August 27, 2025 • 54 mins
Three seasoned gamblers pull back the velvet rope on what really happens at casinos across America. From the glittering floors of Las Vegas to regional venues like Erie's Presque Isle and Mountaineer in West Virginia, our guests share unfiltered stories from their collective decades at the tables.
Blackjack emerges as the unanimous favorite game, though as Bill admits, "they take all my money most of the time I show up there, and I have a blast doing it." The panel doesn't hold back when discussing slot machines, with John calling them "a poor person's game" while explaining why the programmed odds make them a losing proposition long-term – though Mike shares a surprising $150 win from his very first spin.
The conversation reveals fascinating insights about casino culture beyond gambling. All three guests appreciate how venues have evolved into complete entertainment destinations featuring everything from comedy shows to MMA fights. John reminisces about seeing George Carlin perform in Vegas, while Bill highlights Turning Stone Casino in upstate New York as the perfect blend of gambling, golf, and fine dining.
When the discussion turns to casino cuisine, the recommendations range from Erie's midnight buffet to the steakhouse at Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, which Bono declares serves "the best steak I've ever had." Throughout their stories, one truth becomes clear: the real value in casino visits often comes from the overall experience rather than whatever happens at the tables.
Whether you're a seasoned gambler or simply curious about what happens behind those flashing lights, this episode offers an entertaining look at casino culture through the eyes of those who've lived it. Ready to hear the real odds on your favorite games and discover which casino might be worth your next visit?
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome everybody to another episode of Ride Home
Rants.
This is your special guest,host Fitty, and today we bring
you the all things casino andcards episode of the show with
three fantastic guests.
The big three are here today totalk about all things casinos
and all things cards.
These guests come to you fromliterally all over the world and
(00:21):
as they have traveled andthey've experienced a lot of
great things with casinos andplaying cards and all that
different type of lifestyle,they're gonna bring all of those
experiences to the show todayto talk about this with all of
you listeners out there.
So, without further ado, we'regonna have the guests introduce
themselves.
They're gonna tell you theirname.
(00:42):
If Pennsylvania, or if they werein Pennsylvania, what would be
a better place to live?
In Erie or Pittsburgh, becausethey are vastly different but
both great.
And then what's a betterbreakfast?
Sausage links or patties?
And that question is in honorof Taco Bob, and that's a story
for another day.
But first on the panel we'regoing to have introduce himself
(01:05):
is Mr Cleveland Westside.
Bill, take it away what's goingon.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Everybody my name's Bill, um live in Cleveland, like
Finney was saying.
So, um, if we're goingPittsburgh versus Erie, out of
pure principle, I have to goErie.
Uh, I think Finney's gonna tolove this one, but I like the
water as well.
They're up on the water upthere.
It's pretty.
I've been there a few times andhate Pittsburgh.
So I will say Erie on that one,and then for the sausage we're
(01:35):
going to go Lynx.
I think, patties, I feel likethey're varied.
You can do good and bad Lyn,bad Links.
You kind of know what you'regetting, okay.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Okay, very cool, we're gonna go.
Mr Lake County himself.
John, you're up next hey thereeveryone.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
This is John From Willoughby Hills and I would
lean towards Presque IsleBecause I've been there several
times and I Like Presque Isle.
The casino out there is reallycool, very intimate, friendly,
cheap table limits and they evenhave a thoroughbred racetrack
(02:16):
there, which is really cool.
So I would lean that way.
Nothing against Pittsburgh, butI would lean towards Erie.
And as far as the sausage goes,I definitely have to say
patties.
I think those are great.
You can make sandwiches out ofthem.
Put a little cheese and butteron it.
Life is good.
So that's my spiel.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Okay, and John tying in a little bit about the casino
, making sure everybody knowsthat Erie's Casino is better
than Pittsburgh's Casino, butwe'll talk about that here in a
little bit.
And then, last but not least,the owner and typical host of
Ride Home, rants, bono, take itaway.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
Mike Bono here, I gotta go Pittsburgh.
I'm a huge Pittsburgh fan, lovethe city of Pittsburgh,
everything about it, all thesports teams, the strip district
yeah, you can't go wrong.
All the little suburbs ofPittsburgh.
Nothing against Erie, just ahuge Pittsburgh fan myself.
And I can't say Erie likeeverybody else on here, even
(03:20):
though everyone's near Clevelandand kind of going on, what Bill
, you know, hate everythingabout Cleveland sports team.
So and by principle I have thePittsburgh and when it comes to
links or patties, it'ssituational for me.
I'm more of a links guy.
(03:41):
But you know, if I get pancakesor something, you got to put
the patties in between thepancakes, get a little bit of a
links guy.
But you know, if I get pancakesor something, you gotta put the
the patties in between thepancakes, get a little bit of a
mix in there.
But sheer principle, I gotta, Igotta go links.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
Uh, but it's situational for me okay, and
that's so funny because, um, youknow, people are so torn on
that like, is the links orpatties?
Uh, you know, the the betteroption for me.
I'm gonna say links, um, I'mjust, I just like links better.
I don't me, I'm going to sayLynx, I just like Lynx better.
I don't know, it's like to me,I think, a taste thing, even
though it might just bepsychological, but to me I think
(04:12):
Lynx are better.
And that question was brought toyou by none other than Taco Bob
many years ago when we were atDenny's.
He asked a waitress that.
But again, that's a whole storyfor another day.
And then, of course, I'm goingto pick Erie, because I've
traveled to Erie a bunch, beenin Erie, love Erie.
It's one of the most underrated, I think, places anyone can go
(04:33):
to.
So definitely visit Erie.
But you know, pittsburgh iscool, it has its cool things too
.
But Erie, you know you're onthe water man, so you really
can't complain there.
So we're not here to talk aboutErie, although we should do a
show about all things Erie, thatwould be pretty cool.
We're here to talk about allthings casino and cards though,
with the terrific three gueststhat we have, with Bill, john
(04:56):
and Mike.
So when we answer thesequestions with our guests, we're
going to go John will be first,and then Bill, and then we're
going to round it out with Mike.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
So go, john will be first, and then Bill, and then
we're going to round it out withMike.
So, john, we're going to startwith you.
Can you name all the casinosthat you've ever been to?
Boy, the list is long,especially when it comes to
Vegas.
I, I remember going to Vegasfor the first time.
I think I stayed at theImperial Palace.
I even stayed at the Desert Innand that's worn down.
Imperial Palace is worn down,but you know, mirage, some of
(05:34):
the bigger casinos, like Caesars, even been to Jersey for uh, uh
, atlantic city and uh, canada,been to, uh, even, uh,
mountaineer and Wheeling, westVirginia just just a crazy
(05:59):
amount.
Uh, ever since I turned 21,been going to casinos, and Vegas
is my favorite, no doubt aboutit.
The atmosphere in Vegas is justincredible, and I love March
Madness, so definitely Vegas isking.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
Okay, and you mentioned in the intro you've
been to the Erie one as well.
Have you ever been to thePittsburgh one, John?
Speaker 3 (06:26):
No, but I've been to Pittsburgh several times.
Didn't gamble there.
I know they've got what by theincline.
That's where their big casinois at by the incline, I believe.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
Yeah, it's right, by the stadium and the science, the
stadiums and the science centerdown there in Pittsburgh.
So yeah, it's over that way onthe north shore, probably
similar to, like the downtowncleveland one.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
I've only been there a couple times.
The table limits are too high.
I like low table limits andjust a hustle and bustle and
that's why I lean press guy whenit comes to that.
But definitely Pittsburghbeautiful down there.
The PNC Park I think that'swhat it's called the PNC Park
the baseball stadium, Beautiful,Probably my favorite of all
(07:14):
major league parks.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
I think we talked about that on a baseball show.
Everybody said PNC's was great.
But Bill, what about you?
Can you name all the casinosthat you've been to, or at least
the areas?
Speaker 2 (07:28):
In short no, I can definitely not name all of them
Mainly Vegas.
I've been a couple of times toVegas, been up and down the
Strip, old Vegas Wouldn't reallyknow where, exactly where to
begin All the normal ones, allthe small ones along the Old
Vegas Strip and kind of furtherout, even off the strip as well.
But um, as far as outside ofvegas, been to the one in
(07:49):
cleveland, the jack, probably afew too many times, uh, after
some late night outs gettingover there.
Um, I have been to thepittsburgh one, actually 50 uh
nice casino.
They have a hotel attachedright to it which is obviously
convenient there.
Um been to the one in erie, beendown to uh the fort lauderdale,
(08:09):
the one with the big uh guitar,uh, I think, down in hollywood,
down there.
Um been to uh across the borderover into canada at uh niagara
falls.
Been up there, um quite a few,honestly.
So uh've been been to quite afew in vegas, out of vegas and
um a lot of nice ones for sureokay, and what about you, bono,
(08:31):
round us out on this.
Speaker 4 (08:33):
I've been to a good bit.
Not as many as those guyshaven't been across the border,
uh, but wheeling.
Wheeling island, um, the downsand west virginia.
I've been to mountaineers inwest virginia, atlanta, lilling
Island, the Downs in WestVirginia.
I've been to Mountaineer inWest Virginia.
Atlantic City I've been there.
The Hollywood Casino inLawrenceburg, indiana it's
(09:00):
actually where my wife and I hadour honeymoon at four years ago
.
Now, I love a ball.
They got pretty small limits,like John was saying, at the
tables.
I like that.
I'm not a huge high roller whenit comes to being at the
casinos.
Never been to Vegas, not a bigVegas guy myself.
Haven't really had a desire togo to Vegas, just heard a lot of
bad things.
(09:20):
But yeah, I haven't been to asmany of these guys.
But I've been to a lot of badthings.
But yeah, I haven't been to asmany of these guys, but I've
been to a lot and I've liked allof them.
Lawrenceburg definitely one ofmy favorites Hotel attached
right there.
Basically, you drive there, youpark once and you never have to
leave.
Even the restaurants are allright inside there.
(09:42):
We'll get into that here alittle bit later.
I know we're probably going totalk food because two paisans
running a show.
Even the restaurants are allright inside there.
We'll get into that here alittle bit later.
I know we're probably going totalk food because you know two
paisans running a show.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
Yeah, no, that's a good point, mike, and it
actually brings me into thetopic number two.
It's the best casino you'veever visited.
So, mike, we're going to juststick with you and then we'll go
John and Bill on this.
Speaker 4 (10:11):
Is the one, inrenceville, the best casino
you've been to so far.
Yes, um, just the sheerconvenience of everything, uh,
hotels right there, uh attachedto it, you never have to leave
um, and just the atmosphere, uharound it.
For me, you know they allowsmoking in there too as well.
Not a lot of places do.
I'm still a uh smoker, sothat's convenient for me.
I don't have to go to acompletely separate uh place in
the casino and feel alienatedbecause I want a cigarette or
(10:33):
have to go outside.
So that, or the conveniencefactor for that I mean, but um,
yeah, um, but yeah, warrensburg,um, and adding on to you know
the nostalgia of you know that'swhere my wife and I had our
thing that that takes the cakefor me.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
Sure, sure.
So, john, what, um, what isthat one casino that you would
say?
You've traveled and you've beento a lot of places, as you've
mentioned, all over the countrywith it, and and even really the
world, going into Canada, butwhat's that one casino that
stands out that you can say wasthe best one you visited?
Speaker 3 (11:10):
boy, that's a tough one trying to just gather my
thoughts and and turn the clockback.
But most recently this was onethat I kind of didn't even
mention at the beginning becauseI was just throwing some names
out there.
But there's one off the stripcalled South Point that is known
(11:31):
to gear themselves to sports orhorse racing people, because
they have their horse racingbook and like a sports book and
there's like little condosaround that casino that a friend
of mine stayed at and it'sreally a cool place and they
(11:53):
have these massive hallsupstairs and, like I said, march
madness is my favorite time togo to vegas because it's from 9
am to 9 pm and they cater tothat big crowd.
Like you can like shoot freethrows upstairs, you can get
massages, they give out freebooze.
It's really a cool place, kindof a hidden treasure I would say
(12:18):
out in Vegas because it's awayfrom all the hustle and bustle
on the strip.
You know I do like to stripthere's a time and place for the
strip but I do like casinosthat are away from all that
madness.
So South Point in Vegas I wouldlean that way just because how
they treat you for the sportsbetting aspect of March Madness.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
Sure, no, that's definitely awesome.
What about you, bill?
What's that one that you wouldsay Is the best one you've ever
visited?
Speaker 2 (12:47):
I'm going to cheat a little bit and I'm going to give
you a Vegas one and a not Vegasone.
I think it does Just so manyand so different.
I'll pick a strip one.
I'll go Caesars Casino.
They're all gigantic, they'reall beautiful on the strip there
, but Caesars was Very grand,pretty.
Um, they're all gigantic,they're all beautiful on the
strip there, but uh, caesars was, um, very grand, um, pretty, uh
(13:08):
, pretty mainstream, but a timeI mean a lot going on hustle and
bustle Anytime you're in there.
Um, just enjoyed that one a lot.
I spent a lot of time therewhen I was there.
So, um, we'll say Caesars, butanyone in Vegas you go to, I
think you'll be impressed.
Then, outside of Vegas, I reallywant to another one similar to
John didn't mention at thebeginning, but it's like a
(13:28):
casino and golf resort up inBarona, new York, kind of
upstate New York area, pastSyracuse from here.
Went there with a couplebuddies, spent I think two,
three days up there, golfed alittle bit, gambled a little bit
.
It's a big resort up there,it's called Turning Stone.
Really enjoyed it.
Casino was great.
It was pretty elaborate, hadall the different Type of games.
(13:49):
The restaurants there Wereincredible.
They're the resort.
They had some good night lifeand golf.
You walk out of the Back doorand there's a couple Beautiful
golf courses there, so Cheated alittle bit On that, one Going
with two.
But Turning Stone Casino andresort in general out there I
definitely recommend it okay.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
Okay now for people that know me, no, I'm not really
a gambler.
I've only been a couple casinos, but I didn't mention that.
The casinos I've been to.
I've been to pittsburgh not togamble.
I went with somebody to place abet on the super bowl one time.
Um, I've been to erie one timeon vacation, about like 10 years
ago, which, which was a, was a,was a cool experience in there,
um, and then I've just been inthe one in Northfield near
(14:31):
Cleveland, the small one for, um, an event.
So those are the ones that I'vebeen in, but, john, we're going
to go back to you on this.
Um, what is your favorite cardgame in the casino?
Oh, boy.
Speaker 3 (14:44):
There's only been one time of all the years going to
Vegas that I ever played cardsand it was in the craze of, you
know, poker on ESPN and all that.
So I'm not much of a pokerplayer when it comes to Vegas,
but I did do it one time and Iabsolutely just was awful
(15:08):
because I had one good hand andI let the whole world know I had
a good hand.
I bet too much and everyonefolded, so that's the only thing
I can kind of remember that wewaited a long time to get on a
table with me and two other guysand I was nervous because I'd
never really done it before, atleast in that type of atmosphere
(15:29):
.
But I will always remember howI had like three of a kind and I
just absolutely bungled thewhole thing.
I didn't lure anyone in tobuild up the pot, I just
immediately got like a pool andI kind of just well, that'll
stay with me okay, well, well,how about?
Speaker 1 (15:51):
how about?
We'll say this, and what's yourfavorite game to play in the
casino?
We'll switch it up a little bit.
So what would you say to thatone, john?
Speaker 3 (15:58):
well, I honestly, johnny, I don't really get into
that because I know, you know, Igrew up just playing simple.
Uh, jacks are better trips towin five card stud, seven card
stud.
So I'm more of a poker withfriends.
Quarter 50 cent anytime uh, notreally into the whole Vegas
(16:22):
atmosphere when it comes to that.
That's out of my league.
So I couldn't even, honestly,tell you what I would even go
towards.
But when I play it was likepoker.
It was just simple poker, besthand, all that, okay, yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
Bill, what about you on this one?
Speaker 2 (16:46):
This one's blackjack for me all day.
I don't really play a ton atthe casino either.
When I go, I'm just going to goplay blackjack.
I don't really do much with theslots.
I know how to play poker, playwith some buddies, similar to
John but it's blackjack for me.
That's where I go to.
They take all my money most ofthe time that I show up there
and I have a blast doing it, soBlackjack's the one for me.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
Okay, how about you?
Speaker 4 (17:12):
Bono Blackjack all day.
I'm a huge Blackjack guy, loveit.
I do all right, I typicallybreak even, but kind of like
what John was saying, I start toget a couple good hands and
then I'm just betting stupidlyand just kind of lose it quickly
(17:33):
, but blackjacks all day.
I dabble a little bit in pokerbut uh, not much.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
it's blackjack okay, okay, no, that's fair.
Um, so we're gonna go to thenext one then and we kind of
hinted on it just a little bit.
Um, slot machines, are theyoverrated or are they underrated
?
When you go to casino john,what are you saying?
Are slot machines overrated orunderrated?
Speaker 3 (17:55):
I think they're overrated.
It's a poor person's game.
I mean you might get lucky.
Those things are all programmed.
You just gotta it right.
I think the longer you sit atthose things you are just going
to burn money and I've seen alot of people spend way too much
time at slots.
(18:16):
It's not a bad idea if you'rewalking around and you're down
on your luck and you might havea couple of bucks in your pocket
and you're walking to yourdinner reservations and you
throw maybe five, 10 bucks inand see what happens.
But I in the early days I was adegenerate.
I would gamble on just aboutanything.
So I did sit and rot on acouple of chairs, some slot
(18:39):
machines, but I've learned thelesson of not thinking I'm going
to hit it big with a slotmachine so overrated in my
opinion.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
Okay, bill, what are you saying?
Overrated or underrated forslot machines?
Speaker 2 (18:53):
Overrated.
On my side as well, I haveplayed fair share in my day as
well.
I don't really play muchanymore, but I feel like I never
win on them, so I don't knowwhat the odds are.
I don't really do the math onit, but um, most times I go.
If I put 50 bucks in orwhatever, I typically walk out
with nothing.
So, um, I'll say overrated.
(19:14):
I've seen some people hitjackpots hasn't been me really,
but um, I can see a little bitof the hype behind them.
Obviously, like john was saying, if you get in there at the
right time, um, you can hit abig one.
But um, they usually take mymoney as well.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
So Okay, bono, round us out on this one Overrated or
underrated for slot machines.
Speaker 4 (19:32):
I think they're correctly rated.
I don't think they're overratedor underrated.
I've hit on them A couple oftimes.
I typically start my night atthe casino Throwing 20 bucks
into A slot machine just to seewhat happens.
A couple of times I've gone inand I've hit.
Quick little story.
We were waiting, my wife and Iwere waiting on a couple of
(19:53):
friends to show up at the casinoand um, I think we're at
mountain eater and, you know,walked in.
It was right by the door.
We threw a couple bucks inbecause they were.
They were just parking andwaiting, like well, let's just
wait here.
And um, I hit for $150 off thefirst spin and didn't realize it
took my wife to be like do youknow how much you're winning
(20:13):
right now?
I was like I have no idea.
Honestly, I'm just kind ofpushing buttons at this point in
time and I was playing withhouse money for the rest of the
evening with some buddies andsome friends out there.
So I think they're correctlyrated.
I mean they're not overrated orunderrated, but you know
they're right where they shouldbe.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
Okay, okay.
So next one.
I'm actually curious here,because I was definitely in the
negative On this.
I didn't win anything, butwhat's the most you guys Ever
won, say at the casino orplaying Cards or some type of
Game you know Gambling what isthe most you've ever, ever won?
Um, I'll let you kind of thinkabout this for a second.
(20:52):
And I've never won.
I've lost every time and I likemy money too much to ever lose
again, so that's why I stoppedgoing to the casino.
Um, but that's my, uh, that'sabout as much as I've won.
Is they about negative $200 onmy trip to Erie?
So, john, can you think back?
Was there a time that reallystands out when you hit it big?
Speaker 3 (21:13):
Yeah, just thinking about that, it was horse racing
actually that I hit on A friendof mine, that I went to plenty
of casinos.
He is pretty good at doinghorses, pick fives, pick fours
and all that.
I think we might have been outin Gulfstream in Florida or
(21:35):
something and we hit one formaybe over a grand.
That was pretty cool.
I think it was like a pick fiveor a pick six and those are not
easy to hit, even if you betall favorites.
So you got to splatter in therelonger shots and I didn't think
it would happen.
(21:55):
You know, it comes down to thelast race or two.
You're thinking something'sgoing to happen, that you're
going to get beat by a nose.
But we pulled it out and thatwas a pretty cool feeling and I
had him go up there.
He signed a tax paper because Ithink once you hit a certain
amount you gotta claim taxes,and he took one for the team and
took that part of it.
But that was a pretty coolexperience okay, okay, bill.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
What about you?
Is there a time that stands outfor you?
Speaker 2 (22:22):
um, at the casino, not really.
I.
I've gone in and usually mything is I'll take a couple
hundred bucks and I'll play andtypically lose a couple hundred
bucks, but times I've come up,you know maybe four or five
hundred or something along thoselines, which is great, and
anytime I leave the casino, evenor up, it's a great night.
(22:43):
So, honestly, I don't have onethat I went up a ton on Outside
of the casino.
I did like a block pool withsome buddies one time, great
night.
Um, so I honestly I don't haveone that I went up a ton on.
I thought it was um outside ofthe casino.
I did like a block pool withsome buddies one time and I
think I hit a couple grand onthat.
It was um decent sized blockpool.
So, um, that's gambling.
I guess a little less casinos,but um, that was the biggest one
that I can remember.
Um, outside the casino, in thecasino, definitely just a few
(23:04):
hundred, baby okay, and actuallyI take that back.
I lost at the casino.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
In the casino.
Definitely just 200, baby Okay,and actually I take that back.
I lost at the casino, but onetime I was doing these like
pull-off tickets at the StarkCounty Fair no, the Stark County
Italian Fest, that's what itwas Maybe like 15 years ago or
something, and there was likethese pool tabs Somehow I won
$150.
So I was eating somecavatelllli on like a hot Sunday
(23:27):
afternoon, sweating profusely,and I'm playing this game and I
won 150 bucks.
So it paid for my Covitelli,paid for my gas at even better
time after that.
So that's pretty much the onlytime I think I ever won some
type of a game of chance.
Um, but Bono, what about you?
What?
What is that?
That one time it stands out asyour like biggest win at a
casino or any type of gambling.
Speaker 4 (23:47):
What is that?
One time it stands out as yourbiggest win at a casino or any
type of gambling.
Both are actually the sameamount, which is weird, but it
was nothing to the level of Johnor Bill, but I walked out with
$650.
The same night I hit the slotmachine to start out with with
the same friends.
We walked in with $200.
We walked out with um with thesame friends uh, we walked in
(24:09):
with 200, we walked out with uh600 and it was um fun to played
a lot of.
I played roulette for the firsttime and my buddy was just
shocked.
He was just like nobody doesthis good on their first time
ever playing roulette.
He was teaching me how to playwhile we were playing, which was
the weirdest situation ever.
(24:29):
But another time, when DailyFantasy this was forever ago,
probably 10, 15 years ago, whenDaily Fantasy was becoming a
thing they were lined uptogether on baseball and it was
when Max Scherzer pitched hisalmost perfect game with like 20
strikeouts or something crazylike that.
(24:51):
I completely it was like adollar bet and I won $650.
So I mean combined $1,200,$1,300.
I won between the two of them,but yeah, both times it was
about $600.
It's been the most I've won atthe casino or gambling.
Speaker 1 (25:07):
Cool, okay, okay.
So next, I'm kind of curioushere.
Times it is about 600 bucks,depending, the most I've won at
the casino or gambling, oh, okay, okay.
So next, I'm kind of curioushere, um, to hear from you guys,
you know, and as people thatare familiar with entertainment
and they go to casinos know, um,especially like in atlantic
city and las vegas, but otherplaces too um, the casinos are
used as as other, uh, avenues,avenues for people to get in
(25:28):
there, right, so, such as likeboxing, concerts, performances,
stand-up comedy you know Bonocan definitely tell you about
that, you know, do you guys likethat casinos, really anywhere,
are putting on these, you know,combat sports, these concerts,
these performances, these comedyacts Do you like that
(25:48):
personally with the casinos?
Like, what are your thoughtsabout that?
You know, combat sports, theseconcerts, these performances,
these comedy acts Do you likethat personally with the casinos
?
Like, what are your thoughtsabout that?
And have you ever actually wentto a performance at a casino?
Speaker 3 (25:57):
John, we'll start with you.
Oh yeah, that draws me to Vegasfor sure.
I've seen quite a few shows inmy time.
I think it's a great idea.
It kind of breaks the monotonyof hearing slot machines walking
up and down the aisles.
It kind of just takes you to adifferent place.
I can remember seeing GeorgeCarlin in Vegas before I went to
(26:21):
the Mirage to see.
I'm a big Beatles fan and theydo a show called love and that's
pretty cool.
It's that circus delay orwhatever style show.
I'm trying to think what elseI've seen out in Vegas, but
those are the ones that standout Carlin and the Beatles show,
(26:42):
and other than that I'm not.
I don't go out there for theshows, but in the in the early
days it was appealing.
You know, you know BarryManilow, wayne Newton, all those
guys, the old school guysdidn't get a chance to see them
but yeah, I could definitely seegoing to shows.
(27:05):
I think that's a good, a goodrelief from the gambling.
Speaker 1 (27:09):
Sure, okay, bill, what about you?
What are your thoughts aboutthis, and have you ever, ever,
seen any of these performancesor comedy shows, or anything
like that, at a casino?
Speaker 2 (27:18):
Yeah, similarly, I love it.
Like John was saying, I love aplace you can come hotel shows,
uh, fights, pool, uh, greatrestaurants, great bars, um, I
love a place like a resort,similar like I was talking about
turning stone earlier.
Um, obviously, out in vegasthere's um countless of them out
(27:40):
there, but, um, I thinkbringing all the entertainment
together um is awesome.
So, going a little bit broad onon the shows, but, um, I have
seen a couple fights out invegas um shows.
I think I saw a certain placeto lay out there one time, um,
and it was awesome.
I think it is like I was saying,a good kind of breakup and it's
something different to do outthere.
(28:01):
Um, you sit at the, uh, theblackjack table casino the
entire time.
You're definitely gonna lose.
So, you know, go see a show,walk around, do some different
stuff, go to the pool, you know,enjoy the resort.
I think that's, you know, thebest part of it.
I love going down to the JackCleveland Casino down here,
which isn't really all that.
So I love the gambling portionof it.
(28:23):
But you can really get a resorttogether and have, you know,
the combination of a bunch ofreally fun stuff to do right
there.
Um, really what I think makesthe whole entertainment thing
sure, sure.
Speaker 1 (28:35):
What about you on this bono?
What are your thoughts?
Speaker 4 (28:36):
I'd be a hypocrite if I said no, being a stand-up
comedian saying that you knowthat it's not.
I've seen a bunch of comedyshows at casinos.
I've been to Mountaineer to seeJohn Caparulo, a local guy out
of East Liverpool, ohio Made itbig at a couple of stand-up
(28:57):
specials.
Got to see him perform live atMountaineer A couple of MMA
fights there just in theballroom.
It's nice to go there see a, ashow or fight or something like
that, and then go and, you know,be able to gamble a little bit.
Uh like bill was saying, youhave the hotels right there.
Uh, then you can get somethingto eat, go right to right to
(29:18):
your room and and call it anight.
Um, and for any casinos thatare listening, I am available
for booking.
Yes, I'm going to shamelesslyplug myself.
Um, yeah, you can.
Uh like, bottle Comedy at Gmail.
Hit me up, I'm always down toperform at a casino.
But yeah, I love them.
I've been to a couple of themand it's always a good time
every time I've been to one.
Speaker 1 (29:40):
Sure, and I think they are cool too and I think it
brings a different type ofcrowd and, right, it's not
bringing, like your typicalpeople who want to gamble.
Right, it's bringing people infor the food, for the
entertainment.
Um, you know, I mentioned Idon't really go to casinos and I
mentioned about going tonorthfield a couple years ago.
Um, my wife and I we went tosee, uh, dancing with the stars
was on tour, so we went to um,northfield to see that, which
(30:04):
was cool, like we went to, gotdinner ahead of time and just
went, but we did that there.
I know, like my mom and mysister have been to concerts at
Northfield.
I know Bono mentioned it seenthe MMA fights at Mountaineer
and I've never been to that, butI know Bono was there.
I know our former guests of theshow Roger has been there.
Tony the Latin assassin foughtthere and a lot of the guys from
(30:26):
Upgraded Industries that wereon the show have been there as
well.
Former guests of the show,world champion middleweight
fighter Kelly Pavlik fought alot in Atlantic City back in the
early and late 2000s or 2010s.
He's actually in the AtlanticCity Hall of Fame and there's a
ton of boxing matches out inVegas.
(30:47):
So, yeah, I do think it's reallycool to have a lot of these
different fights andperformances at the casinos.
I just think it brings in adifferent type of crowd who
spends money in a different typeof way and, as we all know, the
casinos are all about thebottom line and the profit.
So, which brings me to this,what is the hardest game to win
(31:08):
at the casino?
And you can only pick one.
But what would you say is thehardest game to win at the
casino?
And I'm going to say it'sprobably roulette.
That's my opinion, but, john,what would you say?
Speaker 3 (31:27):
well of the games that I've played.
I would have to say it dependson your style of play, because
roulette you can bet uh odd evenblack red, so you could be very
conservative with that.
Uh, blackjack is tough becauseit's so rapid fire like you
(31:50):
could just get overwhelmed andif the cards aren't going your
way.
So but I'm a craps guy and Iwould have to say of the three
there with with roulette, crapsand blackjack, I would lean
towards craps because the diceyou know how you bet seven kills
(32:12):
the game and that comes upobviously more just as the
combinations are equal to likesix and eight and all that.
So craps to me is a tough gameto win because there's so many
options out there on how to bet.
It kind of plays with your minda little bit.
It's not so simple.
(32:35):
So craps to me would be my take.
Speaker 1 (32:39):
Okay, okay, that's a good one, bill.
What would you say?
Speaker 2 (32:44):
I should say blackjack for as much money as
I've lost doing it, but I it.
It is the slot machines.
I think that's, by the numbers,the worst uh odds out there,
and then, um, in general, I feellike I really never went at
that one.
So, um, we'll say the slots.
I think it's um, like john wassaying a poor man's game or poor
(33:05):
woman's game, and um, over timeyou're gonna lose there the
more you play.
Speaker 1 (33:09):
So we'll say slots okay, bono, what are you saying?
What's the hardest game to winat the casino?
Speaker 4 (33:15):
I know I talked about it earlier in winning big at it
, but I have to say roulette.
I know you can be conservative,like John said, but at odds,
even black, red and win smallamounts here.
But if you're talking aboutwinning big roulette can you can
win big there.
But I'd say just the odds arestacked against you with the
wheels and everything like that.
(33:36):
Perhaps I just don't understandto play to know how hard or how
easy it could be, but just tobreak up and not say the exact
same thing as John just becauseI don't understand, perhaps I'd
have to say roulette justbecause the sheer odds are
against you.
Speaker 1 (33:55):
Okay, okay, now that's a great segue into the
next question and the finalthree, which have to do a little
bit with casinos, but we'regoing to have some fun with them
.
So you know, the next questionis and Bono, I switched this too
, so this is something thatwasn't even on on the original
questionnaire but, in youropinion, what's the best movie
(34:16):
about gambling and casinos?
Now, I'm going to just throwsome out there and we have some
different ones.
Right, we actually have casinowith, um, you know, joe Pesci
and Robert De Niro, sharon Stonewe're in that.
You have Vegas vacation withChevy Chase.
Right, you have the movieRounders.
You have the Ocean Series 11,12 and 13.
(34:37):
Or there could be another onetoo.
What would you guys say is thebest movie about casinos and
gambling?
But I'm going to start and I'mgoing to say probably the movie
Casino, because that was likeprime Robert De Niro and Joe
Pesci and Sharon Stone, and thatmovie was definitely,
(34:58):
definitely something that was atrue story about the betting and
Ace Rothstein and the Italianmafia and the corruption that
brought down the individualowned casinos and brought in the
mega corporations to own them.
So I think Casino is definitelyprobably the best movie about
(35:18):
gambling and casinos.
But, john, what are you saying?
Do you have a favorite one thatstands out?
Speaker 3 (35:24):
Oh yeah, once you mentioned that, johnny, I
immediately thought of this isnot a well-known movie, but it
had a pretty good cast.
Let it ride was a great movie.
Richard dreyfus was the star ofthe movie and he was awesome.
It was just your degeneratehorse racing movie, just, and I
(35:46):
think it took place maybe at sananita or something.
At least that's what theyportrayed in the movie.
But I loved that movie.
It is so funny.
Terry Garr was in it.
Who was in Mr Mom YoungFrankenstein and you may not
even remember, but BusterPoindexter, I think his name was
.
He had one hit back in the day,but Let it Ride I think it was
(36:13):
like maybe early mid-80s and itwas just a guy that was down on
his luck.
Richard dreyfus was just.
He had a, his marriage wasgoing to hell and he just went
to the track one day andcouldn't everything he did hit
like.
He would go around asking allthe people out there what horse
(36:33):
you like.
He had to program.
He was asking what horse youlike.
He would check it off, check itoff and it would be down to the
last horse and the all the onesthat the people picked.
He didn't pick.
He picked the one that no onepicked and it won.
And he went into the barn areaand one of the horses winked at
him and he bet that it was justwell done.
(36:54):
Just reminds me of howsuperstitious gamblers are and
all the stuff that they reachfor to get lucky, and I thought
that was a great movie.
So if anyone uh, if you arewant to burn an hour and a half
or two hours and one of those uhapps has the habit, let it ride
is a funny movie okay, okay,bill.
Speaker 1 (37:15):
What are you saying?
What's your answer to thisquestion?
Speaker 2 (37:18):
yeah, I want to say I feel like I haven't watched all
that many casino movies, butI'll say Uncut Gems with Adam
Sandler.
I think a really good one hedoes.
He does his thing in that movie.
A little bit of weirdphotography, in my opinion, with
the camera kind of movingaround, a little funky in that
one, but those are what a movielove Adam Sandler.
(37:38):
Um and again, I haven't reallywatched a ton of them myself, so
, um, maybe that one by default.
Speaker 1 (37:44):
Okay, bono, what are you uh for favorite casino movie
?
Speaker 4 (37:49):
You're wracking my brain about what the name of
this damn movie is and I can'tthink of it.
I think it's 21 is the name ofthe movie I'm pretty sure it's a
true story about I believe itwas Harvard found a bunch of
students that basically couldfigure out how to count cards
and they would go to Vegas everyweekend and just take down
(38:12):
Vegas in blackjack that theywere counting cards.
It's a phenomenal movie.
Just the acting is great and Ithink it shows kind of like how
Oceans did a little bit but howyou can kind of figure out like
how people are trying to takedown Vegas and you know trying
to come out on top, which I meanthe casino's goal is to make
(38:34):
money and shows how you can beatit.
But you know just the intricacyof like the depth they went
through to like hand signals topeople sitting at the same table
and just to throw everybody off.
It's a very well-made movie andI think the name of the movie
is 21, but I could be wrong withthat.
But that's pretty much thepremise of the movie.
(38:56):
It's a great one for anybodythat wants to just know ins and
outs of what security at casinosare dealing with and trying to
fuck or cheat them.
Speaker 1 (39:10):
You know what?
I did see that movie.
It was like a group of likeeight of them or something like
that.
I don't remember the name of iteither.
But yeah, they took the casinosto the cleaners On that movie.
So, but I can't remember thename of it either.
We'll have to look that up andget back to one another.
So, but all Good, you know allgood movies there For people to
(39:31):
kind of think about.
But I'm surprised nobody saidVegas Vacation with Chevy Chase,
when his son said his name wasPapa Giorgio and he was like 16
years old and he, you know, hetook the, took the casinos to
the cleaners on that one too.
So, papa Giorgio, that's sofunny.
Vegas Vacation throwback rightthere.
So second to last one.
So football season's uponbackright there, so second to last
(39:51):
one.
So football season's upon usright now and college football
season is starting and OhioState is the reigning national
champions.
So to all the gamblers outthere and the people wanting to
place wages on odds John, whatodds do you give Ohio State for
repeating as the nationalchampions this year?
Speaker 3 (40:14):
Up to repeat and funny you mention that, johnny.
I was visiting my mom today andI thought about the fact that
we open up against Texas and ofcourse we close against those
buggers down north, theWolverines.
I can see Ohio State having anoff year.
(40:36):
I actually took them for under10.5 wins.
So if I'm doing that, I'm notliking their odds to repeat, I
would love them to do it.
I hope they prove me wrong, butI'm going to go a little
negative with Ohio State thisyear because I don't even know
who in the heck theirquarterback is going to.
Be honest, to goodness, I don'tknow who their quarterback is
and that's not a good situationto have.
(40:57):
If you're looking to repeat asa national champion, you have to
have a solid quarterback and Ithink that's going to be a
weakness for them.
So okay, love my guys, but notfeeling good about him this year
.
Speaker 1 (41:11):
Okay, all right.
Bill, what odds are you givingOhio State to win the national
championship this year?
Speaker 2 (41:18):
I'd love to give pretty good odds.
I'm about as big of a Buckeyefan as there is out there.
Love that we already got thenational championship last year,
so I won't be greedy.
I don't think we're thefavorite at all.
I think we have a good teamcoming back but, like John said,
with the quarterback up in theair a little bit tough to really
(41:38):
have a ton of confidence.
But I think we'll be good again.
I do think we'll be in theplayoff again and once you get
in there you never know whathappens.
So, a big fan of the 12-teamplayoff, I do think they find
their way in there and shoot.
Hopefully we can make anotherrun this year, but I definitely
wouldn't say they're thefavorite.
Speaker 1 (41:57):
Okay, bono, are you giving odds on Ohio state
repeating as a national championand, if so, what are the odds?
Speaker 4 (42:03):
I'm not.
I'm not a huge Buckeye fan, butI have a sports fan in general.
Like John was saying, who thehell is their quarterback this
year?
You know, losing Will Howard tothe Steelers and everything
like that in the draft.
I just don't think that OhioState is built to repeat.
(42:25):
I think they make a deep run inthe playoff.
I don't think they get to thenational championship.
That is somehow some way thisteam finds a way to be relevant
at the end of the season andmake their way into the playoff.
But the 12-team playoff theydefinitely will get into that I
(42:48):
think.
But you know, you lose singleWolverines four years in a row.
I don't know how Ryan Day stillhas a job with Columbus in the
way that they value beatingMichigan over everything.
But yeah, it's just tough torepeat in college football with
the way it's formatted.
(43:08):
I don't think they repeat, butI think they make a deep run.
Speaker 1 (43:13):
Okay, I'm giving Ohio State 25-1 odds to win the
national championship again.
So I will place that out there.
25-1 odds, ohio State wins thenational championship again and
probably 5,000-1 odds, hawaii goBows win the national
championship.
But I gotta throw Hawaii inthere for a plug with them being
(43:33):
a big fan.
But 25-1 Ohio State, I'll say,wins the national championship,
all right.
Final question, and it's thebest question which casino has
had the best food that you'veeaten at?
So it can be a particularrestaurant, a buffet, anything
you know food that you'veordered.
Out of all the casinos thatyou've been, what place had the
(43:54):
best food?
And I'll start this one becauseit's reflecting back to Taco
Bob in going to Erie.
When we went to Erie, bob saidthe Erie Casino has a great
midnight buffet.
The midnight buffet started at1230.
We had it.
It was wonderful.
I was eating sweet and sourchicken and I was eating sausage
(44:15):
links with gravy and there wassyrup and there was pancakes and
there was bacon and they hadclub sandwiches.
It was a great, great buffet.
Not so great, though, at two inthe morning at the casino.
You want to eat that maybe inthe afternoon, not at two in the
morning, but it was an awesomebuffet, so I'm saying Erie PA's
buffet about 15 years ago.
Speaker 3 (44:41):
But John, what's that ?
One place where the food standsout to you as the best?
I would definitely go buffetsas well.
Early days of Vegas, when theywere actually generous with
their food prices, like Harrah's, that part of the strip by,
like Caesars, I would say thebuffets in Vegas were just
(45:03):
amazing.
You could just feast and it waslike for under $20 back in
those days.
But probably Harrah's on thestrip was pretty much a go-to
where you could just eat and youwould be satisfied to uh be
able to have some drinks and doyour gambling and and not feel
(45:23):
hungry like the whole day.
So that's what I can remember.
Never not a big restaurant typeguy, you know, and there's so
many nice places in vegas to goto with five-star places, but
that's not me.
I'm very simple when it comesto meals, uh, but a vegas buffet
you can't beat it okay, okay,bill, what are you saying here?
Speaker 2 (45:47):
I really don't even know where to start here.
I, I am the, the big restaurantguy at the casinos in uh in
Vegas.
I love going only been a fewtimes out there, but I live in
luxury a little bit.
I go to the steak houses, I goto the um carbones, the car
mines, try and get thereservation, so the really nice
places out there.
Um, really, I think all of them, um, all the casinos do a
(46:14):
really good job.
I don't think if you go to acasino on the strip you're not
going to find a few of thefive-star restaurants and really
good ones.
So I can't say I've done a tonof buffets.
Um, I've never really eatenmuch of the the cleveland casino
, um pittsburgh one.
Really none of them stand outto me other than really just the
Strip in Vegas and therestaurants out there just being
crazy in general.
(46:35):
So I don't have one inparticular, but the restaurants
on the Strip in Vegas are thebest ones around.
Speaker 1 (46:42):
Okay, and Bono, what are you saying on this?
Round us out.
Speaker 4 (46:46):
Restaurants and steakhouses.
I got to go back to theLordford, indiana and the
Hollywood Casino.
They have a phenomenalSteakhouse there.
Uh, best steak I've ever had.
Uh Cooked perfectly Every time.
Everything else was Phenomenalservice and everything like that
.
But if we're going Buffets, Igotta say Mountaineer In West
(47:07):
Virginia, uh, just the buffetthere Is.
Is Newell, West Virginia, justthe buffet there is phenomenal,
you can't go wrong with it.
A lot of options, I meaneverything from breakfast to
dinner foods, you know it's justeverything just hits
differently.
I don't know if it's.
By the time it opens upeveryone's a little sauced up
from getting the drinks at thecasino and everything just
(47:27):
tastes better.
But I got to go with the buffetat Mountaineer.
But Steakhouse at the buffet atmountaineer, uh, but steakhouse
at the hollywood casino in uh,lawrenceburg, indiana okay, very
interesting on that.
Speaker 1 (47:39):
Most people probably don't realize that.
Um, the casinos have greatbuffets too and great
restaurants.
But that's going to do it forthis week's episode of the ride
home rants podcast.
I'd like to thank, of course,your typical host with the most,
mike Bono, for jumping on as aguest and flipping it over to
Fitty here to be the host forthis show.
Mr Willoughby and Mentorhimself, you know.
(48:03):
John, thank you for coming onand sharing your wisdom about
your many travels to Vegas andsharing about March Madness.
And, of course, west Side Bill,coming from the West Side part
of Cleveland, here sharingeverything about his trips as
well, all over to the casinosand sharing about that journey.
So thank you so much, guys forcoming on.
We really appreciate it, asalways.
Definitely check out ourindividual shows.
(48:24):
All these guys have been on forindividual shows.
Bill's been on also for a lotof roundtables, so check out
those former roundtables.
So definitely check those out.
Check out our past shows Fromseason 5 here and, of course,
check out Seasons 1, 2, 3, and 4as well.
Also, make sure you're Peepingall the sponsors in the pre-roll
and the post-roll.
These are all small businessOwners who have contributed to
(48:46):
the show In great ways Bono andI Could definitely not have the
show without them and, of course, all you listeners.
So, as always, if you enjoyedthe show, be a friend and tell a
friend, and if you didn't likethe show, tell them anyways,
because I bet they like it justbecause you did it.
This is Fitty signing off andwe'll catch you next week.
Welcome everybody to another episode of Ride Home
Rants.
This is your special guest,host Fitty, and today we bring
you the all things casino andcards episode of the show with
three fantastic guests.
The big three are here today totalk about all things casinos
and all things cards.
These guests come to you fromliterally all over the world and
(00:21):
as they have traveled andthey've experienced a lot of
great things with casinos andplaying cards and all that
different type of lifestyle,they're gonna bring all of those
experiences to the show todayto talk about this with all of
you listeners out there.
So, without further ado, we'regonna have the guests introduce
themselves.
They're gonna tell you theirname.
(00:42):
If Pennsylvania, or if they werein Pennsylvania, what would be
a better place to live?
In Erie or Pittsburgh, becausethey are vastly different but
both great.
And then what's a betterbreakfast?
Sausage links or patties?
And that question is in honorof Taco Bob, and that's a story
for another day.
But first on the panel we'regoing to have introduce himself
(01:05):
is Mr Cleveland Westside.
Bill, take it away what's goingon.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
Everybody my name's Bill, um live in Cleveland, like
Finney was saying.
So, um, if we're goingPittsburgh versus Erie, out of
pure principle, I have to goErie.
Uh, I think Finney's gonna tolove this one, but I like the
water as well.
They're up on the water upthere.
It's pretty.
I've been there a few times andhate Pittsburgh.
So I will say Erie on that one,and then for the sausage we're
(01:35):
going to go Lynx.
I think, patties, I feel likethey're varied.
You can do good and bad Lyn,bad Links.
You kind of know what you'regetting, okay.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Okay, very cool, we're gonna go.
Mr Lake County himself.
John, you're up next hey thereeveryone.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
This is John From Willoughby Hills and I would
lean towards Presque IsleBecause I've been there several
times and I Like Presque Isle.
The casino out there is reallycool, very intimate, friendly,
cheap table limits and they evenhave a thoroughbred racetrack
(02:16):
there, which is really cool.
So I would lean that way.
Nothing against Pittsburgh, butI would lean towards Erie.
And as far as the sausage goes,I definitely have to say
patties.
I think those are great.
You can make sandwiches out ofthem.
Put a little cheese and butteron it.
Life is good.
So that's my spiel.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Okay, and John tying in a little bit about the casino
, making sure everybody knowsthat Erie's Casino is better
than Pittsburgh's Casino, butwe'll talk about that here in a
little bit.
And then, last but not least,the owner and typical host of
Ride Home, rants, bono, take itaway.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
Mike Bono here, I gotta go Pittsburgh.
I'm a huge Pittsburgh fan, lovethe city of Pittsburgh,
everything about it, all thesports teams, the strip district
yeah, you can't go wrong.
All the little suburbs ofPittsburgh.
Nothing against Erie, just ahuge Pittsburgh fan myself.
And I can't say Erie likeeverybody else on here, even
(03:20):
though everyone's near Clevelandand kind of going on, what Bill
, you know, hate everythingabout Cleveland sports team.
So and by principle I have thePittsburgh and when it comes to
links or patties, it'ssituational for me.
I'm more of a links guy.
(03:41):
But you know, if I get pancakesor something, you got to put
the patties in between thepancakes, get a little bit of a
links guy.
But you know, if I get pancakesor something, you gotta put the
the patties in between thepancakes, get a little bit of a
mix in there.
But sheer principle, I gotta, Igotta go links.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
Uh, but it's situational for me okay, and
that's so funny because, um, youknow, people are so torn on
that like, is the links orpatties?
Uh, you know, the the betteroption for me.
I'm gonna say links, um, I'mjust, I just like links better.
I don't me, I'm going to sayLynx, I just like Lynx better.
I don't know, it's like to me,I think, a taste thing, even
though it might just bepsychological, but to me I think
(04:12):
Lynx are better.
And that question was brought toyou by none other than Taco Bob
many years ago when we were atDenny's.
He asked a waitress that.
But again, that's a whole storyfor another day.
And then, of course, I'm goingto pick Erie, because I've
traveled to Erie a bunch, beenin Erie, love Erie.
It's one of the most underrated, I think, places anyone can go
(04:33):
to.
So definitely visit Erie.
But you know, pittsburgh iscool, it has its cool things too
.
But Erie, you know you're onthe water man, so you really
can't complain there.
So we're not here to talk aboutErie, although we should do a
show about all things Erie, thatwould be pretty cool.
We're here to talk about allthings casino and cards though,
with the terrific three gueststhat we have, with Bill, john
(04:56):
and Mike.
So when we answer thesequestions with our guests, we're
going to go John will be first,and then Bill, and then we're
going to round it out with Mike.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
So go, john will be first, and then Bill, and then
we're going to round it out withMike.
So, john, we're going to startwith you.
Can you name all the casinosthat you've ever been to?
Boy, the list is long,especially when it comes to
Vegas.
I, I remember going to Vegasfor the first time.
I think I stayed at theImperial Palace.
I even stayed at the Desert Innand that's worn down.
Imperial Palace is worn down,but you know, mirage, some of
(05:34):
the bigger casinos, like Caesars, even been to Jersey for uh, uh
, atlantic city and uh, canada,been to, uh, even, uh,
mountaineer and Wheeling, westVirginia just just a crazy
(05:59):
amount.
Uh, ever since I turned 21,been going to casinos, and Vegas
is my favorite, no doubt aboutit.
The atmosphere in Vegas is justincredible, and I love March
Madness, so definitely Vegas isking.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
Okay, and you mentioned in the intro you've
been to the Erie one as well.
Have you ever been to thePittsburgh one, John?
Speaker 3 (06:26):
No, but I've been to Pittsburgh several times.
Didn't gamble there.
I know they've got what by theincline.
That's where their big casinois at by the incline, I believe.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
Yeah, it's right, by the stadium and the science, the
stadiums and the science centerdown there in Pittsburgh.
So yeah, it's over that way onthe north shore, probably
similar to, like the downtowncleveland one.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
I've only been there a couple times.
The table limits are too high.
I like low table limits andjust a hustle and bustle and
that's why I lean press guy whenit comes to that.
But definitely Pittsburghbeautiful down there.
The PNC Park I think that'swhat it's called the PNC Park
the baseball stadium, Beautiful,Probably my favorite of all
(07:14):
major league parks.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
I think we talked about that on a baseball show.
Everybody said PNC's was great.
But Bill, what about you?
Can you name all the casinosthat you've been to, or at least
the areas?
Speaker 2 (07:28):
In short no, I can definitely not name all of them
Mainly Vegas.
I've been a couple of times toVegas, been up and down the
Strip, old Vegas Wouldn't reallyknow where, exactly where to
begin All the normal ones, allthe small ones along the Old
Vegas Strip and kind of furtherout, even off the strip as well.
But um, as far as outside ofvegas, been to the one in
(07:49):
cleveland, the jack, probably afew too many times, uh, after
some late night outs gettingover there.
Um, I have been to thepittsburgh one, actually 50 uh
nice casino.
They have a hotel attachedright to it which is obviously
convenient there.
Um been to the one in erie, beendown to uh the fort lauderdale,
(08:09):
the one with the big uh guitar,uh, I think, down in hollywood,
down there.
Um been to uh across the borderover into canada at uh niagara
falls.
Been up there, um quite a few,honestly.
So uh've been been to quite afew in vegas, out of vegas and
um a lot of nice ones for sureokay, and what about you, bono,
(08:31):
round us out on this.
Speaker 4 (08:33):
I've been to a good bit.
Not as many as those guyshaven't been across the border,
uh, but wheeling.
Wheeling island, um, the downsand west virginia.
I've been to mountaineers inwest virginia, atlanta, lilling
Island, the Downs in WestVirginia.
I've been to Mountaineer inWest Virginia.
Atlantic City I've been there.
The Hollywood Casino inLawrenceburg, indiana it's
(09:00):
actually where my wife and I hadour honeymoon at four years ago
.
Now, I love a ball.
They got pretty small limits,like John was saying, at the
tables.
I like that.
I'm not a huge high roller whenit comes to being at the
casinos.
Never been to Vegas, not a bigVegas guy myself.
Haven't really had a desire togo to Vegas, just heard a lot of
bad things.
(09:20):
But yeah, I haven't been to asmany of these guys.
But I've been to a lot of badthings.
But yeah, I haven't been to asmany of these guys, but I've
been to a lot and I've liked allof them.
Lawrenceburg definitely one ofmy favorites Hotel attached
right there.
Basically, you drive there, youpark once and you never have to
leave.
Even the restaurants are allright inside there.
(09:42):
We'll get into that here alittle bit later.
I know we're probably going totalk food because two paisans
running a show.
Even the restaurants are allright inside there.
We'll get into that here alittle bit later.
I know we're probably going totalk food because you know two
paisans running a show.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
Yeah, no, that's a good point, mike, and it
actually brings me into thetopic number two.
It's the best casino you'veever visited.
So, mike, we're going to juststick with you and then we'll go
John and Bill on this.
Speaker 4 (10:11):
Is the one, inrenceville, the best casino
you've been to so far.
Yes, um, just the sheerconvenience of everything, uh,
hotels right there, uh attachedto it, you never have to leave
um, and just the atmosphere, uharound it.
For me, you know they allowsmoking in there too as well.
Not a lot of places do.
I'm still a uh smoker, sothat's convenient for me.
I don't have to go to acompletely separate uh place in
the casino and feel alienatedbecause I want a cigarette or
(10:33):
have to go outside.
So that, or the conveniencefactor for that I mean, but um,
yeah, um, but yeah, warrensburg,um, and adding on to you know
the nostalgia of you know that'swhere my wife and I had our
thing that that takes the cakefor me.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
Sure, sure.
So, john, what, um, what isthat one casino that you would
say?
You've traveled and you've beento a lot of places, as you've
mentioned, all over the countrywith it, and and even really the
world, going into Canada, butwhat's that one casino that
stands out that you can say wasthe best one you visited?
Speaker 3 (11:10):
boy, that's a tough one trying to just gather my
thoughts and and turn the clockback.
But most recently this was onethat I kind of didn't even
mention at the beginning becauseI was just throwing some names
out there.
But there's one off the stripcalled South Point that is known
(11:31):
to gear themselves to sports orhorse racing people, because
they have their horse racingbook and like a sports book and
there's like little condosaround that casino that a friend
of mine stayed at and it'sreally a cool place and they
(11:53):
have these massive hallsupstairs and, like I said, march
madness is my favorite time togo to vegas because it's from 9
am to 9 pm and they cater tothat big crowd.
Like you can like shoot freethrows upstairs, you can get
massages, they give out freebooze.
It's really a cool place, kindof a hidden treasure I would say
(12:18):
out in Vegas because it's awayfrom all the hustle and bustle
on the strip.
You know I do like to stripthere's a time and place for the
strip but I do like casinosthat are away from all that
madness.
So South Point in Vegas I wouldlean that way just because how
they treat you for the sportsbetting aspect of March Madness.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
Sure, no, that's definitely awesome.
What about you, bill?
What's that one that you wouldsay Is the best one you've ever
visited?
Speaker 2 (12:47):
I'm going to cheat a little bit and I'm going to give
you a Vegas one and a not Vegasone.
I think it does Just so manyand so different.
I'll pick a strip one.
I'll go Caesars Casino.
They're all gigantic, they'reall beautiful on the strip there
, but Caesars was Very grand,pretty.
Um, they're all gigantic,they're all beautiful on the
strip there, but uh, caesars was, um, very grand, um, pretty, uh
(13:08):
, pretty mainstream, but a timeI mean a lot going on hustle and
bustle Anytime you're in there.
Um, just enjoyed that one a lot.
I spent a lot of time therewhen I was there.
So, um, we'll say Caesars, butanyone in Vegas you go to, I
think you'll be impressed.
Then, outside of Vegas, I reallywant to another one similar to
John didn't mention at thebeginning, but it's like a
(13:28):
casino and golf resort up inBarona, new York, kind of
upstate New York area, pastSyracuse from here.
Went there with a couplebuddies, spent I think two,
three days up there, golfed alittle bit, gambled a little bit
.
It's a big resort up there,it's called Turning Stone.
Really enjoyed it.
Casino was great.
It was pretty elaborate, hadall the different Type of games.
(13:49):
The restaurants there Wereincredible.
They're the resort.
They had some good night lifeand golf.
You walk out of the Back doorand there's a couple Beautiful
golf courses there, so Cheated alittle bit On that, one Going
with two.
But Turning Stone Casino andresort in general out there I
definitely recommend it okay.
Speaker 1 (14:07):
Okay now for people that know me, no, I'm not really
a gambler.
I've only been a couple casinos, but I didn't mention that.
The casinos I've been to.
I've been to pittsburgh not togamble.
I went with somebody to place abet on the super bowl one time.
Um, I've been to erie one timeon vacation, about like 10 years
ago, which, which was a, was a,was a cool experience in there,
um, and then I've just been inthe one in Northfield near
(14:31):
Cleveland, the small one for, um, an event.
So those are the ones that I'vebeen in, but, john, we're going
to go back to you on this.
Um, what is your favorite cardgame in the casino?
Oh, boy.
Speaker 3 (14:44):
There's only been one time of all the years going to
Vegas that I ever played cardsand it was in the craze of, you
know, poker on ESPN and all that.
So I'm not much of a pokerplayer when it comes to Vegas,
but I did do it one time and Iabsolutely just was awful
(15:08):
because I had one good hand andI let the whole world know I had
a good hand.
I bet too much and everyonefolded, so that's the only thing
I can kind of remember that wewaited a long time to get on a
table with me and two other guysand I was nervous because I'd
never really done it before, atleast in that type of atmosphere
(15:29):
.
But I will always remember howI had like three of a kind and I
just absolutely bungled thewhole thing.
I didn't lure anyone in tobuild up the pot, I just
immediately got like a pool andI kind of just well, that'll
stay with me okay, well, well,how about?
Speaker 1 (15:51):
how about?
We'll say this, and what's yourfavorite game to play in the
casino?
We'll switch it up a little bit.
So what would you say to thatone, john?
Speaker 3 (15:58):
well, I honestly, johnny, I don't really get into
that because I know, you know, Igrew up just playing simple.
Uh, jacks are better trips towin five card stud, seven card
stud.
So I'm more of a poker withfriends.
Quarter 50 cent anytime uh, notreally into the whole Vegas
(16:22):
atmosphere when it comes to that.
That's out of my league.
So I couldn't even, honestly,tell you what I would even go
towards.
But when I play it was likepoker.
It was just simple poker, besthand, all that, okay, yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
Bill, what about you on this one?
Speaker 2 (16:46):
This one's blackjack for me all day.
I don't really play a ton atthe casino either.
When I go, I'm just going to goplay blackjack.
I don't really do much with theslots.
I know how to play poker, playwith some buddies, similar to
John but it's blackjack for me.
That's where I go to.
They take all my money most ofthe time that I show up there
and I have a blast doing it, soBlackjack's the one for me.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
Okay, how about you?
Speaker 4 (17:12):
Bono Blackjack all day.
I'm a huge Blackjack guy, loveit.
I do all right, I typicallybreak even, but kind of like
what John was saying, I start toget a couple good hands and
then I'm just betting stupidlyand just kind of lose it quickly
(17:33):
, but blackjacks all day.
I dabble a little bit in pokerbut uh, not much.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
it's blackjack okay, okay, no, that's fair.
Um, so we're gonna go to thenext one then and we kind of
hinted on it just a little bit.
Um, slot machines, are theyoverrated or are they underrated
?
When you go to casino john,what are you saying?
Are slot machines overrated orunderrated?
Speaker 3 (17:55):
I think they're overrated.
It's a poor person's game.
I mean you might get lucky.
Those things are all programmed.
You just gotta it right.
I think the longer you sit atthose things you are just going
to burn money and I've seen alot of people spend way too much
time at slots.
(18:16):
It's not a bad idea if you'rewalking around and you're down
on your luck and you might havea couple of bucks in your pocket
and you're walking to yourdinner reservations and you
throw maybe five, 10 bucks inand see what happens.
But I in the early days I was adegenerate.
I would gamble on just aboutanything.
So I did sit and rot on acouple of chairs, some slot
(18:39):
machines, but I've learned thelesson of not thinking I'm going
to hit it big with a slotmachine so overrated in my
opinion.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
Okay, bill, what are you saying?
Overrated or underrated forslot machines?
Speaker 2 (18:53):
Overrated.
On my side as well, I haveplayed fair share in my day as
well.
I don't really play muchanymore, but I feel like I never
win on them, so I don't knowwhat the odds are.
I don't really do the math onit, but um, most times I go.
If I put 50 bucks in orwhatever, I typically walk out
with nothing.
So, um, I'll say overrated.
(19:14):
I've seen some people hitjackpots hasn't been me really,
but um, I can see a little bitof the hype behind them.
Obviously, like john was saying, if you get in there at the
right time, um, you can hit abig one.
But um, they usually take mymoney as well.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
So Okay, bono, round us out on this one Overrated or
underrated for slot machines.
Speaker 4 (19:32):
I think they're correctly rated.
I don't think they're overratedor underrated.
I've hit on them A couple oftimes.
I typically start my night atthe casino Throwing 20 bucks
into A slot machine just to seewhat happens.
A couple of times I've gone inand I've hit.
Quick little story.
We were waiting, my wife and Iwere waiting on a couple of
(19:53):
friends to show up at the casinoand um, I think we're at
mountain eater and, you know,walked in.
It was right by the door.
We threw a couple bucks inbecause they were.
They were just parking andwaiting, like well, let's just
wait here.
And um, I hit for $150 off thefirst spin and didn't realize it
took my wife to be like do youknow how much you're winning
(20:13):
right now?
I was like I have no idea.
Honestly, I'm just kind ofpushing buttons at this point in
time and I was playing withhouse money for the rest of the
evening with some buddies andsome friends out there.
So I think they're correctlyrated.
I mean they're not overrated orunderrated, but you know
they're right where they shouldbe.
Speaker 1 (20:31):
Okay, okay.
So next one.
I'm actually curious here,because I was definitely in the
negative On this.
I didn't win anything, butwhat's the most you guys Ever
won, say at the casino orplaying Cards or some type of
Game you know Gambling what isthe most you've ever, ever won?
Um, I'll let you kind of thinkabout this for a second.
(20:52):
And I've never won.
I've lost every time and I likemy money too much to ever lose
again, so that's why I stoppedgoing to the casino.
Um, but that's my, uh, that'sabout as much as I've won.
Is they about negative $200 onmy trip to Erie?
So, john, can you think back?
Was there a time that reallystands out when you hit it big?
Speaker 3 (21:13):
Yeah, just thinking about that, it was horse racing
actually that I hit on A friendof mine, that I went to plenty
of casinos.
He is pretty good at doinghorses, pick fives, pick fours
and all that.
I think we might have been outin Gulfstream in Florida or
(21:35):
something and we hit one formaybe over a grand.
That was pretty cool.
I think it was like a pick fiveor a pick six and those are not
easy to hit, even if you betall favorites.
So you got to splatter in therelonger shots and I didn't think
it would happen.
(21:55):
You know, it comes down to thelast race or two.
You're thinking something'sgoing to happen, that you're
going to get beat by a nose.
But we pulled it out and thatwas a pretty cool feeling and I
had him go up there.
He signed a tax paper because Ithink once you hit a certain
amount you gotta claim taxes,and he took one for the team and
took that part of it.
But that was a pretty coolexperience okay, okay, bill.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
What about you?
Is there a time that stands outfor you?
Speaker 2 (22:22):
um, at the casino, not really.
I.
I've gone in and usually mything is I'll take a couple
hundred bucks and I'll play andtypically lose a couple hundred
bucks, but times I've come up,you know maybe four or five
hundred or something along thoselines, which is great, and
anytime I leave the casino, evenor up, it's a great night.
(22:43):
So, honestly, I don't have onethat I went up a ton on Outside
of the casino.
I did like a block pool withsome buddies one time, great
night.
Um, so I honestly I don't haveone that I went up a ton on.
I thought it was um outside ofthe casino.
I did like a block pool withsome buddies one time and I
think I hit a couple grand onthat.
It was um decent sized blockpool.
So, um, that's gambling.
I guess a little less casinos,but um, that was the biggest one
that I can remember.
Um, outside the casino, in thecasino, definitely just a few
(23:04):
hundred, baby okay, and actuallyI take that back.
I lost at the casino.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
In the casino.
Definitely just 200, baby Okay,and actually I take that back.
I lost at the casino, but onetime I was doing these like
pull-off tickets at the StarkCounty Fair no, the Stark County
Italian Fest, that's what itwas Maybe like 15 years ago or
something, and there was likethese pool tabs Somehow I won
$150.
So I was eating somecavatelllli on like a hot Sunday
(23:27):
afternoon, sweating profusely,and I'm playing this game and I
won 150 bucks.
So it paid for my Covitelli,paid for my gas at even better
time after that.
So that's pretty much the onlytime I think I ever won some
type of a game of chance.
Um, but Bono, what about you?
What?
What is that?
That one time it stands out asyour like biggest win at a
casino or any type of gambling.
Speaker 4 (23:47):
What is that?
One time it stands out as yourbiggest win at a casino or any
type of gambling.
Both are actually the sameamount, which is weird, but it
was nothing to the level of Johnor Bill, but I walked out with
$650.
The same night I hit the slotmachine to start out with with
the same friends.
We walked in with $200.
We walked out with um with thesame friends uh, we walked in
(24:09):
with 200, we walked out with uh600 and it was um fun to played
a lot of.
I played roulette for the firsttime and my buddy was just
shocked.
He was just like nobody doesthis good on their first time
ever playing roulette.
He was teaching me how to playwhile we were playing, which was
the weirdest situation ever.
(24:29):
But another time, when DailyFantasy this was forever ago,
probably 10, 15 years ago, whenDaily Fantasy was becoming a
thing they were lined uptogether on baseball and it was
when Max Scherzer pitched hisalmost perfect game with like 20
strikeouts or something crazylike that.
(24:51):
I completely it was like adollar bet and I won $650.
So I mean combined $1,200,$1,300.
I won between the two of them,but yeah, both times it was
about $600.
It's been the most I've won atthe casino or gambling.
Speaker 1 (25:07):
Cool, okay, okay.
So next, I'm kind of curioushere.
Times it is about 600 bucks,depending, the most I've won at
the casino or gambling, oh, okay, okay.
So next, I'm kind of curioushere, um, to hear from you guys,
you know, and as people thatare familiar with entertainment
and they go to casinos know, um,especially like in atlantic
city and las vegas, but otherplaces too um, the casinos are
used as as other, uh, avenues,avenues for people to get in
(25:28):
there, right, so, such as likeboxing, concerts, performances,
stand-up comedy you know Bonocan definitely tell you about
that, you know, do you guys likethat casinos, really anywhere,
are putting on these, you know,combat sports, these concerts,
these performances, these comedyacts Do you like that
(25:48):
personally with the casinos?
Like, what are your thoughtsabout that?
You know, combat sports, theseconcerts, these performances,
these comedy acts Do you likethat personally with the casinos
?
Like, what are your thoughtsabout that?
And have you ever actually wentto a performance at a casino?
Speaker 3 (25:57):
John, we'll start with you.
Oh yeah, that draws me to Vegasfor sure.
I've seen quite a few shows inmy time.
I think it's a great idea.
It kind of breaks the monotonyof hearing slot machines walking
up and down the aisles.
It kind of just takes you to adifferent place.
I can remember seeing GeorgeCarlin in Vegas before I went to
(26:21):
the Mirage to see.
I'm a big Beatles fan and theydo a show called love and that's
pretty cool.
It's that circus delay orwhatever style show.
I'm trying to think what elseI've seen out in Vegas, but
those are the ones that standout Carlin and the Beatles show,
(26:42):
and other than that I'm not.
I don't go out there for theshows, but in the in the early
days it was appealing.
You know, you know BarryManilow, wayne Newton, all those
guys, the old school guysdidn't get a chance to see them
but yeah, I could definitely seegoing to shows.
(27:05):
I think that's a good, a goodrelief from the gambling.
Speaker 1 (27:09):
Sure, okay, bill, what about you?
What are your thoughts aboutthis, and have you ever, ever,
seen any of these performancesor comedy shows, or anything
like that, at a casino?
Speaker 2 (27:18):
Yeah, similarly, I love it.
Like John was saying, I love aplace you can come hotel shows,
uh, fights, pool, uh, greatrestaurants, great bars, um, I
love a place like a resort,similar like I was talking about
turning stone earlier.
Um, obviously, out in vegasthere's um countless of them out
(27:40):
there, but, um, I thinkbringing all the entertainment
together um is awesome.
So, going a little bit broad onon the shows, but, um, I have
seen a couple fights out invegas um shows.
I think I saw a certain placeto lay out there one time, um,
and it was awesome.
I think it is like I was saying,a good kind of breakup and it's
something different to do outthere.
(28:01):
Um, you sit at the, uh, theblackjack table casino the
entire time.
You're definitely gonna lose.
So, you know, go see a show,walk around, do some different
stuff, go to the pool, you know,enjoy the resort.
I think that's, you know, thebest part of it.
I love going down to the JackCleveland Casino down here,
which isn't really all that.
So I love the gambling portionof it.
(28:23):
But you can really get a resorttogether and have, you know,
the combination of a bunch ofreally fun stuff to do right
there.
Um, really what I think makesthe whole entertainment thing
sure, sure.
Speaker 1 (28:35):
What about you on this bono?
What are your thoughts?
Speaker 4 (28:36):
I'd be a hypocrite if I said no, being a stand-up
comedian saying that you knowthat it's not.
I've seen a bunch of comedyshows at casinos.
I've been to Mountaineer to seeJohn Caparulo, a local guy out
of East Liverpool, ohio Made itbig at a couple of stand-up
(28:57):
specials.
Got to see him perform live atMountaineer A couple of MMA
fights there just in theballroom.
It's nice to go there see a, ashow or fight or something like
that, and then go and, you know,be able to gamble a little bit.
Uh like bill was saying, youhave the hotels right there.
Uh, then you can get somethingto eat, go right to right to
(29:18):
your room and and call it anight.
Um, and for any casinos thatare listening, I am available
for booking.
Yes, I'm going to shamelesslyplug myself.
Um, yeah, you can.
Uh like, bottle Comedy at Gmail.
Hit me up, I'm always down toperform at a casino.
But yeah, I love them.
I've been to a couple of themand it's always a good time
every time I've been to one.
Speaker 1 (29:40):
Sure, and I think they are cool too and I think it
brings a different type ofcrowd and, right, it's not
bringing, like your typicalpeople who want to gamble.
Right, it's bringing people infor the food, for the
entertainment.
Um, you know, I mentioned Idon't really go to casinos and I
mentioned about going tonorthfield a couple years ago.
Um, my wife and I we went tosee, uh, dancing with the stars
was on tour, so we went to um,northfield to see that, which
(30:04):
was cool, like we went to, gotdinner ahead of time and just
went, but we did that there.
I know, like my mom and mysister have been to concerts at
Northfield.
I know Bono mentioned it seenthe MMA fights at Mountaineer
and I've never been to that, butI know Bono was there.
I know our former guests of theshow Roger has been there.
Tony the Latin assassin foughtthere and a lot of the guys from
(30:26):
Upgraded Industries that wereon the show have been there as
well.
Former guests of the show,world champion middleweight
fighter Kelly Pavlik fought alot in Atlantic City back in the
early and late 2000s or 2010s.
He's actually in the AtlanticCity Hall of Fame and there's a
ton of boxing matches out inVegas.
(30:47):
So, yeah, I do think it's reallycool to have a lot of these
different fights andperformances at the casinos.
I just think it brings in adifferent type of crowd who
spends money in a different typeof way and, as we all know, the
casinos are all about thebottom line and the profit.
So, which brings me to this,what is the hardest game to win
(31:08):
at the casino?
And you can only pick one.
But what would you say is thehardest game to win at the
casino?
And I'm going to say it'sprobably roulette.
That's my opinion, but, john,what would you say?
Speaker 3 (31:27):
well of the games that I've played.
I would have to say it dependson your style of play, because
roulette you can bet uh odd evenblack red, so you could be very
conservative with that.
Uh, blackjack is tough becauseit's so rapid fire like you
(31:50):
could just get overwhelmed andif the cards aren't going your
way.
So but I'm a craps guy and Iwould have to say of the three
there with with roulette, crapsand blackjack, I would lean
towards craps because the diceyou know how you bet seven kills
(32:12):
the game and that comes upobviously more just as the
combinations are equal to likesix and eight and all that.
So craps to me is a tough gameto win because there's so many
options out there on how to bet.
It kind of plays with your minda little bit.
It's not so simple.
(32:35):
So craps to me would be my take.
Speaker 1 (32:39):
Okay, okay, that's a good one, bill.
What would you say?
Speaker 2 (32:44):
I should say blackjack for as much money as
I've lost doing it, but I it.
It is the slot machines.
I think that's, by the numbers,the worst uh odds out there,
and then, um, in general, I feellike I really never went at
that one.
So, um, we'll say the slots.
I think it's um, like john wassaying a poor man's game or poor
(33:05):
woman's game, and um, over timeyou're gonna lose there the
more you play.
Speaker 1 (33:09):
So we'll say slots okay, bono, what are you saying?
What's the hardest game to winat the casino?
Speaker 4 (33:15):
I know I talked about it earlier in winning big at it
, but I have to say roulette.
I know you can be conservative,like John said, but at odds,
even black, red and win smallamounts here.
But if you're talking aboutwinning big roulette can you can
win big there.
But I'd say just the odds arestacked against you with the
wheels and everything like that.
(33:36):
Perhaps I just don't understandto play to know how hard or how
easy it could be, but just tobreak up and not say the exact
same thing as John just becauseI don't understand, perhaps I'd
have to say roulette justbecause the sheer odds are
against you.
Speaker 1 (33:55):
Okay, okay, now that's a great segue into the
next question and the finalthree, which have to do a little
bit with casinos, but we'regoing to have some fun with them
.
So you know, the next questionis and Bono, I switched this too
, so this is something thatwasn't even on on the original
questionnaire but, in youropinion, what's the best movie
(34:16):
about gambling and casinos?
Now, I'm going to just throwsome out there and we have some
different ones.
Right, we actually have casinowith, um, you know, joe Pesci
and Robert De Niro, sharon Stonewe're in that.
You have Vegas vacation withChevy Chase.
Right, you have the movieRounders.
You have the Ocean Series 11,12 and 13.
(34:37):
Or there could be another onetoo.
What would you guys say is thebest movie about casinos and
gambling?
But I'm going to start and I'mgoing to say probably the movie
Casino, because that was likeprime Robert De Niro and Joe
Pesci and Sharon Stone, and thatmovie was definitely,
(34:58):
definitely something that was atrue story about the betting and
Ace Rothstein and the Italianmafia and the corruption that
brought down the individualowned casinos and brought in the
mega corporations to own them.
So I think Casino is definitelyprobably the best movie about
(35:18):
gambling and casinos.
But, john, what are you saying?
Do you have a favorite one thatstands out?
Speaker 3 (35:24):
Oh yeah, once you mentioned that, johnny, I
immediately thought of this isnot a well-known movie, but it
had a pretty good cast.
Let it ride was a great movie.
Richard dreyfus was the star ofthe movie and he was awesome.
It was just your degeneratehorse racing movie, just, and I
(35:46):
think it took place maybe at sananita or something.
At least that's what theyportrayed in the movie.
But I loved that movie.
It is so funny.
Terry Garr was in it.
Who was in Mr Mom YoungFrankenstein and you may not
even remember, but BusterPoindexter, I think his name was
.
He had one hit back in the day,but Let it Ride I think it was
(36:13):
like maybe early mid-80s and itwas just a guy that was down on
his luck.
Richard dreyfus was just.
He had a, his marriage wasgoing to hell and he just went
to the track one day andcouldn't everything he did hit
like.
He would go around asking allthe people out there what horse
(36:33):
you like.
He had to program.
He was asking what horse youlike.
He would check it off, check itoff and it would be down to the
last horse and the all the onesthat the people picked.
He didn't pick.
He picked the one that no onepicked and it won.
And he went into the barn areaand one of the horses winked at
him and he bet that it was justwell done.
(36:54):
Just reminds me of howsuperstitious gamblers are and
all the stuff that they reachfor to get lucky, and I thought
that was a great movie.
So if anyone uh, if you arewant to burn an hour and a half
or two hours and one of those uhapps has the habit, let it ride
is a funny movie okay, okay,bill.
Speaker 1 (37:15):
What are you saying?
What's your answer to thisquestion?
Speaker 2 (37:18):
yeah, I want to say I feel like I haven't watched all
that many casino movies, butI'll say Uncut Gems with Adam
Sandler.
I think a really good one hedoes.
He does his thing in that movie.
A little bit of weirdphotography, in my opinion, with
the camera kind of movingaround, a little funky in that
one, but those are what a movielove Adam Sandler.
(37:38):
Um and again, I haven't reallywatched a ton of them myself, so
, um, maybe that one by default.
Speaker 1 (37:44):
Okay, bono, what are you uh for favorite casino movie
?
Speaker 4 (37:49):
You're wracking my brain about what the name of
this damn movie is and I can'tthink of it.
I think it's 21 is the name ofthe movie I'm pretty sure it's a
true story about I believe itwas Harvard found a bunch of
students that basically couldfigure out how to count cards
and they would go to Vegas everyweekend and just take down
(38:12):
Vegas in blackjack that theywere counting cards.
It's a phenomenal movie.
Just the acting is great and Ithink it shows kind of like how
Oceans did a little bit but howyou can kind of figure out like
how people are trying to takedown Vegas and you know trying
to come out on top, which I meanthe casino's goal is to make
(38:34):
money and shows how you can beatit.
But you know just the intricacyof like the depth they went
through to like hand signals topeople sitting at the same table
and just to throw everybody off.
It's a very well-made movie andI think the name of the movie
is 21, but I could be wrong withthat.
But that's pretty much thepremise of the movie.
(38:56):
It's a great one for anybodythat wants to just know ins and
outs of what security at casinosare dealing with and trying to
fuck or cheat them.
Speaker 1 (39:10):
You know what?
I did see that movie.
It was like a group of likeeight of them or something like
that.
I don't remember the name of iteither.
But yeah, they took the casinosto the cleaners On that movie.
So, but I can't remember thename of it either.
We'll have to look that up andget back to one another.
So, but all Good, you know allgood movies there For people to
(39:31):
kind of think about.
But I'm surprised nobody saidVegas Vacation with Chevy Chase,
when his son said his name wasPapa Giorgio and he was like 16
years old and he, you know, hetook the, took the casinos to
the cleaners on that one too.
So, papa Giorgio, that's sofunny.
Vegas Vacation throwback rightthere.
So second to last one.
So football season's uponbackright there, so second to last
(39:51):
one.
So football season's upon usright now and college football
season is starting and OhioState is the reigning national
champions.
So to all the gamblers outthere and the people wanting to
place wages on odds John, whatodds do you give Ohio State for
repeating as the nationalchampions this year?
Speaker 3 (40:14):
Up to repeat and funny you mention that, johnny.
I was visiting my mom today andI thought about the fact that
we open up against Texas and ofcourse we close against those
buggers down north, theWolverines.
I can see Ohio State having anoff year.
(40:36):
I actually took them for under10.5 wins.
So if I'm doing that, I'm notliking their odds to repeat, I
would love them to do it.
I hope they prove me wrong, butI'm going to go a little
negative with Ohio State thisyear because I don't even know
who in the heck theirquarterback is going to.
Be honest, to goodness, I don'tknow who their quarterback is
and that's not a good situationto have.
(40:57):
If you're looking to repeat asa national champion, you have to
have a solid quarterback and Ithink that's going to be a
weakness for them.
So okay, love my guys, but notfeeling good about him this year
.
Speaker 1 (41:11):
Okay, all right.
Bill, what odds are you givingOhio State to win the national
championship this year?
Speaker 2 (41:18):
I'd love to give pretty good odds.
I'm about as big of a Buckeyefan as there is out there.
Love that we already got thenational championship last year,
so I won't be greedy.
I don't think we're thefavorite at all.
I think we have a good teamcoming back but, like John said,
with the quarterback up in theair a little bit tough to really
(41:38):
have a ton of confidence.
But I think we'll be good again.
I do think we'll be in theplayoff again and once you get
in there you never know whathappens.
So, a big fan of the 12-teamplayoff, I do think they find
their way in there and shoot.
Hopefully we can make anotherrun this year, but I definitely
wouldn't say they're thefavorite.
Speaker 1 (41:57):
Okay, bono, are you giving odds on Ohio state
repeating as a national championand, if so, what are the odds?
Speaker 4 (42:03):
I'm not.
I'm not a huge Buckeye fan, butI have a sports fan in general.
Like John was saying, who thehell is their quarterback this
year?
You know, losing Will Howard tothe Steelers and everything
like that in the draft.
I just don't think that OhioState is built to repeat.
(42:25):
I think they make a deep run inthe playoff.
I don't think they get to thenational championship.
That is somehow some way thisteam finds a way to be relevant
at the end of the season andmake their way into the playoff.
But the 12-team playoff theydefinitely will get into that I
(42:48):
think.
But you know, you lose singleWolverines four years in a row.
I don't know how Ryan Day stillhas a job with Columbus in the
way that they value beatingMichigan over everything.
But yeah, it's just tough torepeat in college football with
the way it's formatted.
(43:08):
I don't think they repeat, butI think they make a deep run.
Speaker 1 (43:13):
Okay, I'm giving Ohio State 25-1 odds to win the
national championship again.
So I will place that out there.
25-1 odds, ohio State wins thenational championship again and
probably 5,000-1 odds, hawaii goBows win the national
championship.
But I gotta throw Hawaii inthere for a plug with them being
(43:33):
a big fan.
But 25-1 Ohio State, I'll say,wins the national championship,
all right.
Final question, and it's thebest question which casino has
had the best food that you'veeaten at?
So it can be a particularrestaurant, a buffet, anything
you know food that you'veordered.
Out of all the casinos thatyou've been, what place had the
(43:54):
best food?
And I'll start this one becauseit's reflecting back to Taco
Bob in going to Erie.
When we went to Erie, bob saidthe Erie Casino has a great
midnight buffet.
The midnight buffet started at1230.
We had it.
It was wonderful.
I was eating sweet and sourchicken and I was eating sausage
(44:15):
links with gravy and there wassyrup and there was pancakes and
there was bacon and they hadclub sandwiches.
It was a great, great buffet.
Not so great, though, at two inthe morning at the casino.
You want to eat that maybe inthe afternoon, not at two in the
morning, but it was an awesomebuffet, so I'm saying Erie PA's
buffet about 15 years ago.
Speaker 3 (44:41):
But John, what's that ?
One place where the food standsout to you as the best?
I would definitely go buffetsas well.
Early days of Vegas, when theywere actually generous with
their food prices, like Harrah's, that part of the strip by,
like Caesars, I would say thebuffets in Vegas were just
(45:03):
amazing.
You could just feast and it waslike for under $20 back in
those days.
But probably Harrah's on thestrip was pretty much a go-to
where you could just eat and youwould be satisfied to uh be
able to have some drinks and doyour gambling and and not feel
(45:23):
hungry like the whole day.
So that's what I can remember.
Never not a big restaurant typeguy, you know, and there's so
many nice places in vegas to goto with five-star places, but
that's not me.
I'm very simple when it comesto meals, uh, but a vegas buffet
you can't beat it okay, okay,bill, what are you saying here?
Speaker 2 (45:47):
I really don't even know where to start here.
I, I am the, the big restaurantguy at the casinos in uh in
Vegas.
I love going only been a fewtimes out there, but I live in
luxury a little bit.
I go to the steak houses, I goto the um carbones, the car
mines, try and get thereservation, so the really nice
places out there.
Um, really, I think all of them, um, all the casinos do a
(46:14):
really good job.
I don't think if you go to acasino on the strip you're not
going to find a few of thefive-star restaurants and really
good ones.
So I can't say I've done a tonof buffets.
Um, I've never really eatenmuch of the the cleveland casino
, um pittsburgh one.
Really none of them stand outto me other than really just the
Strip in Vegas and therestaurants out there just being
crazy in general.
(46:35):
So I don't have one inparticular, but the restaurants
on the Strip in Vegas are thebest ones around.
Speaker 1 (46:42):
Okay, and Bono, what are you saying on this?
Round us out.
Speaker 4 (46:46):
Restaurants and steakhouses.
I got to go back to theLordford, indiana and the
Hollywood Casino.
They have a phenomenalSteakhouse there.
Uh, best steak I've ever had.
Uh Cooked perfectly Every time.
Everything else was Phenomenalservice and everything like that
.
But if we're going Buffets, Igotta say Mountaineer In West
(47:07):
Virginia, uh, just the buffetthere Is.
Is Newell, West Virginia, justthe buffet there is phenomenal,
you can't go wrong with it.
A lot of options, I meaneverything from breakfast to
dinner foods, you know it's justeverything just hits
differently.
I don't know if it's.
By the time it opens upeveryone's a little sauced up
from getting the drinks at thecasino and everything just
(47:27):
tastes better.
But I got to go with the buffetat Mountaineer.
But Steakhouse at the buffet atmountaineer, uh, but steakhouse
at the hollywood casino in uh,lawrenceburg, indiana okay, very
interesting on that.
Speaker 1 (47:39):
Most people probably don't realize that.
Um, the casinos have greatbuffets too and great
restaurants.
But that's going to do it forthis week's episode of the ride
home rants podcast.
I'd like to thank, of course,your typical host with the most,
mike Bono, for jumping on as aguest and flipping it over to
Fitty here to be the host forthis show.
Mr Willoughby and Mentorhimself, you know.
(48:03):
John, thank you for coming onand sharing your wisdom about
your many travels to Vegas andsharing about March Madness.
And, of course, west Side Bill,coming from the West Side part
of Cleveland, here sharingeverything about his trips as
well, all over to the casinosand sharing about that journey.
So thank you so much, guys forcoming on.
We really appreciate it, asalways.
Definitely check out ourindividual shows.
(48:24):
All these guys have been on forindividual shows.
Bill's been on also for a lotof roundtables, so check out
those former roundtables.
So definitely check those out.
Check out our past shows Fromseason 5 here and, of course,
check out Seasons 1, 2, 3, and 4as well.
Also, make sure you're Peepingall the sponsors in the pre-roll
and the post-roll.
These are all small businessOwners who have contributed to
(48:46):
the show In great ways Bono andI Could definitely not have the
show without them and, of course, all you listeners.
So, as always, if you enjoyedthe show, be a friend and tell a
friend, and if you didn't likethe show, tell them anyways,
because I bet they like it justbecause you did it.
This is Fitty signing off andwe'll catch you next week.
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