PT's Pub S Nellis Blvd Las Vegas | Drinks, Games & Dining Guide

I was just killing time between shifts at the hospital, figured I'd play a few spins on the way out. My hands were still shaking from a rough twelve-hour day and I needed to decompress. Hit the bonus round and suddenly the machine's going crazy—lights flashing everywhere. I actually dropped my phone. My coworker thought something was wrong with me until I pointed at the screen. We're using it to finally pay off the medical school debt and maybe take a real vacation with my family for once.

I came in with my buddies for New Years weekend, not expecting much, honestly just wanted to hang out. Was playing blackjack kinda casual, nursing a drink, when I got on this insane hot streak. Deaelr kept busting, I kept doubling down on the right hands. My friends were loosing their minds watching from behind me. Cashed out before my luck turned and immediately called my wife—she didn't even belive me at first. This money's going straight to the down payment on that house we've been saving for.

I've been playing in the local circuits for like eight years, always close but never broke through. This tournament had a big field and I played patient poker—folded a lot, waited for premium hands. Got to the final table and was card dead for a while, then caught some momentum in the late stages. Made a big call on the river with trip eights and my opponent had been bluffing. After I won the final hand, I just sat there for a minute before it hit me. I'm paying off my parents' mortgage and finally going back to school like I always wanted to.

My mom had just passed away two months before and I was trying to get out of the house, distract myself from everything. I wasn't even planning to gamble, just wanted to be around people. Ended up at a roulette table and put some money down on numbers that were meaningful to me—her birthday, my kids' birthdays. The ball landed on one of them and I won the spin. Then I let it ride and it happened again. I started crying right there at the table. This money feels like something she'd want me to use to take care of my kids.

I was at PT's with my nephew who was visiting from out of state for the holidays. He's in his twenties and wanted to try playing slots, so I sat down next to him to keep an eye on things. Got lucky on Buffalo Gold and my nephew kept saying 'Uncle, keep going, keep going.' The machine paid out huge and he was more excited than I was. I'm setting most of it aside for my grandson's college fund, but I took my nephew out for a really nice dinner before he flew home.

Three Card Poker isn't usually my game but I was bored with slots that day. Figured I'd play a few hands, keep my head straight. Then I got lucky with two big hands in a row, hit a couple of pairs and straights. The dealer actually said something like 'you're having one of those days' and I just kept smiling. Wasn't a huge score compared to some people, but it came at exactly the right time when my car needed work. Paid for the repairs and have some left over for a nice weekend trip with my girlfriend.