By April 2025, I was done playing blackjack.
It’s not because I had an addiction; quite the opposite, actually. It was my job.
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I’m Leo Pomerenke, the Bemidji Pioneer’s newest sports reporter. Before that, I dealt cards at a metro casino every single weekend for over three years while going to school full time at the University of Minnesota, graduating in December 2024 with a major in journalism.
Journalism is something I love, which I learned after my first summer internship at the West Central Tribune in Willmar. In order to pay the bills, though, I had to juggle school and my part-time casino job, working the graveyard shift from 2 to 10 a.m.
It was difficult to constantly flip sleep schedules between school and work. On top of that, I was interning at the Minnesota Star Tribune last fall. There would be some days when I’d work at the casino and my internship on the same day, working 16 hours in total before I could fall asleep again.
As you can imagine, working overnights, I’d run into many people – interesting people, to say the least. I have enough stories about players to fill half a book, so I’ll give you one example.
One night, I watched a prominent pro athlete play a road game halfway across the country on TV, only to show up to work a few hours later and see that same pro athlete in high-limit blackjack. I had to do a double-take; his highlights were still fresh on Sports Center.
There were some players who were a delight to deal to. One player, who lost seven figures betting on the 2022 Kentucky Derby, the year when 80-1 horse Rich Strike shocked the world with a victory, tipped me almost $2,000 even after all of his losses earlier in the day.
Then there were some of the other players I dealt to, the ones who expected to win instead of having fun. They were usually upset, negative and cynical. Most of the time, they’re losing money, and I was the one taking it.
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Can you blame them?
Needless to say, the college/casino chapter of my life was a wild one, but it’s a chapter I’m glad to have closed.
Working the late nights and early mornings had some perks, sure. It was a lot more chill and less chaotic than other shifts, something that matched with my personality.
That negativity eventually took a toll on me. I always try to have a positive attitude, but there were some days when that felt impossible. Add in the constant sleep deprivation, reliance on caffeine and the pressures that come with going to school, it’s hard to have a rosy outlook on life.
But I made time for things that were important to me. It was the only way I could keep myself sane (well, somewhat sane).
After finishing homework, I’d play video games on my PlayStation 5. I’d watch every Twins, Wild and Vikings game I could, including every golf major and NASCAR race. I never passed down a trip to Target Field or the Xcel Energy Center, whether it’d be for a game or a concert (classic rock, preferably). I was always down to go to bars with my buddies, even though I had to stay sober because I’d be working that night.
I tried not to waste any time I had, and that attitude has bled into my post-casino life.
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My college experience was unique, but I couldn’t ask for a better hand than the one I was dealt here at the Pioneer. I’m excited to continue diving into the other personalities around the table here in Bemidji.
There are definitely a few things that I want to do while I’m here, including fishing, curling, golfing, and most importantly, writing interesting stories about the people around here.
After living near the Twin Cities all my life, I never imagined I’d live in the heart of lakes country. But I’m ready to play my cards, and I want to make the most of it.