Schadenfreude and “Spite Equity”

What the heck am I talking about?

Schadenfreude, for those who don’t know, essentially means feeling joy in others’ misfortune. And let me tell you, fellow slot hustlers are rooting for you to fail. Now, this is painting with a broad brush, as there are some top-class people in the slotting game. But when you walk into a random casino, other slot pros are the competition.

So what? As Rodney King said, “People, I just want to say, you know, can we all get along?” Unfortunately, not really. That guy in the corner checking those Regal Riches is not your friend. I mean, he can be, but most times he isn’t. He’s taking the food right out of Little Timmy’s mouth, assuming you have a kid named Little Timmy.

All right…get to the point. Well, because the average person is rooting for you to fail, he’s also sometimes engaging in a practice I call “spite equity.” What in the blue blazes is that?

Suppose I’m in a casino. Usually a smaller one, where taking plays is more impactful, but any casino will do. I am checking machines, and I see something a little short of +EV. Suppose comps aren’t a factor for me, either, where I might want to play something like that at times. OK, so don’t play it, right?

Well, it depends. Maybe I want to kill off that play and really make it seem like the casino is a dead zone for fellow APs. I want to project to other slot hustlers, “Hey pal, don’t bother checking. I cleaned the place out. You might as well go home and cry into a pillow.” Maybe this sounds ridiculous, but this is the world of slots.

Not only do I want to win, but I want you to lose. Not only do I want to take all the +EV plays, but while I’m at it, I want to make this casino seem like a barren wasteland. You drove all this way, and for what?

Genghis Khan thought the same way, supposedly saying, “It’s not sufficient that I succeed. All others must fail.”

My sister is a psychologist, and she’d have a field day talking to slot hustlers.