Tuesday, July 05, 2005

High Roller

Wednesday, DAY 3:

When I was at the grocery store Tuesday, I bought a lottery ticket and won $10. Then I went to the hotel and bought a Coke...the cap reveiled I had won a free 2 litter. My luck was good, so Wednesday, I deceided to throw caution to the wind, and drive 90 miles to Terrible's Mark Twain Casino in La Grange, MO.

I'm not a big gambler, but I do enjoy the occasional riverboat excursion. Apparently, gaming is legal in The Big MO, so there was no boat involved. Just walk in, and give them your money. Easy.

I sat at the video poker machine with $100, my allowance for gambling. I was doing ok. Whenever I won a sizable amount, I would cash out the ticket, and put in in my pocket. I was down to my last playable $20, and I had $110 in tickets in my pocket, so I knew I was going back with a little more than I came with. I sat down at the poor man's machine...the Nickel Video Poker, for some Three-Hand Deuces are Wild Poker. 15 credits at a time (.75 cents) with a progressive Jackpot running for a Natural (no pairs) Royal Flush.

I played for awhile...winning some, losing some. I was almost busted, when I was dealt the 10, Jack, Queen, and King of Spades. Four cards to the natual royal!! My pulse quickened.

I held the four, took a breath, and crossed my fingers...my toes...my legs...and my eyes. I hit the deal button.

The first hand popped up a Deuce. ROYAL FLUSH!! Unfortunately, it wasn't natural, so the pay out was 125 coins ($6.25). The second hand popped up the ACE OF SPADES!!! The screen flashed JACKPOT!! I couldn't believe it, I hit the jackpot!! Payout...4800 coins...$240 DOLLARS!! Sweet baby Jesus, $240 !!

The third hand popped up, but I don't know what that card ended up being, and who cared?!? I had won $240 bucks. So, I cashed out, took the tickets to the window and made off with my $350 in cold hard cash. ($250 total winnings...I started with $100, remember?)

I slapped on my new Terrible's Mark Twain Casino hat that I got free for being such a high roller (ok, they gave it to me at the door for being new to the casino, so what?) and I treated Becky to a nice dinner at the Lighthouse restaurant overlooking the Mississippi River.

...to be continued...

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on your winnings. You were on the water at Terrible's in LaGrange, you just didn't know it. Gaming is permitted in Missouri only the river.
(except for Indian Casinos - of which there is only one in Seneca.) Since "non-cruising" or "dock side" gaming became legal in Missouri around 1994 most casinos get really creative when it comes to the term "river boat". You were on a 600 passenger barge on the Mississippi River. Surprised?

Anonymous said...

Good thing you threw caution to the wind! You stayed on your lucky streak and gained $250 bucks! Can you send some of that luck this way? The money I put in at the boats never seems to come back with me, nevermind coming out ahead. I can also say I have never won $10 off a lottery ticket and 2 liter of Coke in such a short period of time. You were on a roll, good choice going to the boat. Congrats on the winnings!

Gillespie said...

anonymous: I am truly shocked that I was on a barge...it was so open, it really didn't seem like it. Those casino people are really good at disguising the fact that you aren't on land. Thanks for the info!!

Kristy: Thanks for the congrats!! Maybe we could get some people together sometime and go "visit" your money at one of our fine Indiana casinos!!

Anonymous said...

You lucky dog! Congratulations! I am never that lucky.

Sue