Screen goes blank; wife causes win

18 June 2013

By Frank Scoblete

Hi Frank,

I have a question about machines that lose the connection with their computer system in the casino. I have on occasion at two different casinos, bet high and lost hundreds of dollars without a "hit" and when I have spent all my money and get off the machine with cashing out a few cents, the screen has gone blue and said hand payout or no connection to system.

I find this strange that they have lost connection and I have lost all my money. This is hundreds of spins without hardly any form of payout and usually when I am determined to get the money back I put in machine and I end up spending $500-$600 before I run out of money. Is there any correlation with this?

L.L. in Wisconsin

Dear L.L.:

You know I have never encountered that in the casino. I am guessing that while you were playing and getting some payouts, the machine was connected. Otherwise that blue screen would come up and the game would stop.

What you should do is ask the Slot Manager exactly what is going on with any machine that does this. He should know the answer better than I do.

For your letter I am sending you a copy of my new book “The Virgin Kiss.”

All the best in and out of the casinos!

Frank Scoblete


Dear Frank:

I love your CasinoCityTimes columns and just read the story about the guy who suggested to a fellow player that he bet the “don't” and the player stormed off.

Here's my craps story.

Years ago my wife and I came home from Atlantic City and, somehow, a $5 chip from Caesars was packed and came home with us. The next time we visited Atlantic City I took the chip with me. We had a comp room at the Tropicana so we stayed there.

It was about 7:30 PM when I decided to go to Caesars to play keno for a while. (The Trop didn't have live keno.) I found my wife playing the slots and told her I was walking down to Caesars. Of course she said “take that chip” and, of course, it was in the room. With an eye roll I went to the room and got the chip, muttering all the time “this is a lot to go through for a lousy five dollars.”

I played keno for a while and was headed out the door about 9 p.m. when I remembered that chip. I went to a $5 craps table and put it on the Pass line: a seven was rolled.

I let the $10 ride: an 11 was rolled.

I let the $20 ride: a seven was rolled.

I then put $10 on the pass line: a four was rolled.

Took $20 odds: a four rolled the very next roll.

I left there at about 1 a.m. with $550 and life was good.

Bob M.

Dear Bob:

And you don’t just have Lady Luck to thank for your win but your beloved wife!

For your letter I am sending you a copy of my new book “The Virgin Kiss.”

All the best in and out of the casinos!

Frank Scoblete