Casinos and 'mood'

OK - so, as you might know, I am normally down in AC on the weekends and last weekend was spent
in the comfy confines of LV - so, here I am this weekend and feeling extremely bored. It is not even
the gambling action I miss, it is the atmosphere - everyone is friendlier and more talkative in casinos -
there is always some banter in the elevators, walking around, at the tables and even at the restaurants -
it seems like in the "real world", people don't nod and say hello or even say "good morning" - I know
people in casinos are normally there on a vacation or to relax and are thus in a better mood...



Does anyone else feel their mood change when not in the casino?
Does anyone else feel that they are more outgoing in a casino?
Do you find that others in a casino are much more responsive to starting a conversation with a total stranger?


Is this just all in my mind?

I feel people are more engaging anywhere people are gathering for a common theme. At the casino, most people are united with the gambling bug. Go to a hockey game, and the people sitting around you are likely to say Hi.Go to a parade, same thing.

But day to day? Go to the store for food and you probably won't get the same reaction.

I hate to say this but when I'm in a casino, it feels like I'm in an amusement park that's been commandeered by the elderly and infirm.

Quote: s2dbaker

I hate to say this but when I'm in a casino, it feels like I'm in an amusement park that's been commandeered by the elderly and infirm.

I voted that I thought this was another thread on tipping, so...is it proper etiquette to tip the elderly in a casino? At some of the local type places in Vegas, that still have the older coin dropper machines, the elderly are sitting there with a bucket of coins. Is the proper thing just to throw a few more coins in? :)

Quote: s2dbaker

I hate to say this but when I'm in a casino, it feels like I'm in an amusement park that's been commandeered by the elderly and infirm.

Those who can, do.

Those who can't, gamble.

Quote: s2dbaker

I hate to say this but when I'm in a casino, it feels like I'm in an amusement park that's been commandeered by the elderly and infirm.

In Vegas, you see a lot of younger people. In the local
casino, its 65% people over 50. The rest are 30's and
40's. Young people have no money to gamble with.

sounds like the early/middle stages of gambling addiction, better get to a BJ table, stat.

Quote: aceofspades

Do you find that others in a casino are much more responsive to starting a conversation with a total stranger?

This is always easier to do when you have a common interest. So the table game or bank of video poker machines you're playing serves as that icebreaker.

Plus, people are usually easier to talk to and in a better mood at the casino because they are:
A) on vacation or enjoying a night out/free time
B) possibly winning $
C) drinking
D) some combination of all of the above

Its a bit more divided than mood. I would say that "atmosphere" (any definition: subjective or air) has a bit to do with mood. Certain atmospheres are not good positive mood inducers. Sort of like Foxwoods versus Mohegan Sun. The latter had a good atmosphere and mood, the former did not. Sorry, but no vote.

Quote: Toes14

This is always easier to do when you have a common interest. So the table game or bank of video poker machines you're playing serves as that icebreaker.

Plus, people are usually easier to talk to and in a better mood at the casino because they are:
A) on vacation or enjoying a night out/free time
B) possibly winning $
C) drinking
D) some combination of all of the above

I am quoting this only because it is, almost word-for-word, exactly what I was going to post when I saw the OP.

If you see someone at the grocery store, you don't really know what might interest that person, and groceries really aren't that hot of a topic. You'll get more random convos in line than you will in the general store, though, alleviation of boredom is my guess.

I'm not voting in the poll, because I am in a good mood virtually anywhere and will freely engage with those who choose to engage me.

Quote: EvenBob

In Vegas, you see a lot of younger people. In the local
casino, its 65% people over 50. The rest are 30's and
40's. Young people have no money to gamble with.

Agreed. I'm on the lower end of the age spectrum you mentioned. But gambling is cheap, if you know what you are doing. Just learn the house edges, and standard deviation, and you'll not lose that much over your play, and get a bunch of free stuff. But people don't want to do that.

To me I feel people are a lot friendlier in casinos, at least for sure in Vegas casinos. There is so much excitement in general in that city that I think people are usually always in a good mood and want to share it with others. Of course winning increases that exponentially but even if I am losing I am still always having fun. Why spoil a great trip with a bad mood just cuz I might be down hundreds of dollars? And I hate it when I'm at a table with someone who is losing, and not even that he's losing big, but when he bitches at every hand he loses like those hands are gonna kill him or something.

As mentioned in another thread one of my cousins will most likely be coming with me to Vegas in October. When I first asked her if she's ever spent time in Vegas she said only briefly but that she's spent time in the casinos in Reno. I told her that I've personally never been to Reno but that I am guessing that she will experience that the vibe and electricity in Vegas is way different than just being in a "casino" environment. I hope what I told her proves true.

IME, the levels of friendliness depends a LOT on what game one chooses to play. Blackjack players, on the whole, can be quite a surly lot in many places. Maybe not at a 6:5 table in Vegas dealt by a girl in a bikini, but in Detroit or Wheeling Island try plunking down a bet in the middle of a shoe, then doubling a soft 18 against a 6 and see what happens...
OTOH, I have rarely if ever encountered a nasty attitude playing UTH or Pai Gow Poker. Much more relaxed and enjoyable.

I don't really play slots or VP, but it seems that since they're solitary games, players mostly would want to be left alone while playing and not talk to anyone they don't know. I could be wrong though. Craps could go either way, depending on many factors, including the dealers, clientele, and speed of the game.

Did you even notice that no one in a Jazzy is friendly. Not even a little bit!

Quote: OneAngryDwarf

IME, the levels of friendliness depends a LOT on what game one chooses to play. Blackjack players, on the whole, can be quite a surly lot in many places. Maybe not at a 6:5 table in Vegas dealt by a girl in a bikini, but in Detroit or Wheeling Island try plunking down a bet in the middle of a shoe, then doubling a soft 18 against a 6 and see what happens...
OTOH, I have rarely if ever encountered a nasty attitude playing UTH or Pai Gow Poker. Much more relaxed and enjoyable.

I don't really play slots or VP, but it seems that since they're solitary games, players mostly would want to be left alone while playing and not talk to anyone they don't know. I could be wrong though. Craps could go either way, depending on many factors, including the dealers, clientele, and speed of the game.

We'll have to play over at The Island sometime.

I can say that you can usually tell whether or not to approach slots players by facial expression. I believe there is a higher proportion of degenerates and addicts with the slots player than with the players of any other casino game. There are many, "Thousand-Mile," stares. It's pretty easy to spot both winners and casual players, though, they should all be cheerful.

I'll usually try to make someone feel better if they are down, but engage me first. For example, if I hit for Free Games on QuickHits and it brings my balance to $220+ (I probably started with $50 in the machine), someone might mutter, "Well, that's a good hit." I would then laugh and reply, "Yeah, four more of those and I will almost be even!" It will be an amicable conversation after that. I try not to tell other people I am ahead, unless they have first told me they are.

Hey Now!
I find people friendlier in Vegas than AC, except at the BJ tables..