Shot Show is this week.  We went to Vegas a few years ago during Shot SHow and didn't know it was on.  Maybe 2022 or 2021, but the venue was emptier than normal. S&W had a booth with banner and stuff, but no one manning it or products in it.

It's at the Sands Convention Center, which is next to Palazzo/Venetian.  The after party is typically at the Venetian bar in the middle of the casino.  We didn't see any famous gun people, but a few CCWing.  Even though they ban guns on the property, their security isn't scanning people and making them check their firearm.  But they do X-ray bags if left with the bell hop.  Even gun parts (mags included) and ammo are banned on the property and you must check them in with security.

I wouldn't mind attending this.  Do you think it's worth it?  Like you mentioned, it seems less and less participation lately.  But I still would go.

Maybe Danny the Medic, that Food and Travel Vlogger would do a review of it.    He did a video on the AVN convention recently.  That guy is pretty funny and I believe he has a CCW license.

I'm wondering if they can fine the people who are responsible for fixing the escalators on the walkways?

Seems nonfunctioning escalators cause more "stopping and standing" than the barkers trying to sell attraction tickets and VIP club access passes.

Yeah, those darn escalators on the Strip.  Seems like they are always not working.  I read somewhere that escalators and environments like Vegas (desert with fine dust kicked around by winds) do not mix.

And why is it (or is just my bad luck) that when they are half-working it's always the one going up that is broken......

I wouldn't mind attending this.  Do you think it's worth it?  Like you mentioned, it seems less and less participation lately.  But I still would go.

Maybe Danny the Medic, that Food and Travel Vlogger would do a review of it.    He did a video on the AVN convention recently.  That guy is pretty funny and I believe he has a CCW license.

It's not open to the general public.  You have to be in the industry to get tickets or know someone who is and they send you as their "rep".

They do have gun shows though, but from what I've heard, they're like swap meets.  But still better than HI's gun shows.  Since inventory and ammo is so available at the gun stores, many stores don't even bother to go to the local gun shows.

The pedestrian walkways can be a madhouse to cross.  The walkway bridge from NYNY had a person with a karaoke machine and he was singing at the top of his lungs (and he was a horrible singer).  Granted he set up his machine and table on the side but even that obstruction of space made it a pita to navigate for the crowds of people.  This was besides the couple of homeless with cardboard signs asking for handouts.

The Caesar to Bellagio bridge had that 3 card monty card game puke who set up his table more towards the middle of the overpass.  That caused really big problems and a bottleneck, forcing people to stop and see wtf he was doing.

And again there was the couple of homeless with cardboard signs......

Street level has a lot of the showgirls, costumed characters, and hip hop pukes clogging the walkways by Bellagio Fountains and around Planet Hollywood areas.

By the Fountains there is a hip-hop group that actually asks the people for a $20 donation...........

It's already against the law to do all of these.  But this city ordinance (not state law), now makes it illegal for a regular person to stop.

Wanted to add that the elevator serving the bridge between NYNY and MGM was not working when we were there.  Wonder if there could be issues about that, especially for ADA people.

Forget which overpass bridge it was but my youngest daughter (pregnant) was getting tired and the escalators weren't working.  Me and wifey braved the escalators and climbed it but daughter and son in law waited for the elevator.  When it arrived there was a homeless sitting in the corner of it and of course he had his hand-out cardboard sign.  These elevators are not big so that puke was definitely causing a hindrance by sitting down in the corner of it.

Daughter looked at son in law and said, "Lets climb the escalators."

It's already against the law to do all of these.  But this city ordinance (not state law), now makes it illegal for a regular person to stop.

I think that's the point.  They can't always keep the people stopping you from being there, but if they can keep you from stopping and possibly parting with some of your cash, then they effectively eliminated the incentive for street "hustlers" to be there.

Reduce the hustling by reducing the demand.

Hey, it worked for illegal drugs, so why not? 

If nothing else, the police department can use the fines and cash they seize under civil asset forfeiture to make Vegas safer.

'You say you won all this money?  We're going to keep it anyway until you can prove it's not proceeds from criminal activity."

It's already against the law to do all of these.  But this city ordinance (not state law), now makes it illegal for a regular person to stop.

Oh, I see.  Thanks for the clarification.  I thought they just made the law more specific and would start to (finally) crack down on it.  Seems like there were no enforcement whatsoever.

And I wonder if there will be problems with this new ordinance.  Lots of people do stop to take selfies or to take pics of the Strip and now they also stop to take pics of that new Sphere attraction.

But some people do their best to move off to the side to do this.  At least they're trying.  Then there are the "all about me and I don't care I'm in Vegas" crowd who are just assholes and are no worse than the buskers and panhandlers.

I think that's the point.  They can't always keep the people stopping you from being there, but if they can keep you from stopping and possibly parting with some of your cash, then they effectively eliminated the incentive for street "hustlers" to be there.

Reduce the hustling by reducing the demand.

Hey, it worked for illegal drugs, so why not? 

If nothing else, the police department can use the fines and cash they seize under civil asset forfeiture to make Vegas safer.

'You say you won all this money?  We're going to keep it anyway until you can prove it's not proceeds from criminal activity."

Due to the timing of the ordinance, it was passed due to F1. F1 doesn't want any non-paying on lookers. They messed up when putting the tinting on the overpasses, they did so from the inside. Which made it accessable for people to peel/scratch it off. Had they put it on the outside, then there would'nt be this issue.

Then they have people who were riding up and down the escalaters in circles so they can watch. Guess an ordinance on this was too difficult to pass.

Bascially, F1 got everything they wanted from Vegas, even the additional $40 million for the roads, which in the begining, F1 said they would take care of all road cost.

Oh, I see.  Thanks for the clarification.  I thought they just made the law more specific and would start to (finally) crack down on it.  Seems like there were no enforcement whatsoever.

And I wonder if there will be problems with this new ordinance.  Lots of people do stop to take selfies or to take pics of the Strip and now they also stop to take pics of that new Sphere attraction.

But some people do their best to move off to the side to do this.  At least they're trying.  Then there are the "all about me and I don't care I'm in Vegas" crowd who are just assholes and are no worse than the buskers and panhandlers.

This is 1 of the main arguments, is that Metro doesn't have time to enforce this silly thing. Compared to a 3 card monte or like person stopping and doing something. Recent years, Metro cannot even stop a homeless person from sleeping on the median island of  the street.  I mean a cop could ask, but they don't really do this much anymore.  So like most laws, it's up to the cops discression. I've seen metro walk buy guys sitting on card board outside Harrahs.  And I've also seen cops asking them to keep it moving.

The homeless figured out the property lines as well, because before casino security would be often seen telling people to leave. But over the years, I rarely see this now.

Trump and BIden both gonna be in Vegas on sat.

let's get ready to RUMBLE!!!

Trump and BIden both gonna be in Vegas on sat.

NV is leaning more blue as the years go. They were considered purple before.  Right now their senate and house are blue, but their Governor is red.  They also aren't like HI where both senate and house are 90% blue.  NV is more like just over 50%.  WHich means they will have a very difficult time challenging a veto by the governor (66% vote needed to overturn a veto). 

Trump will be holding his rallies in Allegiant Stadium.

biden will hold his at the California Hotel Ballroom.  (the smallest one.)

I came across a new craps strategy. They interviewed a dealer and he said he's seen this as the only strategy that is consistent.  So far I've tried it via watching vids and using the dice rolls, my craps game on my phone (From Casino QUest), and by rolling my dice at home.  So far it checks out.

It's basically the same betting that I do, which is the inside place bets. But a regression system. $440 on the inside ($100 on 5 and 9; $120 on 6 and . After the first hit, you get paid $140. You then regress to $220 on the inside place bets ($50 on 5 and 9; $60 on 6/8). When this hits, you get paid $70. You then regress to $110 on the inside ($25 on 5/9; $30 on 6/8).  At this point, you're now up $100 and can press or collect or do what ever you want when more inside #"s hit.  The major downfall is the $440 up front. If someone PSO's or doesn't hit at least 1 inside number, you're down a lot.  If they crap out after only hitting 1 inside, you're now down $80: which isn't that bad.

Compare this to me playing the inside and not regressing, it takes about 3 place bet hits to get almost even, regardless of how much I'm betting.

1 advantage is you can play this system almost anywhere since many places now have only $25 tables. Even the Venetian has 1 $15 table, but usually it's full on the weekends, which means only the $25 tables have spots open.

From the various trials I did, even after getting wacked, I was still able to come back slowly and win $100 at a time to cover the loss of $440.  In my trials, I've typically crapped out before hitting that 3rd inside number. Which means I would be down a little very time I played.  Again, the major hole in this strategy is the PSO. Which I've been on tables often where 3 guys in a rolll PSO. Which would mean I'd be down over $1200.

I think our next trip to Vegas, I'll allocate $1200 for this strategy to see how it does in real life.  I've allocated $1K doing a Romanowski on Roulette and lost it all ($200 each bet). And blew $1K on Top Dollar at RR with $200 a spin (DLucky wannabe). So to allocate $1200 for this doesn't seem that bad.

I came across a new craps strategy. They interviewed a dealer and he said he's seen this as the only strategy that is consistent.  So far I've tried it via watching vids and using the dice rolls, my craps game on my phone (From Casino QUest), and by rolling my dice at home.  So far it checks out.

It's basically the same betting that I do, which is the inside place bets. But a regression system. $440 on the inside ($100 on 5 and 9; $120 on 6 and . After the first hit, you get paid $140. You then regress to $220 on the inside place bets ($50 on 5 and 9; $60 on 6/8). When this hits, you get paid $70. You then regress to $110 on the inside ($25 on 5/9; $30 on 6/8).  At this point, you're now up $100 and can press or collect or do what ever you want when more inside #"s hit.  The major downfall is the $440 up front. If someone PSO's or doesn't hit at least 1 inside number, you're down a lot.  If they crap out after only hitting 1 inside, you're now down $80: which isn't that bad.

Compare this to me playing the inside and not regressing, it takes about 3 place bet hits to get almost even, regardless of how much I'm betting.

1 advantage is you can play this system almost anywhere since many places now have only $25 tables. Even the Venetian has 1 $15 table, but usually it's full on the weekends, which means only the $25 tables have spots open.

From the various trials I did, even after getting wacked, I was still able to come back slowly and win $100 at a time to cover the loss of $440.  In my trials, I've typically crapped out before hitting that 3rd inside number. Which means I would be down a little very time I played.  Again, the major hole in this strategy is the PSO. Which I've been on tables often where 3 guys in a rolll PSO. Which would mean I'd be down over $1200.

I think our next trip to Vegas, I'll allocate $1200 for this strategy to see how it does in real life.  I've allocated $1K doing a Romanowski on Roulette and lost it all ($200 each bet). And blew $1K on Top Dollar at RR with $200 a spin (DLucky wannabe). So to allocate $1200 for this doesn't seem that bad.

Sounds like a pretty good strategy.  Only the PSO's would be a bummer.  I would try this strategy also but I dunno when I'm going back.  Me and wifey are watching the grandkid but mama is a teacher so maybe summer break or winter break I can go.

But yeah.  Regression sounds better than sh*tting your pants waiting for the 3rd hit just to break even.

Sounds like a pretty good strategy.  Only the PSO's would be a bummer.  I would try this strategy also but I dunno when I'm going back.  Me and wifey are watching the grandkid but mama is a teacher so maybe summer break or winter break I can go.

But yeah.  Regression sounds better than sh*tting your pants waiting for the 3rd hit just to break even.

I wouldn't call it shitting my pants as if 2 hit then you're only down $24 on a $66 inside or $40 on a $110 inside. Compare this to 1 hand of Ultimate Texas Holdem, a $15 table, youre at min invested $45 a hand and can still lose. And if you play the side bets, add another $10 to that, so $55 a hand.  But I've played times where only 1 bet hits so I'm down much more than $24 or $40.  And even these smaller amounts add up over time.  Which is the casino's greatest advantage.

I wouldn't call it shitting my pants as if 2 hit then you're only down $24 on a $66 inside or $40 on a $110 inside. Compare this to 1 hand of Ultimate Texas Holdem, a $15 table, youre at min invested $45 a hand and can still lose. And if you play the side bets, add another $10 to that, so $55 a hand.  But I've played times where only 1 bet hits so I'm down much more than $24 or $40.  And even these smaller amounts add up over time.  Which is the casino's greatest advantage.

That's no different really than the way i play.  I sometimes favor place bets, but normally I place the 4 inside numbers -- unless the pass line already covers one, then only 3 more place bets for a total of 4.  I then place a COME bet.  That covers the repeating outside numbers if that starts happening.  I use the winnings from the place bets to add odds to the COME bet when one of those rolls.  I do this until i have 3 or 4 COME bets with odds on the layout.  Then i stop placing COME bets until one hits. 

The goal is to start cycling the COME bets every roll, but only if I've gotten my initial betting money off the table.  Once my chip stack is even where i started, everything on the table is now winnings. 

Since the odds bet pay more, I'd much rather have that working than the place bets.  Plus, if you don't cover your COME bets on the next come-out roll, and 7 comes up, you lose only the original come bet -- not the odds.  Less risk, greater reward.  Of course, if one of your come bets rolls on the come-out, you only get paid for the original bet -- not the odds unless you call them out as 'working."  But, then you can lose those odds bets on the come-out.

It always comes back to the same thing:  money management.  try to increase your winnings when you win and reduce your losses when you lose.  Walk away when you're ahead and also before you are too far in the hole.  The less deep you dig that hole, the more likely you are to dig yourself out of it before you go home.

Seems to work more often than not for me anyway.  But then, that lucky golden frog your grandma gave you might make all this strategy moot!     

My sister and brother in law are very superstitious.  My brother in law would line up miniature Godzilla figures on the slot machine for good luck.  He also would physically touch the slot machine screen if a certain symbol was just slightly out of position and try to "coax" it into the right position for the next spin.  The guy is nuts.

My sister in law likes to collect bills that has a 7 in the serial number.  The more 7's the more "valuable" that bill is.  If a dollar bill has say, 3 - 7's in the serial number she squeal in delight and will add it to the twenty or hundy that she put in the machine.  She also is nuts.

My wife has a green frog for good luck.  She hooks it up to her purse when she goes out to play machines.  I cannot say she is nuts because she might read this post.

Me?  I was given a green frog by my wife and sister in law.  I can't find it.  No wonder I cannot win.

My sister and brother in law are very superstitious.  My brother in law would line up miniature Godzilla figures on the slot machine for good luck.  He also would physically touch the slot machine screen if a certain symbol was just slightly out of position and try to "coax" it into the right position for the next spin.  The guy is nuts.

My sister in law likes to collect bills that has a 7 in the serial number.  The more 7's the more "valuable" that bill is.  If a dollar bill has say, 3 - 7's in the serial number she squeal in delight and will add it to the twenty or hundy that she put in the machine.  She also is nuts.

My wife has a green frog for good luck.  She hooks it up to her purse when she goes out to play machines.  I cannot say she is nuts because she might read this post.

Me?  I was given a green frog by my wife and sister in law.  I can't find it.  No wonder I cannot win.

In Chinese language, the 8 is good luck. That's why the machines are 888 or $8.88. The more you notice it, the more you see how Vegas caters toward the Chinese. I've only seen 2 Japanese games, a few Spanish games. Many Chinese games on the floor.

The worst are the annoying button pushers during a bonus. They keep slamming the button. Be cool and make like you've hit a bonus round before. They have IG pages dedicated to vids of people doing this thinking it will help them win.  Or hitting the spot on the screen, etc...

In Chinese language, the 8 is good luck. That's why the machines are 888 or $8.88. The more you notice it, the more you see how Vegas caters toward the Chinese. I've only seen 2 Japanese games, a few Spanish games. Many Chinese games on the floor.

The worst are the annoying button pushers during a bonus. They keep slamming the button. Be cool and make like you've hit a bonus round before. They have IG pages dedicated to vids of people doing this thinking it will help them win.  Or hitting the spot on the screen, etc...

Slot machines are pure timing.  if it hits while you are playing, it just means you were fortunate to have been at that machine at that moment. 

There's a computer geek from CA who went to Vegas i think about one weekend each month.  He didn't gamble big, just enough for the thrill.  Mostly there to party and hang with his friends.  Anyway, he had a few tokens (this was before tickets) that he forgot to cash in, so he put his last 3 in a Megabucks on his way out of the casino (I want to say Caesar's).  Anyway, it hit the jackpot, and he left Vegas that particular time a multi-millionaire.

Pure timing. 

I've seen people refuse to leave a machine they'd been feeding for hours, because they just know it's about to pay out, and they don't want the next person to take all their winnings (more like losses). 

In Japan, the military clubs and Rec Centers have slots to pay for MWR programs.  I've won hundreds (sometimes thousands) each time I played, because the machines are set very loose -- they give back like 98% of everything people put into the machines.  I learned what times the machines tend to hit jackpots, so I tried to play only at those times.  i paid for my lunch almost everyday with a brief stop at a well-selected machine.

I watched a guy in Atsugi who was in the clubs every single day.  I only went a few times a week, but he was either at the place or had just left to go to another club every time I went.  Not sure if he even had a job, or maybe they didn't miss him being gone.  He went from club to Rec Center and back for hours trying to hit the jackpots.  He stayed on a machine for hours if needed, because those did eventually pay.  One night he was bragging he was up $5K after 8 hours of play.  i can't imagine that was normal, or he wouldn't have been bragging.

The machines that paid best had 3 jackpot levels, depending on the color of the 3 sevens and which line they were on.  I think 3 blue sevens on the bottom of 3 lines line was the best.

One Sunday, the day before I was to leave for home, I went to the Rec Center for breakfast.  There was that guy on the same machine I saw him on the night before!  He'd been playing it all night trying to get his money back.  By then he'd put in over $2K, and the top jackpot was $2,500 -- so he was close to being down even if he hit. 

He was so mad!  Every time he spun the reels, he was lucky to get half his bet back -- not even enough payout to keep him afloat for a few minutes of play without feeding it again, and again, and again.  most spins came up empty -- not even a cherry was hitting!

That was about 9:30am.  I finished eating, played a few machines and hit 2 jackpots totaling $2400.  That guy was just giving me the evil eye, like I was taking all his luck.  Those machines paid out actual quarters, and as a jackpot was paying, you had to get the worker to refill the hopper until it was all counted out.  Then you took the plastic cups full of the same quarters to the cashier window to cash out.  It's how Vegas used to be before tokens and paper tickets.

Finally, about 3:00, the guy had enough and decided to leave.  Dinner had just started being served, so i decided to eat again.  When i left, i had to walk right past that machine.  Well, almost past.  I stopped and put $40 in, and I hit the top jackpot!       

The whole time I was waiting for that slow-ass machine to spit out $2,500 in quarters with the worker opening and refilling it several times, the people in line for dinner -- some of whom had also seen that guy the night before -- were saying, "Man, he's gonna be pissed when he finds out!"     I was looking over my shoulder, half expecting to see him walk in and "catch" me!

I decided to avoid the Rec Center, so i stayed in my room until my bus to the airport left.