That reminds me of something that happened in the early 1980s at the Bell club (closed shortly after Commerce opened). We were in a player dealt lowball game when a young woman came in, set a baby in a carrier on the table, and told one of the guys he needed to be a responsible father.

I guess she figured he wouldn't answer the phone

Oh that reminds me one time I saw a mother come into Foxwoods and tell her son he had to leave…

She did the weird sit down in the vacant seat next to him and stare at him for like 20 seconds before he noticed.

He saw her and was like mom! What are you doing here or something like that.. this was 10 years ago and before the word cringe was a thing. But ya that’s how it felt.

Slightly off topic, as it doesn't answer the question, but one of the funniest things I've ever seen at a poker table involved this...

Caesars LV, it's about 4am and we are the only table going but it is a full table. It's mid-hand and the typical sounds are happening... Shuffling chips etc.

A woman's phone rings. She answers and 3 seconds into the call she says "Vegas? What are you talking about? I told you I was in San Diego."

The entire table freezes. No more shuffling chips. The dealer stops. I'm not even sure if anyone was breathing. About 2 minutes go by of the woman insisting over and over again that she was in San Diego. When she finally hung up the entire table burst into laughter and she smiled and said "Thanks guys, I really appreciate it."

Ah finally some good stories!
Keep em coming!

lol - my dad always tells me the house always wins and to be careful.

My dad says that, as well. He theorizes that the dealer coordinates set-up hands with undercover house players at the table.

Um, wow!

Just curious, have you tried to explain it to him?

lol, have you ever tried "explaining" anything to your dad?
Mine sure as hell never listens.

Yea, OK. I think I was in my mid-50s before my dad took anything I told him seriously.

Confirmed OMC
I have a good while to go to get to 50.

Oh, I definitely look like an OMC, no question. I use it too. My favorite is to snap off a squeeze play, usually with a whiffed hand.

Just remember, old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill.

Yes. When he first told me that the house always wins, it was because he thought the casino dealer was playing a hand (as well as setting the deck). He has no clue how to play poker. When I told him that the house wasn't playing, he hatched up a new theory.

Wow. I guess there really isn't anything more to say, except good luck.

Cool replies. Let me add more context. I get it, be honest, one night of poker a week is ok, maybe 2 nights too, here and there. But I was just trying to find a good excuse that explains why I am at the casino 25-40 hours a week and not making money lol.... If I was winning a good amount of money there would be no issue, but I am grinding...Making $5 hour on a good run....

And ask her why she's not as hot as Matt Damon's gf in that movie. That will help too.

I'll threadjack a bit. I frequently see guys who bring their wife/gf to sweat them while they play poker. Usually these girls are all dressed up bored out of their minds looking at their phones.

Anybody do that? Why??

I don't have to lie because she plays too.

There’s absolutely no good excuse for spending that much time in the casino if you don’t make money and have a regular job and a significant other or family.

Sounds like you have a gambling problem or don’t want to spend time with your significant other or family. Both situations should be addressed.

Not a problem I can stop when my bankroll hits zero. I am just stuck breaking even. But I have been thinking about the time spent at the casino and I will take a break and just use my bankroll on me. My goal is to maybe play again in the December month but just a couple sessions. Thanks for the advice it was really good.

I don't do that although my wife did come into the poker room once just to see what it was like and a good friend decided to bluff me while she was there and turned over his cards...

I on the other hand try to make it pleasant for the women who are visitors.

In one case I asked the young lady if she was a supermodel.

And a typical line I have is that "it seems unfair that you are such a good poker player and have a beautiful wife/girlfriend"...

Once upon a time my wife was interested in coming to the cardroom with me just to see what it was like. I told her she couldn't come because I did not want everyone else to assume I forced her to come with me. She ended up getting to see me play for about 5 minutes in Vegas and that was more than enough for her.

I assume it's usually a situation where the player talks the SO into coming with for a while before they go somewhere else together.

Sometimes the women actually want to be there. And IMO they don’t look more bored and miserable than a lot of the regulars in the poker room.

Some people lie because they have a gambling problem and are trying to hide it. But you’re right, there is another category of guys that might lie because their wife or girlfriend is the one in charge. If they leave the house for anything or spend their money, they think they need to ask “the boss” for permission.

The guys that don’t “ask permission” aka communicate are the raging narcissists who always end up divorced.

You put "ask permission" in quotes but there are definitely guys who need to ask permission to do stuff, and there is a canyon between that and simply talking to your partner. I believe borg and Steve are referring to the more literal definition.

In my experience, it's those who need to ask permission (without quotes) that end up divorced because it is a symptom of deeper issues. There are very few if any relationships that are otherwise healthy except for this one quirk. (And yes, those who refuse to communicate also end up divorced.)

It's difficult for people who have never been in a fully trusting relationship to imagine that it can be different. They think everyone else is bullshitting.