On a side street in Chinatown yesterday I spied a gaggle of Asian residents boarding a chartered bus emblazoned with the name of RIVER ROCK CASINO scribbled on the side in a decorative eye-catching scroll.
To celebrate the New Lunar Year the gambling resort has been hosting a special promotion for the Chinese community which spans over the next week or so.
Curious, I hopped on board and trekked out to Alexander Valley (on the outskirts of San Francisco) to partake in the festivities.
Outside the main Casino of the Native American Indian resort a handful of inviting red lanterns were hung.
Inside, authentic dragon dancers delighted guests.
Live musicians played traditional Chinese song which sweetly serenaded the slot machines which sang out in their own distinctive top notes.
Members of the Players Club (free) who played the enticing array of slots on hand were automatically entered into a draw and the golden opportunity to win substantial cash prizes.
Being the Numerologist that I am, I was quite impressed with fact the organizers chose a most auspicious occasion for the event to get underway.
For example, at 8 o'clock on Friday February 8th, slot-players betting on the one-arm bandits were eligible to win the princely sum of $888.00 cash.
Of course, the number eight is a Master money number; so, the portents were great for one particular guest for sure!
At 8 o'clock on the 21st of February another lucky player will have the opportunity to win the grand sum of $8,888.00.
In addition, there will be a spanking-new Mercedes-Benz giveaway.
On one machine I won thirty (30!) free games which resulted in a cash windfall by the time the lucky streak ended. On another entertaining video slot I slipped down in front of, I managed to scoff up another four hundred wins.
Maybe it had something to do with those elegantly-wrapped candies they were offering up for free at the Players Card desk which a number of my new Asian friends swore up and down were "lucky".
One lady I sat down next to patiently waited as a machine tallied her winnings.
The elegant old gal won an astounding 50,000 credits!
Oh, Nellie! Talk about a jackpot.
Of course, she was betting on a penny machine.
One had only to slash a couple of zeros off the end of the configuration to figure out the excited player had snapped up the tidy sum of $500.00.
Better than a kick in the pants, though!
By the way, if you take the tour bus up to the Casino, the promoters of the tour will hand you five coupons valued at five dollars each as you disembark.
The vouchers may be inserted directly into the machine and used to play the slots.
After you play an initial $5 of your own cash - if you play the coupons right - you can conceivably end up playing on the Casino's moolah all night.
I did.
If you want to drive up, then make a week-end of it.
In Alexander Valley there is a well-equipped trailer park. And, hiking trails are a hop-and-a-skip away.
In Sonoma County a number of wineries offer up free wine tasting, as well.
In addition to the slot magic - River Rock offers Blackjack, Mini Baccarat, Fortune Pai Gow Poker, low and high-limit card tables, Texas Hold 'em Poker - you name it.There is a formal dining room and a snack bar, but both are a bit pricey.
So, you may want to snack before you roar into the Casino.
I know I get hungry when I gamble.
After all, it's strenuous business working those slots.
But someone's got to keep the economy goin', eh?