Going over an old copy of the Straits Times, i came across a highly interesting nugget of information.
According to the Jan 13 paper, a bartender by the name of Jason Lin, aged 26, goes to the casinos in Singapore three times a week and "rolls" $2K to $3K each time!
There must be money aplenty in the bartending business? Or Jason's got super lucky hands! Perhaps that's why he's called Jason. Remember Jason and the Golden Fleece of Greek myths fame?
What Singapore's casinos gain from or lose to Jason, the floating casinos he used to patronise have lost him --for the time being anyway.
"I don't go on cruise ships any more, " he said in the ST report. "It's too troublesome -- it takes too long to get on board the ship."
Although it's a long while since I've been on ships with casinos like the SuperStar Virgo, I too remember the inconvenience. The hours to enjoy gambling are short, especially if you go on those four day three night cruises that I took.
There was always so much time wasted hanging around, especially those long hours when the ship was in dock and many people went ashore to sight see.
Much better to have the casinos right on our doorstep, so that when energy and/or luck run out, one can go home to sleep it off!
about jousts @ casinos
Monday, February 28, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Math of casino visits
When i paid the $2,000 full year levy to enter the Marina Bay Sands Casino on Jan 2, I knew I must visit more than 12 times to make the sums work for paying the levy in advance, instead of paying $100 every time I go there.
Apart from the upfront payment, I have given up the flexibility of visiting the casino fewer than 12 times during the next 12 months. Because if I go fewer than 12 times, I would in effect be paying more than the government mandated $100 per day levy.
However, I know for sure that I would visit MBS more than 12 times in 2011. I intend to anyway.
Where is the break even point? 20 times. Visits beyond that would be considered "levy free" or would go towards reducing the cost of the levy per visit.
Still, that would depend a lot on whether my luck holds out on most of the visits.
If I lose more money than I win, then I may not visit more than 20 times. If I win more than I lose, then tarada, I would go more than 20 times. Simple!
Stay tune to this blog for more about whether the numbers work out for me at MBS!
Apart from the upfront payment, I have given up the flexibility of visiting the casino fewer than 12 times during the next 12 months. Because if I go fewer than 12 times, I would in effect be paying more than the government mandated $100 per day levy.
However, I know for sure that I would visit MBS more than 12 times in 2011. I intend to anyway.
Where is the break even point? 20 times. Visits beyond that would be considered "levy free" or would go towards reducing the cost of the levy per visit.
Still, that would depend a lot on whether my luck holds out on most of the visits.
If I lose more money than I win, then I may not visit more than 20 times. If I win more than I lose, then tarada, I would go more than 20 times. Simple!
Stay tune to this blog for more about whether the numbers work out for me at MBS!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Been to Marina Bay Sands 10X already!
And certainly planning more in the coming days, weeks and months!
In 2010, when I paid the $100 per visit levy, I went four times: Jun 7, Jun 28, Jul 17 and
Dec 23.
Since I bit the bullet and paid the $2K full year levy on Jan 2 this year, I’ve been 6 times so far: Jan 2, Jan 7, Jan 17, Jan 26, Feb 10 and Feb 16.
It would have been 7 times had I accepted a friend’s invite to join her and a foreign visitor she was showing the casino to, on Feb 4 but that being the second day of Chinese New Year, it’s no can-do for me.
Also, I view going to the casino somewhat like meditation. Not too much talk or bonding. I want to focus on what I’m doing — gambling — not updating each other about our lives which should be done over a meal or an activity which doesn’t demand all my attention.
Further, friends who want to meet up are given to understand that we needn’t move around like Siamese twins, otherwise we won’t have the freedom to explore all the gambling wares (for me it’s strictly the more than 1,600 slot machines) that are on offer. Further, we are free to say ciao and split should we run out of energy or money!
Plan to go again be4 this month is over, although I really need to go another 14 times for the rest of this year, to break even on my paid-for full year levy, with all subsequent visits effectively levy free.
Now, if only I can be equally certain I won't lose money: then, it would be a no-brainer to go everyday. Since i can't, I've to dole out the visits, very much like favourite foods and drinks, so as to savour the experience, without injuring my pocket overmuch at the casino, and without injuring my health when it comes to eating n imbibing.
In 2010, when I paid the $100 per visit levy, I went four times: Jun 7, Jun 28, Jul 17 and
Dec 23.
Since I bit the bullet and paid the $2K full year levy on Jan 2 this year, I’ve been 6 times so far: Jan 2, Jan 7, Jan 17, Jan 26, Feb 10 and Feb 16.
It would have been 7 times had I accepted a friend’s invite to join her and a foreign visitor she was showing the casino to, on Feb 4 but that being the second day of Chinese New Year, it’s no can-do for me.
Also, I view going to the casino somewhat like meditation. Not too much talk or bonding. I want to focus on what I’m doing — gambling — not updating each other about our lives which should be done over a meal or an activity which doesn’t demand all my attention.
Further, friends who want to meet up are given to understand that we needn’t move around like Siamese twins, otherwise we won’t have the freedom to explore all the gambling wares (for me it’s strictly the more than 1,600 slot machines) that are on offer. Further, we are free to say ciao and split should we run out of energy or money!
Plan to go again be4 this month is over, although I really need to go another 14 times for the rest of this year, to break even on my paid-for full year levy, with all subsequent visits effectively levy free.
Now, if only I can be equally certain I won't lose money: then, it would be a no-brainer to go everyday. Since i can't, I've to dole out the visits, very much like favourite foods and drinks, so as to savour the experience, without injuring my pocket overmuch at the casino, and without injuring my health when it comes to eating n imbibing.
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