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Vegas lucky charms

As I prep for vacation in Las Vegas, I’m packing my lucky charms. What are yours?


Silly as it may sound, everyone who goes to Las Vegas with the intent of gambling has some kind of lucky charm. Or three. I’m busy packing all of my talismans to ensure I have a very lucky trip.

The one that’s stayed with me the longest is my silver kaeru ring, not just because it’s a frog, but because its mouth is open. Supposedly, the open-mouthed frog brings untold wealth to its owner, which is why I must keep going back to Nevada in search of the supposed untold wealth. I’m sure it will happen someday, right? Or maybe it’s because I need to figure out what the frog is not telling me in order to find it. In any case, I know it’s guaranteed because this legend based on local or Japanese folklore, and as you know, folklore is never wrong.

Two years ago, my cousin Celia gave me a pair of jade earrings. The green of the stone is supposed to attract the green of the cash. Green = green, get it? So no matter how badly the green jade clashes with whatever outfit I’m wearing, I wear the earrings to double the luck that my open-mouthed frog will bring me.

I have a box of cocktail napkins with one frog on one side, and three frogs on the other. When I’m gambling, I bust out a napkin and put it on the table. If my luck starts to change, I flip the napkin over. And so do my tablemates—all of whom I’ve shared froggy cocktail napkins with, in order to increase the luck on the table.

There is one piece of jewelry that worked in an opposite way for me, but in a good way: my antique dice bracelet (red dice pictured above). I was playing blackjack one night and my luck had turned. I knew that I should have just cut my losses and left, but like so many people, I stayed to see if I could chase it. As you know, blackjack is a passive game with little physical movement; but suddenly, my bracelet violently snapped, with all the dice flying everywhere. That was it for me: it was time to leave the table. I haven’t put the bracelet back together since, but I know it saved me from losing even more than I already was.

But, I digress. I’m thinking about adding new luck to my arsenal. Someone told me about lucky frog panties that I can get at craft fairs or at Longs. Have you seen these? Does anyone know if they work? Unlike the jade earrings, I don’t have to worry about them clashing with any outfit I wear, and I sure could use another piece of luck when I hit the tables this weekend. I noticed the embroidered frog has an open mouth, which—like my frog—will bring me untold wealth.

Do any of you have tried-and-true good luck charms for Las Vegas? If you have suggestions, post them here! Make sure they’re easy to pack, though.

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You can read all of Melissa’s blogs at www.nonstophonolulu.com/urbanmixplate. Follow Melissa on Twitter @Melissa808, on Foursquare as Melissa808, or email at Melissa@nonstophonolulu.com.

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cma3rd 6 pts

Good luck Master.......6pts pfft,,, newbie

ParkRat 27 pts

I'll bring you a few of my lucky rubbers for your trip! The ones that say KaeruPower! on them. You can keep them too!

Seriously.

Annoddah_Dave 81 pts

Wine Gurl: Is the frog on the panty on the front or back? or both? Someone told me that you aren't supposed to wash it until you leave...something about washing away the guud luck???!! I think the best lucky charm is a rich spouse!! or BF or GF!

Melissa808 268 pts

Annoddah_Dave good question! I haven't bought the panties yet. My friend just told me I need to eat 7 musubis to get good luck....in which case, I cannot fit the panties. hmmm

nathankam 40 pts

My lucky charm is just letting Kelly gamble the money. She always tends to win or at least break even, whereas, I have no control. But honestly, I'd rather just watch the shows, eat, and drink in Vegas. ;-)

Melissa808 268 pts

nathankam I do all that, too! LOL

harrycovair 77 pts

You're going up with your buds. If there's enough seats you should sit together and play Pai Gow. It is way too much fun when everyone knows each other and can help strategize each others hand. You're all playing against the House. Of course all the strategy changes when one of your buds decides to be the House.

Melissa808 268 pts

harrycovair I actually don't know how to play Pai Gow, can you believe it?

harrycovair 77 pts

Melissa808
If the Dealer remains the House (controlling the chips) then the Dealer can help you play your hand if you show your hand and let the Dealer make your hi hand -2nd high hand combo. If one of your buds wants to be the house then it's everyone for themselves.

It's basically a 7 card poker, 5 cards and 2 cards, hi hand and 2nd highest hand. I just dogpiled a search and found this: http://nvvegas.com/learning-pai-gow-poker-rules-las-vegas-nevada/ It's really simple and it's loads of fun when the whole table knows each other. If you don't want to spend too much on the machines or tables or you have a lot of time to kill, a Pai Gow session can stretch your dollars and kill time. [Note, if you make any mistakes with your card combination then you automatically lose.]

Don't forget the minimum $1 ante if you want to win the bonus that's shown on the color display on the table.

edmorita 71 pts

I tend to avoid the games that rely on luck and prefer to hedge my bets that involve skill. There is not skill in volved in slot machines, keno or roullette. Although some luck plays a part in card games, you can improve your odds of winning through smart play.

harrycovair 77 pts

edmorita You must be a Black Jack man. Black Jack is fun as long as you don't get the guy that's counting his points with his fingers or the 3rd Baseman who is constantly eating the Dealer's cards.

Melissa808 268 pts

edmorita You have never heard of tongue-in-cheek, have you? I'm KIDDING.

edmorita 71 pts

harrycovair I've found that the noobs avoid the $25 tables. I've recently become a fan of 3 card poker. If I don't feel like thinking and if there is a good roller, I'll play the pass line at the craps table. I'll also play a few $50-$100 poker tournaments. The last one I played in, I just missed making the final table.

edmorita 71 pts

Melissa808 Tongue-in-cheek... That's like French kissing right? O.o

stagepresence 5 pts

You should add elephants with up-raised trunks. I actually have a lucky jade ring that was given to me by my mother. I think that a lucky, lacey thong would be a big seller. We could design one for every day of the week with lucky charm appliques. Have a great time in Vegas.

MoOgooGuypAN 20 pts

Heard about the frogs and red clothing. I tend to use good old fashioned kindness. I usually rub the machine and tell it sweet nothings in hope that it will be kind back to me. Unfortunately they're just like a stripper...only interested in taking my money.

Melissa808 268 pts

MoOgooGuypAN LOL. Maybe you gotta rub differently! Muahahaha Just kidding

LyndaTakara 9 pts

Have fun and leave us some when we go up in April! I think I'll bring my chinese money ball with me. I've had one hanging in my bedroom, maybe it'll also work in Vegas....who knows, gotta try.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year :)

ShawnNakamoto 10 pts

I don't have a lucky charm. I rarely win anything in Vegas anyway. Somewhere in my house is a lucky frog made from a dollar bill. My uncle's dad (now passed away) made them for all of us years ago as he loved to go to Vegas with us.

Melissa808 268 pts

ShawnNakamoto I once played blackjack with a family from the Big Island who had a whole bag of frogs! Silver, jade, gummy, whatever!

turkfontaine 202 pts

i once saw a man sitting at the Baccarat Bar at the Mirage. he was watching the results on a roulette wheel and writing them down in a notebook. i had to ask. he had some delusion that he could predict the future from the past

lucky charms will give a gambler the same edge as that guy. there are a few systems that will tip the balance in your favor, but every one of them will get you taken to the little room in the back, then out the door and onto the list, which is now supported by facial recognition software.

but half the fun of gambling is the prospect of winning and being able to tell your friends back home that, sweaty as your froggy panties might have been, they came through when the chips were down.

have a great trip to Vegas. looking forward to all your food posts. and GOOD LUCK!

Melissa808 268 pts

turkfontaine sweaty AND unwashed!

cma3rd 6 pts

Melissa808 turkfontaine Whats unwashed and sweaty?

M 64 pts

Hello Melissa!
Have fun and guud luck!
No forget me when you hit the mega bucks!

harrycovair 77 pts

No good luck charm for me. A friend who used to own a Saimin shop always professed that eating the Shrimp Tempura Plate from the California Hotel Snack Bar always bought her luck. Maybe for her but not for me.
I'm not sure if I'm supposed to say leave your credit/debit card at home or bring it along for shopping and eating but just resist the temptation to withdraw cash for other purposes.

Good Luck in LAS. Hope the Pass Line and backup works in your favor.

Melissa808 268 pts

harrycovair thanks! I must confess, when shooting craps I often play the field.

harrycovair 77 pts

Melissa808 O-o... "Double Up 6 and 8", "P and E", "Hard 10 two way"

About Melissa Chang

Melissa has more than 20 years’ experience in marketing and public relations. She is currently a freelance writer and independent marketing consultant, specializing in social media. 

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