Recap of a Las Vegas Virgin's, and recently returned Iraqi Vet first trip to Las Vegas.

Forward: Below is a condensed and severely edited account of the first three days of a trip to Las Vegas that I made in January with my son, a Las Vegas Virgin and returning Iraqi Veteran. He thoroughly enjoyed his first trip to Las Vegas and, I believe, played in a gamblers’ state of grace on the Monday of our trip. Thanks to all contributors on the WOV site that helped make this trip a success through their informative posts and keen observations.

This is just a recap/outline of a trip that I had the opportunity to take with my oldest son, a Las Vegas Virgin, and recently returned Iraqi Vet (LVV/Vet). My son held me to a promise, which I made to him while he was a teenager, to take him to Las Vegas after his twenty-first birthday. I usually don’t need a good reason to book a trip to Las Vegas, so off we went in the middle of January, on a Saturday, to Las Vegas. I did want to show him some of the best and worst aspects of Vegas and I think I succeeded. As an adolescent and young adult my son never expressed interest in learning about card play or gambling. The closest he came to learning any kind of gaming strategy was dealing double-deck black jack, as fast as he could to me while I practiced BS, Hi/Lo and the illusty18.
Saturday:
• Flew non-stop to Las Vegas; easy, not crowded flight -no booze.
• Arrived at 4:30, rented a car, drove to the Vegas Club garage in less than 20 minutes.
• At check-in, offered a free, automatic, down grade to the South Tower-refused.
• Walked through the Vegas Club casino and approved of the renovation.
• Enjoyed the Plaza’s renovation, missed Happy Hour, paid full price for two bourbons/beers.
• Tutored the LVV/Vet on the fundaments of craps while observing the action at the Cal.
• Ordered two, very good, Porterhouse specials and a bottle of wine at the Redwood Grill.
• Tutored the LVV/Vet on the fundaments of BJ while observing the action at the GG.
• Energized by the tattooed dancers and the crowded casino at the Golden Gate.
• Tutored the LVV/Vet on the fundaments of roulette while observing the action at the 4Qs.
• Tutored the LVV/Vet on 1 & 2 deck BS while observing the action at the El Cortez.
• Provided protocol and etiquette for buy-in, play and ordering a drink at roulette. Discussed the intrinsic fallacy of system schemes.
Supported the LVV/Vet through several outcomes.
• Disappointed that I could not find FP JOB or DW at ElCo. Followed play at the 1 & 2 deck BJ tables. Superstition prevents me from playing on the first day in Las Vegas.
• Assisted the LVV/Vet to color-up +$32 and tip the roulette dealer. The LVV/Vet was enthusiastic and empowered about winning and drinking for free.
• Enjoyed the sights, sounds and chaos of the Freemont Experience, walking back to the VC.
• Tutored the LVV/Vet on the simple strategy of JOB at the Vegas Club Casino bar.
• Provided protocol and etiquette for ordering a free drink at the bar while playing JOB.
• Approached by two lovely, scantily clad, young women who requested our opinions, as men, on why their husbands would want to drink, gamble, hoot and holler, and act like fools while watching exotic nymphs dancing in the Pleasure Pit. No opinion, other than the obvious, was expressed. I thought this could be a high risk situation. Danger Will Robinson, Danger!
• The LVV/Vet cashed out +$40 after drinking 3 Sam Adams drafts and tipping the bar tender.
• Crashed in the clean but austere Vegas Club room with a view of the Cal’s pool.

Sunday:

• Checked out of the Vegas Club. Pancakes, OJ and black coffee at the Plaza’s McD’s.
Drove to Hoover Dam. Walked to the middle of the Tillman Bridge. Completed a Dam tour. Bought some Dam souvenirs for loved ones at home.
• Drove back to LV and checked into The Hotel. Crashed for three hours in the suite.
• Dined at The Noodle Shop, very good food and service. Toured the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino. Noted the consequences of playing with high table minimums.
• Used the MB tram to tour Luxor and Excalibur. Walked through the New York Hotel to the Monte Carlo Hotel. Noted the absence of S17 tables at any one of these hotels. The LVV/Vet was disappointed of the cost and quality of a Nathan’s Hot Dog Combo at the NYNY hotel.
• Found the tram from the Monte Carlo to Bellagio. Toured the Bellagio Hotel. Followed play on $50 minimum, S17 BJ tables and $25 minimum craps and roulette tables. Observed the advantage of S17 on several hands. Provided information on ROR.
• Tramed back to the Luxor and walked to Mandalay Bay through the Mandalay Bay shops corridor. Ate something at RI RA Irish Bar. Crashed in the suite, watched sports and drank some Jim Beam from a plastic pint bottle that the LVV/Vet bought somewhere along the way.

Monday: Day of Debauchery and Wicked Excess

• Woke-up, exhausted, drove to Ellis Island for breakfast. No FP JOB anymore?
• Planned the day and settled on shooting machine guns and then going to the late show of Crazy Horse at the MGM. The LVV/Vet noted that he wanted to drive exotic cars but didn’t want to pay $400. I didn’t bite.
• Drove to the machine gun store. Toured the gun shop but didn’t stay. I didn’t need to learn to shoot a machine gun and the LVV/Vet decided that he didn’t need to shoot anything at all.
• The LVV/Vet seemed agitated; he said he was pissed off because we did not gamble, at all, on Sunday. He was adamant and demanded that we return to the ElCo to gamble.
• Drove back to MB, parked the car and walked across the Strip and caught the Deuce.

Roulette
• Sat down at a crowded, rowdy, $1 or $2 minimum, 00, Roulette table at the ElCo. I used a strategy posted on WOV by a frequent contributor, dividing the wager into thirds and then playing two columns and several numbers. The LVV/Vet played black/white/odd/even. Reviewed the odds, table layout, the different pay-outs and where the house gains their advantage at roulette. The LVV/Vet started making a variety of bets and started winning. We had a great time at the table, counted the passing time by counting bottles of beer ordered from a very good cocktail waitress, all before noon. We decided to try craps after drinking one more beer. Glad I left the car at MB. During that time we both hit several numbers leaving the table winners. LVV/Vet +$20, me +$45 after tipping the dealer. Positive variance to all.
Craps
• We joined a craps table after the only other player at the table resolved his wager. The cocktail waitress followed us to the table. I introduced the LVV/Vet to the crew and noted that this was his first time playing craps. The crew must have been having a bad day because they didn’t acknowledge the LVV/Vet or me. We bought in and I continued providing a simple craps tutorial on play, the pass line, odds and pays. The other player held the dice, made his number and left the table. The dice were passed to the LVV/Vet. I noted that full odds are paid on increments of $5 so we started betting red chips on the 3$ table. The LVV/Vet made a number and then sevened out. I held the dice, made a few numbers and started betting the come with free odds. The LVV/Vet held the dice again, played the pass line with odds and come with odds. He went on a run and rolled 4’s and 10’s at least three times each and all the other numbers before he sevened out. I think he held the dice for at least 35 minutes or two beers. I was smashed by this time but I think he made the fire bet because a crew member said something like: “to bad you didn’t or couldn’t make the fire bet.” We were both +$135. I held the dice, threw a number but on the next throw both die bounced off the table. I never saw anything like it. Alea iacta est. I turned to the LVV/Vet and remarked that dice bouncing off the table usually means bad luck (negative variance predictor) and we should color-up. We stayed at the table and sure enough the table started to chop. We stayed too long at the party. Left the table +5 each. We ate a burger at the coffee shop and returned to the craps table because the LVV/Vet noticed the Don’t lines. We bought in and I provided a simple tutorial on Don’t play, the Don’t pass line, Don’t come, laying odds and pays. We did OK playing a $6 Don’t pass line bet with full odds, plus some Don’t come bets with odds. The LVV/Vet did not like laying the odds. The other players at the table hated us. +$20 each.
Black Jack
(Provoking recessive New Jersey gutter language)
The LVV/Vet and I sat down at the $5 single deck BJ table. The cocktail waitress found us again and provided great service. I introduced the LVV/Vet to the dealer and suggested to the dealer that he deal the LVV/VET a BJ on his first hand of BJ. The dealer dealt the LVV/Vet an AJ in spades, a mixed BJ to me with a 10 up to himself. After completing play around the table he flipped an A for himself! I lost my composure. From all the gut wrenching loses I’ve suffered or observed at BJ tables, I thought I had developed an emotional numbness to bad beats, but this hand, plus the alcohol, sparked a long string of guttural expressions that I had not heard myself speak since I escaped and recovered from living in New Jersey. I remember repeating over and over again, “I can’t f**kin believe you dealt him a f**kin BJ and didn’t f**kin pay; that’s Bullsh*t!” I calmed down after being disciplined by a pit boss. We played for over an hour had a great time with the dealers and pit crew. I provided inebriated basic strategy and in the last several hands we went on a blackjack attack, turning the tables on the Elco by playing blackjack as a business. Colored up +$70. We caught the Deuce back to strip. Summarizing our day with the LVV/Vet, I tried to impress upon him what a near magical, first day of gambling he experienced. We hopped off the Deuce at the Stratosphere to enjoy happy hour at the 107 Lounge.
2 for 1 Martinis on Vanna White’s Tab
We arrived at the Strat a few minutes before four o’clock. We found our way the elevators to the 107 lounge but was told by the troll gate keeper that we would have to come back at 4:30 when the lounge opens for business. We walked back to the casino and checked out the action. I enjoyed the Strat’s renovation because the last time I was in the casino, mid 1980’s, it was Vegas World. I did miss Bob Stupak’s outer space theme. On the way back to the 107 lounge elevator bank we found a Wheel of Fortune game. Vanna White was encouraging us play full coin for a maximum win. On the last full coin spin we hit a few bonus spins and ended up netting over $40. This win helped pay for two rounds of 2 for 1 Martinis, a couple of Happy Hour appetizers and a great view of the Strip below lighting up, in neon splendor, after sun down. It gets dark in Las Vegas early. I thought the periodic spectacle of people jumping off the tower, right in front of us, was surreal. Definitely will order an Owsley Orange Barrel next time. Schloshed our way back to the Strip, to the Deuce and to the MB buffet. Showered, shaved and accepted an invitation to visit the Mix Lounge. Enjoyed a bourbon on the rocks while looking out over the southern Strip, while contemplating the Yin and Yang and instant Karma of Las Vegas, while looking at the Stratosphere Tower from The Hotel Tower.

$50 minimum BJ endplay and a strip squeeze.

The next destination was the Jean Philippe Patisserie at the Bellagio. I had made a promise to my wife of thirty years that I would bring her a box of her favorite biscotti. I realized on the way to the patisserie that I would have to carry the daintily wrapped box of biscotti for the whole evening. We tramed and then walked through NYNY to the tram at the Monte Carlo. I was disappointed to see that Luxor had corralled all of their remaining S17 BJ tables in a neat roped off circle readying them to be changed to H17. We made it to the Bellagio, checked out the action on several BJ tables. We followed play on a $50 6D H17 table, where the LVV/Vet declared that he was going to play $50 a hand BJ. The LVV/VET reached into his pocket and took out a roll of bills totaling $47. He pulled his wallet and didn’t find one skinny dollar. I was slightly amused watching my son, with a fist full of 49 dollars staring into an empty wallet, standing behind an empty chair at a $50 BJ table in the Bellagio, interrupting play on a table full of black and purple chips, diamond rings, Hermes Scarves and gold watches. I lent him $110 and told him to buy in for $150. He won the first hand but then lost the next two. He then was dealt an A8 against a dealer 6 and asked me for advice. I told him to double. Unexpectedly every other player at the table offered their opinion. Three players supported standing and letting the dealer bust, one player supported doubling and letting the dealer bust. At least all the players supported the dealer busting. I wondered if anyone at the table offering their opinion were playing indices. The LVV/Vet doubled and drew a 10. The Dealer flipped a 9 and then busted with a 7. The LVV/Vet was paid with a black chip and looked at me declaring: “I think we should leave, now.” I told him to color-up, just to bust the dealer, he walked away +$50. We walked around, found the cage, the LVV/Vet cashed out and then put all the money into his empty wallet. I did object and requested my $110 back plus a share of the winnings. The LVV/Vet did not understand this concept and only managed to concede $100. Viva Las Vegas. We found our way to the Jean Philippe Patisserie, where I bought the requested biscotti for my wife. I became aware and very self-conscious that I would be carrying this large and daintily wrapped bag of biscotti for the rest of evening.

We tramed and walked to the MGM to collect our tickets for Crazy Horse. I was feeling exhausted by this time and very self conscious about carrying the daintily wrapped biscotti box. With over forty five minutes until the show we sat down at casino bar in the MGM. We bought into the bar top video poker machine and ordered two Knob Creek bourbons on the rocks from a very distinguished looking bartender. I introduced the bartender to the LVV/Vet. We struck up a conversation and noted that the bartender moved to Las Vegas in the same year that I first visited the city, 1976. The bartender had a great sense of humor and told some wild stories about working in the casino hotel service industry, living in Las Vegas, starting a family, and all the changes in the last 36 years. The bartender’s stories evoked many memories for me and entertained the LVV/Vet. We ordered another round of drinks. During this time the LVV/Vet was hitting paying hands on the bar top JOB machine. He cashed out + $75. As we left the bar and stumbled our way to the Crazy Horse Theater the distinguished gentleman bartender ran out from behind the bar, tapped me on the shoulder and handed me the daintily wrapped box of biscotti. We both knew that he saved my marriage for another year at the expense of my self-esteem. We were seated in the Crazy Horse Theatre, ordered another drink and enjoyed the show. I thought the show was well choreographed for a small stage and all the young women were attractive-except- they all looked alike through my bourbon glazed eyes. Anyway the long day caught up to me in a hard way and I nodded-out for three quarters of the show. Somehow we made it back to The Hotel with my Crazy Horse cocktail glass and daintily wrapped box of biscotti. I hit the bed hard and didn’t stir for another eight hours. The LVV/Vet told me the next day that he continued to party for most of the night, as a 25 year old should.

Quote: robbiehood

I thought the show was well choreographed for a small stage and all the young women were attractive-except- they all looked alike through my bourbon glazed eyes.

They all look the same even when you are sober. It's amazing that they managed to find so many women of different races who look identical. It's a good show, though -- I enjoyed it.

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Quote: robbiehood

• Woke-up, exhausted, drove to Ellis Island for breakfast. No FP JOB anymore?

It should be currently near the front of the casino by the "Karaoke Lounge". They also have NSUD (99.73%) which pays better than FP JoB (99.54%).

Nice and very condensed report.

Thanks, robbiehood, for a most enjoyable report. Makes me want to take my son (not a vet, but a LVV) to Las Vegas soon.

Loved this report.

Quote: robbiehood

• Provided protocol and etiquette for ordering a free drink at the bar while playing JOB.

Thanks for a great trip report. I would be interested to know more about this part.

Quote: PapaChubby

Thanks for a great trip report. I would be interested to know more about this part.

When I go up to a bar, I usually introduce myself by offering a validating observation about the bartender, the bar and the business. Then relate to the bartender that I worked my way through college as a bartender in a college town Irish Pub for six years. I’ll let the bartender know that I’ll tip. I might also mention my “claim to fame” as being the only bartender at this bar that graduated while still working and was never arrested. Last, I review the minimum obligation to play and drink gratis

Quote: Headlock

Thanks, robbiehood, for a most enjoyable report. Makes me want to take my son (not a vet, but a LVV) to Las Vegas soon.

Yes, do it. We are going again in January. I’m hoping to start a family tradition. I was happy to share a small piece of all the great times I’ve experienced in Las Vegas with him. We still have so much to do together.

Quote: robbiehood

Last, I review the minimum obligation to play and drink gratis

Don't go to Aria/Wynn to do this. Aria, minimum 75c/hand. Wynn, no comped drinks at the bar, period. Every other casino bar I've went to so far on the on the Strip has never questioned me or my g/f as long as we put a $20 into the machine and periodically play 25c/hand. And tip for every drink of course. I'm amazed when the bartenders at Paris charge others $7 for a Sierra Nevada and people still routinely buy them.

Quote: robbiehood

• Superstition prevents me from playing on the first day in Las Vegas.

I've never heard of this one before, could you explain? I mean I know it's a superstition so there's no logic involved, but where did you get it from?

I never play on Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays; because I think that's when they try their hardest to screw the tourists.

Quote: GH

I never play on Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays; because I think that's when they try their hardest to screw the tourists.

This should only apply as a slot player, but even then, remote server control of slot machines is not standard casino practice. Table games and video poker has fixed rules and payouts.

Quote: ahiromu

I've never heard of this one before, could you explain? I mean I know it's a superstition so there's no logic involved, but where did you get it from?

Experience. I noticed I was more likely to fall into an undisciplined, impulsive ruin if I started to play right off the plane. Most of my major losses occurred on the same day I arrived in Las Vegas, after waking-up early in the morning to get to the airport, flying all day, renting a car, checking into the hotel and then eating and drinking food and beverages not in my usual diet. Most of my winning sessions have come the next day after arrival and following an evening of enjoying walking around in the hotel/casino, people watching, taking in the sights and sounds all around me, following the action on the tables and watching the cards drop.

Quote: tringlomane

This should only apply as a slot player, but even then, remote server control of slot machines is not standard casino practice. Table games and video poker has fixed rules and payouts.

So are "mechanics" an urban legend, or extinct?

I'm anti-war and anti-gun so I kind of looked away whenever all those "Vet" items appeared. But I did enjoy reading about the visit to LV overall.

Your freedom to read what you want is due in large part to that "VET" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Quote: GH

So are "mechanics" an urban legend, or extinct?

Slot mechanics? Those were people that stole from the machines, hence they would pay out more because they would function normally with normal returns after the hopper was triggered to open for the big win mechanically. And generally speaking, I would think they are virtually extinct with the ticket-in/ticket-out era.

For slots at the penny level, they are consistently paying back 87-88% on Strip and many other jurisdictions nationwide. With that big of an edge, taking more away on the weekends vs. weekdays is significant effort. Slot directors should just sit back, relax and consistently collect their 12-13% house edge. They should be spending most of their time keeping track of each machine's volume, and what hot new games are worth putting on the floor while setting the new games to even lower paybacks (84%-86%) and remove the games that are just sitting there without play because people during the week don't care to play them.

Quote: tringlomane

Slot mechanics? Those were people that stole from the machines, hence they would pay out more because they would function normally with normal returns after the hopper was triggered to open for the big win mechanically. And generally speaking, I would think they are virtually extinct with the ticket-in/ticket-out era.

For slots at the penny level, they are consistently paying back 87-88% on Strip and many other jurisdictions nationwide. With that big of an edge, taking more away on the weekends vs. weekdays is significant effort. Slot directors should just sit back, relax and consistently collect their 12-13% house edge. They should be spending most of their time keeping track of each machine's volume, and what hot new games are worth putting on the floor while setting the new games to even lower paybacks (84%-86%) and remove the games that are just sitting there without play because people during the week don't care to play them.

I was referring to "card mechanics." If the game was "broken," the pit boss would ask them to tap out the dealer and "fix it." Supposedly, by using a variety of suffling and dealing tactics, that were technically still within the game's parameters, but made it more difficult for the targeted player(s).

Quote: iluvdisco33

I'm anti-war and anti-gun so I kind of looked away whenever all those "Vet" items appeared. But I did enjoy reading about the visit to LV overall.

That's a throwback to the 60s and 70s to not only hate war but Vets too!

I'll bet he looks away also at any vet he sees in a wheelchair.

What's the big deal with being anti-war, I just don't believe in having the right to kill other human beings for any reason. But don't get me started on guns. Like that Lanza lady had any valid reason for having two 9mm's and that attack rifle for "protection". From who, the town's first graders? As much as it hurts to say it, glad she was the first to go.

Something tells me you'll be next.

That was a wonderful trip report! One of the first things I did when I when I was discharged from the military in the early 70s was visit Las Vegas. I got Thorp's book and the rest is history.

No iluvdisco, I didn't kill any babies.

Personally, I find that Vets make the best workers, because they understand the "chain of command."

Quote: 1BB

That was a wonderful trip report! One of the first things I did when I when I was discharged from the military in the early 70s was visit Las Vegas. I got Thorp's book and the rest is history.

No iluvdisco, I didn't kill any babies.

After my younger brother graduated from OCS (1982) Newport, he picked me up in a 72 Oldsmobile Cutlass and we drove straight, cross county, to Las Vegas and then to San Diego. We stayed at the Castaways and had a blast. I believed we practiced Hi-OPT 1 during that non-stop 40+hour drive. Ironically, when my brother retired, twenty years later, he had a retirement party in D.C. and then flew that same day to Las Vegas and stayed at the Mirage which was built on the old Castaways lot.

Quote: GH

I was referring to "card mechanics." If the game was "broken," the pit boss would ask them to tap out the dealer and "fix it." Supposedly, by using a variety of suffling and dealing tactics, that were technically still within the game's parameters, but made it more difficult for the targeted player(s).

This could still exist I guess (but I really don't know), but with the addition of 6 to 5 blackjack and Ultimate Texas Holdem (which people play horrendously), and that automatic shufflers are more prevalent, I would also assume this is less of an issue than in the past. I would assume it shouldn't affect your bottom line on the weekend vs. a weekday at all. And if you would possibly sense something like that, you have the right to leave the table immediately.

Great trip report! I was going to chastise you on doubling A8 v 6 at a S17 table, but you hadn't mentioned counting or indices up to that point; I get the picture now.

Great report robbiehood. Glad your boy had a great time.

Quote: robbiehood

Experience. I noticed I was more likely to fall into an undisciplined, impulsive ruin if I started to play right off the plane. Most of my major losses occurred on the same day I arrived in Las Vegas, after waking-up early in the morning to get to the airport, flying all day, renting a car, checking into the hotel and then eating and drinking food and beverages not in my usual diet. Most of my winning sessions have come the next day after arrival and following an evening of enjoying walking around in the hotel/casino, people watching, taking in the sights and sounds all around me, following the action on the tables and watching the cards drop.

Possibly the best gaming advice ever provided me. Kudos sir.

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Quote: sodawater

OP mentioned that it was a $50 H17 table.

Gosh, right you are. I saw $50 and Bellagio in the same sentence and just assumed it was one of their S17 games.

Quote: AcesAndEights

Gosh, right you are. I saw $50 and Bellagio in the same sentence and just assumed it was one of their S17 games.

I was surprised and disappointed at the number of H17 tables at the hotel. There may be more H17 tables open for play than S17. In all of my walk throughs at Bellagio, I noticed an equal distribution of players on H17 and S17 tables even when the players had a choice. S17 tables on the strip are steadily being phased out.

Quote: robbiehood

I was surprised and disappointed at the number of H17 tables at the hotel. There may be more H17 tables open for play than S17. In all of my walk throughs at Bellagio, I noticed an equal distribution of players on H17 and S17 tables even when the players had a choice. S17 tables on the strip are steadily being phased out.

There are definitely more H17 tables than S17 tables at Bellagio (or anywhere in Vegas), and many of the H17 tables are on CSMs as well. It's a sad state of affairs, but oh well. At least they're not completely gone.