Durp Snark 166: Starting Fresh

[Someone]

Originally Posted by Someone

Coffee, tea, soda, and water are free in nearly all casinos. They were free in Florida as of 2020 when I last visited.

I have never been to a casino that handed out free alcoholic beverages. I guess that was before my time.

Back when The Stardust was the place to be in Vegas, alcoholic drinks were free if you were gambling. This was when the mob was running the casinos and they were arguably a better experience for the visitors than they are today. It is Howard Hughes fault that the mob lost control, because he ran a casino and honestly told the IRS how much they made. The government knew that the mob was skimming, but they didn't realize how big the skim was. After that the rules got tighter and the casinos got less generous with the spiffs.

[Someone]

well...alcohol was always free (when one was gambling) when I was living in Nevada, so how long ago was that?

only 6 years.

feels like about 20, however.

[Someone]

I’ve always seen alcohol as a tool a casino uses to help them get deeper into your pocket, not to be your friend.

[Someone]

Thats why I took fiendish delight in only having a couple drinks and walking away with my wallet in my pocket. I stimulated the local economy anyway, just not at the tables. But I haven't been in a casino since my last trip to Vegas.

[Someone]

Originally Posted by Someone

I’ve always seen alcohol as a tool a casino uses to help them get deeper into your pocket, not to be your friend.

The more you drink, the more you bet. The more you bet, the better management feels. So drink your free drink, with every ... [OK, I cannot quite
get this to rhyme, but I came close] ... spin of the wheel.

[Someone]

Why is the word 'degenerate' almost exclusively used to describe gamblers? You never hear about degenerate embezzlers or degenerate arsonists.

[Someone]

Because embezzlers and arsonists know when to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em, when to walk away and when to run. They never count their money while sitting at the table ‘cause there’s time enough for countin’ when they’re done.

[Someone]

Originally Posted by Someone

I’ve always seen alcohol as a tool a casino uses to help them get deeper into your pocket, not to be your friend.

it's an excellent tool! I had a jewelry store in Zihuatanejo use it decades ago and to this day I have a pair of silver earrings so big my lobes get tired.

[Someone]

Originally Posted by Someone

Why is the word 'degenerate' almost exclusively used to describe gamblers? You never hear about degenerate embezzlers or degenerate arsonists.

I usually hear that word in reference to child molesters, rather than gamblers.

Just sayin'...

[Someone]

Because problem gamblers are addicts, while embezzlers are just greedy dirtbags and arsonists are psychos.