Now departing: Your life savings

Now departing: Your life savings
By Jen Kim, For RedEye

I don't have a gambling addiction. More like a teeny, tiny predilection for lottery tickets, blackjack and betting on "American Idol" winners. I never win anything, but that's not the problem.

The problem is the proposed gambling expansion that would introduce a city-owned casino in Chicago and put games such as video poker and slots at the airports, among other moves. Gov. Quinn's signature is all that's left between us and a decision that could ruin our lives.

The mayor wants it. The House and Senate both want it. Who doesn't want it? Me.

The biggest problem is that state officials want to add gaming to Midway and O'Hare. Already marred by their notorious reputations, do Chicago's airports need any more bad press? Do we really want to hear the announcement over the airport intercom: "Southwest flight No. 371 to Los Angeles will be delayed because the pilot is on a winning streak."

And what about passenger morale? Sure, I might be in a good mood if I rake in the big bucks, but what are my chances of that exactly? In a typical three-bar slot machine, you have a 1 in 262,144 chance of winning the jackpot. Which means that your chances of not winning the jackpot are 262,143 in 262,144. It's not your lucky day. Ever.

Does any of this sound remotely fun? No.

Unless, of course, you're betting just one quarter. It's just 25 cents, practically nothing in the big scheme of life. What difference does a single, inconsequential quarter make?

Into the machine it goes, and suddenly you see it: three lemons all lined up—you've just won $5—which frankly, isn't too shabby. In fact, you've just made a 2,000 percent return on your initial investment. What's the harm in investing your winnings just little bit more? After all, you have half an hour before your flight departs.

So you pour all those quarters back into the machine. Click. So close. Two oranges and a strawberry. Next time, it's two oranges and a lemon. You will get three oranges this next time—it's inevitable. Instead, it's a lemon, a strawberry and a grape. This must be a fluke. The next time will be three oranges. Yes, definitely.

Click. Click. Click. Nada. There is something wrong with the machine; there has to be. You spot airport security a few meters away—yep, he'll help you out. As you walk toward him, another passenger inches her way toward your machine, your winning machine. You sprint back to the slot, nearly knocking her off her feet. No one is going to win those three oranges except you. You pull a wad of bills from your wallet, and they all slowly disappear into the machine.

Someone announces an additional delay on your flight. Maybe it is your lucky day, after all.

JEN KIM IS A REDEYE SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR