around instead of spending too much time in one casino. I played more often at the Golden Nugget, which was friendly, comfortable and had a couple of very attractive dealers. Yes, I know that is not a very good way of selecting tables. The Nugget was quite small in those days, not filling the block and having no towers. I didn’t even know it had any rooms. During a low point in Kenny Rogers’s career, you could watch him perform for free at the bar. Later he became the entertainment director.

The Mint was next door to the Horseshoe and was known for James Bond climbing around the outdoor elevator and Hunter S. Thompson’s visit in the book version of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. The casino was quite small and I didn’t play there too often. Well, I guess I did. After 20 minutes of play on my last visit, the table became crowded and I headed for the cashier. While cashing in, the casino manager came over, red in the face, and said, “If I had seen you when you came in, I would never have let you play. If you ever come back here again, I’ll have you arrested.” This was my first “trespass,” only they didn’t yet actually use the word trespass in those days. A casino has the right to tell you that if you ever again enter, they can have you arrested for trespassing. The Mint was later purchased by the Horseshoe, and no longer exists. No big loss.

Although my bankroll was bouncing around quite a bit, I was making money. Then my first bad swing hit me. And hit me hard. It was the morning of the ninth day and just about wiped out my winnings and my bankroll.  I decided it was time to go home. But I had to take a last shot. There was a slot machine at the very front of the Horseshoe that paid over 100%. The point was to attract people into the casino from the street. I played the machine, picked up enough to play some more Blackjack and went back to the tables for a last game before leaving. Over-betting, I did well. Quite well. I walked across the street and renewed my room. I wasn’t dead yet.

I wanted to get my bankroll back. So, I started betting more heavily with the count. Over the next day and a half, I managed to build my bankroll back up to a new high. That’s when it happened. After dinner on the tenth day, I walked up to a table in Binion’s, and before I could sit, got a tap on the shoulder. A well-dressed gentleman in his 50s asked, “You’re not allowed to

 © 2009 Norman Wattenberger