365 Project - Day 31

Part of our annual trip to Las Vegas includes visits to the casino floor. The ambiance of the casinos, the "chime" and lights of the slots, coupled with the integration of both the intense and whimsical players is always intriguing. We fall in the latter category of whimsy. Playing the slots for fun with the outside chance that we might go home with an upside to our small investment. Did you know that slot machines account for 60% of the gaming profits in the US (according to howstuffworks.com)? Wow - I had no idea.

As we walk the floor each year to decide which slots to play, it is clear that some games are simple and others quite complex. The casino floors mix a variety of old classic and modern concepts slot machines. I always find it a challenge to hunt down my longtime favorite, Sun and Moon. I was fascinated last night, though, by a new slot machine that included an opportunity to use the touch screen to "shake the tree" to gain additional points. I liked the idea of a more personal interaction with the machine than simply pressing a button over and over again. Speaking of this, I much preferred pulling the handle "back in the day" to pushing buttons today.

We're not high limit players, but I was intrigued by a family story we heard at brunch today. One of my parent's friends walked into the High Limit area, inserted a couple of hundred dollars and walked out with $8000. Not a bad risk / reward scenario but you have to be willing to exercise the risk!

Best wishes!

Today's Photo: "Slots, chimes and lights"

"He had the calm confidence of a Christian with four aces." Mark Twain