Page 26 - October 2011 • Southern California Gaming Guide
P. 26

Bill Burton: About Gambling
IPlaying Healthy
have been writing about casino gambling for over decade, and during that time, I have shared many of my personal experiences in the hope that readers could learn from my successes and mistakes.  is month I’m sharing one of my more painful experiences.
correctly, energy levels diminish, inviting negative emotion. If you are playing on a table-top machine, avoid resting on your elbows. (Trust me on this one.)
Keep Limber
Take a break occasionally and perform some of these simple stretches.
If you are playing an upright machine you will probably be looking up at the screen, and if you are playing a table- top machine, you will be looking down at it.  is can cause some tension or pain on the back of your neck.
Tuck your chin down onto your chest and then slowly tilt your head back.  is opens the airway, so make sure to take a nice deep breath as you tilt your head back. Next, stretch your neck to the left side and then right. Do this in slow easy movements. Don’t jerk your head. You should feel the muscles of your neck gently stretching as you do this.
Follow this with a few shrugs of the shoulders. Shrug the shoulders high up to the ears, and then release and drop. Repeat this at least three times.  en, rotate your shoulders in a circular motion— rst forward, then back.
All of these exercises are meant to help keep you loose, and prevent fatigue or more serious injuries.  ey can be done while you are sitting at the slot machine. If you work in an o ce and  nd yourself sitting at a desk all day long, you may  nd these useful there, as well.
Until next time, remember: “Luck comes and goes... Knowledge Stays Forever.”
Bill Burton is the author of 1000 Best Casino Gambling Secrets and Get the Edge at Low Limit Texas Hold’em available online at billburton.com. Burton is also an instructor for Golden Touch Craps: thecrapsclub.com.
Note: The content provided in this article is for entertainment purposes only, and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a physician or healthcare professional before using any techniques within this article. The Southern California Gaming GuideTM is not responsible for any injury or liability.
Most of us have heard or read about Repetitive Stress Injuries (rsi).  e most common of these injuries is carpal tunnel syndrome that a ects people who spend a lot of time typing. However, any prolonged periods of abnormal posture and repetitive movements can contribute to neck, limb and back pain, and cause other types of rsi.
 ese injuries can be temporary; or in some cases, they can be serious enough to require surgery. Playing slot machines entails repetitive motion while sitting for long periods of time, and may cause injury without realizing it, as the damage is done slowly over a long period of time.
Whenever I play video poker or other slot machines, I always try to play at a table-top machine because that’s where I feel most comfortable. I put my left elbow on the table-top and rest my head in my left hand, while I use my right hand to push the buttons. Unfortunately, I did not know that this posture could cause serious injury.
Several months ago I started losing mobility in my ring and little  nger. As it got progressively worse, I went for some tests and I was diagnosed with cubital tunnel syndrome which is a condition brought on by increased pressure on the ulnar nerve at the elbow.  e ulnar nerve is commonly referred to as your “funny bone,” and it can be damaged by resting on your elbow for prolonged periods of time.  is is exactly what happened to me. I had to undergo surgery two weeks ago, and I now have a few months of rehab before I will know if the operation was successful.
Simple Exercises
Several years ago, I wrote about casino ergonomics, and suggested some simple exercises that slot players can perform right at a slot machine that will help prevent fatigue and the possibility of repetitive stress pain or injury. After my recent experience, I felt this would be
a good time to remind you of the possible e ects of repetitive body stress, and share a few of these tips again to help keep you healthy while playing your favorite games.
Eye Strain
One of the biggest causes of fatigue for slot players results from eye strain.  ere is a simple exercise you can do while playing that will help alleviate this. Take your eyes o  the slot machine screen and gaze into the far distance. Look from left to right while you are playing instead of staring at the same spot on the screen. Take some deep slow breaths while doing this.
Wrists and Fingers
Wrists and  ngers are also most a ected when playing slots. Pushing the spin button over and over can cause some strain on the  ngers and wrists. To help avoid this, stop occasionally and  ex your  ngers and wrists. If you are playing on a table-top machine, make a  st with your hands then place your elbows on the surface top of the machine and bend your hands up and down at the wrist, then rotate them from left to right. If you are playing a machine with nowhere to rest your elbows, you can tuck them into your side and bend your wrist up and down.  en open and close your  sts extending your  ngers straight out.
Posture
Be aware of your posture while sitting at a slot machine. Try to keep your back straight. Sit with your feet  at on the  oor, and try to avoid slouching. Slumped posture compresses the lungs, abdomen and airways, restricting the proper  ow of oxygen. When oxygen doesn’t circulate
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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
OCTOBER 2011


































































































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