Page 6 - November 2008 • Southern California Gaming Guide

Page 6
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE November 2008
Bill Burton: About Gambling
AIvoid Marathon Slot Sessions
n a recent Internet poll about casino playing, 22% of the respondents said they had average playing sessions of one to two hours at the casino, and 25% said their sessions lasted more than ve hours. Several people said they often played at the casino for 10 to 14 hours at
a time. Some of these players indicated the reason for their marathon sessions was that they did not visit casinos very often. And a few people admitted the reason they played so long was because they got fully immersed in the games and lost all track of time.
e sights and sounds of the casino, where there are no windows or clocks, make it easy for players to suspend reality. When playing slots, the spinning reels on the machines can have a unique e ect on some players. It is similar to a phenomenon known as
“highway hypnosis” that some people experience while driving long distances. is usually occurs when driving on a long straight road at a constant speed. Your body becomes relaxed and the passing lines on the road send your brain into a subconscious state. You arrive at your destination with no recollection of having actually driven there, nor of the time it took to arrive.
When you are in this state, your conscious and subconscious minds go in di erent directions and you are essentially in a trance. Workers performing simple and repetitive tasks and people deprived of sleep can also experience similar symptoms.
ese symptoms can occur in slot players who deprive themselves of proper sleep and nutrition as they spend long hours sitting in front of slot
4 If you go to the casino with friends, plan to meet at a speci c time for lunch, dinner or just to take a break.
is is will insure that you have a break-o point to leave the machine.
4 Start your play by putting smaller denomination bills into the slot machine. If you run out of credits it will give you a natural point to take a break.
4 If you are playing with friends seated nearby, stop and chat between spins. You can socialize and play at the same time. And this will help keep you from losing track of time.
4 Don’t constantly stare straight into the screen. Keep your eyes moving while you are playing. is will keep you from xating on the machine and make you more aware of your surroundings while keeping you alert.
We all want to have a good time when we visit the casino. but it is not enjoyable when we come home exhausted from playing marathon sessions. Use these tips to avoid getting caught up in the game. Stay in control when you play, and you will have a much better time.
Until next time, remember: “Luck comes and goes.. Knowledge Stays Forever.”
Bill Burton is the Casino Gambling Guide and columnist for the Internet portal About.com, located at http://casinogambling.about.com. He is the author of 1000 Best Casino Gambling Secrets and Get the Edge at Low Limit Texas Hold’em available online at www.billburton.com. He is also an instructor for Golden Touch Craps, http://www.thecrapsclub.com.
Santa Ynez Band Donates $100,000 tDo Ventura County Charities
November 2008 Tribes in the News
machines playing their favorite games. Instead of watching passing lines in the center of the road, they are staring at the spinning reels of the slot machine while performing the repetitive task of hitting the spin button. ey are lulled into a state that causes them to lose all track of time and they become unaware of how long they actually have been playing.
Have a Plan for Your Casino Play
If you ever nd yourself playing at the casino longer than you planned, there are some things to do to avoid getting caught up in your game and marathon slot sessions.
4 Schedule breaks after a certain number of hours of play. en stick to your schedule and get up from the machine.
4 Wear a watch when you go to the casino and check it occasionally. If you are by yourself, set the alarm on your watch, phone, or iPod if you feel that you will lose track of time.
Rincon Band Donates $150,000 to San Diego Seniors for
n October 14th the Tribal Council of the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians gave a $50,000 check to The Angel’s Depot in Vista to help feed the local elderly poor. is is the rst installment of a $150,000
contribution commitment.
“Low income seniors were barely making it before the economic downturn, now
with raising energy, housing and food costs, life is an increasingly di cult struggle for hundreds of North County elders,” said Bo Mazzetti, vice chairman of the Rincon Band. “We have generations of experience with poverty, however, there is one thing we have always been taught, and that is we have an obligation to our elders. ey sacri ced for us and it’s our responsibility to honor their sacri ces in return.”
e Angels Depot opened in May 2006, with founding sponsors, including the Rincon Band, Harrah’s Foundation and Harrah’s Rincon Casino & Resort. Since opening, the nonpro t charity has provided food for 286,965 senior meals. Harrah’s Foundation has also made a commitment of $150,000 over the next three years.
According to Susan Hall, e Angel’s Depot executive director and founder, only seniors living in poverty are eligible for Senior Food for-a-Week Emergency Meals. e Senior Food for-a-Week program provides boxes of non-perishable and healthy food for three full healthy meals a day for one week. According to Hall, the average monthly distribution is to more than 500 seniors per month.
“ e Rincon donation couldn’t come at a better time. It allows us to keep our operation open and increase our assistance to North County seniors. We are deeply grateful for the combined combination of $300,000 from Harrah’s and the Rincon Tribal Council.”
mergency Meals
EO
uring these di cult economic times, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians is helping to ensure that no one goes hungry. On October 14th, the Tribe donated more than $25,000 to the Santa Barbara County Foodbank. e
executive director of the Foodbank says the need is greater now than it’s ever been in the past several years. e Tribe also donated more than $50,000 to the Community Action Commission and more than $25,000 to Ventura County Food Share. Jeanne Benitez, manager of annual giving at Food Share, said the money will probably be spent on protein products, such as beef stew, canned tuna, beans and peanut butter.
“ ese three organizations address signi cant needs in our community, and we are proud to be in partnership with them to help our community,” said Vincent Armenta, Tribal Chairman. e funds are part of more than $100,000 raised at a golf tournament the Santa Ynez band and the Chumash Casino Resort hold each year for charity.
Sycuan Tribe Donates $50,000 Tto San Diego Shelter
he Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation donated $50,000 to Becky’s House Emergency Shelter, a San Diego YWCA con dential domestic violence shelter o ering safety for women and children in immediate danger, providing them with
a safe environment to determine their next steps. Services provided include individual counseling and support groups, legal assistance plus an onsite school that provides education for shelter children in grades K-12. e money, which will bene t the shelter, was presented at a golf tournament at Sycuan Resort in mid October.
Tribes in the News About Gambling with Bill Burton