Alejandro clicked on the description, gaining insights into the mechanics of the roulette table—a central element in the classic casino game. The spinning wheel, divided into numbered and colored pockets, offered a myriad of betting possibilities. A robot approached him, asking, "Would you like to play?"
Alejandro, aware of the fifty-fifty odds or 1 in 36 chance, decided to take the plunge. "Yes, I would like to," he replied.
The robot continued, "How much would you like to bet?"
Alejandro confidently stated, "1000." Recognizing the risk, he understood that taking such chances was essential on his journey to accumulate the necessary funds for the million-dollar goal.
"Okay," the robot acknowledged, deducting ten chips from Alejandro's stack. "Would you like to bet on a specific number, colour, odd, or even?" inquired the robot.
Preferring a fifty-fifty chance but not ready to risk the more challenging one in thirty-six odds, Alejandro decided, "I'll go with colour and choose black."
"Okay," the robot responded and set the roulette table in motion. As the ball traversed the wheel, Alejandro felt his heart rate escalate. ‘It's like I'm on the verge of a heart attack. How do people do this?’ he pondered while anxiously awaiting the outcome.
The ball gradually slowed and eventually settled on 15 black. "I won, I won!" Alejandro erupted in happiness.
The robot promptly inquired, "Would you like to play again?"
"Sure," Alejandro replied with a beaming smile.
The robot continued, "What would you like to bet on?"
"Red," Alejandro confidently declared. The robot acknowledged with an "Okay" and set the roulette table in motion. The wheel spun and spun until it finally slowed down, landing on 31, a black number, leaving Alejandro's second attempt without a win.
"Fuck!" Alejandro exclaimed as disappointment washed over him, witnessing his loss. However, determined not to end on a down note, he declared, "I'll play again."
The robot inquired, "What would you like to bet on?"
"Red," Alejandro asserted.
"Okay," the robot acknowledged before spinning the table. The ball, with an unpredictable trajectory, finally settled on 15 once again. Overcome with frustration, Alejandro couldn't contain his disappointment, yelling out, "This is infuriating!"
"Do you want to play again?" the robot inquired.
"No, absolutely not," Alejandro replied, his frustration evident.
"Are you sure? The odds are fifty-fifty, and you've lost twice. Are you sure you want to end it now?" the robot pressed.
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The robot's words prompted Alejandro to reconsider, ultimately leading to a change in his decision. "Fine, I'll play one more time."
"Okay, what colour would you like to bet on?" the robot asked.
"Red," Alejandro affirmed, determined to turn the tide in his favor.
"Okay," the robot calmly replied, spinning the table once again. This time, Alejandro's heart raced at an astonishing rate, his desperation growing with each revolution of the wheel. Unfortunately, the ball landed on 17, draining the color from Alejandro's face.
"Would you like to play another round?" the robot asked.
"fuck no," Alejandro snapped.
"Are you sure? The odds are fifty-fifty, and you've lost twice. Are you sure you want to end it now?" the robot persisted.
This statement triggered a realization for Alejandro; it was a scripted tactic to encourage further spending. Filled with a sense of disappointment, he walked away from the roulette table, recognizing he had fallen prey to the manipulative allure of the casino.
Armed with $8,000 worth of chips, Alejandro decided to try his luck at the bingo table, an unexpected choice for him, having never considered it as a traditional gambling game—it seemed more suited for children. As he approached, he clicked on the description for clarification.
"Bingo is a game where a player wins by completing a row, column, or diagonal with numbers. For this table, there are 16 numbers on each sheet, ranging from 1 to 50. Four players participate, each with a hologram displaying their sheet. To claim a win, insert the sheet beneath your table. The minimum entry is 2000, with a potential win of 8000," the description explained.
Analyzing the potential risk and reward, Alejandro thought, 'It's a substantial chunk of my funds if I lose, but if I win, I'll get my money times four back. It's a risk worth taking.' Seating himself at the table, he pondered if there were any instructions to convey to a robot. Without the need for verbal cues, three robots approached, placing two chips on the table, each valued at a thousand. Alejandro mirrored their actions, preparing for the game ahead.
After inserting his chips, a sheet shot out from beneath Alejandro. He pulled it out, revealing a bingo sheet adorned with 16 numbers. A hologram materialized in front of him, announcing, "The game begins in 30 seconds." Alejandro waited anxiously as the countdown concluded, and the game commenced.
The first number called was 17. "I got it," Alejandro whispered to himself, crossing it off his sheet. The second number, 23, followed. ‘My luck must have turned around,’ Alejandro mused silently in his head.
As the game progressed, Alejandro experienced a mix of stress and relief with each called number. However, when the number 37 appeared, a wave of reassurance lowered his stress levels.
The game continued, with some numbers not aiding his cause. Yet, when he marked 32 on his sheet, Alejandro's spirits lifted. "One more, and I'll get bingo," he exclaimed happily. However, his elation was short-lived when the next number was called, and a robot at the table announced Bingo.
The robots at the table then asked, "Do you want to play again?" The question hung in the air, and Alejandro contemplated whether to give it another shot.
‘I was so close to winning and would've gained all the money I lost back but I’ll be screwed if I lose again,’ Alejandro tried to convince himself, wrestling with the disappointment. Despite this, he decided to give it another shot, starting another game that followed a similar pattern, ultimately resulting in another loss. It was at that moment he knew he had to stop.
"Why the hell did I do that?" Alejandro berated himself aloud.
The persistent robot posed the question again, "What would you like to play again?"
Ignoring the inquiry, Alejandro abandoned the bingo table and headed to the casino bar, seeking a change of scenery and perhaps a moment of reprieve.
The bar boasted an array of drinks, but notably absent were any alcoholic options. "What would you like to order?" the robot bartender inquired.
"I'll have four Red Bills," Alejandro responded. The robot bartender acknowledged with a simple "Okay" and retrieved the requested drinks from the freezer.
"Here you go," the robot bartender said, handing over the drinks. With only four thousand chips remaining, Alejandro realized he had dug himself into a considerable hole. In the midst of his desperation, however, a spark of an idea emerged.