Anyone ever win anything cool

**Fenster** · 10-01-2019 10:19 AM

Beginners luck is just about how everyone gets hooked gambling, whether it be skillless slot machines, horses or sports. I'm not a pro gambler, far from it, my maths aren't sharp enough, but keep records of my bets and "know" exactly what i'm doing. I can spot someone who knows what they're doing and a clueless chancer miles away.

However, first time betting horses on my own, I turned 5 bucks into about 500 without a single idea what race reading/handicapping/form was, few months later I was walking in the betting shop with my wages then exiting 5 minutes later penniless, lending money, then betting all that away too. Glory days.

**TitoFan** · 10-01-2019 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by Fenster

Beginners luck is just about how everyone gets hooked gambling, whether it be skillless slot machines, horses or sports. I'm not a pro gambler, far from it, my maths aren't sharp enough, but keep records of my bets and "know" exactly what i'm doing. I can spot someone who knows what they're doing and a clueless chancer miles away.

However, first time betting horses on my own, I turned 5 bucks into about 500 without a single idea what race reading/handicapping/form was, few months later I was walking in the betting shop with my wages then exiting 5 minutes later penniless, lending money, then betting all that away too. Glory days.

My grandfather was a lifelong horse race bettor. Not a very good one, but persistent as hell. He truly enjoyed it, bless his soul. I lived with my grandparents during my senior year of high school, and I'd try to give my grandfather advice on picking horses. I would study the horses and their records... find out who the jockeys were going to be... look at weather forecasts. Finally, I would make recommendations to my grandfather, who promptly then took some random numbers out of thin air (or his latest "foolproof system" of picking horses), and made the bet. Most of the time neither of us was right.

Once in a while he'd win, which of course would fuel his habit for another 5-10 years, and so on and so forth.

My favorite stories were when he'd be at the betting line at the track, ready to pick "X" or "Y" horse... and then someone would say Pssst... hey buddy... "Golden Shadow" in the 5th. And my grandfather would invariably change his pick and his original pick would win.... and we'd all hear about it for weeks.

Or else he'd pick two horses on the "Dupleta" (two consecutive races), and their numbers would come out reversed. (For instance he'd pick a 5-8 dupleta, and the winning combo would be 8-5). He was always missing by "THIS" much..... LOL.

Wonderful memories.

**Andre** · 10-02-2019 12:02 AM

My old man is a tin ass, he only bets big rarely and only does it on gut instinct and then pays for holidays overseas etc. He nailed 21 blacks in a row at a casino in China once to pay for the whole trip for mum and him. Same in England in the 80's he paid for the holiday for the three of us on a horse race. Me largest thing I won a local raffle with a trailer load of stuff that eventually broke or wore out and promises from local busnisess's but many didnt step up when asked , the cunts. :-)

**walrus** · 10-02-2019 04:11 AM

Originally Posted by Andre

My old man is a tin ass, he only bets big rarely and only does it on gut instinct and then pays for holidays overseas etc. He nailed 21 blacks in a row at a casino in China once to pay for the whole trip for mum and him. Same in England in the 80's he paid for the holiday for the three of us on a horse race. Me largest thing I won a local raffle with a trailer load of stuff that eventually broke or wore out and promises from local busnisess's but many didnt step up when asked , the cunts. :-)

Good to see a @Andre I like to see people stop in so we knows they are still kicking.

**Spicoli** · 10-02-2019 05:03 AM

Nothing compared to all of the above unfortunately

. Well done. Sticking to the physical the wins are minimal. I won $700 on quarter slots at Boom town once. Enjoyed the free drinks, cashed the cups and never went back. Weird really because I'm tempted and worried I'll miss my inner artist gambling gene. Won a Mach 7-7 boogie-board on a live radio contest when it came out..the original

..and promptly had it ripped off. Won a massive craftsman ratchet set at Lowes once. That was cool. Two trays of lumpia and a free pitcher of domestic at a birthday party once. Countless ashtrays, shot glasses, coffee mugs, poorly made stuffed animals and random gag gift toys at weekend Fairs and festivals. I think I need to go back to the Casino.

**TitoFan** · 10-03-2019 02:28 AM

Ahh... slot machines and casinos. Thankfully I've never been big on either. Went to Vegas once with the wife, my brother and his wife. We were there a week and the only time we stepped into a casino was to get our picture taken "playing the slot machines".... typical touristy stuff.

Had a blast at Vegas, going to shows, and just plain walking around the entire Strip which believe me... is a longer walk than it sounds.

On the other hand, I used to work with this lady that was a slot machine fanatic. We'd have a seminar somewhere, and after work she would head straight to the casino. She was pretty good, too. Won a lot more than I would have imagined.
I guess there's an "art" to that.

I get a kick out of people (mostly older ladies) who stake out a section of slot machines and guard them like junkyard dogs. Venture into a guarded section and you'll get at best a scolding... LOL.
Slot machine junkies.

**Master** · 10-03-2019 08:44 AM

Originally Posted by TitoFan

Ahh... slot machines and casinos. Thankfully I've never been big on either. Went to Vegas once with the wife, my brother and his wife. We were there a week and the only time we stepped into a casino was to get our picture taken "playing the slot machines".... typical touristy stuff.

Had a blast at Vegas, going to shows, and just plain walking around the entire Strip which believe me... is a longer walk than it sounds.

On the other hand, I used to work with this lady that was a slot machine fanatic. We'd have a seminar somewhere, and after work she would head straight to the casino. She was pretty good, too. Won a lot more than I would have imagined.
I guess there's an "art" to that.

I get a kick out of people (mostly older ladies) who stake out a section of slot machines and guard them like junkyard dogs. Venture into a guarded section and you'll get at best a scolding... LOL.
Slot machine junkies.

That reminds me of a Friends episode where an old woman would lurk and wait for people to lose their money on slot machines and then go on them immediately after they walked away and take the winnings.

When I went to Vegas I only played on the cheap slot machines to get out of the stifling heat of the desert and get free cold drinks from the hot waitresses who gave them to you to keep playing on the machines.