Video Poker: The Face of Pain

By Shepherd King

This is my story. I lived it. I felt it.

I wrote it at great expense so you could feel my pain firsthand.

I tell you how I was irresistibly drawn to the invisible magnetism surrounding the world of legalized gambling, how its deceptive charm captured my interest to the detriment of everything wholesome.

Youll see how I found a safe passage out of my self-imposed world of despair and desolation through the help of my loving family and a special group of people.

Although this book is about the subtle, addictive nature of the video poker machines, Ive also included my experience with blackjack to show how my natural interest in systems and procedures got me started in gambling and how it related to my eventual infatuation with video poker.

Most who read this have no doubt developed gambling systems of their own. Mine will, at times, appear ridiculous or simple. How good or bad they were is not the point. What counts is how my infatuation with them drove me deeper and deeper into my compulsion.

All information contained in the book came from personal observations while gambling. Ive never worked for a casino or a video poker manufacturer. I have no inside information to offer.

I cant help anyone to beat the machines and win their money back. I hope I can help someone beat a compulsion and win their life back.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 9, 2017
• ISBN: 9781543439236

Book preview

Copyright © 2017 by Shepherd King.

ISBN:      Softcover      978-1-5434-3924-3

                eBook         978-1-5434-3923-6

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Rev. date: 07/25/2017

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

765164

This book is dedicated to promoting the recovery of compulsive gamblers

Contents

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1 A Full Table In Vegas

Chapter 2 Have System-Will Travel

Chapter 3 Flares & Flames In Ohio

Chapter 4 To Vegas & The Big Kill

Chapter 5 My Friend, Joe

Chapter 6 Nifty Fifty And Nasty November

Chapter 7 Heading For A Furrow

Chapter 8 Anna

Chapter 9 Video Poker: The Face Of Pain

Chapter 10 My New Beginning

Chapter 11 My Future

Chapter 12 The Choice Is Clear

Chapter 13 A Family Lives By Mrs. Shepherd King

Dedicated to:

Anna who went to the Lord

Ahead of us on September 20, 1991

PREFACE

This is my story. I lived it. I felt it.

I wrote it, at great expense, so you could feel my pain first hand.

I tell you how I was irresistibly drawn by the invisible magnetism surrounding the world of legalized gambling. How it’s deceptive charm captured my interest to the detriment of everything wholesome

You’ll see how I found safe passage out of my self-imposed world of despair and desolation through the help of my loving family and a special group of people.

Although this book is about the subtle, addictive nature of the video poker machines, I’ve also included my experience with blackjack to show how my natural interest in systems and procedures got me started in gambling and how it related to my eventual infatuation with video poker.

Most who read this have no doubt developed gambling systems of their own. Mine will, At times, appear ridiculous or simple. How good or bad they were is not the point. What counts is how my infatuation with them drove me deeper and deeper into my compulsion

All information contained in the book came from personal observations while gambling. I’ve never worked for a casino or a video poker manufacturer. I have no inside information to offer.

I can’t help anyone beat the machines and win their money back. I hope I can help someone beat a compulsion and win their life back..

EGO-DYSTONIC

Denoting aspects of a person’s thoughts, impulses, attitudes and behavior that are felt to be repugnant, distressing, unacceptable, or inconsistent with the rest of his or her personality.

Good people doing bad things.

When others recognize this condition in us they plead with us to get help. It’s only when we recognize this condition in ourselves, however, that we will seriously consider seeking that help.

INTRODUCTION

The proliferation of legalized gambling across the United States has reached the saturation point as state after state seeks new ways to broaden their tax base and boost their economies.

This new surge of gambling establishments brings increases in all types of gamblers; professional, social and compulsive.

Experts tell us 5% of the gambling population are potential candidates for a problem with compulsion. Most of these people are not society’s low life losers who lack the backbone to live decent, constructive lives. The vast majority do live good lives. However, lying dormant within them is the seed of compulsion, which, given the right fertile base, will sprout savagely engulfing them in a tangled web; prisoners on a treadmill leading to the destruction of all valued life around them and possibly, their very own. As states incessantly turn to gambling to improve their economics, some citizens will pay a horrendous price so that the common good of all may be served.

One of the most popular vehicles for this ride to ruin is the video machines especially the poker machines. Unlike the intimidations inherent in the table games of blackjack, craps or roulette, video poker provides a solitary, safe haven for escape. They also have immediate response to a wager as opposed to betting on horses. Since video poker playing requires some skill, the ego gratification is far greater than the ordinary machine. The most devastating feature is