The (almost) free lunch

Yesterday found me stopping at the Klondike Inn & Casino for lunch. I hadn't been there for over a year and I am not really sure why I stopped there yesterday. To my surprise, on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11AM until 10PM they offer a "free" meal. The only stipulation is that you buy a beverage. So for the cost of a diet soda ($1.20 plus 9 cents tax) I had the choice of soup or salad (I chose the chicken gumbo), a slab of ribs, fries and cole slaw. I noticed that others also got a roll, but I never did. The soup was delivered after the meal, but who could complain? The waitress stated that this was a gambling promotion, but you really didn't have to gamble to be eligible. As far as I could tell there were no strings attached. I managed to avoid the slots AND the 10 cent roulette and headed to the Luxor........


After 12 years, the Luxor has re-racked with new chips. Being a chip collector I needed a few of these newbies before they get all beat up. Again I avoided the slots. Quick in-and-out.

I have once again decided to NOT play slot machines. Today marks day three in this quest. I'd like to think that I will never play them again in my life, but the goal for now is to be slot-free for the month of November. I'll see how that goes and then set another goal..........

And now for an observation from the dealer's box: Spring Rain vs Pile of Dried-up Autumn Leaves
The dried-up leaves are the group of players who are never happy. They grumble and moan that they can't win. When they do drag a pot, they bitch that it is only a small pot. These players are not the life blood of poker. They are more like Dracula.
The new players, and I see them every day, are the ones who keep the game viable--the spring rain that gives life to tender new seedlings. The glut of poker tables in this town (with more slated to come on-line soon) requires these new players to fill the seats and provide an influx of "new" money. We offer poker lessons Monday-Friday at noon. When the lesson is concluded, these players are asked if they would like to play in a live game. Consequently, the dealers know to hold the hands of these players in an attempt to make their first experience enjoyable enough to make them want to return again and again. I actually like this aspect of my job because without these fresh faces, the poker boom cannot continue. Having said that, there are still times when I wonder about some of them. Case in point. On Wednesday I dealt to a new player in a $2-4 limit game. Each time that the action was on him I patiently stated his options. You can call $2, raise to $4 or fold. You can check or bet $4 etc etc etc.
About 3 hours later I again pushed into his table. On the turn, he wanted to BET $8. I wanted to scream "In the last 4 hours that you have sat there, has ANYONE been able to BET $8? Are you paying the least bit of attention? Do you realize that you are in a $2-$4 limit game? Are you brain damaged??" Sigh...........Instead I explained the basic betting increments pre-flop, on the flop, turn and river......... Maybe his version of precipitation is Acid Rain.
While dealing the same table the female companion of one of the other players came into the poker room and excitedly exclaimed that she had just won 1,000 quarters on a Wheel of Fortune machine. Her boyfriend looked up and asked "how much money equals 1,000 quarters?" He wasn't joking.
How do some of these people make it through life???? BIG sigh.............