What does the word Casino bring to mind for you when you hear it? I'm pretty sure that most people instantly think of Vegas in all of it's glamour. I know the last thing I think about is where I went yesterday. The Painted Hand Casino in Yorkton, like most other casino's I've been in, is absolutely depressing and completely disgusting.

The disgusting comes from the fact that smoking is still allowed in this backwards province. My eye's were literally burning from all the smoke in the place. I had to go and stand outside in the -15C weather (that my Grandmother keeps insisting on calling a "Heat Wave!") just to soothe my eyes.

The depressing comes from the sight of all the Seniors in there mindlessly plugging their money into the VLT's. My Grandparents seem to enjoy going and playing the penny machines. I don't really have any problem with that because at worst they may blow $20. It's the other ones that you know are just lonely and bored sitting there plunking Loonies into a machine that bothers me. I'm making the assumption that most of these people are on some kind of fixed income or meager pension, which may be wrong of me, but I don't think I'm all that far off. These people don't have the money to support the local Native band with taxes so why on earth would they do it this way?

I told my Grandparents that I'm going to get them a Nintendo if all they go for is to sit in front of a screen and watch images flash over it while obnoxious buzzers go off. If they want the real experience then Grandma could even stop pretending she doesn't smoke and light up in the living room. Win/Win for all!

As it is I'm going to see if I can download a slots game onto Grandpa's computer...