Page 25 - September 2012 • Southern California Gaming Guide

Bill Burton: About Gambling
DIisruptive Players
am usually a very sociable person, and I like playing table games because it gives me a chance to interact with other players. Sometimes, however, I want to relax and enjoy being alone, so I choose to sit down at a slot machine and play video poker.
at is also the time when I most want some peace and quiet. Unfortunately, it’s also when I run into disruptive players, who always seem to sit down right next to me. Maybe you have encountered a few of these players as well?
The Novice
e Novice player will usually sit next to you when you are playing video poker. ey haven’t got a clue which game they are playing, let alone which cards to hold. Instead of learning the game rst, or bringing a strategy card, e Novice nds it much easier to lean over and ask you how to play a hand.
The Talker
is player wants to talk to you as you play. ey want to know where you are from, where you are staying, and many other personal questions that you may not want to answer. Ignoring them, or grunting short answers in hopes that they will take the hint to leave you alone may prompt the opposite response. ey will then launch into a monologue telling you their life story, or all about their latest winning or losing streak.
The Cell Phone Addict
It seems as if some people are addicted to their cell phones. At the gaming tables, it is against policy to talk on your cell phone, or to even have your cell phone on the table while you are playing. If you get a call and answer your phone, you will be advised to step away from the table. You will not be dealt a hand while you are on the phone. is stems from the possibility of someone using an electronic device to cheat. However, this does not apply to slot players, and many think nothing about carrying on a loud phone conversation while they are playing the machines. I have heard some pretty explicit conversations while sitting next to someone who is talking on the phone while playing the slots. I often wonder why they would want to share personal conversations with anyone within earshot.
The Bangers
e Machine Banger is the player who pounds or slaps the spin button with such force that it vibrates the machine. Other players can usually hear the slapping sound three rows away. It’s almost as if they think the spin button is activated by sound, and the louder they slap, the more credits the machine will pay. You can only hope that bruises to the hand or total fatigue will force this player to stop or go away.
The Beaters
e Machine Beater is similar to e Banger, only they play with anger. Instead of using an open hand, they will beat the spin button with a clenched st. A losing spin is likely to provoke an occasional kick to the base of the machine, or a slap to the front display panel. is may be accompanied by enough profanity to make a sailor blush. As with e Banger, you can only hope that they will wear themselves out, or sustain an injury causing them to go away.
The Lounger
e Lounger is the player who uses the shelf between slot machines as a foot rest. e Lounger will lean back in his seat and prop his dirty boot or shoe up on the ledge. Any drink glasses or ashtrays that may have been on the edge are likely to topple over, which of course will be ignored. If asked nicely, e Lounger may remove his leg to allow another player to use the unoccupied machine. Leg removal may be accompanied by a grunt, sigh or other expression of inconvenience.
Group Players
Group players can be really rude and annoying because of the sheer number of them. One person actually plays the slot machine while the others cheer them on. e group is usually loud and noisy, and they jump up and down and scream at the smallest win. is would not be so bad, but in a crowded area they tend to bump into you or your chair as you try to enjoy your own game. It is not only distracting, but it can be very annoying. Sometimes you will nd friends of players sitting in the seats of the machines on either side of the player, even though they are not playing.
The Smoker
When I sit down to play a slot machine, I scout out the area rst to make sure I am not sitting next to a smoker. If I see a smoker, I will not sit down next to them, as they were there rst, and I don’t want to deal with their smoke. Many smokers don’t extend the same courtesy in return. ey will sit down next to you and move the ashtray to the space between your machine and theirs, even if the machine on the other side is unoccupied.
No matter how good the ventilation system is in the casino, the smoke will always ow directly to the non- smoker. e worst of e Smokers are those who use the coin tray as an ashtray.
I’m sure most slot players have encountered a few of these disruptive players from time to time. I learned a long time ago that I can’t control anyone else’s behavior except my own, so I have two ways to deal with disruptive players. e rst is to put in a pair of ear buds and listen to some music on my smart phone, and try to ignore the distractions around me. If that fails, I simply move to another machine. It may be a little bit of a hassle to move, but it makes my playing a lot more enjoyable. And, after all, that is the reason I go to the casino.
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.
SEPTEMBER 2012
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
PAGE 25