Venting is fun

1 October 2013

By Frank Scoblete

FROM RAY: Personally I think your physicist friend is an arrogant snob.

My wife does not like sports in general, doesn't understand what I see in them, yet accepts that watching them brings me joy. And vice-versa for many of the things she likes. We understand that different things turn on different people.

However, the anticipation, the rush that you describe in the article really points out why your friend should not be upset about people enjoying slots. HE is in a small subset of the population that gets a rush out of analyzing and searching for the physics of anything. WE don't get why he is not totally bored with physics like a vast majority of the population. And HE continually looks for new answers to the mysteries of the universe, fully well knowing that the odds against HIM discovering an answer are more minute than me winning a slot jackpot.

Thanks for letting me vent.

FRANK RESPONDS: It feels good to vent. That physicist is not always a jolly fellow. He wants to discover the secret to “it all” but I think he just won’t get there. I am sending you a copy of my book “The Virgin Kiss.”


FROM BERNIE: I read your article on what is the point of slot play. I go to casinos about 60 times a year including Vegas twice a year for 10 days each. I have often watched people play slots like zombies and I do understand the anticipation of the big life changing jackpot possibility.

I also understand how the vast majority will lose thousands of dollars chasing this dream while trying to buck the house odds of 4 percent to 15 percent house edges. These dreamers are the reason casinos exist and continue to build billion-dollar casinos nationwide and worldwide. Sure every once in awhile someone will win a huge million-dollar jackpot while millions of others go broke and some lose their life savings plus their children’s college funds.

The thrill I get is knowing that I am smarter then 95 percent of the people that go to casinos and have a fighting chance to win long term over these greedy casinos. They may get my money long term but not very much because I play games like Blackjack with perfect basic strategy (house edge 0.5 percent) with card counting, craps with some success with dice control, and video poker with good pay schedules.

I read magazines every month for tips plus I have read many books from gaming experts like yourself, Renzey, Robison, the mad professor, Bob Dancer on video poker and many others. I get all the comps I can get for food plus cash back.

So my thrill is to wage an endless battle with the casinos knowing if I work hard at playing my best at the games I play I can win a little long term.

There is no thrill to playing slot machines for me nor do I play them except for high progressive machines on rare occasions. So I agree with your friend that the world is full of suckers looking for that big score as they lose every year. As far as the lottery goes I too am a sucker for about $20 a year when the jackpot gets super high. Being that kind of sucker I don't mind but that is the extent of the quick thrill I want out of gambling.

Good luck, good gaming and stay healthy!

FRANK RESPONDS: You certainly know what you are doing. It’s tough enough to wage war against the casinos when you know the best strategies but when a player plays poorly he can basically just kiss his money goodbye. For your letter I am sending you a copy of my book "The Virgin Kiss."

Visit Frank's website at www.frankscoblete.com.