Casino Screen Touchers

When my girlfriend is in the states, we always make it a point to hit the riverboat gambling casinos a few times, both in Illinois and Missouri. Neither if us are what you would describe as hardcore gamblers, mind you. I probably could develop into a compulsive gambler without much trouble, I imagine, as I've always been prone to addictions and obsessive behavior. My girlfriend never gambles when she's at home in Switzerland because it's more of an elitist past time, there. They even have a dress code, unlike American gambling establishments.

Rarely do we blow more than a couple on hundred bucks when we go gambling -- and we mostly play the slots. As much as I find it very entertaining, some of the people in casinos can be a little pathetic and desperate. Damn, these joint really rake in vulgar sums of loot on any given night. You know some of these addicts are tossing away way more than they afford to lose. There's an interesting expose on compulsive gamblers by BBC broadcaster Louis Theroux. He does...or did...a series called Wild Weekends which covered a variety of American subcultures. It's definitely worth a watch.

I love watching people, and casinos are full of some very strange people to observe. The ones that have Rita and I laughing the most are the screen touchers. You know, the ones who place their hands on the display right where the last reel is spinning to a stop, as if they had some power to make that the bonus icon come up. They talk to the machine a lot, too.

"Come on, one more, one more, one more...crap!"

Some of these people don't look as if all their wires are hooked up to the proper terminals. Every once in awhile, I'll be sitting next to one who decides to give me hand by touching my screen as the last reel slowly winds down. That's about the time I cash out and find a new machine, putting as much space as possible between these absurd loonies and myself. Making eye contact with them is definitely not advisable.

I do love those progressive slot machines, though; even if you have to play at least a dollar a spin to have a shot at the bonus. I've lost 50 bucks in just a few minutes on those machines. But hey, I'd lose a hell of a lot more playing craps, blackjack, or other table games. I have a pretty good poker face, but I stink at cards. I'd get caught up in the excitement and adrenaline rush prevalent at the tables, and probably lose my friggin' shirt. I'll stick with the slots, even if I have to put up with those annoying screen touchers.

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