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The Unvarnished Truth About Vegas: Seven Reasons Why It's Easier Than You Might Think to Lose It All

What is it about Las Vegas that prompts otherwise rational people to make rash decisions they wouldn't dream of at home? Jay Rankin, author of Under the Neon Sky, explores the seductive culture of a city that makes people lose their minds'and their fortunes.

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Los Angeles, CA (January 2010)'We all know that Las Vegas is a town where you can make'or break'a fortune in a single game. And while millions each year decide to gamble there regardless, most of us like to think that we'd stop before our losses left the triple digits. That's why we're scandalized, horrified, and fascinated when we hear stories like that of Terrance Watanabe.

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According to the Wall Street Journal, Watanabe, who built up a fortune while running his family's party-favor import business, has found himself in the hole to the tune of $127 million'an astronomical sum by any measure. How could this have happened? we ask ourselves. Why didn't he stop? I certainly wouldn't have let myself go that far, even if I did have a fortune to lose. Content source World Travel Information www.hysjw.cn

How, indeed, did this highly successful and presumably intelligent person manage to fall prey to one of the biggest individual losing streaks in Las Vegas history? The answer, says Jay Rankin, is much more complex than you might initially guess'and it says just as much about Vegas as it does about Watanabe. Content source www.hysjw.cn

'It's tempting to blame Watanabe's loss on his own bad judgment,' concedes Rankin, author of the new non-fiction book Under the Neon Sky: A Las Vegas Doorman's Story (Jay Rankin Publishing, 2009, ISBN: 978-0-9842109-1-6, $14.99). 'And it's true: He chose to stay in an environment that was clearly destroying him. However'and this is a big however'the truth is that Las Vegas is constructed to lure in people who are susceptible to destructive behavior, and to nurture those behaviors once they've started. Especially if those people are high rollers.'

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Rankin knows what he's talking about. A former probation officer, family and addiction counselor, and television host who holds an advanced degree in psychology, Rankin worked the graveyard shift as a doorman at the 5,000-room MGM Grand hotel for six years. A memoir of sorts, his book tells the true story of this turbulent period in his life. Source of this article www.hysjw.cn

In his position as a doorman, Rankin found himself at the intersection of two worlds: the flashy, electric exterior of the Las Vegas strip, and its gritty hidden infrastructure. Surrounded by hordes of visitors whose singular goal was often to cross lines, Rankin faced a nightly fight for his sanity and his safety. And during that time, he got an insider's view of how the city works.

'Watanabe's case seems sensational because of the amount of money involved,' says Rankin. 'But really, this is old news. It happens all the time. If you step back and look at the marketing, it's brilliant: the lights, the shows, the food, the entertainment, the rooms, and the views'the possibility of winning big, of getting laid, of doing drugs, and on and on. Even the rush of anticipation you get when you plan a trip to Vegas is addicting. www.hysjw.cn

'The whole atmosphere has been carefully constructed to address all groups and ages and cultures,' he adds. 'And you don't have to be as rich as Mr. Watanabe to get in over your head.' www.hysjw.cn Submit Travel Information

Read on as Rankin explains the strategy behind Sin City's allure. copyright www.hysjw.cn

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The sheer excitement draws you in. If you've ever been to Vegas, you know that it is, quite simply, intense. The colors are vivid, sounds constantly bombard you, and you're always surrounded by a diverse mass of people. You might be sitting near a group of beautiful women having a 'ladies' night' out on the town, or you might be mingling with a celebrity at a bar. The level of excitement is always very high. It's impossible to be bored in the midst of all of the spectacle and pageantry, and The Best is right at your fingertips: the best restaurants, the best shows, the best parties.

'Las Vegas is alive with action and anticipation, and you can't help but want to be part of it,' Rankin acknowledges. 'The atmosphere very much lends itself to making visitors want to be part of the 'in crowd.' They'll do whatever they think will land them in the V.I.P. room or in the winner's circle.' Content source World Travel Information www.hysjw.cn

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There are no boundaries. Think about it: In your hometown, you have to act a certain way, and you have to abide by certain rules. Your place in society, whatever it might be, is accompanied by a set of obligations'to your family, your employer, your friends, etc. Not so in Las Vegas. It's a city where the impossible'isn't anymore.

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'The primary allure of Vegas is that there are no boundaries,' Rankin says. 'There is no clock, no last call, no line in the sand. You can do what you want, whenever you want, with whom you want. You're free to stay out all night and bet it all. Your fantasies are right in front of you'and when you can indulge in them without repercussions, it's almost impossible to say no. Vegas has been designed that way for a reason, and it's true'what happens in Vegas really does stay there. Unfortunately, the consequences of indulging in your wildest desires stick around long after the thrill is gone, and Mr. Watanabe is a prime example.'

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The city is alive, 24/7. Las Vegas doesn't sleep the way other cities do. It is, literally, a 24/7 town, and there's just as much to do and see at 4 a.m. as at 10 p.m. Indeed, as the night wears on, casinos and clubs raise their glitz factors. Beautiful people and high rollers continue to make spectacular appearances and place outrageous bets. And of course, the neon lights glow even more brightly at night.

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'The spectacle alone is enough to make you want to stay up and take it all in,' Rankin says. 'And if you're enjoying yourself, if you're flirting with a beautiful woman, if you're convinced that the next hand is yours, then there's no reason to stop. No one is going to make you leave; no bartender is going to put out a last call. You can stay out until you've dropped from exhaustion or blown through every last cent you have.' www.hysjw.cn

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Vegas builds the hype that anyone can win. It's true; anyone can win. No one is prohibited from coming out on top at roulette, poker, slots, or any number of games. The possibility is always there. And often, that's a problem. There's an impetus to keep going, no matter how well or how badly the game is going. To compound the compulsion to keep playing, Vegas is also good at hyping the 'almost' factor. 'You almost won that time! So close! You should play just one more game.' Often, this encouragement comes from fellow guests, not from casino employees. Everyone is waiting on the next big win.

'Go to a table that's hot and look into the eyes of the players,' Rankin suggests. 'Most of them will not be coolly calculating whether they should stay or walk away. They'll rush into the next hand, dazzled by what they could win. After all, when will they feel this way again? Study the people playing slot machines. Many will sit for hours and hours. If they win a jackpot, many will give it all back. The hotels know all about this, and they are continually improving and updating their casinos to make them more exciting, modern, and consumer-friendly'a place where you can see yourself making it big.'

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The comps are spectacular. Vegas, says Rankin, invented the comp. So it's no surprise that Harrah's offered Terrance Watanabe V.I.P. perks, such as free stays in a three-bedroom suite at Caesars, seven-course meals while he gambled, and tickets to see the likes of the Rolling Stones.

'If a player of this caliber is not happy, he will simply walk across the street and keep playing at another casino,' Rankin points out. 'So it's well worth a hotel's investment to make him feel like a king by offering him comps. Hotels answer to shareholders, and they actively compete for high rollers like Mr. Watanabe. It's well worth the cost of a $1,000 bottle of champagne to keep someone who's betting many times that in his chair.

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