Virtual Danny 1

[Thatchatch]

Virtual Danny Part I


A man’s youth.
His ‘hood’.
His many talents.
Family and work.
Joining Virtual Casino.
A New Yorker in Costa Rica.
His rapport with his players.
His favorite games.
RTG software.
And much more…

Note: Be advised that Danny has accepted to respond to some follow up questions fielded by our members. He may not however be able to answer all of them, especially as many more work duties will surely take more of his time, since he is now a full manager. We also ask to not field personal questions that would not be appropriate to ask of him.

He has already told us in entirety all that he would reveal of his family. So no more family questions, please. Let's be as classy with him as he is with us. Good humor is cool. Otherwise, please enjoy the insightful read, and use your own good discretion in your questions. Here you are:



The OPU Interview with Virtual Danny, Virtual casino Manager.

Part I



Thatch: Hi Danny. First, before we begin, on behalf of our community I want to thank you for allowing us to take some of your time to share with us. We sincerely appreciate this.

To begin can you tell us a little something about yourself? Where were you born, school, sports, hobbies, first interests, what did you want to be when you grew up? Did you major in college?

Danny: I was born in New York. I went to school in Jamaica Queens, the hard section. Just to give you an idea of how hard, besides having the principle trying to break up a fight against the whites and Blacks and getting his head hit with a bat, I remember sitting in art class one day and looking over to my left seeing a guy pointing his finger at me in the form of a gun and shooting me. To his surprise I raised my arm and as if I was grabbing the bullet out of the air I did just that, I grabbed the bullet out of the air and motioned as if I was placing it in my pocket. LOL I never had a problem with that guy again.

I was into bowling in School and softball after school. I’m a lefty and those two sports just came naturally to me. On my best bowling day I have bowled a 300, 298 and 258 in a three part game series. I was taught by a pro and was going to go pro but I became better then he, and so he stirred me in the wrong direction so I never pursued pro. My buddy and I would win all the little league tournaments around. I had so many trophies I couldn’t put them anywhere after awhile.

My hobbies are writing songs and poetry since I was 17, and I just completed my first children’s book. I have created characters and all, and dream of getting it published but have no idea how to go about doing it. I read it for my child’s class and they loved it. It was such a wonderful feeling. My dream is to not only get it published but to also have it carry over to a complete set of books that follow one another. You see the first one is about Children’s first day of school and their feelings and to teach them certain things. It really is great reading. But I guess you guys already figured out that I write for a hobby LOL Oh and I was in 5 music bands as well growing up.

My first interest was playing the piano by ear and writing songs. I can sit down and play you a piece that you would sit there and just melt. Ask me to play it again and I’d say I can’t because I don’t know what I just did, LOL!

I don’t think I ever really had an “I wannabe a…” when I grow up… I can only say I did want to be a Cop. Almost took the test but changed my mind. I also wanted to model and be an actor, LOL, I remember going to Florida with my Mom so she can move there and start a new life with her boyfriend. I tried out for a movie that was there, interviewing. My Mom and him didn’t work out and the thing that pissed me off most was that 2 days after we left to go back to New York, I got called for the part! He never told me. I think it was called Spring Break, I’m not sure…

I studied Psychology, worked in the area for 2 ½ years. I loved it but had to leave it. I got tired of spelling it wrong. If you don’t know me by now, I don’t spell very well, and that’s one of the things I hate about myself. I really get upset sometimes when I want to write something but change the word because I just don’t know how to spell it.

Thatch: Family life, are you married and do you have children, if so do you want to tell us a little bit about them…?

Danny: I’m married with 2 children. I will only say I have prayed to God for a baby girl since I was 17. My first child was a Girl. I knew it would be, even after the Lady at the hospital said it was a boy. When my wife was pregnant the second time, I knew it was a boy because I asked God for a boy so I may have one of each. You see my faith is what has allowed me to live this far. I have been saved 6 times in my life; all 6 times I should have been dead. Every time something bad would come into my life I wouldn’t worry because I had faith. My co-workers from New York just couldn’t understand at times why I wouldn’t react to certain things. My wife to this day confuses my faith with me, just not giving a damn, LOL.

Thatch: When did you get involved with working for a casino, or what attracted you to it?

Danny: 3 years ago, I wanted to switch jobs. I was making a pretty penny at my job at that time until the last 2 weeks of it. You see it was based on commission. That never concerned me because I always sold. As a matter of fact I sold in my first 3 hours on the phone. They told me that never happened in all the years they were in operation. But, the last 2 weeks I was there I sold nothing so I got paid $150 a week, LOL. I had to stop and look for a salary that I knew was guaranteed. I wasn’t single anymore and had responsibilities, so I couldn’t take any chances. If there is a slightest chance of - I don’t want to use the word failure - but that’s the only word that comes to mind… If there is that chance, I will not take it when it comes to affecting others in my family. We have a responsibility to protect those who can not protect themselves. If you have the ability to do, you have the responsibility! So I decided I needed a guaranteed income.

The funny thing is I had just finished 8 interviews one day and was smoking a cigarette outside of the last interview when an ex co-worker passed by to say hello. She told me she just came from an interview, I then began to think, what the Hell, it can’t hurt. I then went to apply for a job at what turned out to be a casino called The Virtual. I had the same feeling come over me that I had when I first applied for my Management Hospitality Job in New York. I knew I belonged. I just knew it. Didn’t know why but knew it. So I left my resume. I never received a call. At that point I remembered how I got my first job in the hospitality Industry. Even after I was told the job is going to someone else, I called once a week to check up and see how that guy was working out for them. LOL, It turned out one of those calls was my last, they guy quit and I got the job. So I thought to myself, and what I have always believed in, follow what has already been proven to work, and just make it better!

So I called to check up on the status of my application EVERY DAY. You see when I first got the guy on the phone after applying, he made the mistake of saying something like: I’ll find out for you and get back to you. That left the door open for me to call back, seeing how he already said he’d find out for me and call me. LOL, Thing is the guy was blowing me off… Hmm, don’t say it guys, just keep reading, LOL. He was blowing me off and I wasn’t going to let him because I felt ‘something’. Well, I finally got him to grant me an interview. After I did one with him, I was moved over to another guy, and then last but not least moved over to yet for another guy to interview me. Man, It was harder then Fort Knox to get in there at that time! But I finally got it. I thought I would almost lose it because I had told the guy I did need to give my last employer 2 weeks notice. I didn’t have to wait that long though because I really wanted this job and asked my employer if I could leave. She was very happy for me and allowed me to leave…

Thatch: What qualified you for your position?

Danny: I already had sales experience, and worked with people before already, all of my life time employed.

Thatch: Did you gamble, online or on land before you joined Virtual?

Danny: No, just the occasional Atlantic City Slots once every 20 years, LOL!

Thatch: If any gambling, what are your favorite games, online or on land?

Danny: Black Jack is OK but it’s boring and too easy. I love Let ‘em Ride, liked El Toro for the Bull Fight, I actually do very well at it. I highly recommend it if your looking for a game to have an edge with. I hit the correct winner 4 out of 7 times. I mean even if you hit 4 out of 9 times and are betting correctly with the right denomination coin, you walk away a winner. Tell me, what’s better then 50-50 odds? I am now into the Prince of Sherwood, love the bonus round effects. But my favorite slot of all slots is the Sevens and Stripes. No better winning slot game than that one. As a matter of fact, since coming here to Costa Rica I have played land base and will ONLY play that slot!

Thatch: You’ve obviously tried your own software, at least in fun play, what do you think of your RTG software?

Danny: I think it’s great. I never used to think Online Casinos were legit. I always thought they were fixed. That was until something happened; I just couldn’t believe my eyes. From that day on I knew it really was legit, and if I just couldn’t win at times well, that’s because I was unlucky or picked the wrong cards to hold, etc. or the timing wasn’t right. Remember, these are machines and timing is everything with that. You might not believe it but we have a great many players beating us. I know you know of people that are saying the slots can be fixed, etc. But come on, it’s ‘machine software’ created by someone else, how much can that be tampered with? Nil, that’s how much!

Thatch: Do you play the ‘competition’s casinos to see what they’re all about?

Danny: Absolutely not! I don’t even look at their Promos. I don’t need to. If you don’t know by now, I have had a web site created after me, called VirtualDanny; I think that reason being is because everyone at work was getting tired of hearing, “Is Danny There”? - “No? Thank You, I’ll wait till he gets in”! LOL. I assume we needed to create something where the overflow of players could go all at once and connect with me in one way or another. I feel that’s because I’m real with them. I have always been real with them and treat them as people not players. I mean come on, if I gave you $5000 over a period of time and got nothing in return for it other then time spent, and I asked you for a favor, I’d expect you to give it to me. And as I continue to keep giving you money, I’d expect you to be grateful. This is how I looked at things then and this is how I continue to look at things now.

And it shows… as far as the promos go, I don’t look at the other guys. You have to understand why I do what I do to understand that. I don’t try to come up with the best promotion for the player to deposit. I don’t try to get the best promotion to beat the other guy. I simply see it as me having a great time with friends making their day and trying to be as witty as the last day. I do want them to deposit, that’s my job. But my point is that I don’t do my promos for the deposit. Now, “My Guys” get jumpy when I’m late sending them out. I actually have them emailing me upset as to why I have taken them off the list, LOL! Meanwhile my brain is probably fried at the moment and just couldn’t come up with anything. Plus I really have to tell you: Build it and they will come… I don’t ‘want to’ know what the other guy is about, because My relationship with “My Guys” is enough to tell me I’m doing something right, and don’t need to look over my shoulder. Your question could have been looked at 2 ways, I’m not sure if I answered in the direction you were going.

Thatch: I think that we’re doing fine, thank you! Now, how’s life in Costa Rica, in general (people, climate, what you like, what you don’t like, etc…)?

Danny: This can be answered in a way for facts on how things are, and then again this question can be answered in a way where you’re looking for my opinion. I should have asked before, but now I assume your forum is not based in Costa Rica?

Thatch: You are correct, we’re not based in Costa Rica, we’re based in North America.

Danny: Then I will tell you facts on how things are and keep my opinions to myself, LOL. A majority of Locals are extremely friendly and easy going, while others are not. Climate is always OK, not hot not cold just OK. Except for 5 months straight out of the year: It rains! What I like? Hmm… about Costa Rica? Two words would say it all: “Easy Going”. Bottom line. That and the fact that cigarettes are about a buck a pack!

What I don’t like? You got an Hour? I DON’T LIKE being played for a fool and that certain locals think just because I’m American I’m stupid enough to pay more for things that I don’t know I’m paying more for. I don’t like certain locals constantly thinking I’m an American so I have money to burn for one reason or another. Like if the taxi doesn’t have change he’ll just short change me, either because he doesn’t have the change or because he thinks I won’t know the difference… This wouldn’t play in New York! I’m an American, From New York for that matter, put me anywhere in the world, a buck is a buck and it’s mine that I earned, and I am not giving it up just for no reason at all. Even if my buck buys a lot! That stuff really pisses me off. I don’t like the way some locals used to look at me. Like I don’t belong here… But 5 years has made me shed that feeling. I’m at the point where I don’t care what they think. I’m here and I belong because I want to belong.

Now don’t get me wrong. Some of these things can be said of New York. And not all locals are like this. You asked me what I don’t like and I simply told it. There are a great many locals that have looked out for me, have been very kind to me, and very, very friendly. Now, a few locals would tell you, New York is no different; you have Bad there as well. They would say this because they are a very proud people and some are angry to always keep hearing stories from foreigners about the bad things of Costa Rica. I’d say yes that’s true but it’s different here then New York. Another thing I don’t like is not feeling because I’m strapped! I don’t like the uneasy feeling of no security. You can get mugged in New York, take your chances and tell the guy to go to hell then go after him and beat the hell out of him maybe 6 out of 10 times.

Here, if your about to get mugged your not only going to be mugged but you’re about to get hurt because they guy IS carrying a gun, the guy IS carrying a knife and WILL use it. In many cases that I know of, after getting mugged they got hurt just for the hell of it. I have been tried 7 times already on guys wanting to get in my home. All within an 8 month or so period, that’s crazy! In New York, I was tried only once. It never happened again after that day. But here, they tried 7 times already... The thing is one night I saw one guy on the wall, about to climb over. After cursing at him, threatening to shoot him in the head, he still just stood there on my wall defiant just staring at me. As if he was like saying: “So what?” Now in New York, you get caught you run! But here they are like that. It’s uncomfortable. So I would say the security is another factor for me that I don’t like. Oh yeah and the fact that I can’t get New York pizza, and what I can get here cost over $10! LOL.

Thatch: Danny, that’s a lot of interesting stuff… Especially some bits about the lifestyle in Costa Rica... I think we should take a break, and let our members read this part of our interview… There is a lot to assimilate here! Until part II, we thank you immensely for your time, honesty and candor.

And please accept our very best regards,

Thank you.

Thatch


Co-members, you have part I. Here you get to know, Danny, the Person, fairly well. Any comments, suggestions or questions are always appreciated – the board is now yours. Part II will involve more casino related material than Part I.


Stay tuned for the future Part II


Part II

DANNY

More hobbies, pass times.
Cheating softwares, rogue casinos.
The worst part of his daily work at Virtual.
RTG games ‘settings’.
The best part of his work: what he enjoys the most.
Cheating players and measures taken.
Bonus Abuse and Advantage Player defined.
How many players don’t care if they win or not.
Advise to our online playing community.
And so much more...