♪You've got to know when to hold'em, know when to fold'em, know when to walk away, know when to run♪

I went to Casino Niagara on Friday night.

It was not my first time at a casino. Although it was my first time in an Ontario casino (the other two times were in Montreal and Melbourne) However, it was also my first time actually spending money in a casino.

I was smart. I only took $40 in with me, and left the rest in the car. And I went in with the attitude that I would lose it - I think you have to have that attitude. (Ok, so more precisely, my attitude was "I hope I win, but I likely won't.")

I played slots. For two reasons. First off, I don't play well enough to play blackjack or poker, and secondly, most of the tables had minimum bets of at least $15 (a lot were $25 though...and some higher ones) So my $40 wouldn't get me far. If I would have taken more money with me, I likely would have played Sickbo, and while I could have played that longer than BJ or poker (since it was $3 minimum), it still wouldn't have lasted as long.

So I played the $0.25 slots (and a bit on the nickel slots...but mainly the $0.25) I definitely lost all $40. Yes, I did have a few pulls that gained me money, but by the end, I lost it all. It was fun alright - it's fun when you win. Amanda was sitting 2 down from me (with Pete in the middle) and I cheered one time, and she's like "what'd you win?" and I was like "FIVE DOLLARS!!" She gave me a high five - it was exciting! And this other lady laughed at us :P

So I lost my first $20 - took some time, but definitely lost it. Then we wandered around some. Eventually I made it back to the machines. Lost another $10. Cashed out, and had 2 $5's and some change in my pocket. Wandered some more, lost another $5. Wasn't going to spend the other $5, but the slot machine was calling my name. Flashing it's lights at me. Tempting me...tempting me.

I caved. It was easy to. I was wide awake (thanks to the extra oxygen that they pump into casinos) and I just couldn't resist. Again, I lost the other $5, but that was ok - I had gone, assuming I would lose $40, and I did. But even when I was up in money a few times, there's still the thoughts that went through my head that "this next pull could be the jackpot." It's always the "what if." My one friend was up $60 at one point, and couldn't stop when she was ahead, so she lost all of that too.

I was glad that I left my other $60 in the car, b/c I know that I would have likely spent at least another $20. Hell, I was tempted to go to the bank machine and endure the $3 service fee to take out more money to play some more. Luckily I resisted, and since I had separated from everyone, I went and sat near the bar where there was a live band, and watched till my friends were ready to leave.

It was scary though - I was just playing the cheap slots. But I watched some of the blackjack, and people were throwing down $100 or more each hand. Yes, while you can win at blackjack, it's still not likely, and there are more losers than winners. Then there were slot machines that were $20 per pull, and apparently ones that were $100 per pull. Which is CRAZY! Obviously the payout would be awesome if you hit the jackpot, but that's really really REALLY unlikely!

It's scary to think about how much money people blow at a casino. I mean, some people go & can play from 7pm-7am, and not realize how long they're there for. I had paid attention to time all night (b/c I always do) but my friends all thought it was close to midnight when we left, when in fact, it was almost 2am. Time goes fast, they blow in extra oxygen so that you're awake (as well as serving free pop/coffee)and it's just so tempting to think that the next pull, or hand, or roll of the dice could win you big money!

It was a fun time though. I'm glad I went (although I was hoping to win :P) and I can't say that I'll never go & gamble at a casino again. But I refuse to become one of those uncontrollable gambling addicts - I'll definitely continue to take in $x, and spend only that.