He was … a degenerate gambler. That is, a man who gambled simply to gamble and must lose. As a hero who goes to war must die. Show me a gambler and I’ll show you a loser, show me a hero and I’ll show you a corpse.
Mario Puzo (1920-1999), novelist
Saturday’s Bizarro comic strip by Dan Piraro fits so perfect with the news about Las Vegas profits that I have to share it, I am only sorry I can’t get my hands on the cartoon to show you.
Two Indians are standing next to Las Vegas-style slot machines and on the floor in front of them is a Caucasian male crawling away with his pockets turned inside out from losing his money at the casino. One Indian says to the other: I’m just sorry it took us 400 years to figure out how to beat them.
Now to the report that Nevada casinos post $2.1 billion in profit. Yes, that’s profit from all the people who go thinking they will beat the odds. Saturday’s Los Angeles Times’ article points out that the Las Vegas Strip had gross revenue of $14.9 billion.
It’s no wonder they keep tearing down the old gambling joints and building enormous gambling palaces.
5 comments:
That place is out of control. It is Disneyland for adults.
That's what I could't figure out about Robert and my BIL when we went in June.. I mean, they didn't build the Bellagio because people WIN. Doesn't take a lot to figure that out, surely. It took Robert about $300. sigh.. BIL came off even worse, apparently, though he never owned up to how much worse.
The problem with the brothers is fuelled by a few successful trips by my FIL, who actually wins once in a while. But he is a rarity, and the brothers just don't have Jerry's special mojo at the table, obviously.. lol
I wasn't sure at al if I loved or hated Vegas. If I loved it, it was for entirely the wrong reasons.. ;-)
Jack, I am not sure if Vegas is out of control or the people who go there. Certainly something has gone awry.
Chandira, a little taste of success brings a lot more failure when the odds are stacked against you. Or as Bob Dylan sings, "you can't win with a losing hand."
On the Mark says: Meanwhile, I'll be there on Super Bowl Sunday.
Something has gone seriously awry -- unfortunately it's on a much more serious basis than the fool and his money who are soon parted.
However, given our trade deficit, at least some Americans (Native) are doing their best to keep all our money from going overseas.
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