Pooldad and I aren't gamblers. I can count on two fingers how many times I have been in a casino. We rarely even play the lottery but will on the occasion of a larger jackpot. We do live by the adage of "It only takes one ticket to win" so we limit our purchase of those to...one. At a time.
A few years ago there was a huge, multi-state lottery that reached into the 300 millions. Since the state we live in did not participate in this particular lottery we decided to drive approximately 40 minutes away, to neighboring WV and purchase one. It was a "date afternoon", so to speak. Quiet time and a beautiful drive.
On our way there we thought it would be fun to stop at the casino in Charles Town and play some slots and maybe have a nice dinner. Plus, we could purchase the lottery ticket there.
When we arrived I checked the bank account on the ATM and we decided that our limit would be $200. That would include slots, ticket, drinks and dinner. We figured we had hours of fun ahead of us.
Nope - it lasted 26 minutes.
The casino was packed! Since we like to be next to eachother when we do things we wandered around until we noticed a woman stand up and walk away from a machine with an empty seat next to her. We grabbed them. I had sat in her seat and it was warm! She must have been there a while.
Now, I don't really understand slot machines, but it is kind of fun and we only play the quarter slots. I put in a couple of dollars, with Pooldad doing the same. We hit the buttons, hit the buttons, hit the buttons...when his machine hit!
He was playing minimum bet and had won $40 on a quarter bet after using up about $4! Out of his $100 he now had $136. YAY. He felt pretty good so he sat and watched me. What I didn't realize is I was playing the maximum bet each time [told you I didn't know what I was doing] which was 75 cents a spin on this machine.
All of a sudden the machine lit up, bells went off and the money counter just started to go up. And up. And up....it just kept going. It went on for so long that I took a second to call the girls at home and let them listen to Mommy's money accumulate! It was surreal. People started to gather around to watch and when I glanced behind me I noticed the woman that had been in my seat earlier. She looked so mad. I felt bad, but um....
When the machine finally stopped I had won $480! For a total of $8 I had walked off with almost $500. YAY!
I have to say we didn't expect to go in there to win anything. We know that gambling favors the casino and we were willing and able, financially, to lose $200, but bonus! We won. So happy.
I looked at Pooldad, he looked at me and we nodded. It was time to get out. We had brought $200 and were walking with the original cash plus $508!
Banner day. We did buy a couple of those lottery tickets we originally came for and a drink to celebrate but we knew it was time to get the heck out of there.
That was five years ago and the last time we have been to a casino - but it was a really nice 26 minutes.
Note: This post was also inspired by Teresa at the Middle Side of Life* because we have been wishing for the lottery to solve her money woes. And also by Colenic who wrote a lovely post wishing the same thing.
*Petey Award #1
13 comments:
that was a simply lovely post! we don't play slots either (my SIL is addicted to penny slots) but one time when we were driving to FL to see the inlaws, we stayed the night in biloxi, ms and ron dropped 5-10 in a $1 machine. lol - it paid for our motel! we left with more money in our pocket than we'd stared with - not tons, but hotel amount. it was grand.
It usually takes me about 26 minutes to lose my money. I've only been in the casino twice and I don't find it appealing. Thank goodness. It's the wins like you had that get some people addicted. Glad you won. Now I can finally say I sort of know somebody who has won :-)
Really great post. Made me smile right before bed time!
Thanks!
Surprise for you my dear over at my place
Hugs xx
I used to be a bingo caller, and we would get tips. I would never put more than $20 in a machine, and it would always be Keno-AND it would always be the same numbers. At $15 the alarms went off...I had hit the jackpot! $5084.62 (I will always remember that number lol)
Some of the other employees were like "pssh it's only $5,000", but for a 19 year old it could have been a million!
hed
(my captcha is "tospoo" LOL)
Whoo hoo, came back to actually read this time (last time ws a flying visit). I never win anything on the pokies, well maybe enough to walk out with what I came in with. Good girl to walk away ahead. Not many people can do that
Good for you guys. Isn't it the best feeling to know you won something. I miss those days.
wow how awesome i have never been to a casino before either thought it might be fun to check one out sometime
That's funny. I think the gambling gods like to favour newbies. I don't much like to gamble but my husband and son do so I get dragged to various casinos. Generally, I win within the first 10 minutes of starting to play. Often $100 or more. Whether I keep it or not depends on how bored I am because the guys play cards and usually haven't even sat down yet when I've won so I have hours with nothing to do. Most casinos don't have a comfy lounge - on purpose I'm sure. You were so wise to leave!
@hed - that is awesome! congats on your win. i know the feeling and ours was only around $100. LOL!
A lovely story Skippy. We have only tried the casino on cruise ships and usually only allow $20 each and then give up. As a rule the ship always wins. You will always have that happy memory and I am glad you do.
Odie
That must have been such a wonderful feeling, Skippy, when you walked out of that casino with that money in your pocket. If only we had a few more days like that!!! I did smile about the 26 minutes!
it may come as a surprise to you but My Evil Twin does have a gambling problem. i have to keep him away from casinos.
when he loses, (more often than not) he is not much fun when he wins...well, we both end up in a drunken stupor, and blow his winnings...
nice post!
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