Most people know the story of Phil Ivey playing as "Jerome" in Atlantic City, before he turned 21.
How many of you gambled in a casino before you were of legal age to do so?
I first did casino gambling in Las Vegas in 1987, at age 15.
At the time, I was nowhere near done growing, only standing at 5'8" or so. However, that was tall enough to give an "adult" appearance, provided that my face wasn't seen. I definitely didn't look older than 15, so my face would be a dead giveaway that I wasn't 21.
I would play the video poker machines all the way on the back wall of the Las Vegas Hilton, near the sportsbook. I constantly hit "cash out" when I won, because the casino could not confiscate winnings in my pocket -- only winnings I wasn't paid yet.
I did this for awhile without getting caught. Finally a security guard got suspicious and asked to see ID. I claimed that I "didn't have it with me" and he gave me this speech how I could be arrested, blah, blah. I pretended to be concerned and politely left. I continued to do the same thing on subsequent trips.
It was a big relief to finally turn 21 and actually be able to sit at a blackjack table -- something I didn't have the balls to try while underage.
Poker was not a concern because it was very far from being mainstream popular in those days. In fact, I didn't know anyone who played poker in college.
How many of you gambled in a casino before you were of legal age to do so?
I first did casino gambling in Las Vegas in 1987, at age 15.
At the time, I was nowhere near done growing, only standing at 5'8" or so. However, that was tall enough to give an "adult" appearance, provided that my face wasn't seen. I definitely didn't look older than 15, so my face would be a dead giveaway that I wasn't 21.
I would play the video poker machines all the way on the back wall of the Las Vegas Hilton, near the sportsbook. I constantly hit "cash out" when I won, because the casino could not confiscate winnings in my pocket -- only winnings I wasn't paid yet.
I did this for awhile without getting caught. Finally a security guard got suspicious and asked to see ID. I claimed that I "didn't have it with me" and he gave me this speech how I could be arrested, blah, blah. I pretended to be concerned and politely left. I continued to do the same thing on subsequent trips.
It was a big relief to finally turn 21 and actually be able to sit at a blackjack table -- something I didn't have the balls to try while underage.
Poker was not a concern because it was very far from being mainstream popular in those days. In fact, I didn't know anyone who played poker in college.
I think it would be much harder for kids today.
I did the slot thing too when I was that age. Got tossed within 2 minutes!
