vpFREE2 Forums

when I started gambling

#1

When I was 15 my parents took me on a trip across the country. Before we got
to Las Vegas they talked about slot machines, buffets, and that we would see
a big show. When we got there I had to stand outside on the sidewalk and
watch my parents gamble, we did eat a big buffet, but my parents decided that
the show was too expensive, so we didn't see any.

I think this experience affected me -- I always yearned to be inside,
gambling, so when I got of age I did go to Vegas and gambled, and enjoyed it.
I also went to as many shows as I could afford.

Now I live in Las Vegas - could the wish to live here be due to the fact that
I didn't get to gamble when I was 15? Maybe.

By the way, even if I never gambled again, I would stay in Las Vegas. The
weather has been great-- 60s and even 70 in the day. Meanwhile everyone I
know in Philadelphia is telling me about the terrible weather and big freeze
there. Brrrrr. I love Las Vegas!

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#2

Grew up in a home where 'face cards' were not allowed. We played "Rook" on
Sundays after church but absolutely no gambling. One day in tenth grade I
played Poker in Study hall for 25 cents per hand and won $2.25. Was afraid
parents would find out and never played again.

Went to college majored in theology and became a Baptist minister. Did this
for two years. Got a job in Business. Went back to school and ended up in
the finance field and picked up an MBA along the way.

19 years later some friends mentioned going to a riverboat. Somehow my wife
and I tried it and played Jeopardy! On our second visit I saw some DRAW
POKER games, played them and and found that my money seemed to last longer.
I thought about it on the way home and figured that there should be some
logic to which cards to hold. I got a deck of cards and tried to write up
the logical holds depending on the cards dealt. (I had to learn the
difference between straiths, flushes and staright flushes) After a short
time of doing this I started wondering if someone had already figured this
"logic" out and started searching the internet and bookstores. I stumbled
on to some books and websites with ideas and strategies. Eventually I found
the Skip Hughes email group (4 years ago?) and began to study in earnest.

My wife and I now have coin in of over 1.25 million per year playing VP.
This has been a great hobby that has given us wonderful benefits (94 free
motel nights last year) at a far lower cost than what I used to spend
playing golf or other activities.

Actually to paraphrase someones' signature line we don't consider it to be
gambling but a side business that we do on weekends. (As a business it has
sure done better than our stock and mutual fund investments!)

#3

Some folks may not understand this. I do. One of my earliest
childhood memories is of my deeply religious grandparents crying
during a vist to my parents because I, at age six, walked into the
living room where the adults were and started playing with a deck of
cards. I especially remember the embarrased look on my parents'
faces. At age six I didn't understand what this was about. At age 53
I understand it but I still don't understand it.

Don Forsythe

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--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "Ednar" <ednar@k...> wrote:

Grew up in a home where 'face cards' were not allowed.<

#4

Don-

   I'll save you a seat by the fire. :slight_smile: C'mon, the music will be much better in hell than in heaven, anyway.

Elaine

···

"donald_forsythe <DonBoats@aol.com>" <DonBoats@aol.com> wrote:
Some folks may not understand this. I do. One of my earliest
childhood memories is of my deeply religious grandparents crying
during a vist to my parents because I, at age six, walked into the
living room where the adults were and started playing with a deck of
cards

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#5

<<Grew up in a home where 'face cards' were not allowed.<

Some folks may not understand this. I do. One of my earliest
childhood memories is of my deeply religious grandparents crying
during a visit to my parents because I, at age six, walked into the
living room where the adults were and started playing with a deck of
cards. I especially remember the embarrassed look on my parents'
faces. At age six I didn't understand what this was about. At age 53
I understand it but I still don't understand it.>>

I'm 64 and I too understand it and I still don't understand it.

···

____________________
Jean $cott - "The Frugal Gambler"
Order autographed book, cassette tape, and the new
   Frugal VP software at http://www.frugalgambler.biz
Read Frugal Fridays at http://www.lasvegasadvisor.com

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