Is there such a thing as luck? Gamblers will tell you there is. Winners say you make your own and losers lick their wounds. But the truth is you can’t win a jackpot if you don’t visit the casino no matter your school of thought. For me, the recent event, which was my first to a casino, was an eye-opener, a good experience. The management of Federal Palace Hotel, Sun International, Victoria Island invited some of us-travel writers- to a no-holds-bared weekend. That Friday evening, after a great dinner, I decided to try my luck at the casino.
I was feeling fine and funky and wanted to experience something new. I didn’t go alone; my colleagues from BusinessDay, Punch and Guardian volunteered. So I had good company. Mr. Uche Ogbu, Marketing Manager, in his usual manner, egged us to try the slots, and so, bingo, we went. I chose the Wild Panda and drew a chair while Lasisi from The Punch chose the other. The Wild Panda is a slots game featuring the adorable panda, and uses Chinese symbolism such as the pagoda, koi fish, umbrella, lotis, ruan (guitar), golden Ching coins and bamboo to win. The Casino Manager, (remember Hotel De Jordan, Benin City) explained that the Wild Panda is a 100-line game, one credit buys two lines. The pagoda symbol pays 1000 credits times your bet multiplier and all line wins are multiplied by the bet multiplier. I got a $50 credit loaded into my ATM card issued at the MVG desk in the hotel, and with tutorials from the manager I began to play the slots. I fed in $30 across 80 games and started to play by tapping the green button gently. And the machine roared into life.
Then I remembered a story I read two months ago captioned “A Beginners Guide to Navigating the Casino Without Losing Your Shirt,” and I smiled. It was a brief on the first day a woman also went to the casino somewhere in the United States of America. Inside the Casino, according to the writer, “The black-haired woman nervously thumbed through her purse as she took the end seat at the blackjack table. She pulled out three $20 bills and gingerly placed them on the felt, confessing to the dealer this was her first time playing the game. “No problem,” he assured her. This was a friendly table, he said, and he or the other players would be happy to help a novice. She put out the $10 minimum bet and was dealt a two-card 20 for her first hand. Her blackjack fling started with a victory. “You know what you should do now?” the dealer asked, barely suppressing a smile as he prepared to deliver the punch line. “Run! Run for the hills while you’re ahead!” Many people, like me, making their first casino trip or trying out a new game are like that uneasy blackjack player. They want to gamble but they’re not exactly sure of what to do. Finding you amid the thousands of games, dealing with the noise, lights and other casino distractions, and ogling the vast amounts of money and chips can intimidate anyone. Just bear in mind that you’re there to have fun. When I looked up I found out that my bonus was over 900 and I had hit $158 within seconds. I was pleasantly surprised. At that moment, the Casino manager came and said, you are doing well but you can cash 100 out of your winning otherwise you’d loose all in seconds too. I agreed. And that was how I converted the winning to N24, 000 less VAT and other charges. I had $20 credit in my card, when I stopped playing because I had to run upstairs not to the hills, to share this good news with my wife who was busy watching TV. Federal Palace Casinos offer a variety of games to entice everyone from those dreaming of a life-changing jackpot to people simply enjoying a night out.
Sure, some players will win big. The vast majority won’t. When you enter any casino for the first time, head to the players club booth and join. Use your player’s club card whenever you gamble there. The card makes you eligible for offers of discounted or free food, hotel rooms or other amenities based on the amount of your play. Slot players put their cards into the machine; table game players present their cards to the dealer. The challenge for bettors is to find a game that they enjoy and that has a house edge they’re comfortable with. Slot machines are the easiest and most popular form of casino gambling. Slot machines appeal to people looking for a pressure-free way to pass the time. Slot players don’t have to worry about making the “right play” or doing something that could affect other gamblers. The machine itself is the entertainment. When you plan a casino trip, figure out how much you’re willing to spend for that night’s entertainment. Take what you are comfortable spending. Never bet with money you need for the mortgage or medical bills. You should be mentally prepared to lose it all. However, that doesn’t mean you should just throw your money away on long shots. Smart gamblers find a game they enjoy and learn the strategies that reduce the house edge as much as possible. If you find yourself ahead after a couple of hours of fun, then remember the dealer’s advice for the nervous blackjack player: Run for the hills! Since their invention more than a century ago, slot machines have inspired-and been inspired-by popular culture. Slip in a coin, pull the one-armed bandit and follow the history. All that has changed, everything is computerized now, loading credit, payments, and even the design of the machines, you tap the button and the slots roll until the end. You may win a bonus or cash in dollar. That night I was on course, winning over a thousand bonuses and raking in $158 in less than 20 minutes. Situated off the lobby area in the hall, Federal Palace Casino treats guests to an easily accessible, in-house casino in Lagos, Nigeria. Sun International Most Valued Guests (MVG) cardholders can enjoy regular casino promotions. No matter your gaming budget, there’s a slot machine for you at the Federal Palace Casino.
from The Sun News http://ift.tt/1VgdjGl
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