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Story time from the book:
A few days ago, I told a story about the time a woman flashed me her boobs at the counter in the book at the Golden Nugget.
It was during this weekend 15 or 16 years ago. Today, I stopped by to see what it looked like, and see who was working..
A few days ago, I told a story about the time a woman flashed me her boobs at the counter in the book at the Golden Nugget.
It was during this weekend 15 or 16 years ago. Today, I stopped by to see what it looked like, and see who was working..
This is where it all started for me in Vegas, and I met and worked with some great people there..
Somehow, Tony, Aaron and Dori are still cranking it out in the back while Andy and Lyn are still on the front line, helping customers and listening to the bad beats..
People ask..
Somehow, Tony, Aaron and Dori are still cranking it out in the back while Andy and Lyn are still on the front line, helping customers and listening to the bad beats..
People ask..
me all the time “How do you get started in this business?”
There is no one way, but it usually involves starting as a ticket writer.
Show up, listen, count the money, listen, type the tickets and, oh yeah, LISTEN!
Keep showing up and embrace it all, the good and the bad..
There is no one way, but it usually involves starting as a ticket writer.
Show up, listen, count the money, listen, type the tickets and, oh yeah, LISTEN!
Keep showing up and embrace it all, the good and the bad..
An even better question that I am not sure I have the answer to is “How do you last that long in the business?”
I don’t know, other than to keep showing up. You keep coming in, on time, make sure the drawer is right, and you can stay in it as long as you like..
Over the years..
I don’t know, other than to keep showing up. You keep coming in, on time, make sure the drawer is right, and you can stay in it as long as you like..
Over the years..
I had seen many people come and go on both sides of the counter..
Whether they were in town just visiting or they were the daily grinders, the book became a second home for all of us in a unique way to say the least..
Everyone had their own thing goin on, whether it was..
Whether they were in town just visiting or they were the daily grinders, the book became a second home for all of us in a unique way to say the least..
Everyone had their own thing goin on, whether it was..
family, the next great business idea, or they were a loner tryin to get that exacta home for lunch money..
In today’s visit, after comparing pictures of kids who had grown from infants to teenagers to grown ups, we started mentioning customers & characters we knew..
When you..
In today’s visit, after comparing pictures of kids who had grown from infants to teenagers to grown ups, we started mentioning customers & characters we knew..
When you..
go work in another book, a lot of times you don’t these people anymore..
They go bust or they stay loyal to where they play..sometimes, they don’t have a car or anyone to drive them anywhere else so they just keep showing up..
Lyn reminded me of one of those guys, and..
They go bust or they stay loyal to where they play..sometimes, they don’t have a car or anyone to drive them anywhere else so they just keep showing up..
Lyn reminded me of one of those guys, and..
of course, I remembered him and had a nickname for him..
Downtown Benny was a guy who was there pretty much every single shift I ever worked there..
Benny was “slow” and didn’t have anyone in his life, at least that I knew of. He loved to play horses, usually with a $2 show..
Downtown Benny was a guy who was there pretty much every single shift I ever worked there..
Benny was “slow” and didn’t have anyone in his life, at least that I knew of. He loved to play horses, usually with a $2 show..
and $1 exacta box in every race..
He loved the early tracks back East and would try to make it to the California tracks each afternoon..
He loved sports too and couldn’t resist any day action. We had a $5 minimum there, and Benny never wavered.
Straight plays were $5.50 and..
He loved the early tracks back East and would try to make it to the California tracks each afternoon..
He loved sports too and couldn’t resist any day action. We had a $5 minimum there, and Benny never wavered.
Straight plays were $5.50 and..
parlays were $5. During football season, the parlay cards were a $2 minimum, and Downtown Benny was in action until the first game lost for a deuce.
One time, Benny stepped over a fallen co-worker, the one and only Sam, my Fillipino grandma keno runner turned sports book..
One time, Benny stepped over a fallen co-worker, the one and only Sam, my Fillipino grandma keno runner turned sports book..
ticket writer, when she slipped putting out the morning sheets..
Sam and I were the only two working and I yelled for security..
“Sam is DOWN!!” I tore out from behind the counter to come to her aid..security got there quickly, and Sam was more embarrassed than hurt, but she..
Sam and I were the only two working and I yelled for security..
“Sam is DOWN!!” I tore out from behind the counter to come to her aid..security got there quickly, and Sam was more embarrassed than hurt, but she..
was close to 70 so they took every precaution..
It was 8:58 and the games kicked at 9am. Once I realized Sam was ok and in good hands, I went back behind the counter..
Two security guys beside her, Sam was laying down on the ground in front of our windows..
Right at that..
It was 8:58 and the games kicked at 9am. Once I realized Sam was ok and in good hands, I went back behind the counter..
Two security guys beside her, Sam was laying down on the ground in front of our windows..
Right at that..
moment, Benny yells from behind them..
“Hey Dave, you open?”
Benny, what is wrong with you?? Sam is down.
“I gotta get this eight teamer in and the games are gonna kick.”
He then stepped right OVER Sam to my window.
Seriously, Benny??? Gimme the damn card..
I took it..
“Hey Dave, you open?”
Benny, what is wrong with you?? Sam is down.
“I gotta get this eight teamer in and the games are gonna kick.”
He then stepped right OVER Sam to my window.
Seriously, Benny??? Gimme the damn card..
I took it..
from his hand and put it in the machine..
“Sorry, Benny, the games are off. You have to fill out another card.”
Benny looked like Uncle Fester. He was PISSED! He paused. Then he yells out, “DAMMIT SAM! Why did you have to go down right at post? That is BULLSHIT!”
I looked..
“Sorry, Benny, the games are off. You have to fill out another card.”
Benny looked like Uncle Fester. He was PISSED! He paused. Then he yells out, “DAMMIT SAM! Why did you have to go down right at post? That is BULLSHIT!”
I looked..
at Benny and said “Benny, that’s enough. She probably saved you a fin. Just fill out another card with the later games. Leave her alone.”
He was fuming. Turning to me, he goes “Ah, forget it. I can’t win here today. I’m goin down the street.” And off he went.
You see, Benny..
He was fuming. Turning to me, he goes “Ah, forget it. I can’t win here today. I’m goin down the street.” And off he went.
You see, Benny..
didn’t cash too many of those tickets, but you know what happened, right?
I saved the stub with all the games. Benny left that day, but one by one, his games came in. Yep, you know it. He would have cashed that ticket. That was Benny.
One time, I rode Benny home because he..
I saved the stub with all the games. Benny left that day, but one by one, his games came in. Yep, you know it. He would have cashed that ticket. That was Benny.
One time, I rode Benny home because he..
didn’t have money for the bus. Either that or he was full of shit and missed the last bus.
Whatever the case, Benny needed a ride and hustled me to do it. I had a BMW at the time, and he had never been in one.
We walked to my car and he couldn’t believe it.
“This is your..
Whatever the case, Benny needed a ride and hustled me to do it. I had a BMW at the time, and he had never been in one.
We walked to my car and he couldn’t believe it.
“This is your..
car??? Wow, I have never been in a Beeeeeeemer! Can we drive around a little?”
No, Benny, I have to get home. I’ll take you home and that’s it.
He got in and touched every button he could. He put the window down and held his hand out like a little kid.
“Hey, Dave, can you..
No, Benny, I have to get home. I’ll take you home and that’s it.
He got in and touched every button he could. He put the window down and held his hand out like a little kid.
“Hey, Dave, can you..
crank up the MUSIC?”
Longest 7 minute ride of my life, but when we got to his apartment in the hood, he didn’t want to get out.
“Hey Dave, maybe I could drive your car sometime? I could be Beemer Benny.”
“Nah, Benny. I don’t let anyone drive it, not even my wife..plus
Longest 7 minute ride of my life, but when we got to his apartment in the hood, he didn’t want to get out.
“Hey Dave, maybe I could drive your car sometime? I could be Beemer Benny.”
“Nah, Benny. I don’t let anyone drive it, not even my wife..plus
it’s not your style anyways. You seem like more of a Mercedes guy,” I responded.
“Alright, Dave. Maybe next time you let me drive.”
NEXT TIME?? Ain’t gonna be no next time! This was a one time!
Well, I just found out today that Downtown Benny passed away last month..
“Alright, Dave. Maybe next time you let me drive.”
NEXT TIME?? Ain’t gonna be no next time! This was a one time!
Well, I just found out today that Downtown Benny passed away last month..
I was sad when Lyn told me..
Benny had been a staple downtown for a long time. He did get a job once at McDonald’s on Fremont, and he told me to come down many times.
His stint there didn’t last long, probably because he couldn’t stop to bet the horses between value meals..
Benny had been a staple downtown for a long time. He did get a job once at McDonald’s on Fremont, and he told me to come down many times.
His stint there didn’t last long, probably because he couldn’t stop to bet the horses between value meals..
Hopefully, Downtown Benny is at the big counter in the sky, hitting the late pick 6 at Santa Anita and crushing an eight teamer with the Pac 12 late game..
You just never know who you will encounter when you go to make a play or watch a game in the sportsbook..
You just never know who you will encounter when you go to make a play or watch a game in the sportsbook..