Distracting Players

[Lucky Larry]

We all know that sometimes playing video poker requires sacrifice – missing meals, losing sleep, full bladders, losses of money but sometimes the sacrifice is playing next to a player who drives you crazy. On our last trip Sweet C and I faced this situation.   With only two of our favorite multi-hand machines open we had to sit with “Joe” between us.   We almost cried because we’ve played near Joe before. Here’s our story.

Joe is a “15” on a 10 scale of distraction. And, since Joe plays several hundred $ in the machine he can often stay at a machine for hours. He repeatedly hits the deal or max play button 8-9 times each play, slaps the hold buttons, calls out what hand he wants, rapidly followed with tapping all around the screen with his fingers as the 50 hands are dealt. Meanwhile, every few minutes we get “voodoo fingers” waved at the screen. Most hands get a verbal commentary review. If he hits a cold streak, he begins to pull his card or ticket in and out. Then he pushes back his chair, stands up, and continues the sequence or even adds a gesture or sound. Added to these actions his cell phone frequently goes off with texts or calls. If you’re lucky you’ll get a commentary about your hands as well.

Sweet C has the patience of Job (she’s married to me) and likes to “get in the zone” when she plays so I kept looking over at her. I kept waiting, watching her get more uptight. Finally, after about 30 minutes she broke. She gets up smiles at me with that… you know “if looks could kill” look and mumbles she going to play tiddlywinks, watch the grass grow, or some other game. Finally, about an hour later and $500 gone Joe get up wishes those who are left good luck and leaves. I had reached the point of considering taking up drinking but wasn’t sure whether it would help.

Please share your stories so we know we’re not alone.

[Tedlark]

Double L, I feel your pain. I am occasionally pestered by chatterboxes too. I like to focus on the game and if I wanted conversation I would be playing Blackjack, Three Card Poker, Let it Ride, or any other more "social" game.

[leakysqueaky]

LARRY, You are SO not alone.  That kind of behavior is so dang annoying.
Many,many times I have had the misfortune of sitting  next to a player who feels the  need to slap the "hold" buttons and then proceeds  to raise their right arm half way in the air and come slamming  down on  the "deal" button. Now you would think that after a half hour or so they would be worn out.........but NOOOOOO. I am the  one worn out so I just get up and move  to another area. What a total waste of energy. Oh well, to each his own

 

[mws813]

I hate when players talk on their cell phone very loudly, stare at your machine constantly, stand closely behind you, or talk to you continuously. Always seems like I run out of luck when this happens. I think some people do it just to get your machine though!

[marie meijer]

Wow, Larry, Joe represents many unpleasant gamers to me. Does he also smoke a cigar? OR try to teach another to play who has never seen a deck of cards before, when there are banks of empty machines nearby? Does he also talk on his cell phone in the restroom? Does he cough and sneeze frequently at that machine AND on yours as well? One gal circled the entire screen three times on every play with fingers wide apart and an elbow in my face. I have a higher tolerance threshold when I am winning.

[leakysqueaky]

Marie..........I completely forgot about cigars. If there is ONE cigar in the casino, it finds me!

[BillyJoe]

Larry, does your "Joe" go to Horseshoe Hammond? On our latest trip up there a couple of weeks ago, I went into the High Limit Slot Area, and there was a fairly large crowd of casino personnel standing in the VP area. I walked over, and they were studying an STP $1 machine that had the front screen punched in. I do not mean just cracked, I mean fully punched in. I asked security if the person hung around after that. They said no, but they have him on tape. They said he will be hunted down, arrested, prosecuted, and jailed, along with having to pay for the damages.

I wonder if he was a "whale" - could have been interesting how they would handle that.

[mightwin]

Yikes, think the person was having a bad day? Some of the multi-line slot machine buttons, when pushed, have a sound.  Some lady a few rows over in another section played a "song" on those buttons for each spin of the machine.  After sitting listening to that song for a half hour, it was too much.   Also annoying - if you have ever moved because of someone that annoys you, then they sit down right next to you in your new location.  Darn.

[Gigi2]

Add all the above to the player who sits down next to you and says "I've never played this before - could you show me?" sitting at a super time pay multi-level poker machine.  I just want to cry.
 
Larry, I recognize the man you describe - I can tell you the exact machine he was on when I sat next to him.  And the bad thing is - he was winning so he wasn't going anywhere. 
 
I once sat next to a lady who slapped the machine so hard I would jump.  I don't know how she avoids an injury - at least from the person sitting next to her who slaps her back.

[Lucky Larry]

Wow, Larry, Joe represents many unpleasant gamers to me. Does he also smoke a cigar? OR try to teach another to play who has never seen a deck of cards before, when there are banks of empty machines nearby? Does he also talk on his cell phone in the restroom? Does he cough and sneeze frequently at that machine AND on yours as well? One gal circled the entire screen three times on every play with fingers wide apart and an elbow in my face. I have a higher tolerance threshold when I am winning.

marie,
We've played by Joe several times and we have never seen him smoke. He always plays in the same general manner. He does drink but a minor amount.

You are right though - winning does increase my tolerance.