How long are you gonna be playing for?

[pierkid]

One more year for me, think its definately gonna be time to leave the gambling circle then.

[Matt Vinyl]

I'm calming down a lot, due to a new family member nearing it's due date... Used to put every available quid into a machine, this is back in the late 90's. From about '05 onwards, I'd been limiting myself to £70 pin money a week and usually doing good enough with that. Recently, I've gone down to £40 a week, which I know is not really anywhere near enough to force a Red, but I've been keeping lucky and building that up to around >£150 most weeks, which I'm then banking for the next times.
When the nipper is here, I may well tap it on the head completely, at least for a while.

There's only marginal fun to be had nowadays anyway, and I know that fun isn't all of it, but to me, it's a big part of it. Now that MegaSpins has pretty much eliminated any of the 'fun' that there used to be on Reds (Number Runner / Skill Stop / Sensible holds etc.) they are just money in, hold your finger on start, repeat until a top is achieved, or you've run out of money.

This 'may' be why recently I've become more interested in games like Warped and Gold Rush, as you can put a quid or two in and actually get a bit of play on the board and maybe a £4/£5 win.

Don't get me wrong, I still love the profits from Reds, but I just don't get the same thrill I used to from knowing that a good session was going to happen 'this evening' or 'tomorrow'.

[no name]

I kind of go on and off gambling really, just started to play Reds now, as I tended to avoid them in the past, I reckon a couple more years for me, but who knows?

[ob]

There's only marginal fun to be had nowadays anyway, and I know that fun isn't all of it, but to me, it's a big part of it. Now that MegaSpins has pretty much eliminated any of the 'fun' that there used to be on Reds (Number Runner / Skill Stop / Sensible holds etc.) they are just money in, hold your finger on start, repeat until a top is achieved, or you've run out of money.

I've mentioned this before, and you're certainly right there, not sure how long I will carry on for, play it by ear I suppose.

[Drpepper]

I doubt AWP 's will be around too much longer so it's hard to say, probably as long as they're around.

[Matt Vinyl]

Glad you agree ob - it's a shame really, as it was all going so well 6 months ago or so.

[CrosbyRules]

Pretty much it for me, had a great few months, then this weeks been shit, few of us round Norwich been having a laugh really, chasing anything and everything for the fun of it.

[golden_game]

ive stopped playing full time 2 years ago. i have never regretted this decision as i have not gained as much over the years as i shold have done. i was making more ina week than people were making ina year in their normal jobs. back in the days of around 1996-2001 they im my opinion were the peak years ( apart from the P1 golden game which in my opinion was the best AWP trick of all time )

however , my passion for roulette was my downfall. its was easy come easy go. i'm sure many of the old timers would agree wirh me . you could easily make 15k on the slams in just over a week without taking the piss too much but a bad hour or 2 on the tables could see all that go.

tricks come and go but the lenght of time it last its not worth it. the travelling, the stress getting barred from locations... i had enough.

back in the days not many people had mobiles, e-mail etc so tricks would last about 8months. now they come and go.

IMHO as soon you lose the advntage over the machine its game over.back in the days i felt i had the advantage. the machines were easier to read and the losses were small , it was low risk. even without emptiers on the old barcrest , you take a jp , your in a country pub, it was guarnteed to streak. now you play one its not even 50/50 50 notes i to find out whether its streaking or not.

back in the days i would have classified my self up there with the best, but now i have totally winded down , concentrating on my job, i have never worked a day in my life, started working 2 years ago , when i approached the company with the truth and they gave me a chance , i took it and now im earning 30k a year with long term career prspects.

i dont regret any part of my life, i lovd every minute of it as i was living like king. i estimated i mut have earnt a least £1.5 million since i was playing back around 1987 but mostl of it went stright back onto the roulette. if i had invested my money wisely it would have been a different story.

im sure they may be a few old timers out there that may have a similar story.

sorry about the long post.

[pierkid]

Wont quote you gg but I can understand what your saying from the point of view as in knowing people with the same views.

I have only been full time for 3 years due to wife, work etc. That changed so thought 'fuck it' lets do what i've wanted to do because i now can!

It's a nice life for sure but not as profitable as people think, you end up spending more in the day and gambling more on other things roulette/horses etc and the beer! And your wage dosen't go straight in the bank, pound coins never last as long as those notes do they?

I guess I just decided to try too late but hey we will never be millionaires wil we?

[Mattb]

No it's not a gold plated lifestyle. I'd estimate i clear on average say £200-£250 a week, so £800-£1000 a month. It's not mega money, but:

a) I don't have to work and am 'free' as such
b) No income tax
c) Full use of my 24 hours a day, not dictated by contractually obliged hours
d) Only having to go out maybe 4 days a week

I know if i didn't live at home it would be cloud cuckoo land and impossible to do really. I can think of worse things to be doing than this for that sort of money thats for sure.

[ob]

Here's the story pictorially

[bigv038]

Here's the story pictorially

so true

[ob]

I was going to put a picture of a pro at the top of the profit line cradling a large pot of gold, before sliding down the profit line to the very bottom where a Mc Job awaits....

(although that was beyond my pc drawing ability and I couldn't be arsed)

[YoungKai]

i agree, unfortunatly, i started playing quite late and missed out on 'the good ol' days'.on the upshot ive just moved, and where i am id say the split of machines (old and good to new and 'good') is bout 50/50

[Matt Vinyl]

Good one ob - who'd have expected an Excel graph to make it onto FC...? (You won't believe the 'enjoyment' I have with those things sometimes at work! )