Panhandlers at Casino's
If you don't have $15 to catch a cab ride home, then you shouldn't be around a casino.
Other people will also ask me for money, but I always ignore them and act like I don't hear them. It's funny everytime I get to the casino they high five me, but then whenever I'm winning they want a green chip. Anybody else deal with this?
There are some very crafty and some incredibly sneaky people out there who generally prey on the older people. I have never been approached in a casino for nothing by panhandlers, beggars, scammers whatever. I'm relatively in shape (if you count "round" as a shape :)) and in my 30's. I don't fit their particular age or descriptive range to go after.
I would simply not engage them, walk away and do your thing. If they become a nuisance, alert security and let them deal with it!
On the other hand, maybe partly contradicting myself...
This is an exchange I had with someone on a different forum, with a few edits here:
Quote:[NAME DELETED] choose to sleep in box rather than (a) go home to his family, or (b) seek social services, or (c) pursue some other option besidessleeping in a box. That's not normal behavior.
Quote:I guess that could depend on who you ask, and where. You reminded me that there is a fellow I know of in Portland who gambled away his face at Santa Anita. I'll refer to him here as “Leroy” (not his actual name).
Leroy's interests in life were to drink and gamble on horses. I always thought he was a lot more competent at the former than the latter, since he's largely illiterate as well as a bit impulsive and has trouble reading the basic program, let alone something like a racing form. When I first ran into Leroy more than twenty some-odd years ago he'd been doing both for a long time, becoming a very well known local mascot of sorts to everyone at Portland Meadows – a dumpy little leaky-roof track that mostly continues to exist by being an outlet for simulcasting races from major tracks such as Santa Anita. Word around the track was that he lived on a small “disability” pension from the VA or SSA or something like that, but whatever it was, I have to say I always found him to be a good-natured friendly sort of fellow.
One day, wonder of wonders, Leroy hit the Santa Anita pick-6 for a decent little score. After celebrating in his usual manner he drove his beat-up junker into a utility pole when leaving the track. I understand he went through the windshield or something, and it mostly took the front of his face off. Medicaid and whatever other public insurance he was on took care of what they deemed “necessary” but not “cosmetic.” So when he began showing up at the track again instead of a face he had this weird scary looking mesh thing with gauze over it, rather than the whole reconstructive surgery he'd need to give him back a face. He got a lawyer (or a lawyer got him) and got a settlement from the County or City or whatever entity it was that owned the negligently placed pole that he drove himself into on the side of the road. I understand it was mostly intended to pay for all the work required to give him back something close to a human face, but somebody screwed up when they cut the check, and after the attorney's share it went directly to him rather than being held in trust for all the planned reconstructive medical work.
This gave Leroy a brilliant idea. He could use it to hit the pick-6 again, be rich, then get his face, and still have lotsa money for playing the ponies. So he bought a motor home and drove it down to LA. He failed to get rich playing the pick-6 & wound up selling the motor home and taking a bus back, though I have reason to believe he may have made some hookers happy in the process.
Funny thing though, the lack of a face didn't seem to bug him that much, as he remained about as genial as he always had been. Several months ago I ran into someone in a Las Vegas racebook who was a recent emigre from Portland, and as we chatted the topic of Leroy came up. I was informed that he's still there, and still playing the ponies without a face, having left it at the windows of Santa Anita. If you're ever in Portland (I haven't been in about 15 years) say hello to him, he'll be easy to spot, or you can just ask any of the mutual clerks who will certainly be able to direct you to the fellow with gauze covered mesh holding together nearly half his head after boozing & gambling away his face. Or ask [NAME DELETED] who I think still does VIP reservations up there; Leroy isn't one of those, but [SHE] has always been known to take care of a few drinks for him when he's had a little run of bad luck, which I'm sure remains a common occurrence.
No joke. True story. Every bit of it, as best I can recall.
Quote: sodawaterI'd rather give $5 to a panhandler than a dealer
Ha ha. Is that signature line taken?
Actually you may get something in return from a panhandler. There is a female that frequents one of my casinos who will give you a little tug under the table for 5 bucks.
They are aggressive panhandlers and should be shown the way out. (Sometimes they are con artists... psst, we got a whole lot of chips/cash here but we are illegals if we give it to you will you play for an hour and then give us half of what you made?). Suckers who fall for that find out that it was counterfeit chips/cash and guess who both the casino and the Secret Service stick for it?
"Could you spare a few coins?"
To which I replied:
"Sorry but I only carry notes"
In one instance, I gave two teenagers a gallon or two of gas (they had the red gas container thing). They were delighted I gave them a gallon or two. They walked over to their car, put the gas in their car, and I assume drove home or wherever they had to be. I find it unlikely two teenagers would drive from gas station to gas station to ask for gas, in a panhandling way.
Another instance, I gave a normal looking guy $5 for food -- and watched him walk into a Subway (I think it was subway?) and bought a sandwich. I'm glad I actually got to see him do that.
Usually I don't give money to people in a casino or anywhere really. Although sometimes, if I believe they genuinely need the money for some X reason (as opposed to panhandling), I'll give them some money. Not the guy who comes out with some amazing sales pitch....but the guy who seems kinda uneasy and has a good non-rehearsed-sounding story.
Better yet, the scammer is also a 2+2 poster (PSUMike1999) and is RIGHT NOW coming clean in the thread admitting everything, stating after he would hustle money at the airport (usually for $100-$300 ) he would then take the money to play paigow, and that he has been doing this for years.
"I don't want to waste tons and tons of space on my backstory but I feel it is important to try and explain what led me to live this double life of poker player and pit gambler/airport hustler."
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/29/news-views-gossip/michael-borovetz-i-believe-he-tried-scam-me-mccarran-airport-sunday-morning-1454252/index14.html
Wonder if anyone here has been approached by this guy?
I predict the timeshare people will eat them. After selling them a timeshare refrigerator crate.Quote: SanchoPanzaPut panhandlers in the same room with their first cousins, the timeshare hustlers, and let them duke it out. They deserve each other.
heck, what was that movie about a girl working in NYC who used a doll wrapped in a blanket to get a seat on the subway.Quote: DrawingDeadI've spent quite a bit of time in the Philippine Islands, and learned that there's a cottage industry in rubber babies in Manila. Apparently they increase the earning potential in areas where foreigners are found.
Quote: EdgeLookerPretty good thread over at 2+2 where a poster said a stranger tried to scam him out of money at the airport. He looks up the guys name on google (Michael Borovetz) and finds not only is the guy a poker player with over 500k in cashes but that he is also on a scammers list having defrauded numerous people at airports.
Better yet, the scammer is also a 2+2 poster (PSUMike1999) and is RIGHT NOW coming clean in the thread admitting everything, stating after he would hustle money at the airport (usually for $100-$300 ) he would then take the money to play paigow, and that he has been doing this for years.
"I don't want to waste tons and tons of space on my backstory but I feel it is important to try and explain what led me to live this double life of poker player and pit gambler/airport hustler."
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/29/news-views-gossip/michael-borovetz-i-believe-he-tried-scam-me-mccarran-airport-sunday-morning-1454252/index14.html
Wonder if anyone here has been approached by this guy?
WOW - that is an epic thread on 2+2.
Fascinating.
He is still posting more details right now about his gambling addiction.
1. Do you have a cigarette?
2. Do you have any spare change?
It started just to be nice. Then some times I couldn't afford it, but did it anyways to be nice, and wasn't paid back. That was a little frustrating. After a while it was just stubbornness. I was going to keep giving money and keep getting pissed, because, dammit, ONE of these jerks are going to pay me back! I had to keep doing it, just to get that faith in humanity back. I had to have that one person pay me back. Never happened lol. I remember the last one, some 30something mom with a sob story. I said yes right away, but she poured it on anyways. Story even checked out. I felt good about it.
And she still never came back to pay me. That broke me. I don't think I've handed over a penny since, and that was in '08.
Until last Thursday. Grizzled old man at Subway in a VFW shirt and "Korea + Vietnam" vet hat. Handed the cashier a $10, told her the vet eats free, and walked out. That made up for it all. I got my "nice", with interest.
Nice gesture. Thanx from this vet.Quote: Face
Grizzled old man at Subway in a VFW shirt and "Korea + Vietnam" vet hat. Handed the cashier a $10, told her the vet eats free, and walked out. That made up for it all. I got my "nice", with interest.
When the Church service was over the people filtered out to the parking lot and jumped in their cars. Phil and me sat their marveling at how many of the cars stopped and they handed the tramp some money. It took about half an hour for the parking lot to empty out. The tramp threw the sign back in his backpack, put his pack on, turned around and seen us sitting in the park. A tramp knows another tramp just like a skunk knows another skunk when they run into each other in the woods.
The tramp walked over and sat down right in front of us. He pulled out the big wad of money, sorted it out, and started counting. $192. Then he looked at us and asked
"Where can I get some dope?"
"Down at the Plaza." I said as I pointed down the street. "They'll fix you up down there."
He got up, put his pack back on, and headed down the street towards the Plaza.
"Phil." I said "If we ever start working signs remind me to pick on Churches on Sundays."
Quote: TomspurThere is a guy in Vegas who keeps on selling unsuspecting older players (usually ladies) fake chips for a "discount" that he purchased in the gift shops.....you know the ones, the poker chips that look absolutely NOTHING like the actual chips ont he floor.
A guy tried to pull that on my wife and I downtown by the Beef Jerky store about two weeks ago. I didn't see it coming so I didn't have any witty remarks to give the guy so I just said that we were broke too. About that time two police officers started walking by behind the guy. I said that I knew two guys that might be interested and pointed to the cops. They guy cussed at me and walked off.
but
Was staying at Hilton Grand Vacations on the strip by Circus Circus a few years ago.
Was at the bus stop out front waiting for the bus to go down the strip.
Couple of homeless guys were at the bus stop but just hanging there.
Had a nice conversation with them talking about their favorite attractions on the strip.
Both said they loved the bellagio fountains.
It was a nice conversation, just 2 regular guys.
Gave them the change in my pocket , about 1.50.
The guy who I turned into security, I'm not sure if I should feel bad about having him kicked out but I don't like how a few days ago he came over to my table and gave me this sob story about how he's banned from the casino for 30 days (He shouldn't have even been there) and he needed $15 to catch a cab home. Well if you are banned for 30 days, why are you there? Also if you don't even have $15 to pay for a cab ride home, what are you doing at a Casino? Anyways one of the floor managers says he's been permanently banned for months, and they recently arrested him for trespassing.
I was up $900 yesterday and I had a huge trey full of green and this guy who comes every day that doesn't look like he has a lot of money and spends more time watching the game than betting asked me to borrow a green chip until tomorrow. Should I feel bad for ignoring this person? At the same time, I have gotten cleaned out all the way to my last dollar a lot of times and I've never asked anybody for money.
Quote: slytherI've had a hard time explaining why I don't give freeway off-ramp panhandlers any $ to Slyther Jr (age 7). He will say "But dad he's just asking for a little money and we have some" or something like that and I say something like "I don't want to encourage them to ask for money on the side of the street because it is dangerous for them to be there, and we give money to organizations who's job it is to help poor people."
I agree with all of that except the part about giving money to organizations. A good chunk of that money doesn't go to poor people. Just don't give anyone a dime and you'll be good.
People had a thing called "pride."
We worked, and if we couldn't find work, we looked for work, and in the meanwhile we were helped by family, friends and church.
Things have sure gone to hell in a handbasket since we baby boomers took the reins.
I never give a dime to these prideless, panhandling beggars.
When asked if I have any spare change I usually smile and say "You bet, I've got plenty. Thanks for asking."
I worked for mine: let them work for theirs.
Bah.
I just kind of nodded and nodded. Waiting for the friggin slot attendant to bring me my money.
Finally they bring me the money. He's still standing next to me. I didn't want to rat him out to the attendant, but I gave him this look that said GO AWAY, and he gave me a sad look and left. It was so awkward. But there was no chance in hell I was going to give him anything.
Quote: Lemieux66I agree with all of that except the part about giving money to organizations. A good chunk of that money doesn't go to poor people. Just don't give anyone a dime and you'll be good.
Gotta disagree with you, Lemieux, as a former charity fundraiser. If anybody who wants to donate is willing to take 10 minutes and go to THis WEBSITE or another independent rater/auditor, all you have to do is plug in your zip code (suggest you do a 50 mile radius) and select if you want by category, executive compensation, rating, or several other options (I suggest you leave everything past zip code unchecked so you can see the variety). You can also check by name if you have one in mind. There are several thousand audited and verified charities there, and you can see exactly how much of your dollar gets spent on the purpose, what their top people make, details about who they help and their philosophy, and ratings (not popularity ratings) based on facts. It's free, you can help YOUR neighbors, or sponsor something you care about.
Yeah, there are bad ones. But there are great ones, too.
It used to take us months of research and verification to ensure charities met performance thresholds before we would allow any annual soliciting of employees on their behalf; now it's 10 seconds to look them up.
Quote: beachbumbabsGotta disagree with you, Lemieux, as a former charity fundraiser. If anybody who wants to donate is willing to take 10 minutes and go to THis WEBSITE or another independent rater/auditor, all you have to do is plug in your zip code (suggest you do a 50 mile radius) and select if you want by category, executive compensation, rating, or several other options (I suggest you leave everything past zip code unchecked so you can see the variety). You can also check by name if you have one in mind. There are several thousand audited and verified charities there, and you can see exactly how much of your dollar gets spent on the purpose, what their top people make, details about who they help and their philosophy, and ratings (not popularity ratings) based on facts. It's free, you can help YOUR neighbors, or sponsor something you care about.
Yeah, there are bad ones. But there are great ones, too.
It used to take us months of research and verification to ensure charities met performance thresholds before we would allow any annual soliciting of employees on their behalf; now it's 10 seconds to look them up.
One particular charity that I like is the Mario Lemieux Foundation. Quality head guy there.
Quote: DRichA guy tried to pull that on my wife and I downtown by the Beef Jerky store about two weeks ago. I didn't see it coming so I didn't have any witty remarks to give the guy so I just said that we were broke too. About that time two police officers started walking by behind the guy. I said that I knew two guys that might be interested and pointed to the cops. They guy cussed at me and walked off.
Did the guy have a limp??
Quote: TomspurThere is a guy in Vegas who keeps on selling unsuspecting older players (usually ladies) fake chips for a "discount" that he purchased in the gift shops.....you know the ones, the poker chips that look absolutely NOTHING like the actual chips ont he floor.
It doesn't happen too often, but I laugh when people ask me to change a bill for them ... in the casino!
As we are surrounded by opportunities to convert money in every direction.
Quote: andyg99When approached by someone asking for money for a meal I offer to buy them something to eat. The funny thing is that most of them will say 'just give me the money' and get pissed if I refuse. A few have taken me up on the offer and I'll go to the nearest fast food joint and buy them something - I only do this on the busy strip.... seems like when they do accept the offer they are actually hungry
My grandfather used to do this all the time. He was a business owner in a small town. The town had exactly one bum/drunk and everyone knew him. Everyone also knew that if you gave him any cash, the bum would be at the liquor store in 30 seconds flat. So about once a week or so he would take the guy to the lunch counter and buy him lunch. I try to do the same thing, if someone seems truly desperate for some food I will give them some or buy them some. But giving them money is just a bad idea.
Hey, I knew that guy! Really, when I was very young, in a small place then, we all did. Also knew who the town thief was, which was pretty handy for the only cop in town. And everybody in that town knew they'd been that way from the day they first tied their shoes.Quote: vendman1The town had exactly one bum/drunk and everyone knew him.
Anonymity and rootlessness sure changes things. I think often not by changing the town drunk or the town thief so much, but by creating opportunities for folks who earnestly want to weave elaborate fantasies that the "real root" cause of the drunk isn't actually the drunk and the cause of the theft wasn't really the thief.
Oh, and my second favorite handy response (if I'm relaxed & not busy in the book where a homicidal growl is called for, and since "Can I borrow twennybucks 'till Tuesday?" is already taken): "No habla Ingles, Senor."
That is a very harrowing story and worth navigating the thread to read.Quote: EdgeLookerPretty good thread over at 2+2 where a poster said a stranger tried to scam him out of money at the airport. He looks up the guys name on google (Michael Borovetz) and finds not only is the guy a poker player with over 500k in cashes but that he is also on a scammers list having defrauded numerous people at airports.
Better yet, the scammer is also a 2+2 poster (PSUMike1999) and is RIGHT NOW coming clean in the thread admitting everything, stating after he would hustle money at the airport (usually for $100-$300 ) he would then take the money to play paigow, and that he has been doing this for years.
"I don't want to waste tons and tons of space on my backstory but I feel it is important to try and explain what led me to live this double life of poker player and pit gambler/airport hustler."
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/29/news-views-gossip/michael-borovetz-i-believe-he-tried-scam-me-mccarran-airport-sunday-morning-1454252/index14.html
Worked with a guy named Ivan. I covered for him on Wednesdays so he could go to GA meetings, which he did attend. For a while. Found out he starting playing poker those nights and that was that. Lost his wife, blew kids college fund, probably dead now. Hell of a nice guy to be honest. Just a victim of his addiction.
Larry S ain't here, but anybody else thinks these people got what they deserve, screw you. Everybody in life needs a fix. Just because your is not destructive, just shut up !
Quote: teddysThat is a very harrowing story and worth navigating the thread to read.
Agreed. I think back to when I was doing massive amounts of drugs, back to the worst of the worst of the worst point of it, and I was still light years away from how bad this guy is. No joke; I've never seen or known a worse wreck. Even guys I know that have OD'd didn't have it this bad. Not even close.
I stopped reading at the end, which at the time was page 22. After all he wrote (which likely isn't half the story), he was back to talking about "one more $500k score". This guy has had it. I think his anti-epic is his last, indirect attempt to seek help. Without it, he is lost forever.
Man...
And you're right Face, he's in it pretty deep. I feel like I'm going to have trouble getting work in the same field he's in (chemical engineering) thanks to a resume gap, but at least my record is clean...
Quote: tringlomane
And you're right Face, he's in it pretty deep.
You have no idea.
The more I read this and think about it, I might want to retract the "cry for help" opine I originally gave. I'm starting to see not a revelation, but another level of the game. I don't mean "game" as in an intentional ploy, but part of his twisted reality coming into play.
Addictions screw with your head, they change the chemical reactions in your mind. Coke heads aren't just skinny because coke boosts your metabolism and shuts down hunger. Heroin junkies aren't just sickly because the drugs short circuit the immune system. Addiction changes the brain chemistry to such an extent that the basic needs of life get replaced by the "need" of the addiction. Hunger, thirst, rest, they don't exist on the same plane as they do for you or me. The fix, that gets hard wired as the most important need. Your psyche demands it, same as it demands thirst to a man 5 days into a desert stranding. It's totally twisted stuff. No matter how thirsty, how hungry, how tired, your brain tells you "X" is more important, and that need rings as true and as pure as any other thought you've ever had.
I see a guy who knows, on a "duh" level, that he's in trouble. But under all his admission, all his baring of soul, I still see the demon, plotting, scheming, thinking that the epic was necessary and will somehow allow him to continue.
I see a lot of things in that thread. "Rock bottom", unfortunately, isn't one of them. I just don't see that realization, or the desire.
It is one thing struggling with what life throws at you, it is quite another just being a bad person to everyone around you because you project what is happening to you on others.....
As Face has stated, this dude hasn't hit rock bottom yet but I'm afraid when he does, then only thing he will hear is the splat......
This will not end well.
