My Casino, My Valentine

^{Love is in the air, and it doesn’t even have to be Valentine’s day to feel it in a casino. (Image: Yaacov Dagan / Alamy)}

Ahhh Valentine’s Day … that one day of the year when you’re meant to declare your undying love and perform some kind of big romantic gesture just because the calendar says so.

It’s impossible to avoid. The endless mushy social media posts from loved-up couples, the shops bursting with Valentine’s merchandise, restaurants advertising Valentine’s specials, it’s everywhere.

Now, I’m not one to diss love nor the showing of affection, but Valentine’s can feel a little forced and a bit too Hugh Grant rom-com for my liking. Don’t get me wrong, I adore my partner, I just don’t need to buy him a card, take him to an overpriced three-course dinner, and dance around in lingerie with a red rose between my teeth on Feb. 14 to prove it.

With that in mind, I thought I’d respect the traditions of Valentine's Day this year in my own special way. For this I turn to my other big love – casinos!

Casinos can be truly a magical place, somewhere dreams can literally come true and lives can be genuinely changed. It’s not all about gambling or winning, though. Casinos offer so much more joy and enjoyment to those in the know.

So to honor St. Valentine , here is my love letter to all the casinos that have stolen my heart over the years, regardless of whether or not they took my money. With apologies to Victorian poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning … How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

1. Possibility

Ok, let’s start with the obvious -- casinos are dripping with possibility, hope, and anticipation -- and I love it. I can’t think of another place where it’s possible to walk in an average Joe and walk out a millionaire, or at least distinctly richer than when you went in. Except maybe a courtroom or a will reading. 

Once you experience the thrill of a handpay, you can’t help but feel like the next one, even bigger, is just a few spins away. (Image: Lynsey Thompson / Casinos.com)

Of course, when you look at the bigger picture, the number of players who actually manage to become genuinely wealthy from casinos is few. But that doesn’t matter one bit. The possibility is enough.

That anticipation creates an energy, a relentless buzz, and the hope that at any time, the next card you’re dealt, the next spin of the roulette wheel, or the next slot press could be a game-changer. Even better, it can happen to anyone. It doesn’t matter where you’re from, what job you do, how old you are, it doesn’t discriminate. So, why can’t it be you? 

It actually doesn’t matter if it never happens, if that big jackpot just never lands. I never expect it to. Nobody should. But, after 20 years of visiting casinos, I’m still like a kid on Christmas Eve every time I go, full of wonder, hope and that unanswered question: what if?

2. Entertainment

I’m not talking about shows and live music here, of which there is plenty in casinos, but the pure entertainment of the casino floor. Slot games these days are a combination of video games, movies/TV shows, and music gigs. They are a one-stop shop sensory overload and it's damn adorable.

These days casinos are offering a fully immersive experience to bring you into the game. (Image: Lynsey Thompson / Casinos.com)

You just have to look at the newly released Aristocrat House of the Dragon Slot to see how impressive new slot designs can be.  

Vibrating seats, cabinets that go over your head, visuals that make your jaw drop and music that sticks in your head for days on end. They all add up to a fully immersive entertainment experience.

And much like a favorite film or TV character, you learn to love the graphics and icons in a slot game too. The games develop a personality, and their distinct sound effects and characters become instantly recognizable to regular casino goers and casino lovers like me.

There’s an easy way to test if that’s you by the way. If one mention of the game “Buffalo” doesn’t have you immediately shouting “Bufaaalllooooooooo” at the top of your voice, then I’m afraid we can’t be friends.

3. Escapism

People find many different ways to escape the day-to-day stresses of life. We’re all searching for a hobby or interest that distracts from everyday issues and flicks the mundane reality switch off for a short while. For some it’s shopping, others play sports, read books, have spa days, or go on vacation. My escapism is a casino, specifically a Las Vegas casino if I’m being picky.

Sometimes a girl just needs to escape into the steely eyes of Frankenstein and his mini. (Image: Lynsey Thompson / Casinos.com)

There’s just something so freeing and joyful about going to a casino for a few hours. It’s like an arcade for adults, but with the added possibility of leaving with more money than which you came.

Plus, time really has no meaning in a casino. There are no clocks, no schedules, no demands and no limitations. You can stay as long as you want and leave when you choose. Many casinos are open 24/7 and those which are not are generally open late or until the early hours, so it all just feels very limitless and care-free.

Of course, it’s all controlled. Much like I would pay for a spa day or a boozy afternoon tea, my casino funds are saved up and planned for so I never spend money I don’t have or I’m not prepared to lose. But then I just get to take my “pocket money” and escape into a casino, fully immerse myself in the atmosphere, choose what games I want to play and let all the daily issues melt away while I do.

4. The People

Casinos are one of the most sociable places you can be, and you can meet some wonderful people there too.  

For some people going to casinos is an individual pursuit, but for me and my friends, chasing jackpots is a social activity. (Image: Lynsey Thompson / Casinos.com)

Whether you’re chilling at the bar playing bar-top games, sitting around a blackjack table or roulette wheel with other players or just playing slots, you can meet folks from all over the world and from all walks of life.

I’ve had some of my best nights in casinos, many of which have started with a quick conversation around a blackjack table or bar and ended up as a full-on party until the early hours.

Casinos, especially those in Vegas, are a melting point of like-minded people, many of which are on vacation and fully exploring that escapism vibe I mentioned earlier.

Although I live in the UK, because of my love for casinos I now have friends from across the globe including Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Canada, not to mention from just about every state in the US.

5. ‘Free’ Drinks

This one isn’t applicable to all casinos, but certainly those in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and some other states too. “Free” drinks while you gamble.

Cheers, my love! (Image: Lynsey Thompson / Casinos.com)

Many years ago, before I was old enough to even enter a casino, my parents visited Las Vegas for their first and only time. Neither of them were gamblers or big spenders. In fact they stayed at Excalibur and spent most of their days walking around the Strip and marveling at the sights.

However, every evening they would go into one of the casinos with a few measly dollars and spend hours betting on dime slots while enjoying non-stop waitress service. It was a story my dad loved telling. He actually couldn’t believe his luck. “As soon as I finished one drink, another one arrived and it only cost me a dollar. It was brilliant” he would regale even 20 years later.

For newbies to Las Vegas, waitress service is a bit like folklore. You hear people say that drinks are free, but you don’t quite believe it. It sounds too good to be true so you assume there must be a catch. Of course, there is a “catch” if you want to call it that, in the way of a tip. You must tip your waitress, predominantly out of decency, but also if you want drinks to continue coming.

But, ultimately, waitress service, where it’s offered, is a big reason to love casinos. You don’t have to queue at the bar or leave your game, you can choose from a wide range of unlimited drinks, and even with the tip, it costs way less than it would normally. Love, Love, Love.

6. Anything Goes!

One of the most common questions you’ll find on any newbie Vegas forum or Facebook group is “what is the casino dress code?” and very few people believe me when I say there isn’t one.

We’re not completely sure what our mate is doing here, but we know he’s having a good time. (Image: Lynsey Thompson / Casinos.com)

But, for me, the “anything goes” environment is one of the big reasons I love casinos. It doesn’t matter what you wear, what you drink, what you play, or whether you bet 50c or $500, there is no judgement in a casino from fellow players.

You see people dressing in the most casual of clothes – shorts, t-shirts, and trainers, while others look Oscar red-carpet ready in the most exquisite designer clothing.  

You’ll hear people screaming at the top of their voice when they win $20 and others silently claiming thousands of dollars in handpays.

Everyone plays side by side, sharing tables, chatting over slots, and everyone feels comfortable and welcome. It’s one of the most inclusive places you can be.

An added pleasure you can find in casinos is people-watching. Now, let’s get this clear, Vegas is the people-watching capital of the world. Anyone who has sat at the revolving Whiskey Licker Up bar downtown for a couple of hours will tell you there’s no place like it. But casinos themselves also provide top people-watching spaces.

A good casino bar right in the thick of the action gives the best visual viewpoint, plus you can enjoy a few drinks while you do it. Then just sit back and watch all the “anything goes” culture play out just like a nature documentary. 

7. All Under One Roof

Mega-casinos are a joy to behold. It’s like having a whole city or town under one roof. When it comes to vacations, why choose between a pool holiday, a city break, a foodie adventure or a relaxing spa trip when a good mega-casino has it all?

Where else but at a casino can you step away from the machines and enjoy a beautiful stroll in the park. (Image: Jerome Cid / Alamy)

Fancy a bite to eat before hitting the casino? No problem, the big casino resorts have a range of different eateries – Michelin starred restaurants, celebrity chefs, multiple cuisines, and quick bites too. Want drinks? There’s usually a handful of bars to choose from including a casino bar, sports bar and usually a specialty cocktail bar too.

Anyone looking for relaxation will find multiple pools, jacuzzis, and spa treatments, while those who prefer retail therapy have plenty of shops too. Want to see a show or live gig? Many casinos have headline acts as well as plenty of other amenities and activities to keep you amused.

A good mega-casino has everything you need under one roof, so you don’t even have to set foot outside unless you want to. What’s not to love about that?

8. Casinos are Sexy

Well you can’t talk all about love without a bit of sex thrown in there now can you? The truth is casinos have a reputation of being a bit sexy. It’s all James Bond’s fault.

This is what everybody looks like when they’re gambling in a casino, right? (Image: courtesy of 007.com)

For people who frequent casinos often, the sexy thing does die down over time. You know it too well, you’ve seen it naked too many times. Much the same as an old married couple.

But, for those who don’t go to casinos very often, or who have never been, casinos appear downright indecent. There’s just something about them. All that glitz and glamour, the copious amounts of cash changing hands, the clink of the chips, the spin of the roulette wheel, the cocktails, and the thought of risking it all on red or black.

When I tell people I write about casinos it gets a reaction every time. Raised eyebrows, a tilt of the head, sometimes accompanied by an audible ‘Oooooh’. Truth is, I know it sounds sexy. Much sexier than it actually is (as I sit here in my pj’s at 10pm on a Sunday night writing this). But that doesn’t matter.

If you go to casinos, by association, you seem more daring, more affluent than you probably are, and consequently sexier. Embrace it casino lovers, work it.