I finally found it.
Two whole weeks after it dropped, I got my hands on the newest ALC scratch ticket: the $20,000 Casino.
Buying it felt like a bold move. These are $20 a pop, and I normally don't risk this much on a single gamble. I'm a guy with a big family to feed, so taking a shot on a $3 ticket is doable, but going for $20 borders on irresponsible.
But I reviewed the Flaming 7s soon after they came out, so I figured I should do the same with these, even if they did cost ten times as much.
It didn't help that I saw fellow Atlantic Canadian lottery aficionado Eddie Iceburg getting back-to-back $75 wins on the first two tickets he played. By golly, that could be me - but only if I actually bought the damn thing.
So buy the damn thing I did.
It's not like I had put it off on purpose. I looked for it every time I ran out to get groceries, but the budget grocery store was in no rush to start stocking this pricey bastard. I couldn't get this my frozen fries and peanut butter - it would have to be a pharmacy purchase.
Well, as luck would have it, I had a parcel waiting for me at the Canada Post counter at the nearby Jean Coutu. So on my way out, I stopped by cash to treat myself to one of these shiny big boys.
And it really is shiny. The photo doesn't do justice to its sparkle.
The color scheme is appealing, and I'm a real sucker for a casino theme (even though I've never actually been to one).
And the idea behind this one kind of drew me in. Instead of promising $500 grand or a million to five or six lucky winners, like you'd expect from a ticket at this price point, this one will pay out a more modest $20K to 200 lucky ducks.
So, more chances of winning the jackpot, but it's a much slimmer one.
But hey, $20K sounds pretty damn good to me. And by the time I got my mitts on it, six people had already become richer, so a better life truly is possible.
The Odds
$20,000 Casino has a 1 in 3.39 chances of being a winner - and a 1 in 19,000 chance of paying out the top prize.
Not a sure bet by any means, but good enough to make a hopeful fool like myself dream about what he'll do with his future winnings.
Game 1: War
To simulate the casino experience, you get three games to scratch through.
First, you get a version of the card game War. Uncover two cards, you win if yours is higher than the dealer's.
Except in a game of War, you'd expect to win about 50% of the time. Here, you've got 7 hands and chances are none of them will pay you a dime.
And sure enough, even when I "drew" a Queen, I was bested by the house.
No luck on Game One, but still two more to go.
Game 2: Slots
Round Two is the scratch-off version of slots: reveal seven sets of symbols, you win by getting three in a row.
Now seven pulls on a slot machine isn't much. You're likely to walk away empty handed after cycling through those few meager rounds.
And credit where it's due, the $20,000 Casino does a great job simulating that kind of losing streak.
So, bonus points for realism, I guess.
Game 3: Craps
Last up is a dice game. Scratch off a pair of dice, if the numbers add up to 7 or 11, you're a winner.
This was it. My last chance to turn $20 into - well, probably into another $20, but you never know - could be a few hundred waiting for me on the other side of this.
Or there could be zero dollars. Because none of those numbers add up to a win.
The House Wins Once Again
After waiting so long to get my first (and possibly only) $20,000 Casino ticket, I was kind of hoping my anticipation would've somehow translated into a win.
But nope, total bust.
And you know, it's kind of fun to risk this much. I can see the appeal of taking a big gamble instead of the dimes and dollars I've been tossing around.
But that thrill isn't worth the loss - at least, not with my current budget.
Until my luck turns around, I'm going to keep the stakes low - even if Eddie Iceburg makes winning on these look so easy.
Tally
Wagered This Session: $20
Profit This Session: -$20
Total Profit Overall: -$40
Thanks for reading and feel free to support my nonsense.
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