Ever shocked at the huge amounts people gamble?

[timmurtaugh]

    Can't help but notice when I walk past almost any blackjack table and players are betting far over the minimum.  I've seen someone betting $1,500 a hand at a $25 table...far removed from the High Limit room.  Is it wrong to call this wasteful?  I try to keep things in perspective but on my trip last week to Las Vegas, my gambling budget was just $1,200 and had to last 4 days. 

                 Tim 

[joespoolhall]

I fall into the same category as you for bankroll, I guess in part because I refuse to give them more. There is so much more to LV than betting, but for some that's it. I play mainly craps now and don't really pay much attention except for rebuys. I do remember watching a player at the Eldorado in Reno back in the 80s. He had a BJ table to himself, along with a couple of babes and would play either three or five spots. If he played five spots he bet $300 per. If he played three the bet was $500 per. I watched in amazement for about a half hour and he did well. Also, anytime he swept the table, each of the gals got a black chip. They did real well!

Good Luck!
Ric at Joes

[Bob B]

I guess it's all relative to each of us based on what personal wealth, or lack thereof, we each possess. One man's $1000 wager is another man's $25 bet. But, welcome to the light side Tim. Another (former?) LVAer is always welcome here.

[knagl]

I'm the same way -- I like to gamble, but betting hundreds (or thousands) per hand is way, way outside my budget and comfort zone.  I'll stick to quarter video poker, thank you! 

Welcome to the site, Tim.  I see you registered in 2010 -- glad you came back and posted! 

[wormhole]

One of my step-brothers watched a guy at Bellagio playing BJ for $75,000 a hand, on a million dollar marker.

I normally play $5 and occasionally $10 tables, both in Vegas and my semi local riverboats. Even at the riverboats, I have recently seen several people playing black chips at table max. They get $3k+ swings in very short order.  And here I am with just a few hundred dollars for a day trip, or at best, an overnighter.

[Roadtrip]

At the Hard Rock Hollywood, outdoors next to the Poker Room, they have 3 BJ tables.  The casino itself is 20+ yards away.  During the day, these tables are often $5.00 minimum, and raised to $10 or $15 in the evening. They are 6-5 regardless, with no comp ratings, etc.

Last night while taking a cigarette break, (the 3 BJ tables are that close to the poker room) I watched a man betting $150 hand x 2.  On other occasions, I've seen $500 wagers.  IF those same players walked into the casino, they could be playing 3-2 instead, I believe starting at the $25 level, but perhaps less,

I've also seen the $5,000 6 spot BJ player in high limits with his own table. BTW: The HR max bet they will accept is $5,000.

::: shrug :::

[pjstroh]

Everything is relative.   I bet $15/hand at craps.   When i do that at El Cortez I am the whale at the table.   Some places on the strip $15 isnt even big enough for the minimum bet.   

[jenaphir]

biggest bet i ever made was $62.50 on a double up video poker machine on accident last week. i hit 4oak on a machine whos buttons didnt work. i touched the screen to make the credits stop going and discovered it was a double up and that i accidentally doubled up. i had no idea what was going on because i was freaking out and began touching the screen to get out of there and accidentally picked a card that was a king to beat the dealers jack and doubled my $62.50 WHEW.

[DJ Teddy Bear]

Big players, even if they are at the low limit tables, don't bother me. If that's their comfort zone, so be it.

What bothers me are the punk-ass kids, betting big, playing bad, and reaching into a pocket to pull out wads of balled up hundreds to rebuy. Where do they get that kind of money, that they can blow it like that? (Ok, I suspect it's dirty money, but still, no respect for it?)

[bardolator]

The trend, according to a recent issue of Time, is for people to wager less, which is one of the factors keeping some Vegas casino operations in the red and causing them to diversify. The proposed retail area at TI could be another example.

Maybe players who don't scale back will see their offers improve.

[KarenTN]

Big players, even if they are at the low limit tables, don't bother me. If that's their comfort zone, so be it.

What bothers me are the punk-ass kids, betting big, playing bad, and reaching into a pocket to pull out wads of balled up hundreds to rebuy. Where do they get that kind of money, that they can blow it like that? (Ok, I suspect it's dirty money, but still, no respect for it?)

I find it interesting that one would assume that if a younger person has money,  it must be 'dirty".   There are wealthy people in the world of all ages.   

[monk]

Hey I love the people throwing thousands away at one of my favorite casinos. if it wasn't for them I would never get the low level comps I do.  If everyone played like me comps would not exist, so hey bring on the guy betting 5K a hand, more power to them no matter if 21 to 100 years old.  And this is still America where people can do whatever they want with their money, at least for the time being.   

[DJ Teddy Bear]

What bothers me are the punk-ass kids, betting big, playing bad, and reaching into a pocket to pull out wads of balled up hundreds to rebuy. Where do they get that kind of money, that they can blow it like that? (Ok, I suspect it's dirty money, but still, no respect for it?)

I find it interesting that one would assume that if a younger person has money,  it must be 'dirty".   There are wealthy people in the world of all ages.   

It wasn't merely a young person with money. It was the punk attitude and dress. Pulling out bills that were shoved into the pocket and balled up. It's the lack of respect for money.

Add it up and it causes me to SUSPECT (not assume) that its dirty money.

[jenaphir]

It wasn't merely a young person with money. It was the punk attitude and dress. Pulling out bills that were shoved into the pocket and balled up. It's the lack of respect for money.

Add it up and it causes me to SUSPECT (not assume) that its dirty money.

your math sucks.

i am a literal punk rock kid who...for example, spent this past weekend celebrating my 42nd birthday at a four day fest that 70+ punk rock bands played......and i have balled up bills in every pocket of every outfit i wore this weekend because i was too drunk to care about folding them nicely/putting them back in my wallet as i got change from buying alcohol, etc.

i got that money working a job that allows me to afford things like taking a minimum of two months vacation every year.

[uknowme]

I'm an old guy and I kind of like dirty money wads.