Gambling with an Edge --- March 15, 2012

[BobDancer]

Tomorrow night's guest will be Shirley Dancer --- basically
addressing what it's been like being married to a video poker high roller. I've
written about her in many, many articles and books. Now it's her turn to speak
out using her own words.

GWAE comes on Thursday evenings from 7-8 on radio station
1230AM in Las Vegas, or via the web www.klav1230am.com
The following day it will be archived on bobdancer.com

[BillyJoe]

Bob, please define "VP High Roller" for me. I finished 2011 as a Caesars 'double' 7Star, 200K+ Base Tier credits. Playing VP, that's $2M coin-in, since their program is $10=1 TC. I am also a NOIR level at MGM properties, which  requires maintaining 1M Tier Credits in a 12 month period. I live in FLA, so I have to travel to all the properties. From your point of view, where would I stack up in the VP players'  hierarchy?  Maybe I can get MY wife on your show.  

[BobDancer]

Bob, please define "VP High Roller" for me. I finished 2011 as a Caesars 'double' 7Star, 200K+ Base Tier credits. Playing VP, that's $2M coin-in, since their program is $10=1 TC. I am also a NOIR level at MGM properties, which  requires maintaining 1M Tier Credits in a 12 month period. I live in FLA, so I have to travel to all the properties. From your point of view, where would I stack up in the VP players'  hierarchy?  Maybe I can get MY wife on your show.  
 As a VP High Roller, you're qualified enough.  Hopefully you manage to be a winning player as well. Coin-in is one thing. Profit is another. I'm assume you're not serious about having your wife on the show. Because of my writing and teaching, Shirley and I are somewhat "public figures" when it comes to VP players.  However, if you can convince me that your wife has something unique and interesting to add to the show, by all means we can have her on.  Bob 

[backsider]

Im a certified low-medium roller who now makes a good profit from playing. I dont need any of that top tier stuff to make me feel important when Im sitting in the casinos playing because I bring my own chair, and status means nothing unless you have more to give your wife than just a pile of tax forms every year at this time.

As far as the wives as guests, Im not too sure why thats important to us listeners or what it will do for or help us as we play vp. My wife wont be caught dead in a casino because she has no interest in gambling and thinks of us gamblers as somewhat trashy people. (I of course am the exception). She was always a BIG fan of Dr. Bill Bennett until she heard he was just another gambling addict overwhelmed by the video poker machines.

[BillyJoe]

[QUOTE=billy joe] Bob, please define "VP High Roller" for me. I finished 2011 as a Caesars 'double' 7Star, 200K+ Base Tier credits. Playing VP, that's $2M coin-in, since their program is $10=1 TC. I am also a NOIR level at MGM properties, which  requires maintaining 1M Tier Credits in a 12 month period. I live in FLA, so I have to travel to all the properties.
From your point of view, where would I stack up in the VP players'  hierarchy?  Maybe I can get MY wife on your show.  
 
As a VP High Roller, you're qualified enough.
 
Hopefully you manage to be a winning player as well. Coin-in is one thing. Profit is another.
 
I'm assume you're not serious about having your wife on the show. Because of my writing and teaching, Shirley and I are somewhat "public figures" when it comes to VP players.
 
However, if you can convince me that your wife has something unique and interesting to add to the show, by all means we can have her on.
 
Bob
 [/QUOTE]
Thanks, Bob. Yeah, staying on the winning side is always a challenge. I did, however, have a very good 2011.
 
As for my wife of 32 years, I can attest that she always has a LOT to say. Whether it is "unique or interesting", I can't judge, since I have heard it for so long.  
When she started playing VP years ago, she would hold an Ace with a pair playing JOB, just because it was pretty.  I can say that she has moved on from that habit, but I still cannot watch her play sometimes - not exactly perfect play strategy.

[BillyJoe]

I'm a certified low-medium roller who now makes a good profit from playing. I don't need any of that top tier stuff to make me feel important when I'm sitting in the casinos playing because I bring my own chair, and status means nothing unless you have more to give your wife than just a pile of tax forms every year at this time.

As far as the wives as guests, I'm not too sure why that's important to us listeners or what it will do for or help us as we play vp. My wife wont be caught dead in a casino because she has no interest in gambling and thinks of us gamblers as somewhat trashy people. (I of course am the exception). She was always a BIG fan of Dr. Bill Bennett until she heard he was just another gambling addict overwhelmed by the video poker machines.
Well, Backsider, for me, at least, it is not a "feel important" thing. All the VP games that I play are less than 100%, so the only way to profit for me over time is with the casino 'perks' that come with the certain status levels. Every appliance or household item that my wife has ever wanted we have been able to get through casino gifts or points. In fact, we just got a new washer/dryer this week. The NCL cruises provided by the casino that we have taken together have been wonderful experiences. All Christmas shopping for family members is done with casino credits of some sort.  
 
I know that, if it were not for casino gifts/comps and golf gift certificates that I win, I would have no clothes and no toys.  (He says, sitting in a casino-procured leather chair, typing on a casino-provided PC, dressed in golf gift certificate bought shirt and shorts )

[faygo]

[QUOTE=backsider]I'm a certified low-medium roller who now makes a good profit from playing. I don't need any of that top tier stuff to make me feel important when I'm sitting in the casinos playing because I bring my own chair, and status means nothing unless you have more to give your wife than just a pile of tax forms every year at this time. As far as the wives as guests, I'm not too sure why that's important to us listeners or what it will do for or help us as we play vp. My wife wont be caught dead in a casino because she has no interest in gambling and thinks of us gamblers as somewhat trashy people. (I of course am the exception). She was always a BIG fan of Dr. Bill Bennett until she heard he was just another gambling addict overwhelmed by the video poker machines.
Well, Backsider, for me, at least, it is not a "feel important" thing. All the VP games that I play are less than 100%, so the only way to profit for me over time is with the casino 'perks' that come with the certain status levels. Every appliance or household item that my wife has ever wanted we have been able to get through casino gifts or points. In fact, we just got a new washer/dryer this week. The NCL cruises provided by the casino that we have taken together have been wonderful experiences. All Christmas shopping for family members is done with casino credits of some sort.  
 
I know that, if it were not for casino gifts/comps and golf gift certificates that I win, I would have no clothes and no toys.  (He says, sitting in a casino-procured leather chair, typing on a casino-provided PC, dressed in golf gift certificate bought shirt and shorts )[/QUOTE]
 So, that is what they mean about being "All In".

[backsider]

I wonder how many would be completely honest by saying that, despite obvious perceptions, all those free and generous gifts obtained from playing so much actually cost them many times more than they were worth. I do expect this is where self-valuation takes over in the reporting process. But, one must also deeply wonder how in the world the casinos stay open if theyre just going to give it away to their best players each year, then feel good about doing it year in and year out for the duration. Just look at that character coachvee on vpFree.

[BillyJoe]

I wonder how many would be completely honest by saying that, despite obvious perceptions, all those free and generous gifts obtained from playing so much actually cost them many times more than they were worth. I do expect this is where self-valuation takes over in the reporting process. But, one must also deeply wonder how in the world the casinos stay open if theyre just going to give it away to their best players each year, then feel good about doing it year in and year out for the duration. Just look at that character coachvee on vpFree.


I never said that I couldn't just go out and buy everything that I have received from the casinos. But where is the fun in that?  
 
My point is, I do not play VP for a living; I play it for entertainment. I have a chance to make money, but probably a better chance of losing money. So receiving comps from casinos, along with the perks that come with the tier status, makes the entertainment value even greater.

[shadowman]

I wonder how many would be completely honest by saying that, despite obvious perceptions, all those free and generous gifts obtained from playing so much actually cost them many times more than they were worth.
 


Being completely honest is easy. I've won money not counting the extras. They're just the gravy on top.