Jerry, your mention of visiting the Grand Casino in Monte Carlo sparked a memory I had and my experience with roulette in that swanky place. While on a transatlantic cruise ship, we had an 8-hour stop in Monaco, and I decided to go to Monte Carlo.
Luckily, I was advised before hand that to play table games -- roulette in particular -- you had to be dressed in a jacket and tie just to be seated. I had that information, and was so eager to try my luck.
However, when I arrived it was in the early afternoon and only a group of high rollers were playing in the roulette pit that was pretty impressive in itself. Seems everyone spoke French at the table, and to play, you had to just throw your chips on the table and announce in French your bet.
Two things went badly wrong for me. First, they played in Euros and chips started at 20 Euros per chip. So, I said I was going to play 100 US dollars and just received a handful of chips, plus some change back to me.
When I approached the table, all those seated there on stools overlooking the table were dressed in very fine, gentlemen's clothing; all of which made me look like a beggar among Kings. I said to myself, I am only here to say, "I have played in the Grand Casino and in a roulette game."
I tossed my 20 Euro chip on the table and announced in French the number 22, my wife's favorite number. When the small denomination chip hit the table, the pit crew seemed shocked and all began to snicker and laugh under their breath. Other players were wagering square plaques -- don't ask me the value cause I could not imagine them being less than 10,000 Euros. As the croupier struggled with the meager 20 Euro chip, the ball was spinning and I was feeling like a sad-sack. I was really excited when I saw the ball drop into the number 22 and boy was I ecstatic. It was short lived as I noticed my money had been placed on the number 23 square on the table because I had mispronounced my number in French.
Just writing about that experience causes me to tremble with fear. I kept back one chip and unsuccessfully played the others. I just thought I would leave with it in my pocket. Seems like the chips we had that day had a chip inside them that would activate an alarm when it passes though an exit point.
Yea, you guessed it. The alarm went off and I felt like a shoplifter caught red handed. Security guards began running all over the place and just ran past me to get to the exit. I kept walking thinking I was going to jail only to see as I got to the front entrance there was a fire-red Lamborghini with a young man who had just arrived. They rolled out a red carpet, took his keys and escorted him pass the crowd.
I have the chip and I can truly say I had gambled in one of the finest casinos in the world and my story -- all true -- was worth the money I lost there. My advice is roulette is an exotic attraction taken very seriously there. I think I crashed their party and they didn't want to be rude by escorting me out. I did see the pit manager ask one of the fellows with stacks of plaques if I could play and he only nodded. If anyone is still reading after this long assault on everyone's intelligence, thanks for the memories!