The casino at the Aladdin is conveniently accessed from the shopping area so I made my way over to see the expanse of lights and sounds. Las Vegas has the ability to raise the volume on all the wining while expertly hiding the losing. The sounds of slot machines went on and on and I searched for the big wheel to put my money down. The big six is what I have heard it referred to, a big wheel with money all over it and you wager on the wheel stopping at 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 40.
I approach the table with its lonely dealer looking as if he has made someone mad so they stuck him all alone on a game that only few play. Harold was his name and he seemed nice enough. I took a five out of my gambling stash and pondered where to put it. After losing five at our last stop I had to be cautious and set myself up for an early slide in the gambling department. The Margarita I was currently enjoying was making me a bit brash. I looked at the $40 and figured I should go for high stakes once again. My wife pulled her five out and placed it on the $2. I looked at her and tried to gauge her sensibility, she was playing it safe, perhaps I should too. I quickly reached across the table and lifted my bet off the $40 and put it on the $1. Even money was my best bet, get me back to even. Wouldn’t you know it, I played it too safe as the $2 dollar spot came up a winner and just like that the dealer handed my wife two five dollar chips. She was now up fifteen dollars and I was sitting low at minus ten.
Truthfully, that made us five dollars ahead in the gambling department. Our walk continued past the Harley-Davidson café and nearly a fight between the two of us. I simply stated that if I would win a lot of money I would buy her whatever she desired, at which my wife looked at me and quickly responded, “I could win all the money in the world and I still would not buy you a motorcycle.” Sometimes they can be so cruel. The Harley-Davidson Café has a gift shop where you can pick up those leather chaps you have been dying to wear to work as well as more conservative things like t-shirts and hats.
My wife was a bit cocky after her first couple of wins and she seemed to strut as we walked south along Las Vegas Blvd. In the space between The Aladdin and the showcase center adjacent to the MGM grand you can find a number of places to buy gifts, booze, cigars, t-shirts and sundries. You will also be invited to a number of timeshare presentations in this area. What normally happens is some nice looking guy will walk over and try to give you something for free. Remember, free normally means you will be paying for it some other way, so be wary of the gift givers.
