Everyone's plugged in
The customers at my work have a strange sense of priority when it comes to their gambling. Whilst most of them aren't chasing money, they become unhappy when they're not winning, and when they do win, they'll put it all back before they realize what they're doing. They'll put in sums of money greater than the jackpots they're chasing, and leave defeated if they don't win it, and beam victoriously when they do.
All of these things are contradictory, but there is one thing that is certain:
They are all committed to it with great focus.
Time and time again I've made customers jump when I was speaking to them or bringing them a coffee. They're all plugged into the machine like it was some sort of life-supporting machine. It reminded me of something from out of The Matrix. People are glued to the gaming machines as if nothing else in the world mattered, and they are becoming fascinated with the colors, lights and sounds, all of which are entirely superficial and provide no mental sustenance of any sort.
Poker machines are the equivalent of brain candy.
Creating something from nothing
There is this one customer who writes notes on coasters as he plays. I've always watched him from time to time as he plays, writing down spin results and combinations. I always pitied him a bit because there are no patterns or trends in gaming machines. The machine will give you whatever it is programmed to provide, and each result is independent of other results.
It is possible for a machine to pay out its jackpot twice in the same day, or not at all for several months. The odds do not increase based on previous results. Walking around the gaming floor, people are using their own brains to create something from nothing. It all feels like the Matrix.
I personally think it all looks a little pathetic. I conjure up images of the film WALL-E, with all of future humankind on board that resort ship living their lives out of those motorized lounge chairs. All the patrons need are a feeding tube and a toileting tube and they'd never leave if they could help it.
It never ceases to amaze me how easily drawn in people are to the gaming machines. I've worked with them for two years and I feel very little for them. It could be that I have a greater understanding of risk from trading and I can see the insurmountable odds (that are very conspicuously spelled out for you in clear numbers ) of winning. Even a blind x100 leverage long/short position has a greater chance of picking up a jackpot payout than playing a machine until it pays out.
Remember, gamble responsibly! Don't get caught up with chasing money because mathematically speaking the odds are stacked against you!