My Luckiest Vegas Trip Wasn’t Just About Winning

Michael James looks back on his most memorable…yet lucrative…Sin City excursion.

In my eighteen previous trips to Las Vegas, I have come home a money-winner three times. Once was a vacation of about 2-1/2 days, which included a monster craps run at 3 am. The fact that I could experience something like that just before catching a few winks and heading to the airport was great. But I wouldn’t call that one an overall lucky trip. A few others were cumulative and not from a huge win. That being said, my luckiest trip was one that wasn’t just about the profit — it’s the one that managed to implant the most lingering memories in my brain.

In April of 2009, the United States Bowling Congress held their annual Open Championships at the Cashman Center (north of Downtown). I’ve bowled “Nationals” twenty-three times, including consecutively since 1998.  Once I get home from one tournament, the planning of next year’s immediately begins.

During family functions, I tend to bore my relatives (none of whom are bowlers) with details on what I plan to do at new locations (like Billings, MT or El Paso, TX). Or, how I am going to a repeat location (Las Vegas or Reno) for something different.

The Cashman Center was turned into a 60-lane bowling facility for 4+ months.

In the winter leading up to that 2009 tournament, my parents surprised me with news that they were coming along. And it wasn’t going to be just the two Vegas virgins…they were bringing my sister, her boyfriend and two other family friends. Suddenly I became the trip planner for eight people.

Mom and Dad James, making their maiden voyage to Las Vegas.

We planned many group activities, as well as some individual fun time. Many of the most memorable moments had little or nothing to do with gambling.

• For various reasons, my wife and I took a different flight from the others. We arrived Sunday at our scheduled 7:30 pm time. My parents were to arrive within 10 minutes, but their plane was delayed in Milwaukee due to mechanical issues, causing them to miss their connection in Denver (which was also delayed for the same reasons). They arrived around 1:00 am. This being our first night in Vegas, I was still in the casino and met them at the check-in desk. My dad didn’t seem to appreciate their 10-hour adventure. Nor was he impressed when I called my sister right then (who had just gotten out of bed to get ready to catch her flight). Kinda grumpy, he was.
• Monday afternoon, we took a leisurely stroll through the Venetian/Palazzo,.

Watching others taking a gondola ride at the Venetian.

Umbrellas at the Palazzo. I guess art is in the eye of the beholder.

• Also that first full day, we went to see the Tournament of Kings at Excalibur. My wife and I had seen it four years earlier (on our honeymoon) and I didn’t like it any better this time. Everyone else seemed to enjoy it, though.
• The next morning on the way to breakfast, I stopped at that craps table that was blocking my path, and started betting $5 on the line with 3/4/5 odds and a few moderate place or come bets. I ran the table for a profit of around $700. At breakfast, I happily showed off my $500 chip and my dad said “You’d better buy something with that, otherwise you’ll lose it all gambling”. On his advice, I drove to the bowling venue and bought a brand new bowling ball.
• At some point during the trip, we were all meeting near the Excalibur exit to the Strip, and my dad hit a slot machine for about $2.84. He was thrilled, because to him, it was better than losing what he started with.
• For Tuesday evening, I managed some VIP tickets to Rat Pack is Back, which was at Downtown’s Plaza. From sitting at the table abutting the stage to a good dinner to “Joey Bishop” insulting my wife for not laughing, it was a great time.

“Joey Bishop”, in the middle of snarking on my wife, who apparently wasn’t impressed at his humor.

It was a like we were in the Copa Room at The Sands in the mid-60’s.

• During another point on the trip, Dad took craps lessons that were offered at Excalibur. After spending an hour on the lessons, they allowed the newly-minted experts to play $3 for a while. Once his own money was at stake, Dad completely forgot how to play the game.
• Wednesday morning, we met for breakfast. I remembered that the Brewers played a game that started at noon back home… but 10 am in Vegas. I bolted from the table and told my dad to give me $5 (which he did without asking). I ran around the corner to the sports book and made his first ever baseball bet. Fortunately, the Brewers won the game and he doubled his money.
• Wednesday’s post-breakfast trip was to the Neon Museum (referenced here). While walking along the “Boneyard”, I kept hearing a whimper. Turns out it was one of our friends, sobbing each time she walked past another part of the Stardust sign.

Wendy Jo, before breaking down into tears as she came across this…

And this…

And this…

• On Wednesday, my wife, one of the family friends and I went on the Vegas Mob Tour. The three of us and about four others crammed into a minivan as the driver went to a handful of sights. Just about every sight we saw was prefaced by 10 minutes of the movie Casino; the scene usually taking place at the location we were headed. That was memorable for how bad it was (despite this glowing review, the entire thing was an expensive amateur hour). But the real memory was that when I got out of the van, the step-stool the driver was using slipped and I landed on my hip…and squarely onto my digital camera. Not only did I destroy the camera, but I had a deep bruise on my thigh.
• I hadn’t realized that my sister’s friend was such a slot jockey. He caught the attention of a casino host, who upgraded him to a suite and offered the Excalibur limo for his return trip to the airport.
• Even when my wife and I weren’t around, my parents were still making memories. On the flight home, they were sitting one row in front of a very disruptive passenger who was causing issues for the flight crew. Come to think of it, my dad may not have flown since that time.
• OK, another gambling story: on the Friday afternoon after my parents had gone, my wife and I were meeting a couple of bowling buddies for dinner at Planet Hollywood. We were early and I slid up to the craps table. And…I hit that bad boy for another $700 win in about a half hour.

Lucky trips aren’t all about gambling luck. I was fortunate enough to make (and possibly even luckier to recall) a fun trip with my family and friends.  The fact that it was a trip in which I brought home a profit was just icing on the cake.

The fact that I brought home a profit was just icing on the cake!

Photos – Michael James

Michael James

Michael James is a true Vegas Nerd. First falling in love after hearing details of an aunt’s visit in the ’70s, and nurtured when the gambling bug hit as casinos started opening on every street corner across the country in the ’90s. When not reading Vegas blogs and message boards, he’s a metals buyer by day and a competitive bowler by night in Milwaukee.