[masraum]

When I got laid off due to the dot-bomb in mid 2001, I found myself working in a game room that sat between two huge bingo halls. Gambling isn't legal here if the winnings are money, so to get around it, they had electronic slot video games where the winnings were tickets and the tickets could be exchanged for gift certs to play bingo. (some good customers occasionally got cash from the owner in the back room). I'd never really witnessed gamblers in action before. It's definitely a sickness.

Most of our machines were .05 per point with a payout of $150 on the big win, and we had 2 machines that were double or .10 per point with a $300 payout.

One of the good customers sat down at the .10 machine one day, must have spent 12 hours there. She put $1500 into the machine trying to win $300. I don't think she ever did win. I think the owner reimbursed her for some of her loosings.

The thing is they start out thinking

I'm going to win and be up, and that's always 1 game away.

Then before they know it, they have to win to break even.

Then they have to win so they don't lose too much money.

It was really sad to watch those folks lose their money.