The machine the annoying couple is playing isn't anything special - it is a
9/6 DDB with a progressive that doesn't get much above $4000. But the
point is that the annoying couple are there all the time - effectively making
one machine into their own personal, private machine. Although on the
face of it you might think that Harrah's is happy about it because they are
problem gamblers or whatever, the couple actually has the machine out of
service for long hours, such as all night while they sleep. If they were not
allowed to keep that machine to themselves, other people would be playing
it, and no doubt they would play different machines instead. All Harrah's is
doing is hurting its image by causing all the rest of people who might
like to play these progressives to get angry. Since the couple seem to be
problem or compulsive gamblers or whatever, they would play other machines if
they were not allowed to monopolize these particular machines, so Harrah's
isn't benefiting in the long run by allowing them to put "out of service"
for half the day.
The point is, it is unfair for 1 certain machine to be locked up as the
special reserved area for 1 couple - which is in effect what is going on.
The hard-working slot people are constantly having to hold the machine while
these folks go to the bathroom, as well as turn the machine on and off for
them.
And not only are these people "reserving" their 1 or 2 machines, a bunch of
other machines in New Orleans are also being held "out of service."
I like to play 3/5 play DDB - not a very good game, but there are only a
couple of these machines in N.O., and on weekends I've seen them locked up a
lot.
What's happening is that since so many machines are being locked off, this
means there are fewer available machines, so more and more people are
locking up whatever machines they do find, since they are afraid they won't find
any machines left! As a result of this, over the past couple of years
I'm seeing more and more "out of service" signs and it is harder to find any
VP machines, regardless of whether it is a good pay table or not
(especially the slant tops, which are more comfortable to sit at).
Strangely, there is a bank of progressives a bit further down that are
usually open, and often that progressive is higher than the ones where the
annoying couple is sitting.
I don't think the problem is team players (unless you count the obnoxious
couple as a team) blocking machines, I think it is just that the place is so
busy on weekends that when 1 or 2 people start locking up machines, pretty
soon it gets contagious and everyone is holding machines for no reason
except they are afraid they'll find no machines to play. The 8-hour rule
really exacerbates the situation.
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