Yes, I did finish the autobiography – finally! But many of you had assumed – feeling sad it seemed – that would be the end of the blog.
Well, I am still here. Anthony has said I would have a space here as long as I wanted to fill it. I love to write and I love to “teach.” I especially love to write about gambling and give information that I think might help players lose less money and thus stretch their bankroll in a casino.
So as long as I feel I can contribute helpful hints I will continue to use this space. This might not be on a regular schedule. I haven’t wanted to talk about any negative details of Brad’s and my situation; I try to concentrate on the good times. But the fact is that Brad’s physical and mental health is steadily going downhill. His failing memory and cognitive skills require major caregiving. I am so happy to give this but it has become a full-time job, with less free time for me. However, I will post whenever I can, hopefully several times a month.
One of the subjects I want to discuss comes from a question I have received from several readers: “What would you be doing these days if you and Brad hadn’t retired and were still living in Las Vegas?
That is a timely question indeed, and I do think about it often. I still continue my long-time habit of reading numerous articles about gambling and Vegas happenings. I read everything here on the LVA website where I can get important up-to-the-minute news. I still check all the forums posts and lists of casino promotions. I have even communicated with players and given them information that I found out while in far-away Georgia that they did not know while they were on the ground in Vegas.
If I were still living in Vegas, I would be even more of an information sponge than I was when I lived there in the past. It always amazed me when I talked to seemingly skilled players in the past and asked if they had read a certain article or a particular blog or seen a good hint on a forum and they would say that they didn’t have time for all that. Perhaps, back in the days when good gambling opportunities abounded, your time might have been better spent actually playing than wading through forums or spending time searching on the Internet but that time is long gone. Smart gambling is always a process. I never felt I “knew it all.” I was always looking for a gold nugget as I explored many mines, one that I could use to make a nice profit.
I will be giving more answers in future blogs to what smart gamblers might be doing these days. I have a tendency to slant my information toward the advantage player, especially those in video poker because they need the help desperately. But if you have always been in or recently dropped down to the next category, my information may help you too. I call this category the Doing the Best That I Can. You know all about EV and advantage play and you want to make a profit. But you also love the entertainment factor, so you will play for fun even if it is in a negative situation. However, even if you have the bankroll to play some recreationally, that bankroll may not cover as much time as you would like. I have you as well as the strictly advantage player in my mind as I write in this blog, and I would feel very good if you can use some of my hints so you could extend your casino fun time.
Before I sign off today, I would like to point you to my Jean Scott Facebook page. I try to keep this blog more Vegas and gambling centered, but if you want to keep up with Brad and me in our non-gambling retirement life, ask to be my friend at https://www.facebook.com/queenofcomps. I will never have too many friends!
Earl, you are SO right. This latest move I talked about in latest blog is another step toward coping with the future. I was amazed how exhausted mentally and physically I was over this last year. I am having to adjust to not being the Super Woman I thought I would always be!
Jean,
I enjoy your blog. I want to comment on what you mentioned about your husband – if you/he are facing dementia/alzheimer’s I would urge you to consider a memory care facility if it’s within your means. I have voluntarily taken care of a person in this situation and it becomes an incredible burden for reasons one might not realize in the early stages. Nerves get frayed from worry over simple things like will the person wander off and get lost, leave a stove or other appliance on and set a fire, and many other unforeseen situations and problems that arise from the cognitive dysfunction.
People often tell me they are facing this situation and intend to do the care themselves and I try to dissuade them. It’s the right, caring instinct but the reality of these progressive diseases is something that no non-medical professional is truly prepared for and it can wear a person down to nothing in short order. The symptoms steadily increase over time along with the burden on the caregiver.
Anyhow, don’t mean to intrude or make assumptions just wanted to share some info I have gleaned through hard experience…so thanks again for the blogs. Take care.
Love to read your comments and blog. I have traveled to Las Vegas over 100 times in the last 40 years, much has changed in those years! I am also a caregiver to my 94 year old Mother who suffers from Dimentia and arthritis and other maladies, I run my business and work 6-7 days a week, and have a caregiver to help in the daytime, but I am the caregiver 24/7 otherwise. I wouldn’t have it any other way, and consider it an honor to care for her, But sometimes it’s a little overwhelming. I have always enjoyed your no nonsense gambling advise, and stories about “the frugal gambler.” Take care, and take time for yourself, and when you have the time, post a blog. Thank you.
As long as you keep writing, we will READ IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Glad to hear you are still posting these blogs, always information we can use. Hope Brad will get better with rest and you will have help.
sorry to hear about brad ,fortunately you all have family around /THANK YOU for all of the info on your blogs ,best wishes !!
Stay safe. You and Brad are always in our thoughts and prayers.
So happy you will continue this blog. Love your stories. Best wishes to you and Brad.
Jean, as long as you enjoy writing your blog, we’ll enjoy reading and learning from it.
My very best wishes hopes and prayers for you and Brad as you both cope with a most difficult situation.
Nice blog and good read (as always!) Jean. I do hope Brad gets better, as best as possible as aging continues. I’ll have some decisions to make with my aging dad too. On the gaming ‘front’……I’m not sure what’s going on with B-connected, but a friend of mine discovered that Tier pts seem to be accruing at a faster rate than previously, and he strictly played NSUD at the Fremont (while staying on an ‘out of the blue’ surprise offer). We haven’t really figured out what that rate is, although on about 3-5 hrs of play (and he plays fairly fast and accurately…he was able to renew Sapphire (our goal) so as to qualify for multiplier days as out of towners for comp pts (or freeplay/cb). so maybe 3k or so earned the 600-650 ‘tier’ he needed. I will test this theory out on my planned visits (during slower end of Oct and in Nov/Dec )….Martin who will miss you at the GC/YAH days. LOL – now YAH hot seats, so no more ‘drawings’….
Happy to hear that you are “still here”. I believe you are at least partially responsible for the 26 royals I have hit since I switched to from blackjack to video poker about 15 years ago. Since I don’t go to casinos very much, maybe an average of 3 weeks a year I consider 26 royals to be pretty good results. There is one particular instance that your help really stands out. I was playing 25 cent full pay Jacks Or Better in Harrahs and hit a royal flush. Usually I would move on to a different machine but I had recently read one of your articles in which you talked about changing machines after a big hit. You stated that the odds of hitting another royal on the machine you were on were the same as hitting one on a different machine. You gave some examples of when you had hit multiple royals staying at the same machine. So with your words ringing in my ears I stayed on the machine and sure enough I hit another royal after a short time. Thank you for that and for all the money your advise has saved me over the years.
Sorry to hear about Brad! Fortunately, he has you to take care of him, and I assume you’re not scared to death about losing your health care, the way so many Americans are now–many of them elderly, and many needing caregivers.
I think your focus on “not very big disadvantage players” (my term!) is timely, as it’s more about not getting pounded through the floor than making a profit these days. it’s still quite possible to bleed at 0.5% or less and have fun doing it. I think a lot of people would like to know how to do that.
Looking forward to your continuing blog posts!
Sorry to hear of Brad’s decline. Thinking positive thoughts about both of you.
Do you know what states still have advantage video poker in this day and age?
Thanks for any topics or info. We are always grateful that you do two of the things you love.
We are glad that Anthony gives you the space to write and teach.
I personally would love to be able to express my ideas so well that someone can actually visualize many of the events your have conveyed.
Please take care,
MO