Learning To Win, Learning To Lose

Your goal today is what happens in Vegas doesn’t all have to stay in Vegas. Take some home with you.

Bobby Vegas rule number three: It’s not hard to win, it’s hard to walk away a winner.

My good friend Mr. H calls on a Friday afternoon from Vegas. We’ve been buds for 20 years. He’s a stone-cold black-chip card counter and good at it. “Bobby, I’m having the run of my life.”

“Great! How much?”

“I’m up thirteen thousand. “

“Excellent! What did you start with?”

“Two.”

“Where are you?”

“Planet Hollywood.”

“Okay. Listen. Go up to Flamingo Road and take a right. Keep going till you pass Buca di Beppo on the left. Turn into the office park. There’s a Wells Fargo that’s still open. Hold three K, get a cashier’s check for ten, and overnight it home from the Fed Ex store on the corner.”

“But Bobby — ”

“Listen, H. It’s only Friday. It’s a long weekend.”

“Nah, I’ve got it covered — ”

“Listen to me — ”

“Bobby, it’s okay.”

Sigh. Two hours later, I get another call. Uh oh.

“Hey Bobby. So, uhm …”

Cringing, swearing to myself, I ask, “What happened?”

“Well, I was on such a roll, I went to play craps at MGM.”

“You don’t play craps!”

“I know. I know. I had a few free drinks.”

“How many?”

“Three. Doubles.”

“How much?”

“Uhm … I lost five.”

“So H, those three drinks cost about seventeen hundred each.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know …”

The good news is, he sobered up, wised up, went to dinner, saw a show, hung out at the pool, and got on the plane with the other $8,000.

You’re up, right? The rush is the best feeling in the world. You crushed it and feel invincible and want more! Here’s the thing. Once you hit your goal, stop, so you don’t wind up giving it all back. This is very difficult, even when it turns on you. You know it has. You’re high-fiving, drinking like a fish, tipping like a whale and all of a sudden you notice that you’re busting with 22, hand after hand. The shooter establishes a point and sevens out, roll after roll. In your mind’s eye, you see yourself crashing, burning, and waking up with that awful sick feeling about what you just did.

Learn to win and not give it all back. Learn to lose and not chase it. Kenny Rogers, anyone? Know when to fold ’em and when to walk away.

As much as I play, sometimes 20, 30, even 40 hours on a trip, I know for a fact the house edge is coming after me. Time is your enemy.

Avail yourself of a city with literally endless opportunities. See a comedy show. Shoot a machine gun. Drive a race car. Jump off a building. Eat the best food on the planet. See Adele, Sting, Lionel Ritchie, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bruno Mars. Enjoy yourself!

And take some winnings home. Thank me later.

Better yet. Buy a T-shirt at BobbyVegas.com.