Asians And Gambling

[Mr Lee]

To go along with Bruce's topic, Asians and Alcohol, it got me thinking about how many Asians seem to gamble to an extreme. I am not into gambling and thankfully neither is my wife, so we rarely go to casinos except for the often great buffets. One time on member Franks birthday one year, we went to Waterfront hotel Cebu and ate at the Oriental buffet, which BTW was pretty good but not fantastic, and then went up to the casino, and Frank who wanted to gamble, and my wife with some encouragement from me played the slots while I observed what was going on around us. One Filipino woman near my wife was putting in p1000 bills into the machine like they were centavos and I watched some gambling at the tables, and while there were many cultures there playing, they almost all seemed to have one thing in common, out of control gambling. Now before anyone says "well you were in the Philippines, what did you expect to see but Asians gambling" I have also observed the same thing here in Florida at some of the casinos we go to for the buffets, and while in Vegas where I had taken my wife on her birthday one year, and she actually won $500 and $200 receptively on two machines, and where I myself had gone many times in the past before marrying my wife, to visit friends and enjoy the scenery and buffets while continually thinking of moving there. So why do people gamble? Almost all lose, and only very few win, otherwise they would not be able to afford to build those giant hotels and casinos, so why don't people get that? :unsure:

[Bruce]

I had an interesting thing happen to me at the Cebu Waterfront Hotel. I have a friend who lives in Cebu, simple province woman. I was in town for a few days and I thought I would show her the hotel and buy a nice dinner for her as she eats rice and fish heads everyday and can not even afford Jollibees. This was when the exchange rate was 50 / 1. I took her to the casino to see the gambling. She had never been in a casino before. I am not a gambler. it is simply entertainment to me. I decided to loose $100 and let her have some fun. (stupid Kano that I am) So we exchanged my $100 for 5,000p. I then took 1000p and changed it into coins and let her try the machines. She did as expected, win and loose win and loose. This lasted for a few minutes and she said she had enough. So we went back the cashier and exchanged the coins for paper money. Then I asked about trying the roulette tables. She looked at them and then asked how much money we had left from the 5000p. It was about 4300p. She asked for it and I gave it to her. She then said we can leave now. I asked why did she want to leave and she said we were finished gambling, and I lost the 5000p so it was time to leave! So we left! I was impressed by that. She lives with a child in a room that is no more than 2m x 2.5m and that 4300p that I was willing to loose in gambling to show her a 'good time' represented more than 1 months rent and food and other things she needed. She was not real smart or educated.... but she did know how to handle money and she did have priorities and gambling for a good time certainly was not one of them!

[Jake]

To go along with Bruce's topic, Asians and Alcohol, it got me thinking about how many Asians seem to gamble to an extreme. I am not into gambling and thankfully neither is my wife, so we rarely go to casinos except for the often great buffets. One time on member Franks birthday one year, we went to Waterfront hotel Cebu and ate at the Oriental buffet, which BTW was pretty good but not fantastic, and then went up to the casino, and Frank who wanted to gamble, and my wife with some encouragement from me played the slots while I observed what was going on around us. One Filipino woman near my wife was putting in p1000 bills into the machine like they were centavos and I watched some gambling at the tables, and while there were many cultures there playing, they almost all seemed to have one thing in common, out of control gambling. Now before anyone says "well you were in the Philippines, what did you expect to see but Asians gambling" I have also observed the same thing here in Florida at some of the casinos we go to for the buffets, and while in Vegas where I had taken my wife on her birthday one year, and she actually won $500 and $200 receptively on two machines, and where I myself had gone many times in the past before marrying my wife, to visit friends and enjoy the scenery and buffets while continually thinking of moving there. So why do people gamble? Almost all lose, and only very few win, otherwise they would not be able to afford to build those giant hotels and casinos, so why don't people get that? :unsure:

Five years as bench tech for state of the art slot machines allowed me to witness many die-hards spend their last dime practically overnight. Yes, majority of the big whales (high rollers) were Chinese and other Asian groups. However, I have never seen an Asian continue to play for hours sitting at the same machine with an oxygen bottle next to them. It was only the typical Walmart folks that would sometimes miss their senior citizen bus because they were still on a "losing streak". Sometimes, a chair would be condemned for destruction because they were "stained" with bio hazards, even though many restrooms are nearby. On the average of about 4-6 times a month, I would have to replace damaged touch screens. Either they were scratched by diamond rings or a good luck charm (like a miniature Buhda) or a complete punch through from an irate patron. Security would call asking for the replacement cost, in which I always include my labor plus two smoke breaks and a cup of coffee....he, he. I feel sorry for some of these folks that end up in their desperate hour. The local Indian casino (about 5,000 slot machines) here, have a legal obligation to respond to a customer in financial despair, but only if that customer makes the initial request. We give them a brochure to contact the many rehab/consultation centers and if the patron is a regular, then at least we cater to his/her immediate basic survival needs like food and transportation. I personally do not gamble that much. I don't mind blowing 40 bucks at Vegas, as long as it last a couple hours and the free drinks are served by a sexy cocktail waitress....he, he.

[Bruce]

There was a hotel / casino fire in Vegas some years ago. People actually died 'in place', sitting in their chairs, because they refused to leave their slot machines. Now THAT is dedication!

[i am bob]

In Niagara Falls, it seems like almost everybody, regardless of race, forgets that they should leave the place once in a while... Asians, whites, you name 'em.... They are all sitting there forever!I will go to the casino in Niagara Falls every once in a while and I have a perfect method to keep from losing all my cash... Take only $20 or $40 with me! Once it is gone, it is gone! Play the slots to start... If I win, I pocket my original amount and only play my winnings. If I win a decent amount again, then I will let myself play Black Jack - I'm pretty good and can usually make some decent coin. But if I lose it all, I'm done! So now I am all set for the rare occasions I may end up in the casino in Cebu once I finally get there!By the way, anybody ever gets to Niagara Falls, the casino has the best coffee in the city and it's free... !

Edited January 18, 2012 by i am bob