On the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, the casino’s patrons were still predominantly young people out for entertainment. Yu Feng brought along several of her girlfriends and bosses, including the boss surnamed Fu.
Wu Wangchun’s Emperor Company was still the house. The entire process was similar to the previous day, with no disputes or unexpected events.
Yang Jian’s income was also similar, five thousand eight hundred yuan, and he still gave Biao Biao and others three hundred each.
By the fifth day, the number of high-stakes gamblers had significantly increased. There were already twenty or so people betting in thousands and tens of thousands. The Emperor Company had to raise the table limit to eighty thousand.
“Little Yang, if you have a break later, don’t wander too far. A lot of people from the underworld have come today, and I’m afraid someone might cause trouble.”
Song Jianhao suddenly sat down next to Yang Jian and whispered a reminder.
Yang Jian nodded. “No problem, I won’t go far. Brother Hao, why have so many big spenders shown up today?”
“Everyone’s finished their New Year’s greetings. Some kiln owners and truck drivers returning from the south have come, as well as those from the underworld. They heard there was a casino here and came over.”
“It doesn’t seem like there were this many people last year, right?”
“Last year there wasn’t a big opera. Many people didn’t know there was a casino here. This year, with so many people watching the opera, the news spread quickly. Luogang is a relatively wealthy township. Many people from the south run kilns and factories, and they’re all fond of gambling. It’s estimated that even more people will come in the next couple of days.”
“Then this place is a bit small, isn’t it? Look how crowded it is.”
Yang Jian glanced around. The ten-meter-long gambling table was packed. Except for the big spenders in the front row who were seated, there were two more rows behind them, one standing on the ground and another standing on stools, with people packed so tightly that it was difficult to get in or out.
“There are indeed too many people. I plan to run two sessions tomorrow, one for the red money team and one for the black money team. This way, after diverting the crowd, the gamblers can have a more enjoyable time.”
“Exactly. It’s troublesome to mix red and black money when paying out. Not only does it waste time, but the dealer’s workload is also too great. After diverting them, paying out will be much simpler. We can open at least a third more gambling rounds in an afternoon. However, we don’t have enough staff for two sessions.”
“Lack of staff isn’t a problem. Withdraw all the outer sentries like San Pang, and have Song Hui arrange for villagers to stand guard. Tomorrow, after diverting the crowd, you and Jianmin will be responsible for the red money team, and I will be responsible for the black money team.”
“The two sessions won’t be in the same place?”
Yang Jian detected a hidden meaning in Song Jianhao’s words.
“They won’t be together. The black money session will be held outside, and the red money team will move into the ancestral hall. If the stakes are too high, it might attract police attention.”
“Alright then, I’ll be inside watching. Jianmin will be in charge of the specifics.”
“Yes, you just need to sit here like this. I’ll arrange Biao Biao and Liang Liang inside.”
Song Jianhao sounded noticeably hesitant when he said this, indicating that running the red money session would be very complicated.
Yang Jian understood his meaning, but he wasn’t afraid. Weren’t people here to gamble on odds or evens? What else could go wrong?
Seeing Yang Jian’s composure, Song Jianhao left with peace of mind.
Yu Feng and her girlfriends and bosses were the same as the previous two days. When they won money, they would toss Yang Jian three to five hundred yuan, without explicitly calling his name.
Others, assuming it was a casino rule, or not knowing Yang Jian, would also toss money over after winning. Yang Jian was also adept at handling it. Besides shouting “Boss, you’re awesome,” he would also offer a pack of cigarettes.
There was a strange phenomenon at the gambling table: most people who won money became a bit arrogant, enjoying attention and flattery. If you cheered them on when they won a round, or said things like “You’re playing so well, you’ll get rich this year,” they would feel very pleased and generously tip without counting the money.
Of course, the recipients of these tips were usually the casino dealers, their own subordinates, beautiful women, or people like Yang Jian who sat at the ends of the table, as these positions were typically occupied by casino bosses or security personnel.
Opposite Yang Jian sat Old Wu. In front of him was a sign that read “Welcome to Bet on Points,” indicating he was from a point-betting company and not necessarily part of the gambling company, so he didn’t need to act as the house.
This meant Yang Jian’s position was definitely with the gambling company. The person sitting here was either the boss or a shareholder of the gambling company. Moreover, there was already a paper box in front of him, clearly meant for tips.
Gamblers, naturally, were willing to curry favor with the gambling companies. On one hand, those who ran casinos usually had some influence and power, and supporting them was beneficial. As the saying goes, “A rolling stone gathers no moss,” having more friends opens more doors, and you might encounter difficulties that require their help. This was the mindset of most people.
On the other hand, there was a casino rule: once a gambler lost too much money, the casino would give them some consolation money when they left. The amount varied. If you were active and generous in the casino, the casino might give you eight to ten thousand yuan, while others would receive one to two thousand.
Therefore, tipping was not a loss for them. After all, money won in the casino that wasn’t taken away wasn’t really money. Some people simply enjoyed the feeling of spending lavishly and being the center of attention in the casino.
Tossing a handful of money over and saying, “Here, have some tea,” felt like an ancient emperor bestowing favors upon his ministers. Once they lost all their money and calmed down outside the casino, they would feel like idiots. However, the next time they were stimulated by the casino atmosphere and their vanity was satisfied, they would do the same thing again.
After sitting in this position for three days, Yang Jian finally understood what it meant to be a gambler who eventually lost everything.
The reason why people who liked gambling ultimately lost all their possessions was due to five avenues of capital loss. First, being skimmed by the gambling company. Although the gambling company only skimmed from the Emperor Company on the surface, making it seem unrelated to the gamblers, in reality, this money came from the gamblers. The Emperor Company merely acted as an intermediary.
Second, money lost to the betting companies. Anyone who frequented casinos long-term would borrow money from betting companies, and this expense was considerable. Borrowing ten thousand yuan would incur a five-hundred-yuan interest, also called skim, or “water money.” If it wasn’t repaid on the same day, the interest would continue to accrue the next day. This interest was much higher than the five-percent or one-percent interest rates.
Third, being won by the Emperor Company. This depended on luck, but it had to be said that the Emperor Company had a significant advantage. They could control the table and always keep the losses within a certain range. For example, if their maximum bet per round was fifty thousand, it limited the gambler’s possibility of doubling their bet to recoup losses in a single round.
Furthermore, it was a battle of psychological fortitude. Gamblers were no match for the Emperor Company. The Emperor Company allowed you to bet within a limited amount, and they could never lose too much. Gamblers, on the other hand, would be content with small wins, but once they lost a bit more, they would become impatient and lose more and more without any bottom line.
Fourth, tips. These tips were not only for casino bosses like Yang Jian but also for the dealers who paid them, the betting company agents who lent them money, and those with some status who were quite generous with their tips. Their companions, women, and friends were all recipients of tips, especially women, who would feel embarrassed if their tip was less than a thousand yuan.
Fifth, consumption. Those who frequented casinos long-term would spend money without restraint once they won. Singing, foot massages, and visiting nightclubs were commonplace. Some even engaged in drug use, sinking into complete depravity.