Page 12 - July 2006 • Southern California Gaming Guide

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
Watching What You Say by Bob Dancer
Usually I deal with situations where there is one correct answer. But sometimes, the answer to the question depends on who is listening when the question is asked!
I had just parked in a casino parking structure. I got out the driver’s door and
Shirley got out of the passenger door. I started to walk slowly towards the casino—which was to my side of the car—expecting Shirley to catch up.
One night Shirley and I were in a hotel elevator going up to our room. A young lady, probably inebriated, and the only other person in the elevator, bragged about how she had just won $10,000 playing slots. Although Shirley and I congratulated her, we suggested she keep that information to herself. Giving that kind of information to strangers is asking for trouble. Usually you will get away with it, but why take the chance?
When you win a large jackpot (however “large” is de ned to you), consider asking for a security guard to escort you wherever you are going — whether it is to your room or your car — especially if it is immediately after the casino has paid you either at the machine or at the cage. A lot of people like to watch when money is being handed over, and your concentration is on the money, so you can’t assess the risks from other people. If it has been a half hour or more since you were paid, you are probably safe enough. But if somebody knows you have a lot of cash on you (because they have just seen you get paid), you may be a juicy target. Tipping a casino security guard $5 or so to walk you out of the area is cheap insurance.
If you are walking to your car, observe who is around you. Now is not the time to be thinking about how much you won or lost. Paraphrasing
“ e Gambler,” there is time enough for counting when the danger’s through.
I know that celebrations are a signi cant part of the fun of winning. But be smart about it. I know a few people who have had their winnings taken from them, and they beat themselves up for years for not being more careful. Don’t let that happen to you!
Bob Dancer is America’s best-known video poker writer and teacher. He has a variety of “how to play better video poker” products, including Winner’s Guides, strategy cards, videos, and the award- winning computer software, Bob Dancer Presents WinPoker, his autobiography Million Dollar Video Poker, and his novel, Sex, Lies, and Video Poker. Dancer’s products may be ordered at www.bobdancer.com.
When I was about fteen feet away from the car, Shirley asks me “Do you think this is okay?” I have no idea what she is talking about. is, however, is
will congratulate you on your good fortune. But occasionally people who hear you say this will try to nd ways to separate you from your good fortune. And unless everyone within the sound of your voice
a normal situation for us. conversations midway from where her own thoughts are at the current moment. I regularly look for new ways to tell her that she will get an answer to her questions much more quickly if she puts them in context, as she continues to ask me things that seem like they are out of left eld.
Shirley tends to start her
After my usual “What
are you talking about?”
she says in a voice that
carries. “Do you think
anybody can see my purse
in the car? I have quite a
bit of money in it.” ere
are at least four other
people who hear her, none
of whom I know, so now my obvious answer is “We had better lock it in the trunk.” Had she asked me the question where nobody could hear, I would have said that with the tinted windows, it was probably safe enough.
e “correct” answer, it seems, depends on how many people heard the question!
In a casino, you will periodically win signi cant cash jackpots. e louder you announce,“I just won $1,000!” the more people will hear you. Usually they
“In a casino, you will periodically win significant cash jackpots. The louder you announce, ‘I just won $1,000!’ the more people will hear you. Usually they will congratulate you on your good fortune. But occasionally people who hear you say this will try to find ways to separate you
from your good fortune.”
are people you know well, you never know if this is the day that somebody with evil intentions happens to be listening.
e prudent assumption is that somebody is always out to separate you from your money. Casino towns are, typically, full of people who have lost more than they can a ord. Casino towns also attract people who are looking for easy prey among people with signi cant amounts of cash on hand. It is not a pleasant way to think about your fellow man, but it is a fact of life in today’s world.
For this reason, try not to display a lot of cash in a casino — or anywhere for that matter. Leaving money visible in the tray while playing a machine will attract a lot more attention than you suspect. Many people walk through casinos
all of the time looking for abandoned money in a tray. Seeing hundred dollar bills there presents a wonderful opportunity for them. One person will ask you a very polite question on your right side while somebody else will help themselves to your money from your left side. Don’t leave yourself open to that.
Page 12 July 2006
Video Poker with Bob Dancer