Wonging hot tables

[Mullins, Bill CIV (US)]

Was the term "Wonging", or was it to "Wong in" (to a hot table)?

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> From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On
> Behalf Of Benjamin Barrett
> Sent: Saturday, July 06, 2013 2:51 PM
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: Wonging hot tables
>
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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Benjamin Barrett <gogaku at IX.NETCOM.COM>
> Subject:      Wonging hot tables
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> In today's episode of _This American Life,_ "Blackjack," the term =
> "Wonging" is discussed. = (http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-
> archives/episode/466/blackjack?act=3D=
> 1#play)
>
> As in the broadcast, Wikipedia =
> (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_Wong) mentions this as derived
=
> from Stanford Wong, a pseudonym for John Ferguson.
>
> The term means to start gambling when the table is hot (i.e., odds are
> = in your favor, based on card counting).
>
> Neither the OED nor Wiktionary/Wikipedia have an entry for this
meaning
> = of "Wonging," and both come close but seem to strike out when it
> comes = to "hot." Here are three definitions from the OED that are
very
> warm:
>
> 11b. In predicative use. Of a participant in a children's seeking or =
> guessing game: extremely close to finding the object sought or to =
> guessing correctly. Also in extended use.=20 12e. Betting. Of a
> competitor in a race, esp. a horse race: heavily = backed; strongly
> favoured to win. Also in extended use. Chiefly in hot = favourite =20
> 12f. Gambling slang (orig. U.S.). Of a gambler: on a run of good luck.
> = Of dice, cards, etc.: unusually lucky or successful.
>
> The last part, "of dice, cards, etc.: unusually successful" comes
> close, = but I think this refers to a table that is currently paying
> out, whereas = with Wonging, it means the table is primed by virtue of
> the odds to = start paying out.
>
> Benjamin Barrett
> Seattle, WA
>
> Learn Ainu! https://sites.google.com/site/aynuitak1/home=
>
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