How did you end up slotting/gambling?

[Moneybags]

So, how did I get started with slots? A wealthy lady seduced and betrayed me.

Romantic, ain't it? OK, now the true story:

Growing up, none of my family gambled. But I loved to play poker. One of the guys I played with had an idea to play BJ in teams, doing some light card counting. It was great. We would go 2 to 4 times a year to Vegas. One of us would sit at 1st base and another one would sit at 3rd base. We would each keep count using stacks of chips, so there were never any code words or the like having to be exchanged, and we would never have volatile swings in our betting patterns that would bring heat down on us.

When we weren't playing BJ, we would play craps.

I never played slots, thinking slots were for women and suckers.

Eventually, DW turned me on to slots and I started reading up on the actual (not theoretical) hold numbers, and saw that in games relying on skill (e.g. BJ) the players did worse, even though in theory they should have done better.

When I got my first HP (an 8 Quick Hit jackpot), I was hooked. I had never won so much money at BJ or craps, and in all likelihood never would.

[Kimsa70]

So, how did I get started with slots? A wealthy lady seduced and betrayed me.

Romantic, ain't it? OK, now the true story:

Growing up, none of my family gambled. But I loved to play poker. One of the guys I played with had an idea to play BJ in teams, doing some light card counting. It was great. We would go 2 to 4 times a year to Vegas. One of us would sit 1st base and another one would sit 3rd base. We would each keep count using stacks of chips, so there were never any passwords or the like having to be exchanged, and we would never have volatile swings in our betting patterns that would bring heat down on us.

When we weren't playing BJ, we would play craps.

I never played slots, thinking slots were for women and suckers.

Eventually, DW turned me on to slots and I started reading up on the actual (not theoretical) hold numbers, and saw that in games relying on skill (e.g. BJ) the players did worse, even though in theory they should have done better.

When I got my first HP (an 8 Quick Hit jackpot), I was hooked. I had never won so much money at BJ or craps, and in all likelihood never would.

You're one of the few who says slots can pay better than tables.

I'm at the point of wanting to be a table, not slot player!

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[Jeani]

I had only been to Biloxi once and I think it was around 1989 or 1990. I had never gambled before then and won maybe $100 the few days we were there. Fast forward to 2006. It was around my 50th birthday and I was a bit sad...turning the big 50 and had thought my good friend would throw me a party. Well she forgot my birthday so no party. I was home alone and for some reason, not sure why, I decided to drive to Tampa and stay at the Hard Rock. I think there had been a lot of advertising on TV as it had only been open 1.5 to 2 years. I called and made a 2 night reservation, packed my bag and off I went.

I had the best time! I wasn't sure then how the slot machines worked and was putting money in not knowing what I was doing. I remember putting a $10 in a machine and pushing the button and it spun. No money won and the $10 was gone in that one spin. I was like....what the heck happened!! I then found this $1.00 Green Machine and I sat there for hours and walked away with $300. I was so happy. The Hard Rock at that time was pretty small and the machines were run on the bingo cards. They have pretty much done away with the bingo card machines although I think they still have a few here and there.

When I lived on the east coast of Florida my friends and I would drive down to Hollywood (3.5 to 4 hours) and visit the Racino's and the Hollywood Hard Rock or drive over to Tampa (2.5 hours). Now that I live closer to Tampa (1 hour) I am able to visit there at least once a month if not more often. I would love to go 2-3 times a month but just don't have the funds for that many trips at least not right now. When I turn 62 my financial situation will be much better and I'll hopefully be able to do more casino resort vacations.

[zeus]

Some friends asked us if we would like to go to Vegas with them back in 2003. We booked it for the week before my 40th birthday. We stayed at Treasure Island for four nights. Not knowing what to expect we took a massive $600 to gamble with. Yeah, for four nights. HHH. We went, we toured, we ate and we played some slots. It was really a fun trip. Never touched another slot until June 2006. We had gone to DC to visit Allen's sister. She mentioned an overnight in AC. We stayed at the Sands. We played some slots, but being the tight ass I was, I was looking for those few Penny slots they had at the time. It was fun.
Lets move on to 2007. I mentioned going to Vegas. Allen was like "What, I did not think you like gambling because of the way you are with money?" Now close to 20 trips to Vegas under my belt, I am an addict! Yes I may still be a low roller, but I never think about vacationing anywhere that does not have casinos because I can say that no activity brings me as much joy.

[sondor]

I come from a family of Gamblers...I remember going to my Grandpa's for the weekly card games...I got to watch He-Haw, Lets Make a deal and Laurence Welk on his little B&W TV, collect empty Beer bottles and empty his spittoon for a nickle, but liked going. My parents would go to Vegas once every 5 years or so(Air travel was expensive, in fact I remember hearing how they would go on the train with my Aunt, uncle and Grandpa) and I would always get some trinket, probably the shit they give away. One of my Aunts & her Husband moved out there when they retired. Just never had the money to go, after I got a real job me any my GF, now wife went. On my first roll of quarters I won $3600 on a quarter progressive, that was 25 years ago. Just really liked Vegas and my Aunt and Uncle liked the company. Been going couple times a year since then, sometimes more when airfare is cheap.

[Kimsa70]

I come from a family of Gamblers...I remember going to my Grandpa's for the weekly card games...I got to watch He-Haw, Lets Make a deal and Laurence Welk on his little B&W TV, collect empty Beer bottles and empty his spittoon for a nickle, but liked going. My parents would go to Vegas once every 5 years or so(Air travel was expensive, in fact I remember hearing how they would go on the train with my Aunt, uncle and Grandpa) and I would always get some trinket, probably the shit they give away. One of my Aunts & her Husband moved out there when they retired. Just never had the money to go, after I got a real job me any my GF, now wife went. On my first roll of quarters I won $3600 on a quarter progressive, that was 25 years ago. Just really liked Vegas and my Aunt and Uncle liked the company. Been going couple times a year since then, sometimes more when airfare is cheap.

Wow! $3600 win on your first $10 quarters! That would get anybody hooked!

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[sondor]

Wow! $3600 win on your first $10 quarters! That would get anybody hooked!

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We had not even checked in yet at the Lavish Palace Station, room not ready...Luckily it was one of the new ones that would hold credits and I was winning so stepped it up to 2 quarters instead of one. Hit the three symbols and nothing happened...I was like that sucks you should win something for that, then some guys slaps me on the back and says way to go you won...I said won what? He pointed so the Marque and said that...took a check for the almost the whole thing and brought it home (Gave the guy who told me the other roll of quarters I had). My aunt would not believe me when they came to pick us up to go downtown...Won there too had a big tub of quarters I brought back from downtown and we played on that for most of the trip.

[kdk]

I realized after reading these I have a part 2 to my story. I had mentioned that I went a lot to the casinos when I was 18 since that was something I could do then. Back then though I didn't have a lot of money, and I would go and lose $60 and cry about it for a week. Once I turned 21 my social priorities changed and I almost never went to a casino- maybe 2 or 3 times per year max, and wouldn't gamble much when I would go. I even would go to Vegas just to party and maybe drop $20 gambling but that would be it. I didn't even know you could get comped rooms- I would pay retail price for a hotel room, which seems crazy now.

Then back in 2008 I was in Vegas for the annual industry convention that I go to now. Room prices were always really expensive during this time and I hated paying it, but had no choice. But there was a woman who I worked with who was really successful in our business and love to gamble. She had a host at the Las Vegas Hilton at the time- and had asked if she could get a group of rooms comped by her host- so that each of us could stay in one. We just had to sign up for a card and to promise to gamble there. So I did- and from the day we checked in I hit the slots. I only played reels back then still -and started playing dollar reels and just had some crazy luck. I remember playing dollar pinball and getting bonus after bonus, I couldn't lose though on anything I played. I never got a jackpot but after playing for 3 days I came home almost $1000 ahead, and I think I might have only brought $200 with me, thinking that was a lot of money to take to the casino.

I had so much fun that when I got home I wanted to go to a casino again- so started going to my locals, signed up for cards, going on gambling trips, etc and was all downhill from there....

[Laurie]

I blame it all on @foamy HHH
My family didn't gamble at all but all of his did! After we were married we would take an occasional trip to LV or the horse track in Omaha but I really didn't care for it that much.
When our son moved away to college I went to the local with him a few times just for something to do. I got hooked soon after when I hit a jackpot progressive $1700 on a 50 cent bet. Still mainly low roll and haven't had a handpay since!


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[CPT]

This is a good read, thanks for all the stories!
My parents took us to Atlantic City when I was 10. We were able to walk in and see the lights and bells, but obviously couldn't go any further. My parents left us in the hotel room (what degenerates!) to go at the time the Merv Griffin Resorts. They brought back some coin buckets with nothing much else to show. I was still intrigued though! Then a few years later they went back and won some $$, and bought us a cheap slot machine from a boardwalk shop.

I used it in my first "How to Beat The Slots Video"..



My brothers and I put our allowance in it and when it was full, we would go out to eat with the $$. My parents were a forgiving house.

Then at 18 my parents took me to Turning Stone in NY where it all started. When 21 came around I went with Credz to the Borgata for a weekend bender and the rest is history. When the PA casinos did open my parents went with me a few times to be sure I was responsible and then they left me to find out the harsh realities of gambling on my own..haha So I blame my parents!