Trying My Luck

2120 Words5 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: As discussed in the text, there are a number of cognitive tendencies found among gamblers that have the effect of encouraging these people to keep gambling

Trying My Luck

Huge, splashy signs advertising Mystic Lake Casino line the interstates crisscrossing the Twin Cities. "Is today your lucky day? There's one way to find out." "Need a reason to visit us? We'll give you a million...Literally." While some people attend movies or head to a bar for weekend entertainment, others flock to the flashy Mystic Casino in Prior Lake, Minnesota to try their luck. My image of casinos was formed by the Las Vegas movies that portrayed gambling as a win-all or lose-all pass time. My boyfriend Seth, who has frequented the casino blackjack tables since he hit the legal gambling age, was quick to inform me that my attitude was an inexperienced one. For some the atmosphere, people, and thrill of risk taking that the casino offers far outweigh the illusion of a get rich quick fantasy come true. Many gamblers consistently visit a casino for the same reason others hang at their favorite bar–entertainment. At first I took my boyfriend's reasoning as the early stages of gambling addiction, but as I began to spend more time at Mystic Lake, I realized the casino can be an entertaining place when a person knows his or her limits.

The 622,000 square foot mass that is Mystic Lake Casino lies approximately twenty minutes away from the bustling center of Minneapolis. The building sets on an Indian reservation and is owned by the Shakopee Mdewankanton Sioux community. Although the area surrounding the casino resembles the middle of nowhere, Mystic is always buzzing with activity. At night, huge spotlights illuminate the sky in the shape of a teepee that is visible miles away guiding prospective gamblers to the casino. As one travels towards Mystic, the sparse, almost barren highway scenery is suddenly filled by the neon expanse of Mystic. The towering spotlights are now seen to be positioned over a sparkling man-made lake so they reflect off the smooth water. A huge parking lot surrounds the facility. Shuttle busses drive through the immense lot transferring patrons from their parking spots to the front entrance. Every time I visited Mystic Lake, no matter what the time, the parking lot was always loaded with cars.

My boyfriend once described the atmosphere of the casino as a constant in a world where nothing is constant.

Show More
Related

  • Dave And Busters Inc

    1745 Words  | 4 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Writer Analysis: Devin Friedman

    731 Words  | 2 Pages

    The first article, “The Best Night $500,000 Can Buy,” portrays the perfect night out in Las Vegas. Devin chronologically takes the reader through a night in one of the famous clubs in Las Vegas, Marquee. He describes the fundamental marketing techniques that promoters use to lure women into the venue, the prices that high-rollers pay to get a VIP access and tables, and the “shitshow” atmosphere where people are dancing as if they are on Ecstasy (some people are actually on drugs). From personal experience, Las Vegas is definitely the Disney World for adults because people can openly consume alcoholic beverages on Fremont Street while enjoying their time at the arcades, night and day clubs, pools, gambling rooms, theme park rides, shopping centers, restaurants, strip clubs, and wedding chapels. Which ultimately le...

    Read More

  • History Of The Lafayette Club

    500 Words  | 1 Pages

    The Lafayette Club on beautiful Lake Minnetonka was first built in 1882. It was known as the nicest place in town and it had 300 guest rooms. Everyone wanted to go there but only the rich could afford to stay there. In 1897 it was burned down in a fire and Mr. Hill, the owner, then decided to build a new one. This beautiful hotel on the lake was made out of wood and sadly, 20 years later, it burned down again! Again, a new one was built because the property it was on was too beautiful to stay empty. By 1925 the brand new club was built to last and made with concrete. It is still there today.

    Read More

  • The Sword in the Stone by T.H. White

    704 Words  | 2 Pages

    The world of Arthurian literature is filled with magic and adventure that enchants readers of all ages. T.H. White has done a fantastic job of turning the childhood adventures of Arthur by turning his narrative into spellbinding, cartoon like interpretation of the sword in the stone legend. Moral values are apparent from the beginning of White’s novel. White has cleverly connected all the educational adventures of Arthur, along with the people and animals encountered to the pulling the sword out of the stone. This marvelous amalgamation of key elements not only ties the loose ends of Arthur’s adventures together, they also solidify the reasoning behind Arthurs’ predetermined path to becoming the king of England.

    Read More

  • T.H. White: Master of Imagery, Characterization, and Tone

    1468 Words  | 3 Pages

    T.H. White’s most famous book is The Once and Future King; it is a composite of four novels: The Sword in the Stone, The Queen of Air and Darkness, The Ill-Made Knight, and The Candle in the Wind. The quadrilogy is a fantasy based on the Arthurian legend. White uses an immense amount of imagery throughout the four novels, but it is most apparent in The Sword in the Stone. He brings in characterization in The Ill-Made Knight, and he exploits tone in The Candle in the Wind to contrast between the satiric approach in the beginning to the darkness of the conclusion, closing out this classic quadrilogy.

    Read More

  • Individuation in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

    1833 Words  | 4 Pages

    Sir Gawain is, undoubtably, the most varied of the Arthurian characters: from his first minor appearance as Gwalchmei in the Welsh tales to his usually side-line participation in the modern retelling of the tales, no other character has gone from such exalted heights (being regarded as a paragon of virtue) to such dismal depths (being reduced to a borderline rapist, murderer, and uncouth bore), as he. This degree of metamorphosis in character, however, has allowed for a staggering number of different approaches and studies in Gawain.

    Read More

  • Heroic Myths: Perseus

    1277 Words  | 3 Pages

    Foremost, the myth reminds us that our fate cannot be avoided through the example of Acrisius' death. Nevertheless, Perseus creates the image of the perfect hero. Should an individual wish to fit this image, they must respect their parents and show bravery and determination in times of stress in order to overcome challenges. Information Sources

    Read More

  • The Once And Future King Sparknotes

    785 Words  | 2 Pages

    The story, The Once and Future King, takes place in England during the medieval times. In the book I, Arthur, also known as “Wart”, the adopted son of Sir Ector and brother of Kay. Merlyn, a wizard, is hired by Sir Ector to tutor Wart. In his lessons Wart learns how to lead and govern. During the next six years, Kay is knighted and Wart becomes his squire. When Uther Pendragon, the king of England, dies, a prophecy is proclaimed; The next rightful king will be whoever can pull a mysterious sword out of the rock. The boys go to London for a tournament to see who can remove the sword. In his quest for a replacement sword for his knight, Wart stumbles upon the sword in the stone and pulls the sword from it, later being announced King of England. In book II, young King Arthur experiences the struggle to hold on to his power. A new enemy emerges, causing wars to break out in England. With Merlyn’s guidance, Arthur decides that he will use his power and the strength of his fellow knights to defend those who cannot defend themselves, thus creating the Round Table. In the heat of the war, Morgause, Lot’s wife (maybe former wife), goes to Arthur’s court to “reconcile” Arthur with Lot. While in the court Morgause uses magic to seduce him. Arthur, unaware Morgause is

    Read More

  • Antlantic city

    782 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Great Transformation From A Casino City To a Resort Destination Atlantic City is the place to gamble on the East Coast. Although this may initially seem to be a positive characteristic, it is evident that this destination has the capability to be so much more than it already is. This point of interest has the world’s first boardwalk, which opened in 1881, has 4 miles of hotels, amusements, and casinos. Atlantic City was originally a resort town, until 1978, when it changed into a gaming city. This popular day-trip destination had over 34 million visitors in 1998 alone. Despite this amazing statistic, along with the revenue that gambling brings in, many steps are being taken in order to further promote the expansion of this great city. The renovations and improvements being made to the Atlantic City Convention Center are already increasing the amount of money coming in. There is a great deal of other things to focus on in the Atlantic City region. In endorsing local attractions in this scenic area, and in shifting the target market of this spot, this city would change back into a resort destination. When most people think of Atlantic City, the first thing that comes to mind is the casino attractions that are available. With the city’s constant shuffle and excitement, gamblers from all over go there dreaming of a big win. Many people consider Atlantic City to be the “Las Vegas of the East Coast”. There are over 12 casinos, with one building as magnificent as the next. At any given second of the day, these hopefuls may have their lives changed in an instant with just one win. These casino hotels gain most of their income from gamblers. Casinos employ almost 49,000 people every year. This number should actually jump when the Marina District opens. Although Atlantic City prospers as a gambler’s paradise, many would love to show others just how much more Atlantic City really has to offer its tourists. The Atlantic City Convention Center, built in 1929, was renovated with $72 million in 1997. With the world’s largest pipe organ, everyone from the Beatles to Pavarotti has played there. It was designated a historic landmark in 1987. Conventions, trade shows, meetings, and public events of the greater Atlantic City area all take place here. When the renovation is finally completed, it will seat up to 12,000 people for special events.

    Read More

  • Perseus: The Greek Myth

    584 Words  | 2 Pages

    Yes and no, but mainly no. In the film, Acrisius and Danae are husband and wife, not father and daughter. Additionally, Zeus impregnates Danae because Acrisius rebelled against the Gods and tried to attack Olympus. Perseus is still conceived, and Acrisius is still very angry about it. He still locks both Danae and Perseus in something. In the film, he lock them in a coffin, but in the myth, it is mentioned that he locked them inside a chest. Now, it is 100 percent known if it really was a chest, or if it was a coffin or just some sort of box, so this can count as an inaccuracy, depending on your point of view. Furthermore, Danae dies in the film, while in the myth, she is still alive, and is pursued by Polydectes, the King of Seraphs, which is the island that Perseus and Danae wash up

    Read More

  • Edith Hamilton’s Mythology and The Movie Clash Of The Titans (1981)

    695 Words  | 2 Pages

    The legend of Perseus is told in many different ways, in two particular ways they are similar but yet quite different. The movie Clash of the Titans is primarily a story of Perseus and his dangerous journey to save the princess Andromeda, while the Edith Hamilton’s Mythology is a story of Perseus, his relationship with his mother and journeys to her.

    Read More

  • Should Gambling Be Legalized?

    3928 Words  | 8 Pages

    people to keep playing with. Nothing less that psychological warfare is going on at casinos across the country. " The days of shaved dice, missing face cards and rigged roulette wheels are long gone. But the pursuit of profitability in the The corporate era of gambling has turned the average casino into a financial.

    Read More

  • Why Perseus Is The Best Greek Hero

    676 Words  | 2 Pages

    First off, Perseus is a great hero throughout greek mythology. He slayed the mighty Medusa. But some may say since Perseus only killed Medusa, while heroes such

    Read More

  • Essay On Organized Crime

    834 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...on bankers and Wall Street financiers have bankrolled and profited from casinos ruled by organized crime, and how a handful of enthusiastic journalists and law enforcement officers were ruined before they could expose the city’s secrets. The Money and The Power says in no doubtful terms that gambling is wasteful, that it's a enticing and destructive vice calculated to make middling people feel important in a setting of phony lavishness and excess. It says that our cultures has steadily accepted this turn of events to a certain extent than deal with it and end it. References Gledhill, Christine. "The Gangster/Crime Film." In Pam Cook, Ed. The Cinema Book: A Complete Guide to Understanding the Movies. NY: Pantheon Books, 1985: 85-92. Kaminsky, Stuart M. "The Individual Film: Little Caesar and the Gangster Film." American Film Genres. Pflaum Publishing, 1974: 13-32.

    Read More

  • The Bermuda Triangle

    905 Words  | 2 Pages

    Everything with the Bermuda Triangle had begun from the log book of Christopher Columbus. Christopher Columbus was the first to have sailed through the Bermuda Triangle. Once when he sailed through the area in 1942, he found the compass was given some weird readings and all the navigation instruments on the ship was not working at all. The ship was out of control. Columbus and the sailors were fearful and depressed, according to his log book. What they could do was nothing. They had no choice but to stay in the weather-beaten ship. Fortunately, the fleet of Columbus got through the plight. Yet, the first publicized disappearance in the Bermuda Triangle was actually the Flight 19. It was an afternoon in 1945, six planes had disappeared into thin air. Five U.S. Navy Avenger planes were having an ordinary training mission, which led by an experienced pilot-Taylor. At th...

    Read More

More about Trying My Luck

Open Document