Sometimes the Machine Tells You

In addition to playing slots once or twice a week at Atlantis in Reno, I play two or three times a week at a local Carson casino.  All of the treks to play are determined by offered free play.  I'm a sucker for a casino offering me free money to play slots.  We actually get lots of other free play offers from all around here - but after close to two years here, I've narrowed down where I most like to play - because free play isn't really ever free, right?  It's easy to think 'I'll just play my free play'...but odds are, you'll play some of your own money, too. 

Sometimes free play works out pretty well.  Sometimes it doesn't. Today was a really good day. 

First, I got down to only $9 left of what I had to play (including free play).  One of the reasons I play on Fridays is because there's a swipe and win after you've earned 100 points - so I went to the kiosk for the (player) card swipe and won $20 in additional free play.  

Luckily, the machine I'd left was still open - approaching a $900 Major.  I put my $9 ticket in and loaded the free play and just like a couple weeks ago, the machine kept paying.  I hit 3 $100 Minors on two cent denomination and a $250 Minor on nickel denomination.  Combined with other bonuses, it kept me going.  I kept playing.  Machine cooled a bit and I put back a pretty good chunk of my wins.  Switched to two cent denomination again, recovered what I'd walked in the door with for the day - so the instinct to leave was strong.  Even is good - especially after playing quite awhile.  

But I had been down to $9 and was back to a little over $200 so I decided 'I was OK leaving with nothing earlier so I'm going to keep playing a bit'.  I sort of had a feeling.  Feelings have been wrong - no one knows for sure, right?  That's while they call it gambling - but it was worth a shot.  

I upped my bet to $3 and hit a free game bonus round.  On the 5th free spin (of 6) this happened: 

 

One spin left in bonus round was another $100!  Cashed out my ticket for $1300 and headed home!!  

Those are the free play days I LOVE!!  Same thing happened a couple weeks ago when a different Dragonlink did the same thing - kept me playing until I hit a $1,000 Major - also in the free game bonus round.  Woot woot!! 

Best part of the win?  We are going to Atlantis Sunday night for J.'s birthday dinner and the win today will ensure a very fun Sunday afternoon.  We've decided to play before dinner.  

Huge heartfelt thanks to my dear friends J.P. and S.S. who both reached out after reading the blog.  I'm blessed with wonderful friends and these two ladies have been my friends for decades!  Both of them!  I'm very grateful for their kindness and compassion.  They've shared the journey we've been on with H.'s addiction issues for a long time - and have always been there for me.  Thanks, you two.  I love you both!