He was aware of how dangerous gambling could be. He read stories and watched documentaries of many.
But he also knew he wouldn't turn out like that. He was better than that. He had a plan.
He would only take five-hundred vallies in. And that would be his "entry-fee." If he lost it all, then whatever, but if he won big, he'd leave it at that and end his time there.
Walking inside Evan Medy's casino, he went to one of the slot machines and started playing.
He only played a few games before getting bored and going to another machine.
He went from machine to machine, trying them all out to find them boring and luck-based. At least the thrill of potentially losing his money was something. After that, he decided to head to one of the tables where they played poker.
The cards looked different, but the game was the same. He learned to play online for fun years ago with friends. He may not have remembered all of the rules, but the basics were still embedded in his mind. He should be fine.
He entered with one-hundred vallies worth of chips, the minimum requirement, and got some looks from other players, probably because he was young. An old man, a young adult couple, and a middle-aged smoker were all currently playing.
The dealer gave everyone their cards, and Lincoln ended up with a King of Souls and a Seven of Shields.
On the table sat a Five of Souls, Two of Swords, and a Queen of Souls. None were anything notable for him, but luckily no one on the table raised.
"Check," the old man said.
The couple did the same, the man placing his cards face down on the table.
"Check."
"Check."
The middle-aged man puffed his cigar and said, "Check."
"Check." Lincoln said.
The dealer drew the next card and placed it. It was a King of Ash.
Lincoln was a little excited, noticing his pair but tried his best not to show it. It was deemed "Poker Face" for a reason, after all.
The old guy and the young adult man both said check once again, but the woman slid two of her fifty-valley chips forward and raised.
"Call."
The two guys from earlier folded, and the middle-aged smoker did the same afterwards. Lincoln looked at his pair of queens and carefully thought if it was worth going all in. The woman seemed confident and was still sitting on another seven-hundred vallies worth of chips.
Other than the King of Souls, the cards on the table were too low for there to be any sort of straight. Although, with two Souls on the table, he wondered if both of her cards in her hand were Souls, and she was hoping for another to drop and make it a flush. It was a long shot, hence why he matched her raise.
The dealer drew the last card and placed it. It was a Seven of Swords.
With two pairs, Lincoln's confidence grew. But he knew there was still a chance the woman had something better.
The two of them were forced to show their cards. The woman held a King of Shields and Two of Souls.
They both had double two of a kind, including a King, but since Lincoln's other card was higher than hers, he ended up winning.
The woman didn't react horribly, just looking at her partner and giggling.
Lincoln nearly blew a sigh of relief. If that last seven hadn't come, he would have lost. Not that it would have been a tremendous loss for him, but a loss nonetheless.
He ended up playing some more rounds of poker before the old man and couple left. That was when he decided to take his leave and try something else. This casino was pretty huge, after all. Perhaps he would have to try another card game, like blackjack. He's played most of these games before, but it was a little more exciting with money on the line. Maybe he should visit an arcade building?