25 Ways to Protect Yourself Against the BAD Guys in the Casinos! - Part 3

Some casino games and some casino-hotel locales lend themselves much more readily to criminals preying upon us than do others. Gaming readers get great advice in handling the various games in the casino, but rarely do we get good advice about how to handle the variety of games criminals might play upon us in and out of the casinos. Considering that there are two ways to lose your money in a casino: One, by having bad luck when the casino's edge defeats you, and two, by having even worse luck when some criminal steals whatever money you might have won after you had good luck, here are 25 ways to protect us (the good guys) against them (the bad guys).

6. Eyeball Their Eyeballs. Never be afraid to look someone in the eyes. Thieves love the fact that most of us are shy about really eyeballing other people. They realize that most human prey are leery of looking folks square in the face as this is an aggressive, perhaps challenging attitude. And that is just the kind of attitude you want to have in a casino or casino-hotel. If you think someone is eyeing you, or following you, or getting too close to you -- turn and look him dead in the face. In fact, make it obvious that you are trying to remember his face! Unless the individual is a psychopath who is intent on killing you whether you know what he looks like or not (in which case it doesn't matter if you look at him or don't look at him), most criminals don't want to be seen and will quickly scurry into the woodwork when you eyeball them.

7. Don't Get Taken for a Ride. Never get into an elevator with someone who makes you think: "Should I get into the elevator with this person?" If you feel the least bit uncomfortable, if a single hackle goes up, don't get in! Many women I know ignore that little voice that says to them: "Don't get into the elevator with that guy." Instead, they rationalize, "I'm just being paranoid because of the person's race, or ethnicity, or dress. He'll feel bad if he knows I didn't get in the elevator because of him." The hell with his feelings! It's your safety that is of paramount concern. If the person's dress, or look, or carriage, or comportment, or anything about that person makes you a little fearful, then let him (or her) get into the elevator and you take the next one. It is better to hurt someone else's feelings than to chance being assaulted and having your purse or wallet stolen, or worse, your body and soul traumatized. I believe that nature has given us a sixth sense when it comes to danger but most of us ignore it to our obvious peril. Trust in your feelings when it comes to danger. The worst that can happen if you are mistaken is some guy's feelings are hurt and you get to your room a few minutes later than you planned.

8. Up Against the Wall. When you are in the elevator, try to be up against the back wall, or against the side wall. You want to be able to see everyone clearly. Jimmy P., an Atlantic City player and a member of the Captain's Crew, had his wallet lifted in an elevator. "I didn't even know it was gone until I got to the room. I knew I had it when I got into the elevator. When I got into the room it was gone. The elevator was crowded too and I was pressed up against the front door."

9. Hand to Money. If someone bumps you, jostles you, or even rubs gently against you, immediately grab the pocket where your wallet is, or grab your purse. Then look to see what's going on. The quick reflex must always be hand to money!

10. Valet is the Way. Always use valet parking, even if you have to pay for it. This was dramatically brought home to me when I saw video of a man who was assaulted in the Mirage parking garage, a well-lit, relatively secure facility. In fact, the cameras picked up the assault with graphic detail. I think security even caught the perpetrator. But that didn't lessen the effects of the bad guy's punches as he pummeled his innocent victim, nor the lifelong trauma such a victim experiences once having been used as a heavy bag. It's much better not to be mugged than to have your mugger get caught!

In the next part of this article, Frank lists five more ways to protect yourself in the casino.