CasinoPalooza 3 Sunday saw Val & Co hit the highway to visit two casinos we missed the day before. Missed because we lacked the time, not because we overlooked them. One was an extra 20-minute drive, called Grand Lake Casino, where I don't like the machines, but it has good comps for first-time player's card patrons. When we were there the first time, they'd give you up to $50 free play to cover your losses if you lost at least $50. That time, Sis was with us, and won $100 on her compensatory free play!
This time, the comps had changed. Genius, Friend, and The Pony signed up for player's cards. Genius spun the comp wheel and won a hoodie with Grand Lake on it. He was not thrilled. Friend won $50 free play, right off the bat, not even needing to spend a penny of his own money. The Pony spun and won $50 CASH! He was thrilled.
We didn't plan to stay long. I went to an upper level, just killing time, and put a twenty into a Hot Red Ruby slot. You've probably never heard of it, since it's one of the Oklahoma bingo kind of slots that have random free red-screen spins. Anyhoo...I'd played four dollars' worth, and decided that I wasn't going to win anything there, so I hit the CASH OUT button. Huh. A screen popped up that the slot was out of paper. Great. I pushed the SERVICE button. I left my player's card in. I looked at the opening where the ticket comes out. Nothing. NO WAY was I walking off and leaving my $16. No siree, Bob!
It was 15 minutes before we were leaving. I looked over the rail, which was about three machines down, at the end of my row, and saw Genius playing a Harley slot, with Friend watching. On the row behind them was The Pony. And Hick walked by right under the rail as I was looking. I hollered to him, but he didn't look. The place was pretty loud with ringing bells from those red-screen slots. I waved my arms. Nobody saw me.
I went back to my slot to wait for a technician. I sent a text to Hick. And a text to The Pony.
"I am in the upstairs part waiting for an attendant to put in paper so I can cash out my $16!"
I didn't want them waiting up front wondering where I was. No response from either.
"Obviously I can't leave my machine to go get someone. I see them, but can't go and leave my $16 unattended."
Still no response from anyone. A stranger walked up and looked at me.
"This machine needs paper, and I'm waiting on someone to service it. I don't know how fast they are around here."
"Good luck. They NEVER come!"
Great. Even a stranger left me hangin'.
"Not like any of you can help me..."
Crickets, I think, if I could hear them over the ringing bells of the red-screen slots.
"...by standing by my machine."
It was like an episode of The Twilight Zone. Like I was invisible.
"Hope you all enjoy yourselves waiting for me up front."
FINALLY, 13 minutes after I'd begun my frantic texting, I saw Friend coming up the steps. I can always count on Friend. Even though I hadn't sent a text to Friend or Genius. "Genius is in a bonus. Hick went to bring the car around and pick us up."
"Well, I'm trying to get somebody to put paper in here so I can get my $16 back!"
The Pony showed up. "I just now checked my phone. It doesn't get good signal in here."
"Wait right here. I'm going to look for someone."
I went down the ramp up front, and snagged a technician. "What's the matter, hon?"
"I've got a machine that ran out of paper, and I need my ticket for $16 out of it."
As I was taking him to the machine, I got a text from The Pony: "Your thing fully cashed out."
We were there by then. The Pony and Friend had found my ticket. It was barely showing an edge, and The Pony reached his fingers up in there and pulled it out."
"I'm so sorry! Looks like I got my ticket."
The technician was already opening up the slot. "It still needs paper, so I can do that while I'm here. Sorry about your wait."
We headed to the front door, where I cashed out my $16 in an ATM/Bill Breaker/Ticket Casher. Then we lost Genius, who went to trade small bills for bigger bills, and had to wait in line for somebody who dumped out a bucket of dimes and wanted to change them into bills.
Hick came storming in the front door, wanting to know where everybody was. When reminded of my text, he said, "I didn't get any text. My phone was in the car."
Sigh. That's kind of how the rest of my day went. My gambling stake took a big hit. But at least I had my $16 back!
Tomorrow: Part 2, The Steak
I'd have been beside myself!! Bad enough those machines eat up your money for real, but to just steal it on a cash out would put me over the edge.
ReplyDeleteIt is extra frustrating when people do not answer your cell, you know they always have the dang thing on them...PICK UP !!
Yeah! I wasn't about to walk off and leave them $16!
DeleteWhen I'm trying to talk to them, they all have their phones out, ignoring me. Yet when I NEED them to look at their phones, they ignore THEM! Maybe that should tell me something...
I was not happy, standing there at the rail, on a level barely head-height, waving my arms. Apparently, they are deficient in their peripheral vision as well as their attention to Val.
I KNEW you wouldn't just walk of & leave it!!
ReplyDeleteVal, the old gambling leopard, cannot change her spots!
DeleteThat would be one casino I wouldn't go back to, the lack of service to the machines is not good.
ReplyDeleteWe hadn't been there in almost two years. I was against it this time, too, but the boys wanted to try it, and get their new player's card comp. Majority rules in an A-Cad speeding down Oklahoma back roads!
DeleteI go to that casino quite a bit as it is close to home. Yes, you have to go hunt an attendant most of the time. I ask someone to watch my machine sometimes, and always tip your chair up. But it seems like whenever I need an attendant they're always at the other end of the casino. Not near as handy there as the attendants are at Indigo Sky.
ReplyDeleteMaybe GLC needs better spy cameras! Two attendants had already been up in that section, about four rows over, but they left without seeking the problem of my Ruby's flashing light.
DeleteI don't like watching a machine for someone else, so it doesn't occur to me to ask someone to watch a machine for ME. Also, I figure somebody "watching" it might be up to no good. Like if you ask a stranger to take your picture in front of a historic landmark, and they run off with your phone/camera!
We just stayed at Indigo Sky on Wednesday. No problems with their machines, but technicians were always on the prowl. A guy over my left shoulder hit some big bonus, evident by the clanging of money counting up. A technician was right there, telling him that they knew about it, and somebody would be there soon for his payout.