I'm not one for gambling. In fact I'm rather anti-gambling. Not sure why. It's not a moral issue with me, more a practical one I think. I don't count buying the occasional lottery ticket. I regard that as a donation to good causes. If I were to benefit at the same time that would be a wonderful bonus. Last year when we were in Wanganui at a tournament I posted on my second attempt at The Pokies or what I used to know as one armed bandits (in the days when you pulled a lever) or slot machines.
When we were in Whakatane we went to the RSA for dinner. I have to say that unlike every other RSA or community club that I've been into in New Zealand we were not made very welcome. In fact the doorkeeper was singularly unwelcoming. Anyway after dinner the girls went off on their traditional pokie spree. Only one of the trio actually plays them 'seriously'. Two of the non-serious players managed to put in a few dollars and come away with substantial profits - well into three figures in one case. The serious player, presumably in search of the big one, lost her winnings. I, in sheer ignorance of what I was supposed to be doing, put in $2 and managed to come away with over $30 thus paying for my meal and drinks. So overall the Whakatane RSA made no money out of us!
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Well lucky you! ;)
ReplyDeleteI have very rarely tried my luck on one armed bandits; the only times I can recall were in my early youth on our travels in Britain. When visiting an occasional pleasure pier in some coast town we were sometimes allowed a few pennies to spend on the machines... Needless to say that did not bring me any fortune!
Wouldn't even know how to start one up! i think if I did gamble I would prefer to have an element of skill in it, like horse rading. At least you'd feel you had some control.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up in Reno, I got so used to the one-armed bandits being everywhere...even in grocery stores. After church on Sundays, we would go downtown to the casinos to eat lunch at the buffets (of course they had the best food!!!) So, there we would go, tromping through the slot machines. You had to be 21 to play, so when I finally turned 21, I think maybe all I ever put in was $20! ...and lost it all, of course. Now, the machines take credit cards!!! My dad worked in the sign business in Reno and was downtown putting up casino signs a great deal. One day, he saw a person at the giant slot machine in Harold's Club called "Big Bertha" (the machine, not the person) and they were dropping silver dollars in, one right after the other. The next day, he went back (about 24 hours later) and the same person was at the same machine, still dropping silver dollars in!!! I wonder how much money that was!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???
ReplyDeleteI used to work in a casino in South Lake Tahoe. I never did gamble. I figured, why give the money back to them!
ReplyDeleteSounds as if they didn't deserve to make money from you.
ReplyDeleteMakes me regret never going to New Zealand. Still your sharing the photos is a fair substitute.