Part 3: The Slot Tournament

I had read on the IP web site that they have a daily slot tournament. Never having played in one before, I was anxious to try this one.

So bright and early that morning, I went to the Players Club to find out where I was supposed to go. The Staff member told me to go to the 3rd floor, by the Keno cage and find the guy in the blue Blazer. I forgot what his name was, but he was a trip.....

I found him and told him I was there to play in the tournament. He told me he admired my confidence, and explained the system....

They have a bank of those Red/White/Blue seven slot machines reserved for the tournament. Quarter machines. It cost $20.00 to buy in. They need to have at least 4 players to sign up for each elimination round. The elimination rounds are played at 9:00, 9:30, 10:00, 10:30 and 11:00 with the Final round being held at 11:30.

After you buy in for one of the elimination rounds, each player pulls a numbered ball from a basket. This number tells you what machine you will be playing on. Each machine is set up with 1500 credits already given.

Each elimination round lasts for 15 minutes. The 2 players that score the highest in each round moves on to the finals. If your not one of those 2, you can sign up for the next elimination round, for another 20 bucks of course.

I pulled machine #7. There were about 8 of us playing the first round. The ringmaster gave me a demonstration of how to work the slot machine, which I paid very careful attention to.

When the ringmaster gave the word, which I believe was GO or something like that, we all started banging away on the Spin buttons. I took a commanding lead, and even managed to line up the first Red/White/Blue sevens across the pay line. This little feat earned me 2 comps at the buffet.

When the round was over, I had racked up a staggering 8266 credits or points. I finished first in the first elimination round. I asked the ringmaster if I could just cash in my credits and call it even. Well we both enjoyed a good laugh, and he said he'd see me at 11:30.

Came back at 11:30 and there was a whole mob of people there..... Again we lined up to pull numbers. This time I pulled #11. I thought to myself.... Hmmm 7/11, this looks promising.

I took up my position at machine #11. I had the Amazon Queen on my right, and Zena the Princess Warrior on my left. Both were wearing wrist bands. This didn't look too good. These were PROS! A few machines further down to my right was ZZ Top. I think his real name was Pete, but he had a beard just like ZZ Top. I cracked my knuckles just to let the compition know I was there to kick butt and take names. Zena just looked at me and frowned.

Finally the big moment arrived.

GO!

I'm here to tell you folks, the action was hot and fast. I was pounding that Spin button like Satan himself was on my tail......I was burning up the reels....

Zena and the Amazon Queen were screaming like banshees. The gals on either side of them were screaming. Some men were cursing. The Spiders eyes were bugging out of her head. I wondered if they had EMT's standing by....This was not a pretty scene.

My machine was DEAD! I saw the first sign of trouble when I glanced at my credits. Started out with 1500. I was up to 1620, after 4 minutes of play. Only 11 minutes left.

Glanced at Zena's credits. 2780. Not a good omen. Checked out the Amazon Queen. 2355. Looked at mine again, 1640.....

Ringmaster announced someone named Doug just hit Red/White/Blue sevens for 1000 points. Damn you Doug!

Ringmaster has a microphone connected to the biggest speaker this side of a Grateful Dead concert. He announces for all the world to hear....

"Greg, your in last place, if your gonna make a move, now would be a good time".... Thanks RM, no pressure here huh?

The noise level had reached fever pitch. My wrist was out of control..... 6 minutes left, my credits are now well over 1800....

I hear yelling behind me. Glance back, its my wife. She starts to massage my shoulders. I'm yelling at her to cut my wrists to reduce the swelling, but she can't hear me.

I know it's now or never..... BAM! I kick it up a notch.... 3 sevens, for 500 points. BAM! 3 triple bars for another 60 points.

There's a young kid playing. Wild Bill.... Real name Mario Rosario DeFranchesco Costellano, a nice Irish kid, looked scared. No time for this, I gotta make a move here.....

And Stop!

It's over..... Needless to say, I didn't finish in the top 3. Each of the top 3 winners split a percentage of the overall take from the elimination rounds. The remainder of the also rans (myself included) got our 20 bucks back...

The first place winner got something like $280.00 with the 2nd and 3rd place winners collecting a little less.

My take on this whole thing? Slot Tournaments are not for the feint of heart. If your gonna play in one, don't drink too much the night before, get to bed early and eat a good breakfast. Or you could just show up racked outta your gourd.... This is Vegas, nobody cares.....

Part 4  The Token Saga follows.....

Back to Part 2  The Hotel

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