Questions for Bob Dancer | Las Vegas Advisor

These are questions for Bob Dancer. In addition to now wearing a mask, has COVID caused you to alter your playing protocol? Do you now play fewer (or more) hours? Do you play more often during off-hours so that fewer people are around? Do you find it uncomfortable to play while wearing a mask? Any other comments about playing in the current environment?

I now play fewer hours. At no place do I play more. At some places, I don’t play at all. So it ends up being less.

Most of my play is between 2 and 6 a.m. I prefer the graveyard shift. There're fewer players, more machines, faster response times from the floor, and not as much smoke. On the other hand, there aren't any drawings to combine with my play and sometimes promotions start at 7 a.m. Also, fewer places are open to use food comps. And sometimes interaction with the slot club booth -- or a host -- is important and typically they're not available at 3 a.m. Still, I play graveyard a higher proportion of the time now than I used to.

I hate wearing a mask, but I do it, absolutely, every time, without fail. I believe the experts who say wearing masks, social distancing, and washing one’s hands regularly are the keys to keeping us all safe.

Finally, if a casino has adjacent machines open and someone comes and sits beside me, I’ll ask them to social distance and play elsewhere. If they won’t, I’ll move. I’m not getting into a fight with anyone, but I try to protect myself. Same with elevators. If four people are already in an elevator and more want to enter, I’ll ask them to wait. If they refuse, I’ll get off.

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Comments

tgabrielli Oct-19-2020

Response

I play early also: 7am to around 10am, when there are less crowds. However, if someone sits next to me and not social distance, I will NOT move. I was there first. Instead, I will report them to security who will tell them to move. Same applies if I notice someone not wearing a mask: I will report them. I've seen security usher these people out of the casino when they refuse to wear their mask properly. Under no circumstances will I confront them directly. That's not my job; that's security's job.

Diane Crosby Oct-19-2020

Agree

Visited Laughlin and I was astounded at how many people ignored social distancing.

PatK Oct-19-2020

Harrah's Atlantic City

I was just at Harrah's Atlantic City.  They had every other VP machine turned off.  The good news is that most of the ones turned off were the ones I'd never play.

O2bnVegas Oct-19-2020

ditto tgabrielli

If someone sits sown on a blocked machine (or table) next to me I will put on my service light, tell (quietly) whomever comes.  

We are just as guilty and fail to help the cause if we don't participate in doing what is recommended or mandated, and what the casino goes to the trouble of doing what they can to protect us.

If management doesn't enforce their own rules, then I have a decision to make.

Appreciate Bob Dancer sharing his Covid-avoidance strategies.  Everything is give and take, especially with health.

Jaycee5353 Oct-19-2020

N95 mask

Bob,
Are you wearing the N95 mask? I understand it is the best mask and works both ways.

Kevin Lewis Oct-19-2020

Mask rules are useless if...

...the casino allows ways to dodge them, like "I'm smoking, so I can let it dangle" or "I'm drinking, so I'll put it back on when I'm done."

Also, even when people are responsible and wear their goddamn masks, they don't practice social distancing, which is necessary even if everyone IS wearing a mask.

So casinos continue to be a horribly dangerous environment, especially since smoking is still allowed (and WTF on that, anyway???)---and in the absence of a compelling NEED to play video poker, you won't see me in one any time soon. (I wonder if Bob actually needs to play?)

RichM Oct-19-2020

Just tell people to back off...

People frequently stand right behind me at the cage and other places. I just tell them politely but firmly to step back. Same with the elevator four person max rule. Sometimes they grumble, but they grumble while they're moving (and they always move). I can't really say anything about them playing an open game next to mine (I expect people to follow the rules...if they're sitting at an open game, they're following the rules), but I will if they're sitting at a closed one.

I go to the gym regularly, eat at restaurants, and go to casinos. I'm living my life and not hiding under my bed. I always wear a mask and physically distance and avoid large crowds. By doing this and taking a hard line on my personal space, I feel I have a reasonable risk vs. reward balance.

Question of the Day - 19 October 2020

Comments