It’s a normal day in Stratosphere Casino, Las Vegas, and the sound of coins and cards echoed in the background. Smooth music is played while the TVs broadcast the Sunday news. But none of these matter to Edward. He’s fixated on his poker game. “Raise, 20 chips.” “Call.” “Call.” It’s finally Edward’s turn, but he couldn’t make up his mind. His hand, a one-pair, have no chance of winning. Yet his intuition is screaming that he could bluff through this round. “Raise, 30 chips.” As soon as he said those words, he begins to regret raising. He’s actually not an experienced gambler, but just a frequent one. It all started a few months ago when he won a jackpot of $100,000 at a slot machine after a few tries. Now he drives to Vegas on Fridays and spends the weekend gambling, hoping to experience the thrill of winning that much money again. As for the jackpot, it was originally in the bank but now every cent is returned to the casino where he got it. After Edward’s irrational raise, all players decide to call, thus finalizing the prize for winning this round. The dealer calmly says, “Alright, reveal your hands please.” Flush, two pair, two pair, and Edward’s pathetic one pair. His hand is …show more content…
Surely going back isn’t an option. After all, it’s still the weekend. After a while, he decides to ask for money, just for a temporary situation like this. Just like forgetting to deposit his paycheck, a whole new flood of memory comes back to him, that he still owns his parent's, sister's, and his brother's money from the last time he was here and was stranded without cash. Calling them now and asking them for money is just seeking trouble. A few days ago, on Thanksgiving, he earned an earful after they brought up the subject of gambling. And he’s sure that they were holding back since there were children at the gathering. Who knows what they’ll say to him now the children are
“She knew gambling could lead to trouble.” (Duhigg 247) if she knew that then why lie to herself that she was not an addict. Furthermore, Angie said, “I know how to play” (Duhigg 249) if she knew how to play like she says then why did she lose a lot of money. “It may seem irrational for anyone to believe they can beat the house in a casino…A gambler can consistently win over time, though, if he or she memorized the complicated formulas and odds that guide how each hand should be played. Most players, however, don’t have the discipline or mathematical skills to beat the house.” (Duhigg 249) As it is said Angie did not know how to play, so she lied to herself because she never mentions of having mathematical skills or memorizing something when she gamble. As a matter of fact, Angie accepted the offers that Harrah’s casino would give her like the limo rides, coupons, diamonds, and other luxury stuff. I think Angie knew that all these luxuries were not going to be free especially when they were given often, at some point, there would have to be a cost because nothing in this world is free. She lied to herself by not thinking that there would be a cost/consequence for accepting these “gifts”. In all honesty, Angie lied to herself making believe that she is capable of winning back the money that she lost by imagining that those near misses are going to get her somewhere
The need among Americans to be diverted in ever more imaginative ways -- through high-thrill parks, virtual reality arcades, and theme restaurants, plays right into the hands of Dave Corriveau and Buster Corley, co-founders and CEO’s of Dave and Busters. The duo’s 50,000 square foot complexes include pool hall, an eye popping, cutting edge midway arcade, a formal restaurant, a casual diner, a sports bar and a nightclub rolled into one sprawling complex. In business since 1990, this is a high energy, highly efficient operation that’s comparable to a Vegas extravaganza. As a matter of fact there are even “for fun” cashless blackjack tables, with fake $10,000 chips. Pricey, but not outrageous, and you get value for your money.
“Unfortunately, gambling and winning don’t often go hand in hand.” Pete Rose – My prison without bars. Gambling should be a recreational past time, and to many people it is just that. To an estimated 2% - 3% of Americans it is a major problem in their lives. They are pathological gamblers; some studies indicate they spend around $5 billion dollars annually on gambling. When gambling becomes a problem it impacts that person’s social, emotional and financial life. Legalized gambling in America is creating a wide spread problem, pathological gamblers cannot resist the irresponsible urge to gamble, even though the impact could ruin their marriage, their job and financial security. The sad thing here is a person can very easily hide the fact they are losing control of themselves when it comes to gambling, at least for a while. When family or friends do finally realize what is going on. The gambler has a full blown addiction.
In the course of writing this paper I learned about the way the human mind can be manipulated by very simple things, and when it is discovered it is often too late. There are smart gamblers who do win, but the majority don’t think and wind up spending incredible amounts of money.
When you love someone, you 've gotta trust them. There 's no other way. You 've got to give them the key to everything that 's yours. Otherwise, what 's the point? And for a while, I believed, that 's the kind of love I had” (Casino). Casino centers on Sam ‘Ace’ Rothstein, a gambler of legendary skill who is sent by the mob in the early 1970s to Las Vegas to manage its newly acquired Tangiers Hotel and Casino. Ace is an outsider among outsiders: a dispassionate, calculating, almost pitifully tender civilian among thugs. He’s a Jewish bookie sent by the mob to manage a Vegas casino and embezzle cash for the crime bosses back home. Even when he dons a flamboyant suit and runs patrol around the felt tables of his amoral arena, he looks unsatisfied.
The adrenaline-rushing feeling of gambling offers people the idea that opportunity lies within their hands. Unfortunately, there are far too many consequences to gambling to even begin to count. To win you must play, and to win big you must play big. As more gamblers can recall their losses rather than their winnings, gamblers are often dealt with poor hands and must play the risky game to stay alive. Even though gambling has so many faults, some still fall under its corruptions because of gambling’s deceiving fallacies.
...erie fact about the ending of this story, none of the people realize how wicked and vicious they are acting. The lottery is undeniably a part of their lives; it is without a doubt an event they look forward to doing year after year.
From this early point in the plot of “The Lottery” the reader thinks that this is a happy story that someone is about to win a great prize. This quote for instance “The lottery was conducted—as were the square dances, the teenage club, and the Halloween program—by Mr. Summers, who had time and energy to devote to civic activities”. (101)This makes the reader think that a town filled with fun and joyous celebrations. Then after getting further into the story it takes a terrifying twist. We as the readers learn what the lottery really is with a dark ending.
The casino kept offering different things and after this she was unable to refuse. She was offered anything she wanted, the casino would negotiate any request. At one point Bachmann had walked away from all the gambling, but soon after her parents passed away she returned to the casino and there she was seduced into coming back. After her inheritance, she had told Harrah’s that she was almost out of money, but they told her to come anyway. The casino told her, they would give her a line of credit to start off with. Bachmann ended up borrowing a total of about $125,000. Bachmann eventually lost everything she and her family had, including their family home. Bachmann tried to win back the money she was losing but she wasn't able to. Bachmann wasn't able to repay the money back to the casino and the casino then sued her. Bachmann was then found guilty for her gambling habit. You see if the casino wouldn’t have encouraged Bachmann to continue gambling and offer her money to play it, perhaps she wouldn’t have lost all that she owned. The casino kept seducing her to come in, making it impossible for her to refuse. Bachmann was enjoying all the perks her gambling addiction was able to get
I arrived in Las Vegas October, 2009, a long time ago, but I’m sure the energy of the city has not changed. Most people find themselves entering Vegas through the McCarran International Airport that has digital slot machines posted everywhere from the moment you depart the plane. That is one unique thing you will notice about Vegas; the thousands of digital slot machines playing poker, blackjack, and keno in McDonald’s, gas stations, and laundromats. It is normal out there. However, I digress. Most people typically find themselves swooping down on Vegas on domestic budget carriers such as Southwest and Spirit, simply because they offer extremely cheap prices from all
When Ed is given the first card and visits 45 Edgar Street at midnight, he sees and hears one of the most disgusting things t...
Angie Bachmann is a stay home mom and has 3 daughters. To rid her boredom, she decided to treat herself every Friday afternoon by going to the casino once a week as a reward. Then her gambling worsened due to her parents’ sickness because
Eddie. The blue man assures him that it was okay and that everything happens for a
With so much money at stake, the average gambler does not stand a chance. against this big business. The casinos go to every length to analyze what makes a gambler bet, stay longer, and lose as much money as possible. Gamblers who come to casinos with the intention of winning money are habitually disappointed in the snare. As casino crime lord, Meyer Lansky's universal.
After unpacking, it was time to go downstairs and eat dinner at the buffet. Exiting the elevator, my lungs were filled with second hand smoke as we passed first the ice cream parlor, then a maddening craze of slot machines, blinking colored lights, neon "Jackpot" signs, and hundreds o...