Casino cash cows

[UNCBear4SJ]

Does anyone else ever feel sorry for ploppies? I typically don't even pay attention to play, only the value of their hands once they stand (or have busted), but one last night caught my attention. He was playing 3rd base at a quarter table and clearly had no concept even of basic strategy; inconsistently standing on 14s vs 9-10 ups, standing on soft 13s vs 10s, hitting hard 15s vs 2-3s, pushing heavily into the poker-based side bets, etc. He didn't look like someone with a lot of disposable income, but kept pulling out Benjamins.

Not sure why I noticed other than it was at the end of a long day of driving and I wasn't really "working" but just relaxing for a while before bed. Once I had a tidy little some to pay for the expenses of the day I got up and headed back to where I was staying. But something about the little guy stuck in my head and made me a bit sad.

[WABJ11]

Stupid is as stupid does… You can’t help degenerate gamblers. It’s sad and depressing being a professional gambler and surrounded by people like that, but this is the life we’ve chosen.

[Craigrow]

I see it all the time. The saddest is the old fellas who are clearly regulars, spending what is likely their SS check and their only income, without a clue how to play the game. One night I was playing at a table where most everybody was winning for hours. The dealer and the pit boss were both laughing about it when they had to re-fill the rack a second time. However, there was a lady sitting next to me with a little stack of red chips. She was rubbing a $20 bill like it was her last $20 in the world. I kept expecting here to lose those chips and leave. But, each time she lost all her chips, which she did every 15 minutes or so, she would dig a Benjamin out of her pocket and push it across the table. She did this probably 20 times over the course of the night and never had a clue why she was the only one losing.

[Mr. Ed]

Occasionally, I find someone who is amenable to my advice - like the guy who wants to split 55, or the lady who wonders if she should double 11v10. But mostly, they ignore my advice, and get angry when I contradict them. I mostly just say, “good job” when the dealer busts, or “that sucks” when they lose.

I find the Table is a poor location for rational instruction, so I just smile and say, “good luck”, no matter how badly they play.

[UNCBear4SJ]

...there was a lady sitting next to me with a little stack of red chips. She was rubbing a $20 bill like it was her last $20 in the world. ...

Yes, these situations are pretty common, so as I mentioned in my opening post, I typically don't pay attention to play or buy-in and just get the value of their hands. On the rare occasion when one of them hits a big side bet I might watch for a hand or two to see if hey get up with a smidgen of their bank restored, but that usually disappears back to the rack quickly.

[Freightman]

Occasionally, I find someone who is amenable to my advice - like the guy who wants to split 55, or the lady who wonders if she should double 11v10. But mostly, they ignore my advice, and get angry when I contradict them. I mostly just say, “good job” when the dealer busts, or “that sucks” when they lose.

I find the Table is a poor location for rational instruction, so I just smile and say, “good luck”, no matter how badly they play.

Appearance dictates comments. I agree with you. After all……..

https://youtu.be/6GAbc5uQXJo

[UNCBear4SJ]

... mostly, they ignore my advice, and get angry when I contradict them. ..

I make it a rule to never offer advice. If I'm asked, I'll say "the books says" and then give them the basic strategy play. If the the play they ask about is an index variation, I'll say something like "its a valid play, though may be aggressive -- but its your money."

One of the first books I read that gave advice on "tells" the casinos watch for to determine if you're an AP mentioned avoiding 'coaching' other players. Not sure if that is true, but it has stuck with me over the decades.

[UNCBear4SJ]

Appearance dictates comments. I agree with you. After all……..

https://youtu.be/6GAbc5uQXJo

LOL! Great video reference.

[ShipTheCookies]

Does anyone else ever feel sorry for ploppies? I typically don't even pay attention to play, only the value of their hands once they stand (or have busted), but one last night caught my attention. He was playing 3rd base at a quarter table and clearly had no concept even of basic strategy; inconsistently standing on 14s vs 9-10 ups, standing on soft 13s vs 10s, hitting hard 15s vs 2-3s, pushing heavily into the poker-based side bets, etc. He didn't look like someone with a lot of disposable income, but kept pulling out Benjamins.

Not sure why I noticed other than it was at the end of a long day of driving and I wasn't really "working" but just relaxing for a while before bed. Once I had a tidy little some to pay for the expenses of the day I got up and headed back to where I was staying. But something about the little guy stuck in my head and made me a bit sad.

Still better off than the millions of people banging away in slots.

[UNCBear4SJ]

Still better off than the millions of people banging away in slots.

You think? As I understand it, most casino players clubs "reward" slots players much more than table players. If a person has an "entertainment" budget they stick to and they enjoy the lights and little thrills at the occasional payout, plus the casino gives them back little perks like dinners, rooms, and tchotchkes, who is it to look down on how they spend their time and money?

[Mr. Ed]

Agreed. My girlfriend, a casual gambler, uses my card when she plays the slots, and we get well over 100x the points based on dollars at risk.