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StumbleSlots have gotten looser, not that the average gambler can tell
Tuesday, March 16, 2010 | 2 a.m.
While the recession has slot players tightening their spending habits, Nevada casinos appear to be loosening up.
From 1995 through 2008, the percentage of wagers kept by Nevada slot machines crept up while the percentage paid out to players declined. Last year that trend was reversed, with slots paying back 93.9 percent of wagers versus 93.8 percent in 2008.
Such minute differences mean little to individual players — these figures indicate theoretical payback percentages over millions of spins and aren’t reflected in any single gambling session. And yet, trends can reveal how casinos do business.
Frank Streshley, chief of the Gaming Control Board’s tax and license division, couldn’t determine the reason for the increase, though it could have something to do with the fact that casinos aren’t spending money installing new penny slots like they did before the recession.
Before 2009, decreasing paybacks were tied to the spread of penny denomination slot machines, which are popular with players and have replaced higher denomination quarter and dollar games at many casinos. Penny slots allow gamblers to wager in credit increments of a penny, though most gamblers spend more than a dollar per spin. These games historically pay out less of gamblers’ wagers over time than higher-denomination slots, though gamblers like them in part because they offer more chances to win smaller jackpots.
Streshley says he receives collective slot payback information from the casinos and therefore can’t determine whether specific machines at a particular property have been proactively tightened or loosened.
•••
Sour earnings generated by expensive buildings that were planned before the recession have taken a massive toll on the balance sheets of Nevada’s casino companies.
Statewide, the value of casino assets fell by about $5 billion in fiscal year 2009, with most of that lost value concentrated on the Las Vegas Strip, according to the Gaming Control Board. These figures are through June 30 of last year and don’t reflect $1.3 billion in write-downs taken in October to reflect devalued earnings expectations at MGM Mirage’s CityCenter.
Companies are required to reduce the book value of their assets if those values exceed the expected value of future earnings generated by those assets over time.
These write-downs are noncash charges against income and don’t reflect actual earnings generated by the underlying business. (Even after excluding the $5 billion in write-downs, casinos statewide still would have lost money on a collective basis. Minus the write-downs, operating losses would have been about $1.8 billion for the state’s 260 largest casinos in fiscal 2009.)
Writing down the value of assets reduces a company’s equity, which can hurt its ability to borrow money in the future, said Mitchell Hochberg, principal of Madden Real Estate Ventures and a board member of Orient-Express Hotels Ltd.
Hochberg, a hotel executive who was involved in the restructuring of the Cosmopolitan resort in Las Vegas under new ownership, is helping other hotel and condominium projects in Las Vegas, New York and other cities restructure their debt in the recession.
Depressed values for casino properties won’t kill longer-term investment in the gaming industry or Las Vegas, however, Hochberg said.
“I think investors understood the inherent risks of gaming — that there were higher risks for higher rewards,” he said.
•••
Nevada casinos are making a lot less money on nearly all of their games except for baccarat. A surprise big loser for the casinos: blackjack.
While gaming revenue as a whole has plummeted to 2004 levels, blackjack — which generated about $1 billion last year — has fallen to levels not seen since the late 1990s. Blackjack, the biggest moneymaker among casino table games, generated $996 million in 1998.
Blackjack revenue fell 20 percent last year, on top of a 12 percent drop in 2008 from the previous year. The games also are holding less for the house than they did a few years ago, or about 11 percent versus 12 percent in 2006.
On the Strip, blackjack is down 34 percent from its peak, while slots are down about 20 percent, according to calculations by Frank Martin, a San Diego-based mathematician and gaming analyst.
Martin attributes some of the decline to backfired attempts by casinos in recent years to make blackjack games more profitable. These include the spread of 6-5 odds games and a proliferation of specialty blackjack games and side bets with worse-odds jackpots that attract novices while turning off seasoned blackjack players.
“Unlike slots, where the payback setting is a mystery, blackjack has to advertise the rule changes that increase house edge,” Martin said.
The rapid descent of casinos’ biggest moneymaker in table games is a bad sign, especially for older or smaller casinos that can’t afford other attractions like baccarat, which is attracting Asian players with money to burn and other high rollers who prefer the mystique and relatively little decision-making involved in baccarat versus blackjack, Martin added.
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" Streshley says he receives collective slot payback information from the casinos and therefore can't determine whether specific machines at a particular property have been proactively tightened or loosened. "
This is a disturbing statement because for years we have been told that it is a myth that slot machines are "tightened or loosened" due to strict RNG micro chip regulations with the gaming control board to keep the machines fair to the player. Of course we seasoned players know that properties DO and always have practiced this legal form of robbery, and this article sheds some light on my belief that they have done it all along since the days of "tightening the screw" on the old mechanical machines..And the properties wonder why the tourists are staying away!!
" While gaming revenue as a whole has plummeted to 2004 levels, blackjack -- which generated about $1 billion last year -- has fallen to levels not seen since the late 1990s. Blackjack, the biggest moneymaker among casino table games, generated $996 million in 1998."
Gee.. this one is not too hard to figure out.. OWNERS GET RID OF THE 6/5 ODDS RULE AND THE PLAYERS WILL RETURN!! Duh!!!
Do you think it's because the moronic corporations don't know what they're doing?They thought they were going to revolutionize the gaming industry.The players know more than the operators.I guess the deer shot the hunter.
No gregario, it's because the idiots at the top figured the stupid gamblers will play any game with any odds so they tried to jack the players to increase profits and now they are paying the price.
I learned an easy way to beat the odds . Don't gamble!!
Faced with no possibility of winning, gaming was not for me, I want to gamble. Gambling is where the gambler has a chance to actually win. Gaming is where you pay to play. Faced with a lack of respect for the gambler, I did what all good customers do when treated without dignity and respect, I just went away.
Gambling: The only sure way to win is not to play.
"Gambling: The only sure way to win is not to play." - By burnemandturnem
Such a typical line of reasoning and entirely untrue. You can't possibly lose OR win if you don't play.
It's statements like this that make me think people like you have no idea what Las Vegas is or how it came to be in the first place.
environprotector
Did you not read the story? The next paragraph said the Blackjack drop could be blamed on the 6:5 odds and other changes to make the game more profitable.
Regarding the slot hold, I think Mr. Streshley could get the information for any machine at any casino, but he doesn't want to take the 4 hours, minimum, it would take to gather the info for a reporters question about a one tenth of one percent change.
"surprise big loser for the casinos: blackjack."
No surprise to any experienced gambler..they made the game a carnival game.
If you have a problem with the returns while gambling, here's a free suggestion: Do Not Gamble. Do you think your stock broker or banker is going to listen to you whine when you tell them your stocks or 401K isn't paying you what you think is fair? If you expect a payout while gambling you are the casinos' favorite mark - A Sucker!
Play live poker and eliminate the house advantage.
To all of you "Don't Play" broken records out there, Those of us who are seasoned gamblers KNOW that the odds used to be better here, and at times, if all of the right elements lined up in our favor, we stood a chance of winning a good bankroll. That being said, sadly I must agree that with the current conditions set by the greedy corporate idiots, I have given up a pastime that at one time defined my life in a way no other part did. Also this city was the most amazing place on the planet!! And all you young punks out there just keep your idiotic no nothing comments to yourselves on this please. Those of you over fifty out there KNOW what I'm talking about..
Casinos thought going cheap would bolster their bottom lines. I think it backfired. We used to go out every Friday night to gamble, eat, and take in a show; not any longer. Most times we would at least break even. The gambling got considerably less fun because we would go through $200 in less than an hour playing pennies/nickels/quarters. I switched to video poker but now you don't rack up the same points as regular slots. We are strictly online poker these days, no driving or secondhand smoke AND we win.
We have a couple dozen relatives who used to come here 3-4 times a year. They got tired of losing a progressively larger amounts from 2006-2008, so instead stay closer to home and gamble in smoke free casinos.
I agree with the assessments folks have given here regarding blackjack. The 6-to-5 baloney and turning blackjack into carnival games like "SuperFun 21" have pretty well ruined it. But there is one more problem: Continuous reshuffle machines ("CRM's").
In a 6 or 8 deck shoe game, like a single or double deck game, players can see the cards. Not so with the CRM's. While they're certainly regulated by the GCB, a lot of players simply don't trust them. I've often heard CRM's referred to as 10RM's (10-removal machines). Players see them and move on.
Yes I loved Vegas when the Mob had control of Casino's. Been here 40 years and seen a lot of changes to the worst. Even when the corporate idiots in the 1980's, then in the ninties creed creeped into this town so bad that for 20 years it was how can we screw everyone. You think that politics caused our problem, nope creed. In the seventies things was bad in the country but Las Vegas under the Mob kept up the image that you can have a good time in Vegas for your dollar. People still came, now it is about getting 100% or more profit out of the casino. Everyone should have a profit but not to the point that you hurt the city for creed. Why did you think people like Sam Boyd and other people that build this town never went corporate, they wanted to control there business to make sure that customers kept coming to there casino's and not please a bunch of crooks at Wall Street. From that I am like (By environprotector) I just don't enjoy glambing anymore like I did before.
Guess what Harrah's? Guess what MGM? The chickens are coming home to roost for you with your terrible blackjack games you offer. Those numbers are not because of the economy -- it's because people are not playing your ripoff blackjack games anymore.
Did you really think blackjack players would stand for 6/5, continuous shufflers, stupid side bets, and ridiculous table limits? Let's throw in those insulting "party pits" to further piss off blackjack players.
There are only so many stupid people out there who will sit at your ploppy house edge tables. And once they lose and lose, they will either quit playing or learn the game properly and realize what a ripoff blackjack has become.
Guess what Harrah's and MGM -- time to go back to the old ways with blackjack. Your efforts to screw over the players has failed!!! Go back to offering 3/2 blackjack, get rid of the continuous shufflers, and stop having such ridiculous table minimums.
One last thing to MGM and Harrah's: The gambling public will only take so much abuse from the two of you. You have a practical monopoly on the Strip and you both thought you could work together to change blackjack and screw people over. Guess what? The people have spoken very loudly -- are you going to listen?
Good point No100, I will not play at a blackjack table with a CRM and it is very hard to find a table without one. The crappy odds and silly variations to the game don't help either.
The Las Vegas Strip is for "tourists" who really don't know better that they are being taken advantage of by the casinos. For locals, its better to find a decent off-strip casino where the odds are slightly better and they appreciate your business. I like the Cannery since they mail me free cash or slot play coupons, 2-1 buffets/dinners and have 5x points, etc. At least I get inexpensive food and free play monthly which is more than the strip casinos offer.
Hey figmo, I believe the word you're looking for is GREED not CREED.
What is Creed?
There is no way that slots got looser over the last year. Just ask anyone who plays them.
But, nore important, is someone finally admitting that slots can be loosened or tightened at the Casino's discretion, when all along, the Casino's have been saying this is impossible?
Just more lies.
The person who wrote this is funny:
"And all you young punks out there just keep your idiotic no nothing comments to yourselves on this please. Those of you over fifty out there KNOW what I'm talking about.."
Seriously... this person is funny. I can see him getting all lathered and foaming at the mouth. Funny! Thanks for that comic relief!
OK, let's get this straight.
You pay me $100.00 and I pay you back $93.60
This information is printed and known to all who visit lost Wages.
Hmmmmm.
This proves 93.6% OF ALL PEOPLE ARE STUPID AS AN OX.
Flapsy --
While the Strip is primarily for "tourists" as you note, just because a person is a "tourist" does not mean they are a some stupid donkey that just arrived off the boat. If your "tourist" theory were correct then the blackjack hold would be at record numbers, regardless of the economy.
I go to the Strip all the time to play poker. I meet "tourists" from all over the world. Not all the "tourists" are idiots. Many I have met refuse to play blackjack because of the terrible rules and conditions that have been implemented. Last week I chatted with a group of Australians who found the blackjack rules at the major strip hotels to be in their words "insulting."
Like I said, people are wising up to the terrible blackjack that has been put in place by MGM and Harrah's. The more people who refuse to sit down and play at these blackjack tables will force the big houses to restore blackjack to where it should be.
I don't follow, Boomer. I hate to be a math Nazi but a payback percentage is not in any way indicative of the percentage of the population that is "stupid as an ox." By your logic, the higher that payback percentage goes, the greater the percentage of people who are stupid as an ox and vice versa. So a 20 percent theoretical payback, using your "logic" would result in 20 percent of the people being stupid as an ox, where as a 99.9 percent payback would result in 99.9 percent of the people being stupid as an ox.
Yes, whoever said "strip gamblers from out-of-town" are not savvy are largely WRONG.
Even if they aren't "savvy", they have the mindset that you play for entertainment value.
If you aren't being entertained, there IS NO VALUE!
Stick a hundred in a V.P. machine. If you run through the whole c-note without hitting a darn thing, are you entertained or p.o.'d?
If just one time you'd have hit a 4-of-a-kind instead of a lousy full-house, at least your playing time would have increased, even if you still run through the hundred. What I'm saying is, you have GOT to give the gambler a couple kisses while you are screwing them, or they will not cough up the dough to play longer. I've always thought "tightening the machines", or lowering the payout, was counter-productive to enticing the gambler to play/pay more.
For god's sake someone get the Lansky Gambling Rule Book out and teach those corporate Vegas Strip hotel idiots how to run a successful gambling operation!!
I was in the Hilton the other day. Lots of 6/5 blackjack and some shoe blackjack with traditional payouts. About the same level of activity at each payout game so the Idiots playing the 6/5 games are the problem.
If these morons avoided the 6/5 tables, the garbage ripoff game would go away.
"Last year that trend was reversed, with slots paying back 93.9 percent of wagers versus 93.8 percent in 2008. . . .it could have something to do with the fact that casinos aren't spending money installing new penny slots like they did before the recession."
"Paying back 93.9 percent slot wagers" has to mean an average percent, taking into account machines that pay from the lowest percentage allowable under state law up to 100%. In other words, there are still some of those 97% payout machines in the mis.
The fact that the decreasomg rate at which new penny machines appear on the floor (which have higher house wins and lower percentage paybacks to customers than higher denomination slots),inidcates that the casinos' strategy of increasing slot revenue via the 1 cent machines is beng foiled by the casinos' self-inflicted decrease in ability to buy them--which is OK with me, because penny machines have become absoutely rediculous.
Remember what a "penny arcade" was? We guys over 60 remember those mechanical shooting gallery and peep show salons of Yesteryear. These new total-surround penny slots remind me a lot of their primitive forerunners--a lot of whizbang over nothing to do with winning money. In gamblng, the bigger the goo-gaw effect, the more power needed to run the damned thing, and the less you (or the casino, for that matter) can expect to win. The true winners are the vendors and the utility companines.
Oh and if everyone was wondering, the machines are tightened up to a very low 83-86% RTP during big events in town such as NASCAR, rodeo, and large conventions. They are loosened back up to 90%+ after the event. All casinos do this, not just us.
Just disgusting! it's legal fleecing, no wonder people don't want anything to do with Las Vegas gambling anymore..
I keep seeing all over town that the Megajackpot is about $12 million and keep thinking to myself that I would love to win just $10,000.
The casinos need to pull away from the one big jackpot and let more people play to win smaller amounts, it may bring more people in.
if you have to gamble, learn something about handicapping horses. your money goes further and you don't have action every second. have to wait for next race. aslo recommend sports betting, games last at least 2 hours. anyone who believes slots payback at 90 some odd percent are living in dream land.
I thought Casinos had to change their Reg 6 with Gaming Control BEFORE they could change the slot percentage payout, whether it was an increase or decrease....is this true or not??? Does anyone out there know for sure?? Granted the Casinos can change their Reg 6 at anytime, but to change it just for a special event in town seems like a ridiculous thing to do with all the paperwork involved...Am I wrong??
No, Reg 6.090 requires internal controls, but no where in those internal controls does it require a slot percentage to be listed. It would be a constant change, every game, and every paytable within that game has a different hold percentage.
Casino's change the locations and games all the time. What they have to show under Reg 14 is that all games and all paytables have 75% or over payback. Which is proven in the analytical reports.
I think what they mean, is that they can't sit in front of their computer and change it out- they have to go to the game to put in new software, they also have to change the information in the casino management system. All those steps must be documented. So, it takes much longer to "tighten" a slot machine than two seconds.
"But, nore important, is someone finally admitting that slots can be loosened or tightened at the Casino's discretion, when all along, the Casino's have been saying this is impossible?"
I'm surprised they admitted this in print. MOST people knew that the casinos could change the RNG in the slot mcahines anytime they wanted BUT they had to go directly to the slot manufacturer to do it. Their own people cannot go into the machines and change what the manufacturer set the RNG for. It is all regulated.
We are Harrahs customers and I have a very intersting story to tell. We really had a rough year last year and we were ready to give it up. Starting at the beginning of this year we took several trips to various harrahs properties. Our year started in New Orleans and on the first night there I stopped at a 10x pay dollar machine and invested 40 dollars. With 10 dollars left I hit $6000.00. Wow. I just couldn't believe it. I locked $4000.00 in the safe and we had a great trip. Our next trip, two weeks later, was to our home casino the horseshoe in Shreveport. I was playing a 7x pay machine and hit $4500.00. Again, wow. The next week I was in town on business during the week and decided to visit the horseshoe again and play my 7x pay machine again. After playing about an hour I hit $10,300. I just about fell over. The largest hit I have ever had in my life.
Now on to the negative part of my story. We have done nothing but lose since those amazing hits. I am very greatful, and I realize that we really defied the odds. The point of my story is that I feel that those hits were nothing but a setup for the rest of the year to come. I have lost $8000.00 of the winnings and it didn't seem to be slowing down. We decided that we would take a long break and hold on to the rest of the winnings instead of giving it all back. I also contacted Harrahs and requested that they take me off of their mailing list. I was recieving no less than 10 mailings a week. I just couldn't stand it anymore.
Th tie-in to the original story is that I have no doubt that there is manipulation going on and I chose not to be a complete fool(allready somewhat of a fool because I gave back the $8000.00). It just really seems that it has become one big scam.
Yes, it is possible (but highly improbable) to hit one or several nice payoffs. But, if you keep playing on an ongoing basis, you will give it all back, and more.
If the casinos wanted to be really smart, they would set the payback at 100%, and charge a fee (based on time, or on the number of games played) to play.
They would get huge attendance figures, they would fill their shows, restaurants, and hotels, and they would make a fortune.
Wow! Am i hearing this right? they can tighten up machines? And here i thought it was just my terrible luck.Stupid me , to think that the casino's would try to take as much of your money, everytime you sit and gamble.Now that incredible that they can change the percentages at any time and hope the average gamble won't notice. All this time, they stated they just couldn't do that. And under the watchful eye of the Gaming board. As far as I'm concerned, both parties are at fault for the steady decline of gamblers coming to Las Vegas.It boils down to one word....GREED.For me, I am glad to see Las Vegas gaming being brought to their knees,Because maybe.....just maybe they will try to figure out why they lost their customer base. I've lived here for 4 yrs now, and have 1 tax slip to prove how loose these casinos are. And it was barely over the allowed limit (1285.00).And that slip was hit the 1st yr out here.Since then, I've given that back 10 times over. So with that in mind,would ya think i would lure my family and friends out here, when they can hit better at their local state casino's? These rocket scientists or CEO's need to understand that the gamblers are getting smarter to the ways of percentages. All they have to do is sit down with a few hundred at a machine, and watch it dissappear in a hour.
In my opinion, the casinos need to make a constant profit.....not record setting profits, as they have done this past few yrs before the economy hit the ground.And these bonuses for these execs should not be paid out as cash. They should be getting their bonuses in company stock. Thats what is happening to us now. They cut employees and their benefits, lay more off, to show a better quick profit,enabling them to cash out and run with it.
And as far as the locals, the ones who constantly spend there money at their local favorites, are seeing the light too. But you multiply the local patrons by 10 (includes all family and friends out of State)and you can see why locals aren't telling folks to come out and enjoy a fair percentage of gaming. I can tell you 1st hand that my family and friends are doing much better playing at their local casino's, than they would coming out here.Most of mine have,and been purely dissappointed on the prices of food,lodging, and the tight machines. And if you think about it a minute,most people who do hit alittle,give it right back in form of food,lodging, and intertainment,or more gaming. At least they don't feel like they are being robbed.Thats the way it looks today folks! And i doubt it will turn around, because of this greed.
Kenoman, I completely agree with you. My hits were amazing, but other than that they have been tearing us a new one. It really was just not fun anymore. It was almost as if they knew that after we lost what we did last year that they needed to do something to keep us in the game. We are going to take a real hard look at our gambling habits in the future. Life is too short.
RustyShalkeferd:
Using my MIT calculations, 22.6% of the time people are stupid as an ox, just as long as they play 85.9% of the time using 3 line nickel slots. Now if you play for over 87.5 minutes on the quarter slots, playing 3 machines at at time, then theoretically you could be called stupid as an ox 99.6% of the time because 81.3 x 3 = 242.9 minutes that it would take you to figure out that your calculations are wrong. The fact is that 71.4% of the time people just from the MidWest lose, and they make of 16% of the take. Get it??????
lol @ Boomer...very nicely put.
It's Gambling People. You are expected to LOSE, not win. Stop your crying.
If you are crying about losing, even if the casinos are tightening up the machines, this is free information/advice: Stop Gambling and Keep Your Money. Your welcome.
My wife and I have been coming to Vegas for 5-6 times per year for several years. I am a math guy and I know the odds. But going to Vegas was strictly and escape for us and we loved it.
The fun is gone, we used to be treated great by many casino employees that we had developed relationships over the years. Now Harrahs and MGM have strict rules on comped drinks and many other things. Plus the horrible rules on blackjack and also slots that just do not pay.
I have no problem coming and spending $4-5,000 on a 3-4 day trip. I just want to be treated like it used to be. We went to Bellagio for years and never minded what we lost there. But when they will not comp a draft beer when you are playing $1/video poker something is just wrong.
Vegas you have lost us. Good luck with the billion dollar casinos.
Average Gambler = Oxymoron
What you're trying to say is Average LOSER who wrecks their families lives. Just look at Vegas and how fuct they are comapaired to the rest of the nation.
Liz". Try using your brain, it will help you make sense of the sh!tstorm coming Las Vegas' way.
This is a Pulitzer Prize News Mangeler you're writing for.
Woodman wrote:
"The point of my story is that I feel that those hits were nothing but a setup for the rest of the year to come. I have lost $8000.00 of the winnings and it didn't seem to be slowing down. We decided that we would take a long break and hold on to the rest of the winnings instead of giving it all back."
How would or how do they know it would be you playing, are you using a CLUB CARD or other card that would identify you?
I have often wondered about using the cards vs. being a random player and just throwing your money in....
Woodman :
When you win, you walk, and STAY away for at least a year!! then your truly a winner and have beat the odds..Foolish to give them back the 8,000.00
fastfreddie, yes I use a club card. We are diamond members and that is how they calculate your comps. I firmly feel that they track you.
EP, I hear ya. I just didn't stay away quick enough. By the way, I really enjoy your' comments on here.
I can tell you first hand that since we've left Vegas, we get MUCH better play time at the Indian Casinos in WA state then we ever did there. We might not win big pots all the time, but we can take $40 or $50 bucks and play for a couple of hours, verses there were it cost us $200 or $300 for the same amount of play time. Plus we get free food by the end of the night, because they give more comp points.
The Indian Casinos have it right, and that is why Vegas will continue to lose players if they don't change their payouts. I'll pay a $1.50 for a few beers if I can play that cheap anyday! You never got that many free drinks in the last few years anyway!
The depression in gaming is usually thought to have begun after December of 2007. For the first 5 months it was almost exclusively a drop in blackjack. Other forms of gaming were stable. The drop led with blackjack and blackjack has had the worst % for the last 2 years.
Blackjack is doing much worse than slots.
"I have lost $8000.00 of the winnings and it didn't seem to be slowing down"
I don't know how to say this but did you expect to keep winning? ALL of us know here, whether we gamble a little or a lot, win a little or win a lot, Lady Luck will turn on you in a heartbeat. I doubt it was because Harrah's messed with the machines. Are you one of those that believes they track your play via your Total Rewards card? Frankly, I know they do because you can get a yearly printout of what you lost and won, but I doubt they read your card number and the computer says "ooops, this guy has one enough; let him loose for awhile".
BTW - did you get a 1099 form for all those winnings?
And on behalf of all the unemployed and struggling people that post here: Don't expect us to feel sorry for you. $8000 would be a gift from God for all of us. So quit your bitching and thank God for your lucky streak.
The casino I work at is only a year old and has state of the art microprocessor-controlled gaming equipment that is networked and controlled by a central location. From that central location, a single techncian can set any parameter: RNG, RTP, tighter paytables, etc on all the gaming machines at will, within seconds. Aint technology grand?
INTERESTING!!! But isn't true the casino needs to request a change in any of the parameters?
"ooops, this guy has one enough;
I meant to say "won enough"! Should wear my glasses when posting!!
I went to an Indian Casino for the first time in my life last week. Played Blackjack at a $2 minimum table. 3/2. I walked out with more than I went in with. Had a good time. I'd play more in LV if there was tables with lower that $10 minimum. I know the smaller places still have $5 tables. Any $2 tables out there?
I agree with all those who say all of the "new" ways to play are ruining it. I prefer straight old Blackjack, and 3 reel, single line slot machines (25c or $1). None of the penny video games that are impossible to figure out and cost way more than a penny.
Det munch, I appreciate your candor. Unfortunately I don't think you got the point of the conversation. Noone is looking for sympathy. I told a simple story that illustrated how several good hits came in a flurry and then it was as if the tap was just shut off. I am not a novice and have been playing for about 20 years. I realize the ups and downs and I of course realize the house edge. Sometimes it just seems as if it is just very scripted and is not truly a game of chance.
Loose-Looser-Loosest-Losers all the way!!!!!!!!