Video Blackjack Expert Tribute
on March 29, 2012 at 12:17 pmMy friend Neal, passed away on March 8, 2012 after a long battle with cancer. Neal was a blackjack player and a CLASS ACT.
This is how I first heard about Neal playing video blackjack at the Meadows Casino and Racetrack
We were at a breakfast club charity at the Hot Metal Diner http://hotmetaldiner.com . Try one of their great breakfasts. The pancakes are HUGE.
My friend (VBF) mentioned that he was taking Neal to play Video Blackjack.
VBF (video blackjack friend) told me, they went each Saturday. They even won once in awhile.
A few months later we met at the Meadows. Neal and VBF were playing video blackjack. With a little prompting, Neal told me how he played the game. This is what I remember.
NEAL’S VIDEO BLACKJACK TIPS.
1) Learn how to play BLACKJACK.
2) Bring what you can afford to lose that day.
a) Have a time limit too.
3) Everyone is playing their hand against the Dealer.
a) The other players do not affect your play
4) $5 is the minimum bet, vary your betting as you play
5) Play the special side bet ( a 2 card suit pays you extra even if you do not win the hand)
6) Surrender once in awhile to conserve your bankroll.
7) Give nice names to the Video Blackjack Dealers.
a)You will have more fun.
I asked if they Monetized their Freeplay. Neal told me that he could not use his freeplay at the table now. The Meadows had changed its freeplay policy.
I showed VBF how to monetize his freeplay on “Jackpot Party”. VBF varied his bets up to the maximum of $2. He Monetized $45 into about $100.
Neal didn’t like playing the penny machines. So we went to a 25c Wheel of Fortune machine. Neal turned his freeplay into $25. They thanked me for the lesson on Monetization.
I saw Neal a few more times at the Video Blackjack table. Neal always had a lot of fun. I know that it was great entertainment for him.
In February, I saw Neal on a Friday Night at his usual Video Blackjack table. His dealer (Ronaldo) was not dealing him many good cards. He told me that the other dealers were not giving out many winners either.
Neal would always kid about how the dealers were treating him. He had enough fun and was ready to go when I saw him.
Neal asked me to help monetize his $85 in freeplay. A penny machine called “Lobster Mania” was nearby. It has a max bet of $1.50.
I noticed that Neal was having some difficulty walking. He also had some trouble pressing the buttons on the game. With a little help, he was having a lot of fun.
In 15 minutes he turned his FREEPLAY into $103. He turned a losing night into a profitable visit. Neal was grinning from ear to ear.
He couldn’t wait to tell VBF. They were going to play Saturday. Neal thanked me and left with his son to go home.
I found out a few weeks later that Neal went to the hospital on Saturday NOT to the Meadows. He was sick, the chemo and cancer had weakened his system.
VBF told me that Neal did not suffer very long or have much pain.
May God Bless you Neal.
