawing. I wish we'd know about this earlier, bc it would have been cool to eat this instead of Bar Zazu, and in retrospect we definitely could have gotten our friends in. As it is, we were so full from dinner we couldn't justify wasting food (and eating more calories). They asked us many times if we wanted food so finally I just got a dessert to try it (8/10, pretty tasty).



OK, time for the drawing. Only 8 people get called, D and I have a 1/50 chance at each spot in theory. First place, 25k- blank.

Second place, 8k... ME!!! Ya don't say?! I never win these things!

Well that's super cool. Unfortunately D doesn't get anything, but between us we have 8k of found money to gamble with! We were strategizing before, but now that's it's real we go into overdrive. So we can either take 8k in true free play chips (plays like real money, bet until you lose), or 8k free credit. The craps degens in us want the free play chips- we're figuring out how we're going to bet big and press hard. I think I ultimately settle on a 800$ outlay per roll- give myself 5 shots at converting these free play chips to something nice. I collect my prize, and they ask us to wait about 1/2 hr before we go to the cage. We hit the hi limit room and book a small winner.





That being done, we head to the cage. And... they give me 8 x 1000$ chips?! That is not going to work. I ask for smaller denoms and they won't do it. I tell them I know they have smaller denoms in the back, I've seen them, and they say "not for this promo". F. That's not going to work. I'll happily degen with 4k promo but I want some play for my money. Ugh. D and I decide to get the 8k free credit and wash it through instead. This whole process takes another 1/2 hr and involves a call to the promo manager. So annoying. Finally, we get the free credit.



End, about 7/8 payback. Not great but not unexpected.

We cash that ticket out and try to find a craps table. The problem is, now the money is "real". It's obv stupid bc those freeplay chips were basically real money as well, but now that I have to pull money out of my pocket I can't degen like I was going to. This is supremely unfun. This whole incident is a small example of the emotional roller coaster I was on the whole weekend- assuming I won't win anything, winning something, D and I planning our attack like kids in a candy store, waiting for the chips, finding out it'll be free play after all, more waiting, ultimately no craps... Ugh. What a comedown. I head to the VP machines and D tries to find the others to meet up.



Only hit of an hours-long session. I lost about 10k here.

I head upstairs really tired, and really annoyed. I'm break even, AGAIN!

Day 3 result- +10k
Overall- even
Dealt quads- 6, 2 premiums, screwed on aces
5 digit hits- 4

Day 4

Since I went to bed exhausted, I didn't think I'd need a melatonin. Turns out I was wrong- slept like crap and got the shortest and worst night of sleep this whole trip. I head downstairs with one thought- survive.



One more prayer...

As I sit at UX, I think about my approach. Intellectually, I know a 10k loss would be just fine at this point. So many ups and downs to get here, but 10k I can live with. I also know that can evaporate really fast and I've got an even longer day than normal now that I pushed my flight back. So that 10k is a "suggestion", but I'll go to 20-25k if I'm forced to.

I play REALLY slow. 5 line UX, and I play everything on the slowest speed. I watch pair draws. Silly but I gotta make it out of this AM period. At least I got to watch this one come in.



OK at this stage this is really important.

I move up to 10 lines and get dealt quads number 7!



Come on be premiums!

I'll admit, I lost a little control here. After these hits, I started thinking, "maybe I'm finally going to catch that god last day". So, I played 10 lines longer than I should have. I'm still up 3-4k for the day. Move back down to 5 lines...



Where I get extremely "unlucky" to make these hands. I say that bc of the nature. 1 ace into 4? check. Multiplier? Check. Something massive that will guarantee a win? Nope. All this does is make me think of the quad aces I got blanked on and it puts me on mini tilt.

I keep going and am suddenly down 5k for the day. D and the other guy A are finally awake. We decide we're going to hit the buffet just to change it up and so we don't have to wait in a line. I lose ANOTHER 5k waiting for them and now I'm at my "first stopping point", which is obv no stopping point at all bc I've still got hrs to go. Looks like I'm going to lose at least -20-25k this trip.



The Thai spicy beef was by far the best (hence I got seconds). 9/10, grab this if you hit the Wynn buffet. Everything else a standard 6/10 buffet food.

After breakfast, D and I finally manage to convince A to play some craps. All the others have left. We collectively come in for 5k and I think A was in for 200$ total. He follows the game for a bit, won't roll and won't drive the chips but otherwise seems like he's somewhat enjoying himself. The session wasn't bad but we didn't win. Small loss for all of us. After that, D and A go to hit the spa. I sit VP- no way I waste these last few hrs. Plus... I could make a comeback?

I dump another couple K into UX before I say no mas for this trip. I know it's just variance but I've been on the wrong side of it more recently with UX and it's bringing back memories of prior trips where I lost 40-50k, all to UX. I move over to spin and play slowly. I think I'm down almost 20k when the machine comes alive.



5 digit hit number 5!!!!

I play past lunch time off of that hit. Never had anything else and ultimately ended up down 8k for the day? but still way better than 20k. I'm exhausted and head up for a nap. I can definitely keep this loss small if I don't gamble.

Take a great nap and feel much better now that I'm less stuck. So stupid- I'm down for the day, but the comeback makes me feel better than when I had MORE money. Back to the spin machine.



It's letting me play... and then, dealt quads number 8!


NEED. FRICKIN. PREMIUMS!!!!



Forgot to get the total here, 4k basically.



This being spin at 2$ credits, the money is going fast but I'm collecting it faster than I can put it back. The guys are done with the spa and we're going to grab a late lunch at Red8. They've actually gotten us a table but I can't get up yet- I'm only down 5k now and the machine is just downright decent. And then... 5 digit hit number 6!



OK we are back in the black folks!

I cannot believe how swingy this trip has been. I run over to Red 8 and I'll be honest, just threw my food down. The boys know I'm going back to the spin machine ASAP. When it's hot, it's hot.



Here we go. Last mini session before I settle all my tickets and pack for the airport.



OMG I wish I could just live at this machine.

Clock is ticking down... and the buzzer sounds. I somehow, someway, made a COMEBACK!

I grab all my tickets and head to hi limit. After I pay D his share (almost 4k)... the final tally is- I'm UP 11k for the trip. D is now up too, he was stuck about 1k before (the free play we didn't spend on craps, and his 2k free credit he converted really helped him), and now he's up 3k. I'm almost happier for him than me. Almost.

It only took 8 dealt quads and 6 5 digit hits to end on a winner folks. In retrospect, it was OBV a good decision to stay a few more hrs...



We head off to the airport. It's not crowded at all and D and A save me a middle seat near the front, NOT that I needed it bc I ended up taking the open window seat one row in front of them?? So weird- how is there an empty window that close during the C group boarding? Guess too many people need overhead bin space. Whatever- some last minute rungood, I'll take it!

Day 4 result- +11k
Overall- +11k
Dealt quads- 8
5 digit hits- 6

Postscript- when we got back to SD, I grab my bag from baggage claim. D reminds me half-jokingly, "make sure it's yours man". I laugh, but as I pick up the bag it feels heavier than mine... check the tags, NOT MINE! I put it back and think to myself, "geez, I never see another pink bag like this and now I see two in one trip". Which then immediately leads to the thought, "it's probably that same woman!". I keep my eye out for her and sure enough, she's walking out with it 2 sec later. So I figure I'll send her a joke text-

"Hey, almost grabbed your bag again LOL but checked the tags this time Figured you'd be really pissed if I took your bag again".

I grab my bag and we wait for A's wife at the curb. I see this lady loading into another car, avoid eye contact etc. However, she sees me and SCREAMS out my name- she's all smiles and jokes now. Says "I'm watching you!" in a joking way. We bid her farewall. She then texts me 2 more times on the way home. Uh, yeah, that's going to be a non-response from me. We had our little random interaction, now we can get back to not knowing each other in peace. Kind of weird that on Thurs she was fairly bitchy and now she's being almost uncomfortably friendly.

Other thoughts- hopefully it's obvious why I was wiped after this trip. There were just way too many random ups and downs. Thank god it ended well and I didn't get punished for staying longer. I also think I'm going to go back to minimizing UX like I was doing before. I can still take shots at it but it can't be my main game. It's just too swingy and the pain points are too intolerable. Hopefully that spin machine stays hot...

I also figure at this level I need 4 5 digits hits per trip to break even. 5 or more and it's probably going to be a winner.

Thanks for reading!

Glad you ended up a winner. You had me scared with the "highest of highs lowest of lows" foreshadowing.

To clarify, the win factors in the 8k drawing $$, or was this profit on top of that? And did you split the $8K drawing bink, or was it all yours?

Also, I'm guessing this has been raised at some point in this thread, but as great as it is when Leon is updating frequently enough to put two (or even more) entries on the same page, it then takes FOREVER to load. I realize I can change the setting for number of posts per page, but I wish there could be a way where somehow it automatically put only one of his entries on each page by default. That would make things so much easier. Okay - old man stopping yelling at clouds.....

The 8k was factored in. The win is net, inclusive of all inputs and outputs. And yes, D and I both had an invite and agreed to split everything 50/50. Double the chance, half the reward.

me while a leon post loads

Thanks for posting!

+1

thanks so much Leon. Huge amount of effort into the last 2 weeks of trips

when is next Vegas?

Pretty soon. I've got a few trips lined up. TRs coming soon!

Leon thanks for the TR, felt like I was inside your head for sure.

Have you considered using your free rides to eat out of casino and just pay for dinner one night somewhere good? You must have the menus memorized by now inside and you seem to really appreciate a good dish. Vegas surely has more restaurants to offer?

Also curious: to your knowledge, does your host know this site? And does your family read this?

As far as the rides, I already do that! Every trip I try to take at least one meal outside of the Wynn. Other than when I was in town for < 24hrs in March, I can't remember the last trip where I DIDN'T leave the Wynn. That's part of the reason D and I play on his card at the Cosmo- we want to keep his status going so when Cosmo finally merges with MGM we in theory have access to a lot of MGM restaurants. I'm sick and tired of eating at the Wynn.

As far as my host, I told him about this TR years ago when they were changing the paytables at the Wynn and basically implied I had the ability to (slightly) affect their bottom line. Sent him DMs I had received from other people saying that had given the Wynn action solely bc of my thread, etc. He responded politely but ultimately I don't think anyone in management cares. I get it- ultimately, I'm small potatoes and the gambling influencer market is super-saturated already, I'm no influencer nor do I care to be, and therefore whatever I say or do has zero effect on them. I'm actually kind of happy that I matter so little to them, bc if they actually cared enough to treat me like an influencer then I'd have to put a ton more work in to deliver a real product, which I patently do not want to do. Plus I think the whole influencer thing is ridiculous BS anyways- apologies to any influencers out there. Actually, I'm not sorry.

Lastly, my family is aware of this thread but they don't read it. They don't care about the specifics at all. They just care when they get to go next (kids), when I'm making them go next (wife), and obv want me to win.