Today marked my final day of gambling at the Fremont Street Experience. I woke up late, well into the afternoon. Given the scorching heat outside, I didn’t mind the late start. Venturing outdoors in such weather was simply unbearable. The only excursion I made while awake was to grab some food at seven eleven. The rest of the day was spent in contemplation and planning. I decided it was time to rent a car again. Having a vehicle would greatly streamline my itinerary, allowing me to arrange tours and visit national parks at my own pace.
Many Decisions
The decision weighed heavily on my mind throughout the day. In the afternoon, I spent time typing reports and trying to relax, but my thoughts kept drifting back to the money I lost gambling at the casino. Disappointment gnawed at me as I pondered my options. The idea of trying roulette to recoup my losses by placing $100 on red or black consumed my thoughts for hours. By late afternoon, I had made up my mind to go through with it.
I made my way to the Fremont Street Experience in the late afternoon. The images captured above were from the previous days. Determined, I headed to the same casino where I had experienced losses playing blackjack the day before.
A Last Gamble: Putting it All on Black
I placed $100 on black, determined that if I lost, I would call it quits. As I made the bet, the dealer alerted her manager, shouting, “Money on the side bar!” All eyes were on me at the table. How could they not be? A young guy wagering a hundred-dollar bill and placing it on black. The dealer spun the ball on the track. BAM. Lost. One hundred dollars vanished in an instant.
With a surge of determination, I retrieved the last hundred dollars from my pocket, feeling the weight of my decision settling in. The stakes were high; another loss would mean a total loss of $260, a significant sum. It dawned on me that this loss would jeopardize my plans, including renting a car for an upcoming trip I had already booked for next Sunday—a journey I had been eagerly anticipating. Now, everything hinged on the outcome of this final spin.
The tension was palpable as the ball rolled, each moment feeling like an eternity. Then, BAM. Red. Relief washed over me as I reclaimed my hundred dollars, but instead of quitting while ahead, I foolishly continued to gamble. Over the next four spins, it was a rollercoaster of emotions—winning a hundred, losing a hundred, winning again, only to lose once more. With each spin, my anxiety mounted, knowing that my luck would eventually run out. I tried every strategy I could think of—betting on black, red, even, odd—desperate to turn the tide. The entire table seemed to be watching my every move, with the dealer alerting her manager each time a hundred-dollar bet was placed.
Regret
On the seventh spin, fortune smiled upon me once more. Unable to bear the mounting tension of gambling any longer, I promptly ceased gambling. While I had managed to recoup my $60 loss, the experience left me feeling uneasy. Heading to the cashier, I exchanged my chips for $300. The journey back to the hostel was filled with regret, a stark reminder of the folly of my impulsive decision. I came to Las Vegas to explore, not to gamble away my savings.
Throughout the entire evening, a sense of unease lingered within me. While I had emerged with a profit, the thought of potentially losing nearly $300 weighed heavily on my mind. Determined to regain control, I spent the night working on articles, assessing my finances, and devising a plan for the days ahead. Recognizing the exorbitant costs of guided tours to the National Parks, I opted to book a car online, deciding to embark on the journey independently. Not only would this afford me greater flexibility, but it promised to be a more enjoyable and fulfilling experience.
Future Plans
I eagerly anticipated picking up the car tomorrow at 4 pm from the airport. The prospect of having the freedom to move around at my own pace, enjoying the comfort of air conditioning, and indulging in a visit to Subway filled me with excitement.
At around 4 am, I finally retired to bed. I spent some time watching How I Met Your Mother and finally witnessed the ending. Ted’s choice in a life partner was heartwarming, although it was a bit bittersweet knowing that he ultimately reunited with Robin in the end (apologies for the spoiler). Oh, well.
