Ride Home Rants
Ride Home Rants
High Stakes & Hilarity: Casino Tales from the Pros
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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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 and cards episode of the show with three fantastic guests. The big three are here today to talk about all things casinos and all things cards. These guests come to you from literally all over the world and as they have traveled and they've experienced a lot of great things with casinos and playing cards and all that different type of lifestyle, they're gonna bring all of those experiences to the show today to talk about this with all of you listeners out there. So, without further ado, we're gonna have the guests introduce themselves. They're gonna tell you their name.
Speaker 1:If Pennsylvania, or if they were in Pennsylvania, what would be a better place to live? In Erie or Pittsburgh, because they are vastly different but both great. And then what's a better breakfast? Sausage links or patties? And that question is in honor of Taco Bob, and that's a story for another day. But first on the panel we're going to have introduce himself is Mr Cleveland Westside. Bill, take it away what's going on.
Speaker 2:Everybody my name's Bill, um live in Cleveland, like Finney was saying. So, um, if we're going Pittsburgh versus Erie, out of pure principle, I have to go Erie. Uh, I think Finney's gonna to love this one, but I like the water as well. They're up on the water up there. It's pretty. I've been there a few times and hate Pittsburgh. So I will say Erie on that one, and then for the sausage we're going to go Lynx. I think, patties, I feel like they're varied. You can do good and bad Lyn, bad Links. You kind of know what you're getting, okay.
Speaker 1:Okay, very cool, we're gonna go. Mr Lake County himself. John, you're up next hey there everyone.
Speaker 3:This is John From Willoughby Hills and I would lean towards Presque Isle Because I've been there several times and I Like Presque Isle. The casino out there is really cool, very intimate, friendly, cheap table limits and they even have a thoroughbred racetrack there, which is really cool. So I would lean that way. Nothing against Pittsburgh, but I 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 of them. Put a little cheese and butter on it. Life is good. So that's my spiel.
Speaker 1:Okay, and John tying in a little bit about the casino, making sure everybody knows that Erie's Casino is better than Pittsburgh's Casino, but we'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 it away.
Speaker 4:Mike Bono here, I gotta go Pittsburgh. I'm a huge Pittsburgh fan, love the city of Pittsburgh, everything about it, all the sports teams, the strip district yeah, you can't go wrong. All the little suburbs of Pittsburgh. Nothing against Erie, just a huge Pittsburgh fan myself. And I can't say Erie like everybody else on here, even though everyone's near Cleveland and kind of going on, what Bill, you know, hate everything about Cleveland sports team. So and by principle I have the Pittsburgh and when it comes to links or patties, it's situational for me. I'm more of a links guy. But you know, if I get pancakes or something, you got to put the patties in between the pancakes, get a little bit of a links guy. But you know, if I get pancakes or something, you gotta put the the patties in between the pancakes, get a little bit of a mix in there. But sheer principle, I gotta, I gotta go links.
Speaker 1:Uh, but it's situational for me okay, and that's so funny because, um, you know, people are so torn on that like, is the links or patties? Uh, you know, the the better option for me. I'm gonna say links, um, I'm just, I just like links better. I don't me, I'm going to say Lynx, I just like Lynx better. I don't know, it's like to me, I think, a taste thing, even though it might just be psychological, but to me I think Lynx are better.
Speaker 1:And that question was brought to you by none other than Taco Bob many years ago when we were at Denny's. He asked a waitress that. But again, that's a whole story for another day. And then, of course, I'm going to pick Erie, because I've traveled to Erie a bunch, been in Erie, love Erie. It's one of the most underrated, I think, places anyone can go to. So definitely visit Erie. But you know, pittsburgh is cool, it has its cool things too. But Erie, you know you're on the water man, so you really can't complain there. So we're not here to talk about Erie, although we should do a show about all things Erie, that would be pretty cool. We're here to talk about all things casino and cards though, with the terrific three guests that we have, with Bill, john and Mike. So when we answer these questions 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:So go, john will be first, and then Bill, and then we're going to round it out with Mike. So, john, we're going to start with you. Can you name all the casinos that you've ever been to? Boy, the list is long, especially when it comes to Vegas. I, I remember going to Vegas for the first time. I think I stayed at the Imperial Palace. I even stayed at the Desert Inn and that's worn down. Imperial Palace is worn down, but you know, mirage, some of 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, west Virginia just just a crazy amount. Uh, ever since I turned 21, been going to casinos, and Vegas is my favorite, no doubt about it. The atmosphere in Vegas is just incredible, and I love March Madness, so definitely Vegas is king.
Speaker 1:Okay, and you mentioned in the intro you've been to the Erie one as well. Have you ever been to the Pittsburgh one, John?
Speaker 3:No, but I've been to Pittsburgh several times. Didn't gamble there. I know they've got what by the incline. That's where their big casino is at by the incline, I believe.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's right, by the stadium and the science, the stadiums and the science center down there in Pittsburgh. So yeah, it's over that way on the north shore, probably similar to, like the downtown cleveland one.
Speaker 3:I've only been there a couple times. The table limits are too high. I like low table limits and just a hustle and bustle and that's why I lean press guy when it comes to that. But definitely Pittsburgh beautiful down there. The PNC Park I think that's what it's called the PNC Park the baseball stadium, Beautiful, Probably my favorite of all major league parks.
Speaker 1: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 casinos that you've been to, or at least the areas?
Speaker 2:In short no, I can definitely not name all of them Mainly Vegas. I've been a couple of times to Vegas, been up and down the Strip, old Vegas Wouldn't really know where, exactly where to begin All the normal ones, all the small ones along the Old Vegas Strip and kind of further out, even off the strip as well. But um, as far as outside of vegas, been to the one in cleveland, the jack, probably a few too many times, uh, after some late night outs getting over there. Um, I have been to the pittsburgh one, actually 50 uh nice casino. They have a hotel attached right to it which is obviously convenient there.
Speaker 2:Um been to the one in erie, been down to uh the fort lauderdale, the one with the big uh guitar, uh, I think, down in hollywood, down there. Um been to uh across the border over into canada at uh niagara falls. Been up there, um quite a few, honestly. So uh've been been to quite a few in vegas, out of vegas and um a lot of nice ones for sure okay, and what about you, bono, round us out on this.
Speaker 4:I've been to a good bit. Not as many as those guys haven't been across the border, uh, but wheeling. Wheeling island, um, the downs and west virginia. I've been to mountaineers in west virginia, atlanta, lilling Island, the Downs in West Virginia. I've been to Mountaineer in West Virginia. Atlantic City I've been there.
Speaker 4:The Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg, indiana it's actually where my wife and I had our 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 when it comes to being at the casinos. Never been to Vegas, not a big Vegas guy myself. Haven't really had a desire to go to Vegas, just heard a lot of bad things. But yeah, I haven't been to as many of these guys. But I've been to a lot of bad things. But yeah, I haven't been to as many of these guys, but I've been to a lot and I've liked all of them.
Speaker 4:Lawrenceburg definitely one of my favorites Hotel attached right there. Basically, you drive there, you park once and you never have to leave. Even the restaurants are all right inside there. We'll get into that here a little bit later. I know we're probably going to talk food because two paisans running a show. Even the restaurants are all right inside there. We'll get into that here a little bit later. I know we're probably going to talk food because you know two paisans running a show.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, that's a good point, mike, and it actually brings me into the topic number two. It's the best casino you've ever visited. So, mike, we're going to just stick with you and then we'll go John and Bill on this.
Speaker 4:Is the one, inrenceville, the best casino you've been to so far. Yes, um, just the sheer convenience of everything, uh, hotels right there, uh attached to it, you never have to leave um, and just the atmosphere, uh around it. For me, you know they allow smoking in there too as well. Not a lot of places do. I'm still a uh smoker, so that's convenient for me. I don't have to go to a completely separate uh place in the casino and feel alienated because I want a cigarette or have to go outside. So that, or the convenience factor for that I mean, but um, yeah, um, but yeah, warrensburg, um, and adding on to you know the nostalgia of you know that's where my wife and I had our thing that that takes the cake for me.
Speaker 1:Sure, sure. So, john, what, um, what is that one casino that you would say? You've traveled and you've been to a lot of places, as you've mentioned, all over the country with it, and and even really the world, going into Canada, but what's that one casino that stands out that you can say was the best one you visited?
Speaker 3:boy, that's a tough one trying to just gather my thoughts and and turn the clock back.
Speaker 3:But most recently this was one that I kind of didn't even mention at the beginning because I was just throwing some names out there.
Speaker 3:But there's one off the strip called South Point that is known to gear themselves to sports or horse racing people, because they have their horse racing book and like a sports book and there's like little condos around that casino that a friend of mine stayed at and it's really a cool place and they have these massive halls upstairs and, like I said, march madness is my favorite time to go to vegas because it's from 9 am to 9 pm and they cater to that big crowd. Like you can like shoot free throws upstairs, you can get massages, they give out free booze. It's really a cool place, kind of a hidden treasure I would say out in Vegas because it's away from all the hustle and bustle on the strip. You know I do like to strip there's a time and place for the strip but I do like casinos that are away from all that madness. So South Point in Vegas I would lean that way just because how they treat you for the sports betting aspect of March Madness.
Speaker 1:Sure, no, that's definitely awesome. What about you, bill? What's that one that you would say Is the best one you've ever visited?
Speaker 2:I'm going to cheat a little bit and I'm going to give you a Vegas one and a not Vegas one. I think it does Just so many and so different. I'll pick a strip one. I'll go Caesars Casino. They're all gigantic, they're all 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, pretty mainstream, but a time I 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 there when I was there. So, um, we'll say Caesars, but anyone in Vegas you go to, I think you'll be impressed.
Speaker 2:Then, outside of Vegas, I really want to another one similar to John didn't mention at the beginning, but it's like a casino and golf resort up in Barona, new York, kind of upstate New York area, past Syracuse from here. Went there with a couple buddies, spent I think two, three days up there, golfed a little 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, had all the different Type of games. The restaurants there Were incredible. They're the resort. They had some good night life and golf. You walk out of the Back door and there's a couple Beautiful golf courses there, so Cheated a little bit On that, one Going with two. But Turning Stone Casino and resort in general out there I definitely recommend it okay.
Speaker 1: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 to gamble. I went with somebody to place a bet on the super bowl one time. Um, I've been to erie one time on 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 in the one in Northfield near Cleveland, the small one for, um, an event. So those are the ones that I've been in, but, john, we're going to go back to you on this. Um, what is your favorite card game in the casino? Oh, boy.
Speaker 3:There's only been one time of all the years going to Vegas that I ever played cards and it was in the craze of, you know, poker on ESPN and all that. So I'm not much of a poker player when it comes to Vegas, but I did do it one time and I absolutely just was awful because I had one good hand and I let the whole world know I had a good hand. I bet too much and everyone folded, so that's the only thing I can kind of remember that we waited a long time to get on a table with me and two other guys and I was nervous because I'd never really done it before, at least in that type of atmosphere. But I will always remember how I had like three of a kind and I just absolutely bungled the whole thing. I didn't lure anyone in to build up the pot, I just immediately got like a pool and I kind of just well, that'll stay with me okay, well, well, how about?
Speaker 1:how about? We'll say this, and what's your favorite game to play in the casino? We'll switch it up a little bit. So what would you say to that one, john?
Speaker 3:well, I honestly, johnny, I don't really get into that because I know, you know, I grew up just playing simple. Uh, jacks are better trips to win five card stud, seven card stud. So I'm more of a poker with friends. Quarter 50 cent anytime uh, not really into the whole Vegas 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 like poker. It was just simple poker, best hand, all that, okay, yeah.
Speaker 1:Bill, what about you on this one?
Speaker 2:This one's blackjack for me all day. I don't really play a ton at the casino either. When I go, I'm just going to go play blackjack. I don't really do much with the slots. I know how to play poker, play with some buddies, similar to John but it's blackjack for me. That's where I go to. They take all my money most of the time that I show up there and I have a blast doing it, so Blackjack's the one for me.
Speaker 1:Okay, how about you?
Speaker 4:Bono Blackjack all day. I'm a huge Blackjack guy, love it. I do all right, I typically break even, but kind of like what John was saying, I start to get a couple good hands and then I'm just betting stupidly and just kind of lose it quickly, but blackjacks all day. I dabble a little bit in poker but uh, not much.
Speaker 1:it's blackjack okay, okay, no, that's fair. Um, so we're gonna go to the next one then and we kind of hinted on it just a little bit. Um, slot machines, are they overrated or are they underrated? When you go to casino john, what are you saying? Are slot machines overrated or underrated?
Speaker 3: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 at those things you are just going to burn money and I've seen a lot of people spend way too much time at slots. It's not a bad idea if you're walking around and you're down on your luck and you might have a couple of bucks in your pocket and you're walking to your dinner reservations and you throw maybe five, 10 bucks in and see what happens. But I in the early days I was a degenerate. I would gamble on just about anything. So I did sit and rot on a couple of chairs, some slot machines, but I've learned the lesson of not thinking I'm going to hit it big with a slot machine so overrated in my opinion.
Speaker 1:Okay, bill, what are you saying? Overrated or underrated for slot machines?
Speaker 2:Overrated. On my side as well, I have played fair share in my day as well. I don't really play much anymore, but I feel like I never win on them, so I don't know what the odds are. I don't really do the math on it, but um, most times I go. If I put 50 bucks in or whatever, I typically walk out with nothing. So, um, I'll say overrated. I've seen some people hit jackpots hasn't been me really, but um, I can see a little bit of the hype behind them. Obviously, like john was saying, if you get in there at the right time, um, you can hit a big one. But um, they usually take my money as well.
Speaker 1:So Okay, bono, round us out on this one Overrated or underrated for slot machines.
Speaker 4:I think they're correctly rated. I don't think they're overrated or underrated. I've hit on them A couple of times. I typically start my night at the casino Throwing 20 bucks into A slot machine just to see what happens. A couple of times I've gone in and I've hit.
Speaker 4:Quick little story. We were waiting, my wife and I were waiting on a couple of friends to show up at the casino and um, I think we're at mountain eater and, you know, walked in. It was right by the door. We threw a couple bucks in because they were. They were just parking and waiting, like well, let's just wait here. And um, I hit for $150 off the first spin and didn't realize it took my wife to be like do you know how much you're winning right now? I was like I have no idea. Honestly, I'm just kind of pushing buttons at this point in time and I was playing with house money for the rest of the evening with some buddies and some friends out there. So I think they're correctly rated. I mean they're not overrated or underrated, but you know they're right where they should be.
Speaker 1:Okay, okay. So next one. I'm actually curious here, because I was definitely in the negative On this. I didn't win anything, but what's the most you guys Ever won, say at the casino or playing Cards or some type of Game you know Gambling what is the most you've ever, ever won? Um, I'll let you kind of think about this for a second. And I've never won. I've lost every time and I like my money too much to ever lose again, so that's why I stopped going to the casino. Um, but that's my, uh, that's about as much as I've won. Is they about negative $200 on my trip to Erie? So, john, can you think back? Was there a time that really stands out when you hit it big?
Speaker 3:Yeah, just thinking about that, it was horse racing actually that I hit on A friend of mine, that I went to plenty of casinos. He is pretty good at doing horses, pick fives, pick fours and all that. I think we might have been out in Gulfstream in Florida or something and we hit one for maybe over a grand. That was pretty cool. I think it was like a pick five or a pick six and those are not easy to hit, even if you bet all favorites. So you got to splatter in there longer shots and I didn't think it would happen. You know, it comes down to the last race or two. You're thinking something's going to happen, that you're going to get beat by a nose. But we pulled it out and that was a pretty cool feeling and I had him go up there. He signed a tax paper because I think 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 cool experience okay, okay, bill.
Speaker 1:What about you? Is there a time that stands out for you?
Speaker 2:um, at the casino, not really. I. I've gone in and usually my thing is I'll take a couple hundred bucks and I'll play and typically lose a couple hundred bucks, but times I've come up, you know maybe four or five hundred or something along those lines, which is great, and anytime I leave the casino, even or up, it's a great night. So, honestly, I don't have one that I went up a ton on Outside of the casino. I did like a block pool with some buddies one time, great night. Um, so I honestly I don't have one that I went up a ton on. I thought it was um outside of the casino. I did like a block pool with some buddies one time and I think I hit a couple grand on that. It was um decent sized block pool. 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 the casino, definitely just a few hundred, baby okay, and actually I take that back. I lost at the casino.
Speaker 1:In the casino. Definitely just 200, baby Okay, and actually I take that back. I lost at the casino, but one time I was doing these like pull-off tickets at the Stark County Fair no, the Stark County Italian Fest, that's what it was Maybe like 15 years ago or something, and there was like these pool tabs Somehow I won $150. So I was eating some cavatelllli on like a hot Sunday 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 only time 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 as your like biggest win at a casino or any type of gambling.
Speaker 4:What is that? One time it stands out as your biggest win at a casino or any type of gambling. Both are actually the same amount, which is weird, but it was nothing to the level of John or Bill, but I walked out with $650. The same night I hit the slot machine to start out with with the same friends. We walked in with $200. We walked out with um with the same friends uh, we walked in with 200, we walked out with uh 600 and it was um fun to played a lot of.
Speaker 4:I played roulette for the first time and my buddy was just shocked. He was just like nobody does this good on their first time ever playing roulette. He was teaching me how to play while we were playing, which was the weirdest situation ever. But another time, when Daily Fantasy this was forever ago, probably 10, 15 years ago, when Daily Fantasy was becoming a thing they were lined up together on baseball and it was when Max Scherzer pitched his almost perfect game with like 20 strikeouts or something crazy like that. I completely it was like a dollar 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 at the casino or gambling.
Speaker 1:Cool, okay, okay. So next, I'm kind of curious here. 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 curious here, um, to hear from you guys, you know, and as people that are familiar with entertainment and they go to casinos know, um, especially like in atlantic city and las vegas, but other places too um, the casinos are used as as other, uh, avenues, avenues for people to get in there, right, so, such as like boxing, concerts, performances, stand-up comedy you know Bono can definitely tell you about that, you know, do you guys like that casinos, really anywhere, are putting on these, you know, combat sports, these concerts, these performances, these comedy acts Do you like that personally with the casinos? Like, what are your thoughts about that? You know, combat sports, these concerts, these performances, these comedy acts Do you like that personally with the casinos? Like, what are your thoughts about that? And have you ever actually went to a performance at a casino?
Speaker 3:John, we'll start with you. Oh yeah, that draws me to Vegas for sure. I've seen quite a few shows in my time. I think it's a great idea. It kind of breaks the monotony of hearing slot machines walking up and down the aisles. It kind of just takes you to a different place. I can remember seeing George Carlin in Vegas before I went to the Mirage to see. I'm a big Beatles fan and they do a show called love and that's pretty cool. It's that circus delay or whatever style show. I'm trying to think what else I've seen out in Vegas, but those are the ones that stand out Carlin and the Beatles show, and other than that I'm not. I don't go out there for the shows, but in the in the early days it was appealing. You know, you know Barry Manilow, wayne Newton, all those guys, the old school guys didn't get a chance to see them but yeah, I could definitely see going to shows. I think that's a good, a good relief from the gambling.
Speaker 1:Sure, okay, bill, what about you? What are your thoughts about this, and have you ever, ever, seen any of these performances or comedy shows, or anything like that, at a casino?
Speaker 2:Yeah, similarly, I love it. Like John was saying, I love a place you can come hotel shows, uh, fights, pool, uh, great restaurants, great bars, um, I love a place like a resort, similar like I was talking about turning stone earlier. Um, obviously, out in vegas there's um countless of them out there, but, um, I think bringing all the entertainment together um is awesome. So, going a little bit broad on on the shows, but, um, I have seen a couple fights out in vegas um shows. I think I saw a certain place to lay out there one time, um, and it was awesome.
Speaker 2:I think it is like I was saying, a good kind of breakup and it's something different to do out there. Um, you sit at the, uh, the blackjack 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, the best part of it. I love going down to the Jack Cleveland Casino down here, which isn't really all that. So I love the gambling portion of it. But you can really get a resort together and have, you know, the combination of a bunch of really fun stuff to do right there. Um, really what I think makes the whole entertainment thing sure, sure.
Speaker 1:What about you on this bono? What are your thoughts?
Speaker 4:I'd be a hypocrite if I said no, being a stand-up comedian saying that you know that it's not. I've seen a bunch of comedy shows at casinos. I've been to Mountaineer to see John Caparulo, a local guy out of East Liverpool, ohio Made it big at a couple of stand-up specials. Got to see him perform live at Mountaineer A couple of MMA fights there just in the ballroom. It's nice to go there see a, a show or fight or something like that, and then go and, you know, be able to gamble a little bit. Uh like bill was saying, you have the hotels right there. Uh, then you can get something to eat, go right to right to your room and and call it a night. Um, and for any casinos that are listening, I am available for booking. Yes, I'm going to shamelessly plug myself. Um, yeah, you can. Uh like, bottle Comedy at Gmail. Hit me up, I'm always down to perform at a casino. But yeah, I love them. I've been to a couple of them and it's always a good time every time I've been to one.
Speaker 1:Sure, and I think they are cool too and I think it brings a different type of crowd and, right, it's not bringing, like your typical people who want to gamble. Right, it's bringing people in for the food, for the entertainment. Um, you know, I mentioned I don't really go to casinos and I mentioned about going to northfield a couple years ago. Um, my wife and I we went to see, uh, dancing with the stars was on tour, so we went to um, northfield to see that, which was cool, like we went to, got dinner ahead of time and just went, but we did that there.
Speaker 1:I know, like my mom and my sister have been to concerts at Northfield. I know Bono mentioned it seen the MMA fights at Mountaineer and I've never been to that, but I know Bono was there. I know our former guests of the show Roger has been there. Tony the Latin assassin fought there and a lot of the guys from Upgraded Industries that were on the show have been there as well. Former guests of the show, world champion middleweight fighter Kelly Pavlik fought a lot in Atlantic City back in the early and late 2000s or 2010s. He's actually in the Atlantic City Hall of Fame and there's a ton of boxing matches out in Vegas.
Speaker 1:So, yeah, I do think it's really cool to have a lot of these different fights and performances at the casinos. I just think it brings in a different type of crowd who spends money in a different type of way and, as we all know, the casinos are all about the bottom line and the profit. So, which brings me to this, what is the hardest game to win at the casino? And you can only pick one. But what would you say is the hardest game to win at the casino? And I'm going to say it's probably roulette. That's my opinion, but, john, what would you say?
Speaker 3:well of the games that I've played. I would have to say it depends on your style of play, because roulette you can bet uh odd even black red, so you could be very conservative with that. Uh, blackjack is tough because it's so rapid fire like you could just get overwhelmed and if the cards aren't going your way. So but I'm a craps guy and I would have to say of the three there with with roulette, craps and blackjack, I would lean towards craps because the dice you know how you bet seven kills the game and that comes up obviously more just as the combinations are equal to like six and eight and all that. So craps to me is a tough game to win because there's so many options out there on how to bet. It kind of plays with your mind a little bit. It's not so simple. So craps to me would be my take.
Speaker 1:Okay, okay, that's a good one, bill. What would you say?
Speaker 2: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 feel like I really never went at that one. So, um, we'll say the slots. I think it's um, like john was saying a poor man's game or poor woman's game, and um, over time you're gonna lose there the more you play.
Speaker 1:So we'll say slots okay, bono, what are you saying? What's the hardest game to win at the casino?
Speaker 4: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 small amounts here. But if you're talking about winning big roulette can you can win big there. But I'd say just the odds are stacked against you with the wheels and everything like that. Perhaps I just don't understand to play to know how hard or how easy it could be, but just to break up and not say the exact same thing as John just because I don't understand, perhaps I'd have to say roulette just because the sheer odds are against you.
Speaker 1:Okay, okay, now that's a great segue into the next question and the final three, which have to do a little bit with casinos, but we're going to have some fun with them. So you know, the next question is and Bono, I switched this too, so this is something that wasn't even on on the original questionnaire but, in your opinion, what's the best movie about gambling and casinos? Now, I'm going to just throw some out there and we have some different ones. Right, we actually have casino with, um, you know, joe Pesci and Robert De Niro, sharon Stone we're in that. You have Vegas vacation with Chevy Chase. Right, you have the movie Rounders. You have the Ocean Series 11, 12 and 13. Or there could be another one too.
Speaker 1:What would you guys say is the best movie about casinos and gambling? But I'm going to start and I'm going to say probably the movie Casino, because that was like prime Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci and Sharon Stone, and that movie was definitely, definitely something that was a true story about the betting and Ace Rothstein and the Italian mafia and the corruption that brought down the individual owned casinos and brought in the mega corporations to own them. So I think Casino is definitely probably the best movie about gambling and casinos. But, john, what are you saying? Do you have a favorite one that stands out?
Speaker 3:Oh yeah, once you mentioned that, johnny, I immediately thought of this is not a well-known movie, but it had a pretty good cast. Let it ride was a great movie. Richard dreyfus was the star of the movie and he was awesome. It was just your degenerate horse racing movie, just, and I think it took place maybe at san anita or something. At least that's what they portrayed in the movie. But I loved that movie. It is so funny. Terry Garr was in it.
Speaker 3:Who was in Mr Mom Young Frankenstein and you may not even remember, but Buster Poindexter, I think his name was. He had one hit back in the day, but Let it Ride I think it was like maybe early mid-80s and it was just a guy that was down on his luck. Richard dreyfus was just. He had a, his marriage was going to hell and he just went to the track one day and couldn't everything he did hit like.
Speaker 3:He would go around asking all the people out there what horse you like. He had to program. He was asking what horse you like. He would check it off, check it off and it would be down to the last horse and the all the ones that the people picked. He didn't pick. He picked the one that no one picked and it won. And he went into the barn area and one of the horses winked at him and he bet that it was just well done. Just reminds me of how superstitious gamblers are and all the stuff that they reach for to get lucky, and I thought that was a great movie. So if anyone uh, if you are want to burn an hour and a half or two hours and one of those uh apps has the habit, let it ride is a funny movie okay, okay, bill.
Speaker 1:What are you saying? What's your answer to this question?
Speaker 2:yeah, I want to say I feel like I haven't watched all that many casino movies, but I'll say Uncut Gems with Adam Sandler. I think a really good one he does. He does his thing in that movie. A little bit of weird photography, in my opinion, with the camera kind of moving around, a little funky in that one, but those are what a movie love Adam Sandler. Um and again, I haven't really watched a ton of them myself, so, um, maybe that one by default.
Speaker 1:Okay, bono, what are you uh for favorite casino movie?
Speaker 4:You're wracking my brain about what the name of this damn movie is and I can't think of it.
Speaker 4:I think it's 21 is the name of the movie I'm pretty sure it's a true story about I believe it was Harvard found a bunch of students that basically could figure out how to count cards and they would go to Vegas every weekend and just take down Vegas in blackjack that they were counting cards.
Speaker 4:It's a phenomenal movie. Just the acting is great and I think it shows kind of like how Oceans did a little bit but how you can kind of figure out like how people are trying to take down Vegas and you know trying to come out on top, which I mean the casino's goal is to make money and shows how you can beat it. But you know just the intricacy of like the depth they went through to like hand signals to people sitting at the same table and just to throw everybody off. It's a very well-made movie and I think the name of the movie is 21, but I could be wrong with that. But that's pretty much the premise of the movie. It's a great one for anybody that wants to just know ins and outs of what security at casinos are dealing with and trying to fuck or cheat them.
Speaker 1:You know what? I did see that movie. It was like a group of like eight of them or something like that. I don't remember the name of it either. But yeah, they took the casinos to the cleaners On that movie. So, but I can't remember the name of it either. We'll have to look that up and get back to one another. So, but all Good, you know all good movies there For people to kind of think about. But I'm surprised nobody said Vegas Vacation with Chevy Chase, when his son said his name was Papa Giorgio and he was like 16 years old and he, you know, he took the, took the casinos to the cleaners on that one too. So, papa Giorgio, that's so funny.
Speaker 1:Vegas Vacation throwback right there. So second to last one. So football season's uponback right there, so second to last one. So football season's upon us right now and college football season is starting and Ohio State is the reigning national champions. So to all the gamblers out there and the people wanting to place wages on odds John, what odds do you give Ohio State for repeating as the national champions this year?
Speaker 3:Up to repeat and funny you mention that, johnny. I was visiting my mom today and I thought about the fact that we open up against Texas and of course we close against those buggers down north, the Wolverines. I can see Ohio State having an off year. I actually took them for under 10.5 wins. So if I'm doing that, I'm not liking their odds to repeat, I would love them to do it. I hope they prove me wrong, but I'm going to go a little negative with Ohio State this year because I don't even know who in the heck their quarterback is going to. Be honest, to goodness, I don't know who their quarterback is and that's not a good situation to have. If you're looking to repeat as a national champion, you have to have a solid quarterback and I think that's going to be a weakness for them. So okay, love my guys, but not feeling good about him this year.
Speaker 1:Okay, all right. Bill, what odds are you giving Ohio State to win the national championship this year?
Speaker 2:I'd love to give pretty good odds. I'm about as big of a Buckeye fan as there is out there. Love that we already got the national championship last year, so I won't be greedy. I don't think we're the favorite at all. I think we have a good team coming back but, like John said, with the quarterback up in the air a little bit tough to really have a ton of confidence. But I think we'll be good again. I do think we'll be in the playoff again and once you get in there you never know what happens. So, a big fan of the 12-team playoff, I do think they find their way in there and shoot. Hopefully we can make another run this year, but I definitely wouldn't say they're the favorite.
Speaker 1:Okay, bono, are you giving odds on Ohio state repeating as a national champion and, if so, what are the odds?
Speaker 4:I'm not. I'm not a huge Buckeye fan, but I have a sports fan in general. Like John was saying, who the hell is their quarterback this year? You know, losing Will Howard to the Steelers and everything like that in the draft. I just don't think that Ohio State is built to repeat. I think they make a deep run in the playoff. I don't think they get to the national championship. That is somehow some way this team finds a way to be relevant at the end of the season and make their way into the playoff. But the 12-team playoff they definitely will get into that I think. But you know, you lose single Wolverines four years in a row. I don't know how Ryan Day still has a job with Columbus in the way that they value beating Michigan over everything. But yeah, it's just tough to repeat in college football with the way it's formatted. I don't think they repeat, but I think they make a deep run.
Speaker 1: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 the national championship again and probably 5,000-1 odds, hawaii go Bows win the national championship. But I gotta throw Hawaii in there for a plug with them being a big fan. But 25-1 Ohio State, I'll say, wins the national championship, all right.
Speaker 1:Final question, and it's the best question which casino has had the best food that you've eaten at? So it can be a particular restaurant, a buffet, anything you know food that you've ordered. Out of all the casinos that you've been, what place had the best food? And I'll start this one because it's reflecting back to Taco Bob in going to Erie. When we went to Erie, bob said the Erie Casino has a great midnight buffet. The midnight buffet started at 1230. We had it. It was wonderful. I was eating sweet and sour chicken and I was eating sausage links with gravy and there was syrup and there was pancakes and there was bacon and they had club sandwiches. It was a great, great buffet. Not so great, though, at two in the morning at the casino. You want to eat that maybe in the afternoon, not at two in the morning, but it was an awesome buffet, so I'm saying Erie PA's buffet about 15 years ago.
Speaker 3:But John, what's that? One place where the food stands out to you as the best? I would definitely go buffets as well. Early days of Vegas, when they were actually generous with their food prices, like Harrah's, that part of the strip by, like Caesars, I would say the buffets in Vegas were just amazing. You could just feast and it was like for under $20 back in those days. But probably Harrah's on the strip was pretty much a go-to where you could just eat and you would be satisfied to uh be able to have some drinks and do your gambling and and not feel hungry like the whole day. So that's what I can remember. Never not a big restaurant type guy, you know, and there's so many nice places in vegas to go to with five-star places, but that's not me. I'm very simple when it comes to meals, uh, but a vegas buffet you can't beat it okay, okay, bill, what are you saying here?
Speaker 2:I really don't even know where to start here. I, I am the, the big restaurant guy at the casinos in uh in Vegas. I love going only been a few times out there, but I live in luxury a little bit. I go to the steak houses, I go to the um carbones, the car mines, try and get the reservation, so the really nice places out there. Um, really, I think all of them, um, all the casinos do a really good job. I don't think if you go to a casino on the strip you're not going to find a few of the five-star restaurants and really good ones. So I can't say I've done a ton of buffets. Um, I've never really eaten much of the the cleveland casino, um pittsburgh one. Really none of them stand out to me other than really just the Strip in Vegas and the restaurants out there just being crazy in general. So I don't have one in particular, but the restaurants on the Strip in Vegas are the best ones around.
Speaker 1:Okay, and Bono, what are you saying on this? Round us out.
Speaker 4:Restaurants and steakhouses. I got to go back to the Lordford, indiana and the Hollywood Casino. They have a phenomenal Steakhouse there. Uh, best steak I've ever had. Uh Cooked perfectly Every time. Everything else was Phenomenal service and everything like that. But if we're going Buffets, I gotta say Mountaineer In West Virginia, uh, just the buffet there Is. Is Newell, West Virginia, just the buffet there is phenomenal, you can't go wrong with it. A lot of options, I mean everything from breakfast to dinner foods, you know it's just everything just hits differently. I don't know if it's. By the time it opens up everyone's a little sauced up from getting the drinks at the casino and everything just tastes better. But I got to go with the buffet at Mountaineer. But Steakhouse at the buffet at mountaineer, uh, but steakhouse at the hollywood casino in uh, lawrenceburg, indiana okay, very interesting on that.
Speaker 1:Most people probably don't realize that. Um, the casinos have great buffets too and great restaurants. But that's going to do it for this 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 a guest and flipping it over to Fitty here to be the host for this show. Mr Willoughby and Mentor himself, you know. John, thank you for coming on and sharing your wisdom about your many travels to Vegas and sharing about March Madness. And, of course, west Side Bill, coming from the West Side part of Cleveland, here sharing everything about his trips as well, all over to the casinos and sharing about that journey. So thank you so much, guys for coming on. We really appreciate it, as always.
Speaker 1:Definitely check out our individual shows. All these guys have been on for individual shows. Bill's been on also for a lot of roundtables, so check out those former roundtables. So definitely check those out. Check out our past shows From season 5 here and, of course, check out Seasons 1, 2, 3, and 4 as well. Also, make sure you're Peeping all the sponsors in the pre-roll and the post-roll. These are all small business Owners who have contributed to the show In great ways Bono and I Could definitely not have the show without them and, of course, all you listeners. So, as always, if you enjoyed the show, be a friend and tell a friend, and if you didn't like the show, tell them anyways, because I bet they like it just because you did it. This is Fitty signing off and we'll catch you next week.
