Gambling Polle: how many of you have quit when you were ahead?

[NuclearNed]

I feel like I'm a seasoned gambler after something that happened this weekend. I was in Gatlinburg, TN Saturday and Sunday, and the weather was really rainy and dismal. PianoGirl suggested that we should go to the casino at Cherokee, NC for lack of anything better to do.

I'm a pretty experienced gambler, and I typically hate casinos like the Harrah's at Cherokee because I suspect that their payout rate is really low on their games, and in this instance all their games are digital - no real slots or table games. What I'm getting at is that as far as I know they are the only casino within a 500-mile radius, so they have no competition from other casinos and thus don't have to have competitive payout rates.

Anyway, we walked in and sat down at quarter slots with $20 apiece. PianoGirl's money dwindled quickly, but I hit a couple of large pots fairly quickly, and soon had over $100. Even though we had only been gambling 20-30 minutes, I knew that at this casino I should consider myself to be extremely lucky, so I cashed out $138 and left - a $96 profit (my wife had played about $2.00 of loose change).

Just a few years ago I would have played until nothing was left. As it is, I'm extremely pleased with myself.

 

[Spikesoldier]

90% of gambling is knowing when to quit.

the other 10% is luck.

 

[BigJ]

The majority of people never know when to quit.

That's why casinos can stay in business.

 

[Kev]

I'm still ahead and haven't quit yet

 

[geno]

pouhlle?!

 

[Adica]

If I am way ahead, I will take my money and run, but just a little ahead, I will keep gambling until I am way ahead or until I am broke and have to beg for gas money.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

ive never been ahead

if i were to get a few hundred dollars up, i would pocket it and play with the remainder. as it is i just budget what i dont mind losing and try to make it last

 

[xirtam]

My rules for gambling are as follows:

1) I start with a set amount I'm prepared to lose. I never add to that. If I lose all of it, I'm done, and it doesn't upset me because I was prepared to lose it.

2) As the game progresses, if I'm winning, I start setting "take home money." My first bracket will be my "break even" bracket. This ensures I will leave with at least the money I came with. Let's say I'm up to $100 and I came with $20. I may set a "take home" bracket at $50, meaning I will only gamble until I hit $50 and then I'm going home. I never lower my "take home money."

These two rules make gambling more fun for me.

 

[DBL]

Originally posted by: Spikesoldier
90% of gambling is knowing when to quit.
the other 10% is luck.

Explain. Gambling in casinos is a net loss proposition. IOW, the more you gamble, the less likely you are to come out ahead.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

When I go to a casino, I take $100 with me, and consider it gone as entertainment. That said, I've been to South Lake Tahoe three times. First time, came back with $330, second and third time $0. So I'm still $30 ahead

My dad goes up there much more often, but he's pulled $37k from a progressive quarter slot. He'll be ahead for a while.

My family sees gambling as an entertainment venue and not a profit. If we lose money, it's like losing money going to a baseball game. Either way, you end up entertained.

 

[Koing]

About 2 months ago I put down £100 on roulette. I was up to £35 profit. Then made some crazy bets and went down to a big fat £0

Cashed in another £150 and manage to get p to £250 with some big bets and at this point I am even. I make some smaller bets and I am up to £286. I'm up £36 and I quit now!

Koing

 

[Anubis]

I don't gamble,

 

[vood0g]

Originally posted by: xirtam
My rules for gambling are as follows:

1) I start with a set amount I'm prepared to lose. I never add to that. If I lose all of it, I'm done, and it doesn't upset me because I was prepared to lose it.

2) As the game progresses, if I'm winning, I start setting "take home money." My first bracket will be my "break even" bracket. This ensures I will leave with at least the money I came with. Let's say I'm up to $100 and I came with $20. I may set a "take home" bracket at $50, meaning I will only gamble until I hit $50 and then I'm going home. I never lower my "take home money."

These two rules make gambling more fun for me.

too many rules.

 

[yobarman]

I don't gamble.


I play poker.

 

[AdamSnow]

I went in with $20, pulled the slot once... walked out with $160 cash...

 

[nageov3t]

I play till I'm ahead a decent amount, at which point I'll set aside my initial buy-in and put it off-limits to gamble with. that way, I'll at least walk away even.

 

[DBL]

Originally posted by: yobarman
I don't gamble.


I play poker.

Heh, try and explain the difference to someone who doesn't understand.

 

[gt07]

i hate people who say this despite its partial truth. it is skill based but everybody who plays think they are all-stars. who are you on the pro-circuit?

EDIT: ^ Case 2 in just a thread of less than 20

 

[ravana]

I was walking back from lunch at the Luxor had a nickel, put it in the machine and pulled. Made $5! Realized it was the luckiest I was ever gonna get in Vegas, cashed it and went to my room.

My quitting while ahead story sucks

 

[DBL]

Originally posted by: gt07
i hate people who say this despite its partial truth. it is skill based but everybody who plays think they are all-stars. who are you on the pro-circuit?

EDIT: ^ Case 2 in just a thread of less than 20

Hate is a strong word.

I'm not pro but I win more than I lose (2-3X BB/hr) playing about 4 - 5 hours of poker online per week. I'm not really sure what your point is. Are you saying that only professionals can make money playing poker?

Obviously, in order to make money, you need to play solid poker, which most people don't bother to do. Playing poorly makes poker probably the worst place in the casino to park your money. Perhaps that is why you seem bitter?

 

[richardycc]

anyone noticed the google ads at the bottom are all casino related??

 

[Patt]

Originally posted by: DBL

Originally posted by: yobarman
I don't gamble.


I play poker.

Heh, try and explain the difference to someone who doesn't understand.

Right, because poker is a sport ...

 

[DBL]

Originally posted by: richardycc
anyone noticed the google ads at the bottom are all casino related??

AdSense

 

[DBL]

Originally posted by: Patt
Right, because poker is a sport ...

Thanks for demonstrating my point.

I don't think anyone claims poker to be a sport. While Poker is technically gambling, there is an important difference between it and most all other forms of gambling at a casino. The difference is that through experience and proper play, a person can have an overall net gain playing poker while even the most experienced BJ player will have a net loss. How else can you explain the comps given to everybody else at the casino besides poker players?

 

[theknight571]

I have walked away ahead many times.

I've also walked away behind many times.

The idea is to have a good time, and to know when to quit (ahead or behind).

People out there betting the mortgage money don't know when to quit.

- TK