I have traveled four times to my home away from home, The Downstream Casino outside of Joplin, since my last Gambling post on Nov. 10th. I will try to abbreviate this post since it encompasses four gambling forays.
Some changes have taken place in our lives recently. The biggest change is we have moved 20 miles south of Bartlesville. The distance to the Downsream is now 110 miles. I am much closer to the Tulsa area casinos, but none of them treat me as well as the Downstream. In the last four gambling adventures, the Downstream has given me $700 in slot freeplay. I have also converted $500 in points to freeplay. The casino has filled up my gas tank 4 times for nearly $200 in gas comp. I now live within 10 miles of a casino that is a slot casino which I rarely visit. I drive by regularly, I'm amazed at the number of cars in the parking lot, especially in the early morning hours. It creates much wonder, to where the clientele comes from since this is a rural area and what mindset the people inside have, to be in a slot casino at 7 AM.
The 18th, we invited a couple to see The Marshall Tucker Band. We had two free rooms with $175 food on room. Our friends and I are strolling through the casino and I see a sight I see way too much. I spied a man, sitting in a chair at a slot machine staring off into the distance with that thousand yard stare. Not dressed very well. He had that look of despair and defeat that I see way to often in casinos. I'm hypersensitive to the pain and hurt of others.
I had $1,200 in gambling funds and had to reload with another $2,500 from the cashier cage. I left Sunday morning with a $800 profit.
The following Thursday was Thanksgiving. Eight grandkids were to descend into our domicile. Knowing my temperment, my anxiety of our new home being destroyed, I departed for the Downstream. It was 2X points and drawings twice per hour for active table game players, for $500 gift cards. I immediately was up $500, playing Pai Gow. After eating a Thanksgiving Buffet, I returned to Pai Gow. The casino has hit on a marketing genuis ideal with the gift card drawings. People will play endless hours to win those gift cards. The main topic of conversation is whose won the gift card. I played way too long trying to win one of those gift cards, which I did. It was for Wal-Mart. I was down $2,000, but I had won a $500 gift card. Well, I couldn't quit, being down $2,000. I ended up getting the last room in the 373 room hotel at Midnight. I had brought $3,600 with me, I went on full tilt. Lost the $3,600 and went to the cashier for another $3,000. I got up the next morning, asked the Pit boss to open up the Pai Gow table and lost another $2,000. A friend joined me at Pai Gow. He lost too. He left, he had a meeting with the head host. Unbeknownst to me he told the head host of my losses. She shows up at the Pai Gow table and gives me $500 in non-negotiable placques. I play until late afternoon. I leave the casino with $1,500, a $5,100 net loss, If you include the $500 gift card, a $4,600 loss.
Yesterday, Thursday, the 30th. 2X points and the gift card drawings. I arrive at the Downstream with the intent of just trying to leave a winner. I play over $500 in freeplay. I choose two VGT machines, Red Ruby and Neptune. I leave the machines with a little over a thousand. I go to Pai Gow. I get on a good run, winning $500. take a break, eat and play a little VP. I return to Pai Gow 4 different times leaving the table a winner each time. I had some really good hands, I was dealt a ten high twice which pays 25 to one with a $20 insurance bet each time. I was dealt a Royal flush with a $10 on the bonus returning 100 to one. To hell with the damn gift cards, I left the casino with a $2,500 profit.
With it being Thanksgiving this week, it's not lost on me the meaning of This holiday. I'm no smarter nor did I work any harder than the multitudes of hard working people in this world. The man upstairs has showed me favor and blessed me with more than I deserve. With that, I give Thanks.