While a lot of gamblers out there are continuing to complain about the supposed “tightening” of the video poker machines, the lack of good customer service at many of the fine resorts, and how this or that casino has 6X points days but “cheats” the suckered-in players out of the multipliers counting towards the “all important” tier levels—I simply plow on just like I always have. You see, the country seems to be in a recession right now, and only a moron wouldn’t be able to see there’s very easy and lucrative ways to take advantage of such a situation.

You’ll never see me whining and crying over what the casinos are doing to hurt the players, because none of that is true. If people can just see that casinos are simply American businesses – instead of some kind of fantasy land dream - that need to make a continuing profit to keep their doors open, they’d never be making up all sorts of sour-grapes laced accusations. Rather than dwell on what they can’t have, all they need do is figure out what to do with what they DO have.

I don’t have any problems with whatever the casinos choose to do these days or any others, because I know that if I just don’t like what they offer any more I just won’t come in to see them! And why not? Because I have not been an addicted gambler since 1996, and I only play on my terms and no one else’s. You see, it's only the compulsive gamblers who look at casino do's & don'ts as the end-all. Having said this many times, it’s still worth repeating again: IF YOU DO EXACTLY AS THE CASINOS WANT AND EXPECT YOU TO DO, BY CHASING DOWN PROMOTION AFTER PROMOTION AND PROCLAIMING FOR FEEL-GOOD PURPOSES THAT YOU HAVE A MYTHICAL EDGE -- YOU SIMPLY WILL LOSE, BECAUSE THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THE CASINOS ARE MADE OF; IF YOU PLAY ONLY WHEN YOU WANT TO, WHERE YOU WANT TO AND WHEN YOU WANT TO IN A RESPONSIBLE MANNER THAT DOES NOT EVER SEE YOU SITTING FOR HOURS IN FRONT OF A MACHINE WASTING YOUR LIFE AWAY, YOU WILL BOTH HAVE A GREATER OPPORTUNITY OF WINNING AS WELL AS ENJOY YOUR EXPERIENCE AND LIFE FAR MORE THAN EVER BEFORE. PERIOD.

Last week I had the opportunity to take my wife along with me on a trip to Las Vegas, with the main purpose being to experience the new M resort. But that wasn’t the only reason, as I filled the mini-vacation IN with multiple tasks that I almost always seem to find a way to do. And since my wife isn’t a gambler, it meant it was clear that I would not play – which is why I left the house with just $20 - and I NEVER use a casino ATM. I am hardly like the other famous names and math geeks, who either force their spouses and/or partners into playing or have addicted them to the game long ago. THAT makes no sense to me, and in my opinion is an absolutely despicable way to treat another human being.

Our first stop was in Laughlin, where I had to check into the Edgewater to get $105 in free-play that I turned into $75 in less than 5 minutes. Then we went over to the Aquarius which had already loaded $100 in free-play onto my card for my June offer. I made $60 playing it once through and then we left for Las Vegas.

My next stopover was to check into the Fiesta Henderson for $75 in free-play. I wasn’t so lucky there as I only turned it into $25. Now it was on to Hooters for a $50 in free-play offer that I turned into a quick $60. On our next stop at the Palms after checking in, we had lunch with last year’s points, Cindy went to the room for a nap, and I played my $250 in free-play into $360 after getting my first quad of the trip (3’s) on $1 BP. A friend came over to sit and chat for about an hour, then I went up to get my wife and go over to Planet Hollywood to check in there and go through their usual hassle of getting $300 in free-play loaded onto my card. It was worth the wait though, as I hit four Aces on $2 BP for a take of $960.

Now it was finally off to where we were staying – Wynn. I always save the best for last of course, and I would have stayed there even if they hadn’t sent me another comped stay with $300 in free-play. After bringing the luggage up to the room I ran downstairs to play it off once as usual, and I cashed out $220 and went to bed. Not a bad day at all for having risked not one penny -- the key, of course, being able to run free-play thru JUST ONCE and then cashing out. Few are able to do that, believe me.

Thursday after checking into Sam’s Town – where I NEVER stay – and picking up the $80 in cash they offered, we went to see Night At The Museum 2 back at the Palms. Then we went out to the M, where we checked in and had a fabulous dinner at Terzetto before calling it a night – sort of. I had set up a training session with Troy (a local) and we sat and talked/played for about 3 hours. Suddenly it was 3:30am and I went to bed.

We slept late on Friday and then went over to Gamblers Bookshop to say hello and see the old place off of Charleston one more time before they move to their new location that’s just across the street from Liberace’s Museum on Tropicana. Afterwards, we had lunch at the Palms again (gotta use those points ya know) then went across the street to the Rio – where I checked in and signed up to receive a 19” HDTV which will be sent in a month or two. Then it was back to the M for dinner at Veloce on the top floor – another excellent place to dine. We finished off the evening – again, sort of - with a wine tasting down in the Hostile Grape below the casino floor. Just too good for words.

At 10:30 I had an appointment with a fellow who calls himself Webman from videopoker.com. He was interested in doing some 5th card flip-over testing with me and we did. I’ve been experiencing 40% flip-over rates and of course on this evening, we came out right about where the math said we should be: @ 6.1%. But we only played to 180 opportunities. Still, the deviation I’ve been experiencing should have shown up at least somewhat in a small sampling such as this. It is why I will continue testing after my summer vacation back east in July/August.

Saturday we had a small snack at Baby Cakes in the M before departing for Laughlin on our way home. Our stay at the M was all that we had hoped for: very comfortable, excellent dining choices, of course the casino is top notch even though I only did testing and turned $45 in free-play into $25, the employees and customer service was the best I’ve seen for some time in Las Vegas – and it was all for free! Needless to say, I will be back, and the next time I will be playing.

Trips to Las Vegas can be diversified, interesting and rewarding if you choose to know how to do it right. I made well over a thousand dollars just from playing free-play thru once at the various casinos that gave it to me, and I’ll continue to do that once each month until these places stop showing so much desperation with all these crazy offers that just don’t seem to stop coming. I met with several others interested in the game, we ate some lengthy meals in gourmet restaurants, we went to the movies, and we just enjoyed looking around at times. There are PLENTY of reasons why people should not go to Las Vegas and park their butts in front of video poker machines for 4-8 hours every day! WHY? Life has so much more to it than that, but I know a statement like that falls on deaf ears when compulsive gambling is involved. That's why I'm always here to help.