Probability of Ruin?

[FloridaPhil]

This know this is not the most politically correct thing to say on this forum, but my overriding goal when I go to the casino is to break even on a daily basis. I don't concern myself with long term profit or loss. I know if I break even as often as I can, my long term results will take care of themselves. Over the years, this has proven to be the case. I don't claim to make a profit playing VP. To me, the casino is cheap entertainment and nothing more.

Comps are a significant part of the picture as long as you don't overpay for them. I went to the casino yesterday, the first time in three weeks. Taking a vacation from gambling has been good for me. I had fallen into a routine of wanting to play VP every day. The more I played, the more I wanted to. In my case the more I play the more it costs me. I have a lot of "free" comp points and credits built up that I paid for.

I always play small at first. Yesterday, I hit a $200 single coin dollar quad deuce in the first hour. I pocketed the ticket. I switched to max coins after that. I hit another quad deuce about 30 minutes before we left to drive home. I also had a decent max coin dollar run up. Net profit for the day? $200.

I don't always break even, but I try as hard as I can to do so. I had a good time with my friends and didn't go home depressed. Maybe losing money affects me more than others as some people don't seem that concerned? Personally, I see my concern as an asset not a liability.

[Jstark]

If your goal is to "break even" and losing money "affects you", why even bother going? I just don't understand how people see this as "entertainment."

[FloridaPhil]

I think that's a great question. If you walk around the casino and ask everyone there if they expect to make a long term profit, I'm sure the majority of people will say NO. To me, profit making in a casino is something you read about. It's like Big Foot, only it's been proven to exist.

Most people like me enjoy the casino as entertainment. Some of us have figured out how to be entertained cheaper than the majority. Not everyone considers "cheap" to be the same thing. I worked hard for my money, so it's dearer to me than someone who didn't. If I end my life with extra money, I'll give it to someone who needs it. My casino doesn't.

I go to the casino to be with my friends and enjoy the day. One of my friends hit a $400 slot machine jackpot yesterday. He was thrilled. This man is a multi millionaire many times over. How could he possibly be so excited over $400? To him VP is a game and we won. The amount didn't matter. It's like he went bowling and bowled a 275.

I don't expect "for profit" players to understand this. All they need to know is we are enjoying our time at the casino. When that stops, we stop.

[FAA]

Play small at first! If only I had the discipline. I'm always itching to get off quarters and fiddling with simplicity, often to my ruin.

[olds442jetaway]

My mom used to call me a fiddler. Anything broken around the house I would fiddle with it until I fixed it or broke it for good. Kinda like vp Hope not to go broke for good though with vp Stick with quarters or even nickels. That is the plan from now on.

[FAA]

I was also very much a wrecker. What I cannot continue to wreck is BR.