Well, I haven't been able to do much with the blogging latelym so it's time to change that.  When working in a casino you end up seeing quite a few funny things and hear some pretty great stories from some of the old timers.  The stories I have either have happened to me or someone that I work with.

One day, while dealing blackjack, a young man sits down.  It is quite apparent that he has never played before the way he hits when he shouldn't or stays when he shouldn't.  One hand I deal out the cards and I have a 10 showing.  I check it in the peeker to see if I have blackjack.  The ace is there, I flip over the hand, and I proceed to take everyones money for the hand.  The young man looks at me and says "What are you doin'?  That's not blackjack!" I just look at him and say "It does not need to be a BLACK JACK to be a blackjack." and continue dealing while everyone else tries not to snicker too loud.

One day I was dealing blackjack to a very irate man.  He could not win a hand to save his own life.  Finally after losing everything he had, he looks me in the eye and says "How can you sleep at night knowing all you do is take peoples money?!"  All I said was "I sleep like a baby every night".

I'll come back later and add some more, but I think I would like to make some recommendations when it comes to casinos in Las Vegas as well as some Indian Casinos in Southern California first.

When most people want to get away either for a weekend or even a holiday, one of the locations that come to mind is Las Vegas. This is touted as one of the most beautiful cities and the capital of entertainment. In a life that is riddled with too much stress at work or business, unwinding is always one way of rejuvenating one’s spirit and there is nothing better than a night away at one of the famous casino spots in Las Vegas. However, this great city is not just about games and night life though they form a great part of the attractions. In fact, everything else seems to rotate around these aspects.

For starters, the perception of the city as the place where the “who is who” dine has given the impression that it is very expensive. Far from this; the best hotels, which would cost you arm and leg in cities such as New York are affordable in this amazing global city. The cheap fares to and from the city also ensure that you save enough for the tables or the amazing night life that has made Las Vegas a legendary city. The hotels are all impeccable in design and comfort and you will be lured to stay longer than you had planned.

Another thing that comes to mind is the retailing experience. If you are in Las Vegas, then shopping must be one of the things you have planned for. The high end stores such as Tiffany’s that you might have heard in pop music are yours to conquer. Amazingly, they also have discounts and bargains that will blow your mind. The latest collections in fashions that you only see on lifestyle shows are right there before your eyes and you can spoil yourself to the maximum. If you are a night bird, then the casino experience coupled with the world class dining spots will cap your experience in this great city and you might find yourself ruing going back home.

So, how do you get your information on the city before landing? To get the best place, get a blog that specializes in what you want in Las Vegas. If you want to hit the casino lifestyle, then get a blog that gives reviews on the gambling experiences to select the best spot to play. These blogs will also hint on the best hotels to dine and get accommodation. When checking the blog, make sure the writer is an expert in the city life and you will be on your way to a holiday of a lifetime.

 Now going back to my last blog, for those people who really do have a gambling problem, we really do what we can to make sure they take the right steps so as not to lose everything including their family, friends, job or business, as well as their money.  Every casino should be taking part in some sort of program to make sure that the casino remains for a recreational trip, nothing more.  So back to manners in a casino.  I've been cussed or sworn at in every language imaginable.  From english to chinese, and spanish to arabic, I've really heard it all.  Some people go as far as saying that they're being cheated and we don't deal with a full deck, or shuffle in a certain way that will make people lose automatically.  I find it quite amusing that these people are so sure that everyone is cheating and conspiring against them, yet they come in day after day.  The game is built with the odds in favor of the house, that's why the casino has it available to play. A casino is not going to put a game on the floor where the odds are stacked in the patrons favor, that would defeat the point (they are still a business trying to make a profit.)  Yet even with the odds it is still very possible to win.  The best advertising for the casino after all is having people win and letting the other patrons see.  What these people don't seem to understand (or don't seem to care to) is we are still people doing their job and would like to be treated like a normal human being.  No one enjoys being yelled at, having things thrown at them just because you stayed on your 15 when you should have hit because the dealers up card was a 10.  We are all still human, and believe it or not we're not really cheating to make sure you lose every time.  Next time you go to a casino, try being polite to everyone who works there, and you'll be surprised at how great the customer service is.

 My first real blog post is going to cover the behavior inside a casino.  From an employee stand point, there is nothing more infuriating than people that behave like 3 year old children and throwing tantrums because they lose their money.  I work as a table games dealer and our income comes almost all from tips.  The casino I work at the dealers "go for our own" which means that any tips they receive they cash out and take home at the end of the day. This differs from most casinos such as Las Vegas where the dealers "pool tips" which means that tips generated by all the dealers are split up and paid equally to all dealers.  What people have to understand is that we provide customer service, just like a waitress, and if the service is great it would be good if people would tip accordingly.  Not everyone is going to tip, and it is understandable.  When I gamble, I don't tip as much when I'm losing or having a bad time and I wouldn't expect anyone else too either.  As for behavior, I just feel bad for the people that think the casino is their very own bank and should win every hand without a doubt.  There is not a more correct saying than "If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen!"  If you cannot afford to go to the casino, then DON'T GO.  I'm sick of people complaining that I took all of their money and should feel bad for them.  There are no seatbelts on the chairs and you can get up anytime you want, so don't expect a pity party from me or any other dealer.  One of the funniest things that has been said to me was after someone had just lost the last of their money and with the hatred burning in their eyes, they look at me and say "How can you live with yourself after doing that" or "How do you sleep at night knowing that all you do is take other peoples money!?"  I'm sorry, but I think I can speak for most dealers when I say that those type of people are the ones everyone laughs at in the breakroom or behind their back as soon as they leave.

 I haven't seen to many blogs out there that cover things such as the casino business and thats why I started this one.  I work in a casino (which will remain nameless to protect myself as well as others) and will share quite amusing stories, horror stories, and just how dumb a lot of people truly are.  I also wanted to use this blog to be able to talk about my experiences when I go gambling at other casinos.  It really is amazing at how different the customer service is from one casino to the next. When I get into this subject I will also explain that when taking a vacation to a place like Las Vegas and book an incredibly cheap room, you will usually get what you pay for.  Not to say that there aren't some great deals, but you just have to be very careful sometimes. I will try to post one up here at least once a week and look forward to this little adventure.