Las Vegas Shooter

[FloridaPhil]

I read in this morning's paper that Stephen Paddock, the gunman behind the Las Vegas massacre, was a high roller video poker player.    They stated VP is played by "loners".  Do you think that's true?   One thing is clear,  he was really angry at someone.   It's obvious this guy planned this for a long time.  It takes resources to buy all the weaponry he used.  It also takes knowledge to convert assault rifles to full auto.  It seems he had both.  He also timed his actions to a particular outdoor event for maximum damage.  This guy was a sick individual, but very intelligent and cunning.Does anyone on the forum know anything about this guy?  Why would he be so angry with Mandalay Bay or Vegas in general?  It's so sad....  

[Tedlark]

Based on recent reports, the shooter booked a hotel room in Chicago that overlooked the area of Grant Park where Lolapalooza was held and he booked the room for dates concurrent to Lolapalooza. He DID NOT fulfill the booking. There is also evidence that he did a search for "hotel rooms near Fenway Park" in Boston.

It would appear that Mandalay Bay was merely convenient for him to carry out his evil acts and if it didn't happen in Las Vegas it would going to happen somewhere else in the United States. Sad.

[billryan]

He also had rooms at the Ogden overlooking last weeks Life is Beautiful festival.
Unlike the Route 91 festival, LIB is held on public streets and perhaps had too many exits for people to scatter to.

[FAA]

Please, Anything and Everything.
Exposing the entire membership base to this is actually offensive, intrusive and exhibits poor judgment.

[FloridaPhil]

I understand talking about this is painful.  This guy was a gambler.  He has been identified as a video poker player.  It's inevitable the media will paint VP players in some negative way.   I wouldn't be surprised to find out this guy attended some VP classes.   Some of you may even have run into him?   It's an issue that affects us.  Perhaps we should shelf it for now?

[olds442jetaway]

I understand where FAA is coming from, but I also think this subject is important to discuss. I have no problem if things are moved to a different forum however. The news showed clear pics of the exact machines we all play. As to vp players being loners, I think we just like to gamble alone, but as to family, friends, etc. we are no different than everybody else. I used to be a craps and blackjack player and got tired of the smoke, drunks, and other distracting things bothering my play. I would be quite happy however if my machine had its own little cubicle since I still get distracted by the smoke and the sometimes idiots who play the machine right next to me. Hopefully, we won't all be painted with a wide brush. There have already been many stories in the news over the years on vp players who have lost millions and sometimes used their employer's funds or other illegal sources to fund their gambling. It is so easy to be lulled into a false sense of security on vp playing that 99 percent of your money will be returned when that fact is over infinity and last I knew none of us are going to live that long.

[FAA]

Thread placement misconceived from the outset.

[FloridaPhil]

[quote=olds442jetaway] It is so easy to be lulled into a false sense of security on vp playing
that 99 percent of your money will be returned when that fact is over
infinity and last I knew none of us are going to live that long.
[/quote]When the public is told video poker can be beat with mathematics, some people are going to get angry when they fail.   My hope is we don't find out the Shooter's math told him he was going to win and he didn't.  I think there is a good chance that happened here.  High stakes gambling is serious business with potentially devastating personal consequences.   No normal person would take their anger out on a crowd of innocent people.  Unfortunately, not everyone walking the street is healthy.   No one is blaming anyone for what happened in Vegas except the shooter himself.  I think it's important for us to talk about this issue so we don't create any more personal or public tragedies.

[billryan]

As usual, Phil is talking out his ass, presenting opinions as facts. There is zero evidence that the guy was losing or lost any money gambling. He evidently made some serious money in real estate.
There is evidence he looked into non casino hotels in Boston and Chicago, as well as having had a suite over looking last weeks Life is Beautiful festival in downtown Vegas.

[phnxnmartini]

Yeah, I read an article about him being a video poker player: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... -hour.html