Author Topic: The waning days of summer.... let's go throw our money away!  (Read 8262 times)

Sarita

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The waning days of summer.... let's go throw our money away!
« on: September 20, 2014, 08:48:27 PM »
I took the A train in NYC out towards Queens today.  One of the stops is for Resorts World Casino.  It's a beautiful September Saturday, and there were probably 2,000 cars in the parking lot.  It made me really sad.  And there were probably twice as many people inside, given that many probably took the train there.  I will never understand why giving a machine your money is considered entertainment.

Sarita

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Re: The waning days of summer.... let's go throw our money away!
« Reply #1 on: September 21, 2014, 05:40:49 AM »
Around the clock every half hour?????? And buses elsewhere too?  It's staggering.  Clearly there's an entire culture around this and I had no idea.  It's heartbreaking.

Elderwood17

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Re: The waning days of summer.... let's go throw our money away!
« Reply #2 on: September 21, 2014, 06:05:54 AM »
Hey - you can't win if you're not in!  (Sarcasm alert).

A coworker and her boyfriend go to the regional casino about once a month.  She makes very little, but justifies it with comments like that and the fact that the buffet dinner is cheap!

begood

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Re: The waning days of summer.... let's go throw our money away!
« Reply #3 on: September 21, 2014, 09:37:08 AM »
On a Friday night in Memphis, TN, the exit off the highway toward Tunica, MS, where the casinos are, backs up for a mile or more.

I've been to Tunica. They have permanent signs in the parking lot reminding customers that they're not allowed to leave "children, pets, or the elderly" in cars while they go gamble.

PERMANENT SIGNS.

MgoSam

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Re: The waning days of summer.... let's go throw our money away!
« Reply #4 on: September 21, 2014, 09:46:26 AM »
My dad is a gambling, I would say that he used to be as he hasn't gambled in a few years (aside from cards with his friends, which I don't entirely see as gambling), and I grew up absolutely hating it.

thepokercab

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Re: The waning days of summer.... let's go throw our money away!
« Reply #5 on: September 21, 2014, 10:04:52 AM »
I don't get slot machines, but I dropped $200 bucks this weekend at a poker tournament at a casino with some friends.  Lasted about 3 hours.  Didn't make the money, but it was fun.   I've always enjoyed poker so I'll usually play in a tournament 2-3 times a year. Like any other entertainment though, if I was in debt I wouldn't be doing it. 

SwordGuy

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Re: The waning days of summer.... let's go throw our money away!
« Reply #6 on: September 21, 2014, 11:12:46 AM »
On a Friday night in Memphis, TN, the exit off the highway toward Tunica, MS, where the casinos are, backs up for a mile or more.

I've been to Tunica. They have permanent signs in the parking lot reminding customers that they're not allowed to leave "children, pets, or the elderly" in cars while they go gamble.

PERMANENT SIGNS.

My parent's next door neighbors won $10,000,000 in a slot machine in one of those casinos. 

Family of 4.   Destroyed the family and 3 of the 4 people in it.  Couple divorced.  Husband died from drinking, passed out in the cold outside and died.   Wife went bankrupt and lost EVERYTHING, including previously owned assets.  Son, ditto.  Daughter is the only one who came out of it ok - if you ignore the dysfunctional family.

mariarose

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Re: The waning days of summer.... let's go throw our money away!
« Reply #7 on: September 22, 2014, 12:21:25 AM »
On a Friday night in Memphis, TN, the exit off the highway toward Tunica, MS, where the casinos are, backs up for a mile or more.

I've been to Tunica. They have permanent signs in the parking lot reminding customers that they're not allowed to leave "children, pets, or the elderly" in cars while they go gamble.

PERMANENT SIGNS.

Absolutely chilling.

My parent's next door neighbors won $10,000,000 in a slot machine in one of those casinos. 

Family of 4.   Destroyed the family and 3 of the 4 people in it.  Couple divorced.  Husband died from drinking, passed out in the cold outside and died.   Wife went bankrupt and lost EVERYTHING, including previously owned assets.  Son, ditto.  Daughter is the only one who came out of it ok - if you ignore the dysfunctional family.

And yet,I would not mind being smitten with $10,000,000 with which to tempt fate,guess we ALL figure we are the ones who would do better....!

Since I never gamble or play lotteries, I will never be so smitten.  Still fun to dream though!  BAM, out of debt. BAM, out of tax trouble. BAM, enough savings. Ah well...

Beric01

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Re: The waning days of summer.... let's go throw our money away!
« Reply #8 on: September 22, 2014, 01:48:43 AM »
On a Friday night in Memphis, TN, the exit off the highway toward Tunica, MS, where the casinos are, backs up for a mile or more.

I've been to Tunica. They have permanent signs in the parking lot reminding customers that they're not allowed to leave "children, pets, or the elderly" in cars while they go gamble.

PERMANENT SIGNS.

My parent's next door neighbors won $10,000,000 in a slot machine in one of those casinos. 

Family of 4.   Destroyed the family and 3 of the 4 people in it.  Couple divorced.  Husband died from drinking, passed out in the cold outside and died.   Wife went bankrupt and lost EVERYTHING, including previously owned assets.  Son, ditto.  Daughter is the only one who came out of it ok - if you ignore the dysfunctional family.

That's the problem with gambling winnings. The type of person who is irresponsible enough with their money to gamble is also going to be irresponsible if they actually win something. The only kind of person who could handle a gambling windfall responsibly (like a Mustachian) would not be gambling in the first place.

pachnik

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Re: The waning days of summer.... let's go throw our money away!
« Reply #9 on: September 22, 2014, 07:47:20 AM »
That's the problem with gambling winnings. The type of person who is irresponsible enough with their money to gamble is also going to be irresponsible if they actually win something. The only kind of person who could handle a gambling windfall responsibly (like a Mustachian) would not be gambling in the first place.

+1.  I haven't been to a casino since we went to Vegas in 2010.  I guess the above poster summed it up.  Man, if I ever won a jack pot in a casino, i wouldn't lose it.  :(  But I never go to the casino, since I think it is a waste of money.  Oh, well.  My husband does buy the odd lottery ticket so i guess I can still dream.  :)

eyePod

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Re: The waning days of summer.... let's go throw our money away!
« Reply #10 on: September 22, 2014, 12:31:39 PM »
On a Friday night in Memphis, TN, the exit off the highway toward Tunica, MS, where the casinos are, backs up for a mile or more.

I've been to Tunica. They have permanent signs in the parking lot reminding customers that they're not allowed to leave "children, pets, or the elderly" in cars while they go gamble.

PERMANENT SIGNS.

Absolutely chilling.

My parent's next door neighbors won $10,000,000 in a slot machine in one of those casinos. 

Family of 4.   Destroyed the family and 3 of the 4 people in it.  Couple divorced.  Husband died from drinking, passed out in the cold outside and died.   Wife went bankrupt and lost EVERYTHING, including previously owned assets.  Son, ditto.  Daughter is the only one who came out of it ok - if you ignore the dysfunctional family.

And yet,I would not mind being smitten with $10,000,000 with which to tempt fate,guess we ALL figure we are the ones who would do better....!

Since I never gamble or play lotteries, I will never be so smitten.  Still fun to dream though!  BAM, out of debt. BAM, out of tax trouble. BAM, enough savings. Ah well...

I just don't get it. If I did that, and even spent it all down to the last dime, the only payments I would owe at the end is property tax every year. Where the hell did the rest of it go? Pay off my mortgage, my parents (or at least what they helped me with in college), same to the other inlaws for my wife, and then just sit back and relax. Even going on ridiculous vacations, I wouldn't finance anything. Cash would be king. Blows my mind.

rocksinmyhead

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Re: The waning days of summer.... let's go throw our money away!
« Reply #11 on: September 22, 2014, 03:04:21 PM »
I don't get slot machines, but I dropped $200 bucks this weekend at a poker tournament at a casino with some friends.  Lasted about 3 hours.  Didn't make the money, but it was fun.   I've always enjoyed poker so I'll usually play in a tournament 2-3 times a year. Like any other entertainment though, if I was in debt I wouldn't be doing it.

yeah, I also enjoy the occasional gambling activity, if it's something that's actually interactive and fun (and I look at the cost as just paying for entertainment, not something I'm expecting to make back). I really don't get slot machines at all... just seems super depressing and boring.

Beric01

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Re: The waning days of summer.... let's go throw our money away!
« Reply #12 on: September 22, 2014, 03:10:28 PM »
I don't get slot machines, but I dropped $200 bucks this weekend at a poker tournament at a casino with some friends.  Lasted about 3 hours.  Didn't make the money, but it was fun.   I've always enjoyed poker so I'll usually play in a tournament 2-3 times a year. Like any other entertainment though, if I was in debt I wouldn't be doing it.

yeah, I also enjoy the occasional gambling activity, if it's something that's actually interactive and fun (and I look at the cost as just paying for entertainment, not something I'm expecting to make back). I really don't get slot machines at all... just seems super depressing and boring.

I guess this just takes a certain personality type. I can't dream of throwing away $200 on gambling for just a few hours. But maybe I need to loosen up a bit...

fantabulous

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Re: The waning days of summer.... let's go throw our money away!
« Reply #13 on: September 22, 2014, 03:39:30 PM »
I don't get slot machines, but I dropped $200 bucks this weekend at a poker tournament at a casino with some friends.  Lasted about 3 hours.  Didn't make the money, but it was fun.   I've always enjoyed poker so I'll usually play in a tournament 2-3 times a year. Like any other entertainment though, if I was in debt I wouldn't be doing it.

yeah, I also enjoy the occasional gambling activity, if it's something that's actually interactive and fun (and I look at the cost as just paying for entertainment, not something I'm expecting to make back). I really don't get slot machines at all... just seems super depressing and boring.

I guess this just takes a certain personality type. I can't dream of throwing away $200 on gambling for just a few hours. But maybe I need to loosen up a bit...

Poker's not really my thing, but think of the competitiveness of a tournament rather than the money itself. That seems to be the allure of poker to me.

deborah

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Re: The waning days of summer.... let's go throw our money away!
« Reply #14 on: September 22, 2014, 06:44:29 PM »
You never know - these people may not be gambling - and could even be mustashian. Because the local gambling places have conference rooms available, many financial seminars and training courses are held in this type of venue.

zing12

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Re: The waning days of summer.... let's go throw our money away!
« Reply #15 on: September 23, 2014, 07:23:26 PM »
Eh, I enjoy gambling $100 once or twice a year. On the blackjack tables, mostly... you can sit there for a long time. I won $119 in atlantic city in July and promptly went back up to my room, opened up my budgeting spreadsheet, added the winnings, and netted them with the total cost of the trip. (Which was dirt cheap because atlantic city was practically giving away hotel rooms this summer) I was there for four nights and didn't gamble until the last one.

So I wouldn't say there are no mustachian gamblers. The idiots are the ones who like to bet big and think they're cool because of it. I bet the lowest I can possibly bet while still getting a game with good odds. It's all about living within your means, like anything else. Bet within your means.

It's definitely depressing walking through a casino and looking at the "regulars" though, staring into their machines. Especially the older ones. I would recommend it to anyone as a lesson of what not to be.
« Last Edit: September 23, 2014, 07:27:40 PM by zing12 »

rocksinmyhead

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Re: The waning days of summer.... let's go throw our money away!
« Reply #16 on: September 24, 2014, 06:59:49 AM »
I don't get slot machines, but I dropped $200 bucks this weekend at a poker tournament at a casino with some friends.  Lasted about 3 hours.  Didn't make the money, but it was fun.   I've always enjoyed poker so I'll usually play in a tournament 2-3 times a year. Like any other entertainment though, if I was in debt I wouldn't be doing it.

yeah, I also enjoy the occasional gambling activity, if it's something that's actually interactive and fun (and I look at the cost as just paying for entertainment, not something I'm expecting to make back). I really don't get slot machines at all... just seems super depressing and boring.

I guess this just takes a certain personality type. I can't dream of throwing away $200 on gambling for just a few hours. But maybe I need to loosen up a bit...

well it doesn't even have to be $200. I'm too cheap for that too, but I can go to the horse track for a few hours and make a bunch of $2-5 bets (plus a couple $2 Bud Lights) and spend less than $40 total and I think it's a fun evening. I do it once or twice a summer, and I definitely wouldn't classify it as "Mustachian" (aren't we supposed to be finding free entertainment? LOL) but it's not really breaking the bank. but I can see how it's not for everyone!

It's definitely depressing walking through a casino and looking at the "regulars" though, staring into their machines. Especially the older ones. I would recommend it to anyone as a lesson of what not to be.

+1. so sad.

Tempe

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Re: The waning days of summer.... let's go throw our money away!
« Reply #17 on: September 24, 2014, 07:20:03 AM »
My mother had stories of people selling their possessions, cars, and houses to fund gambling, or writing 5k checks when they didn't have the money in their bank account. Another gem was them taking out loans to go gamble with. My mom gambled quite a lot of money over the years, but she was aware enough to be able to pay for bills and take care of us, and I can't say the same for some of my other family members addicted to gambling. I enjoy slot machines (random chance draws me in) and when I gamble I have a set budget of how much cash I bring with. Last time I made out with winning 400$ but I could have come out in the negative too, but still had fun. Luckily I had fun and won and it paid half my flight costs.
Seeing the elderly people gambling night after night is pretty depressing. It always made me feel sad, especially the widows and widowers that only really had gambling left in their lives.

Apocalyptica602

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Re: The waning days of summer.... let's go throw our money away!
« Reply #18 on: September 24, 2014, 08:31:04 AM »
I enjoy gambling a few times per year. People tend to find that unusual since I'm an engineer who utilizes statistics almost every day in my workplace, so I'm well aware of how it's usually a quick way to lose a bunch of money, and I'm very careful in other aspects of my life with money.

The way I usually reply is, I few gambling as consciously spending on entertainment, NOT a way to win a lot of money. I love the atmosphere, the free drinks, the energy of a cheering table, but with anything willpower is required and it's not something you do if your hair-is-on-fire.

My usual budget is ~$100-$200 (for gambling) per trip. I'll take I'll sit at a low minimum bet ($5 usually) roulette table or a blackjack table (I find slots boring and never got into poker much), and make reasonable bets, sometime the minimum, sometimes more.

I play until I double my money, or lose all of it. If I turn $200 into $400, great! I walk away with quiet satisfaction and that gets put back into the bank account. If I lose $200 that's okay too. Like I said, conscious spending.

I don't play slots or buy lotto tickets so I'll never be one of those million dollar jackpot winners, but cranking on the slot machine for hours chasing that dream is not why I enjoy gambling.

UnleashHell

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Re: The waning days of summer.... let's go throw our money away!
« Reply #19 on: September 24, 2014, 08:42:13 AM »
I enjoy gambling a few times per year. People tend to find that unusual since I'm an engineer who utilizes statistics almost every day in my workplace, so I'm well aware of how it's usually a quick way to lose a bunch of money, and I'm very careful in other aspects of my life with money.

The way I usually reply is, I few gambling as consciously spending on entertainment, NOT a way to win a lot of money. I love the atmosphere, the free drinks, the energy of a cheering table, but with anything willpower is required and it's not something you do if your hair-is-on-fire.

My usual budget is ~$100-$200 (for gambling) per trip. I'll take I'll sit at a low minimum bet ($5 usually) roulette table or a blackjack table (I find slots boring and never got into poker much), and make reasonable bets, sometime the minimum, sometimes more.

I play until I double my money, or lose all of it. If I turn $200 into $400, great! I walk away with quiet satisfaction and that gets put back into the bank account. If I lose $200 that's okay too. Like I said, conscious spending.

I don't play slots or buy lotto tickets so I'll never be one of those million dollar jackpot winners, but cranking on the slot machine for hours chasing that dream is not why I enjoy gambling.

That’s fair Enough.


I live a 20 minute drive from the worlds 6th largest casino.
Theres a bunch of poker rooms in an easy drive from me.
Cruise ships with casinos on leaving practically from my doorstep and yet

I don’t go to any of them.

Once a year I fly to Vegas – meet with a bunch of friends and we spend a few days goofing off and disconnecting from our usual routine. For me this involve $5 blackjack, Poker tourneys and Pai gow.

Is it gambling? Yeah. Is it controlled – yeah.. Is it a problem – yeah – the problem is that we can only organize it for once a year….