And It Feels Like the First Time….
Everyone who enjoys casino gambling can remember — always in great detail — the first time it happened. Where you were, what you were playing, who you were with. I’m talking about your first time. The very first time you hit big in the casino.
For video poker players, it was no doubt their very first Royal Flush. For slot players, maybe it was three Triple Diamond symbols or three Blazing 7’s appearing like magic across the screen. I will always remember my friend, Mark, calling me on his cell phone from the California casino in downtown Las Vegas to tell me he had just hit for $10,000 on the Triple Double Diamond dollar slots. Cha-ching! For blackjack and poker players, craps and roulette fans, it was that first “streak” that just went on and on until your bankroll looked like nothing you’d ever seen.
Here’s a “first story” for P.B. and me. While it wasn’t his first $1,000 Royal, it was the first one he got while he and I were playing together. We were sitting side-by-side at the bar at The Rio in Las Vegas sipping wine and playing Double Double Bonus video poker, quarters, when P.B. nudged me and said “Look.” That’s it, just one word – “look.” When I glanced over, all I saw was the “Call Attendant” notice on the screen so I thought his machine was broken. I was saying something dumb like “Oh, I’m sure someone will come and FIX it” and he said … “No, LOOK!” That’s when I saw the Royal Flush and the big fat $1,000 JACKPOT sign! It was a very fun hit with everyone at the bar coming to look and even the bartender calling people over to see it. (By the way, he hit it in diamonds and he held the Ten, King and Jack and drew the Ace and Queen. See what I mean about remembering in great detail!)
Tomorrow — My first big hit in slots PLUS the announcement of a fun new contest for our readers.
Related posts:
- A Big Win at Harrah’s Ak-Chin
- Video Poker Tournaments A Perk for Players
- Free Casino-Style Games to Play Online
- Black Friday Shopping? No, This Was Way More Fun Than Shopping
- The Lucky Bracelet and Other Myths
Tags: big casino win, casino talk, casino win stories, jackpot stories, royal flush, slot win stories, slot wins
December 3rd, 2008 at 1:12 pm
[...] Week’s Hot Post – “And It Feels Like the First Time!” Just leave a comment on this post and tell us about your first big win, or your favorite game, or [...]
December 3rd, 2008 at 1:24 pm
The first trip I took to the World Series of Poker happened in 2007. I played in the Ladies No Limit Hold’em World Championship. I was a nervous wreck but so excited too. Although I write about poker for a living, it was awesome sitting there in the seats as a player.
It felt better than being a kid at Christmas…until, I busted out
At least I got to see Jennifer Tilly and Phil Laak, Phil Ivey and Greg Raymer in the flesh, right?
December 4th, 2008 at 10:44 am
Great story! I agree, seeing the legends and stars in person is always exciting. Also, I enjoy reading your poker articles over at Tourney Blog.
Thanks for the comment — you’re entered in the contest, also.
C.C.
December 6th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
We just went on our first trip to Vegas two weeks ago and had a great time. Typical story of beginner’s luck: My wife played her birth date (18) on computer roulette and hit it for $152!!
I’d love to be entered into the contest for the book, please!
Thanks!
December 6th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Congratulations to your wife on her win! I play my birthday (19) and my husband’s (14) on roulette when I play.
Thanks for the comment and you’re entered. Good luck!
C.C.
December 7th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
[...] Week’s Hot Post – “And It Feels Like the First Time!” Just leave a comment on this post and tell us about your first big win, or your favorite game, or [...]
December 8th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
In the late 80’s I was in the process of traveling from The Presidio of Monterey, CA to San Angelo, TX for advanced training. As a private in the army I didn’t have a lot of money. Bargain rooms, casino freebies and cheap buffets were the order of the day. I saw a big banner over “Slots-O-Fun” that advertised 75 cent Heinekens. That was exactly the kind of bargain I was looking for. Walking in I was handed a free painter’s cap and won a $5 chip on the slot pull. I also got a coupon book that offered a $5 match play for any table game. I had seen Blackjack and knew that the coupon made it a good bet, especially with their $5. My wife had saved about $10 in change and wanted to play slots, so I wandered around sipping my premium beer and eventually found a seat at a table.
I put down the coupon and the $5 chip, and was dealt two cards face up, but it wasn’t Blackjack, it was a game called Red Dog, which is essentially Casino Acey-Duecey. I got and Ace and a trey. The dealer told me to put down another $10. I didn’t understand at the time it was not only optional but a good idea, nonetheless it was $10 and that was a lot of money to me. (A bunch more 75 cent Heinekens!) Still, I dug into my pocket and pulled out the ten, putting it down. A face card fell, and instead of my one red chip I now had seven. (The $20 bet paid even money, less the $5 match coupon.) I put two red chips in my pocket to replace my beer money and bet two more. After a dozen or so more hands I had stashed another $40 in red chips and decided to put down a last $20 bet before cashing out.
The first card was a Queen. A good start, but I was really disappointed when a second Queen fell. I assumed that the hand was a push and was pondering just picking up my bet when the dealer turned another card, a third Queen. The rest of the table whooped and I was paid off at 11:1. JACKPOT! I took my $240 and went in search of my wife. She had just hit a $16 jackpot on a nickel machine. I showed her the handful of red and green chips I had, and I remember saying “Red and Green, just like Christmas.”
I only made about $800 a month and she made even less. But that night we had just short of $300 between us, we walked all the way down to Caesar’s Palace to have the prime rib buffet with homemade pasta. It was awesome and we even splurged on a cab to save us the walk back to our off strip hotel. I won’t comment on the rest of the night, but I will say I have very fond memories of my first big casino score.
December 9th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
(I moved this to the proper post for reader “Cobbie” — c.c.)
Hi –
While this wasn’t my first or my biggest “hit,” it is definitely one of my favorites because it was so unexpected. My wife and I decided to head to a local casino one Sunday morning this past summer and we were stunned when we walked in because the place was packed! (There was a poker tournament going on that we didn’t know about.)
Anyway, we walked around for a long time trying to find an open machine and were just getting ready to leave disappointed when we saw two people get up from a couple of Game King machines. We grabbed them and started playing. I chose triple-hand, Triple Double Bonus video poker, $.25, and on my SIXTH hand I was dealt FOUR ACES. I threw the eight and on the draw I got TWO kickers for a $2200 pay-out.
Considering we almost left without even playing, this was a really fun hit. (Please enter me in the contest, too!)
Cobbie
December 9th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
Great stories from Al and Cobbie! Thanks for sharing them with us. Love that “just like Christmas!” line. Hope you and your wife have had a lot of winning trips.
And Cobbie — WOW, two out of three kickers drawn? That’s great. No wonder it’s one of your favorite wins.
C.C.
December 10th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
My first royal flush is still my favorite: I was still very new to video poker, and settled into a Double Double Bonus machine at Harrah’s in Atlantic City. Within five minutes, I drew four to the royal and picked up the fifth on the draw. I was shaking as I hit cash out and told the cashier it was my first royal flush — and he surprisingly didn’t say, “big whoop!”
It turned out to be a winning weekend, as with our newly flush bankroll, we decided to rack up points and did Diamond in a Day (which we’re still enjoying), during which time I hit two 42s with a kicker, along with many other 4OAKs — if only DDB continued to be winning every time I play:)
December 11th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
That first Royal is always a real stand-out for us video poker players! (I’m still waiting to get dealt one.) And, it’s great to hit early in the trip so you get to play with “their” money for a change. Good story. Thanks.
C.C.