Last Friday I was playing in the Blackjack Attack tournament at the Gold Coast in Las Vegas. It's a weekly tournament with a $25 buy-in and $2,500 prize pool. Not a lot of prize money, but a good way to get some real-life tournament experience without much risk.
The tournament game is double-deck, with the cards dealt face up. One of the players at my table starting hitting his hand -- I can't remember what he started with -- and soon five aces had appeared. By the time the dealer was through, eight cards formed a jagged line from the player's betting spot to the chip tray. The total, of course, was 21.
I'm as sure as I can be that it was the first eight-card hand I'd ever seen in about nine years of playing blackjack.
The amazing thing, of course, was that the hand was dealt to a player. Usually -- or at least it seems -- multi-card hands totaling 21 show up on the dealer's side of the table, usually when I have 20 or 21.
Showing posts with label Gold Coast. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gold Coast. Show all posts
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Saturday, June 2, 2012
No points may not mean no comps
A disturbing trend I've noticed in some casinos is eliminating some machnines from eligibility for earning slot club points. The first time I saw this was at the Gold Coast, maybe a year and a half ago. Labels were placed on the 100 percent-plus payback machines saying something like "This machine does not award slot club points." Soon after that, the machines were gone. A while back player at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut told me that casino had stopped awarding points for play on the full-pay pick 'em poker machines, which return just under 100 percent. We discussed the situation and decided he would try to find out if no points meant no comps at all. He spoke with his host and learned that the casino would still track his play if he used a players' club card, and he would still get free play and other offers. This has turned out to be true, and the benefits have proven to be fairly substantial.
I recently noticed that the virtual blackjack games at Casino Monte Lago at Lake Las Vegas were labeled as not awarding points. Previously, craps and roulette machines at that casino had such labels. I was told that the reason was that offsetting bets could be made on those machines, allowing players to amass lots of points with minimal risk. That's not possible with blackjack, but the house edge on the games offered is slight enough that the casino couldn't offer points and make the profit it expected from those machines. I was told by a casino executive, however, that the casino would still track rated play on the blackjack machines and award appropriate benefits through players' mailers.
Not being able to earn points is a big deal. At Monte Lago, unmultiplied points at 0.25 percent to the return of the game. The casino awards double points several days a month, which made the blackjack game a hair over break-even for a perfect basic strategy player, not counting the mailer and promotions. It's possible but unlikely this game will be worth more than 100 percent without points.
One of the advantages of points is that they're easy to put a value on. It's not always possible to predict how much free play a casino will give you for a particular amount of play, so that benefit, though real, can be hard to figure in. The value of other benefits, such as drawing entries, can be even more difficult to pin down. The bottom line is, if you're looking to get the most value for your gambling dollars, figure out as best you can the total return of the games you're interested in and play the one that offers the best total return, regardless of whether players' club points are part of that return.
I recently noticed that the virtual blackjack games at Casino Monte Lago at Lake Las Vegas were labeled as not awarding points. Previously, craps and roulette machines at that casino had such labels. I was told that the reason was that offsetting bets could be made on those machines, allowing players to amass lots of points with minimal risk. That's not possible with blackjack, but the house edge on the games offered is slight enough that the casino couldn't offer points and make the profit it expected from those machines. I was told by a casino executive, however, that the casino would still track rated play on the blackjack machines and award appropriate benefits through players' mailers.
Not being able to earn points is a big deal. At Monte Lago, unmultiplied points at 0.25 percent to the return of the game. The casino awards double points several days a month, which made the blackjack game a hair over break-even for a perfect basic strategy player, not counting the mailer and promotions. It's possible but unlikely this game will be worth more than 100 percent without points.
One of the advantages of points is that they're easy to put a value on. It's not always possible to predict how much free play a casino will give you for a particular amount of play, so that benefit, though real, can be hard to figure in. The value of other benefits, such as drawing entries, can be even more difficult to pin down. The bottom line is, if you're looking to get the most value for your gambling dollars, figure out as best you can the total return of the games you're interested in and play the one that offers the best total return, regardless of whether players' club points are part of that return.
Monday, March 19, 2012
When it's good to be old (or at least middle-aged)
Seniors days have long been a staple of locals' casinos marketing, but now is a particularly good time to be 50 or older if you're a gambler who lives in the Las Vegas area. Casinos are competing as heavily as I've seen in my nearly 5 years here for the weekday business of older customers.
These programs differ in details but their staples have been slot tournaments, dining discounts, point multipliers and drawings. Different casinos' programs may be better for some players than others. Here's a brief summary of what's offered. Essential information is often available on signs in the casinos and details can be obtained at the players' clubs.
Sam's Town offers a complete program on Thursdays comprising a $3,500 slot tournament, a $3,000 drawing, 5 times points on video poker and 7 times points on reels, half-price buffet and a free variety show. Low rollers with time on their hands might find value in the slot tournament. The formula for determing the long-term value of (or your average win in) such promotions is the total of prizes divided by the number of entries. In this case it's likely to be less than $5. Another consideration for some is the time it takes to play in the tournament plus the amount of time spent waiting to play. For higher rollers, the point multipliers and drawings can offer more value. Sam's Town recently has added a scaled-down Monday seniors day to compete with the new offering of its neighbor, the Eastside Cannery.
The Eastside Cannery's program, which runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays, is unusual in that the qualifying age is 55, not 50. Enrollment at the players' club is required. Benefits are a 3 times point multiplier, half-price dining at selected restaurants and, after 300 base points are earned, a card swipe with prizes from $10 in free play to $1,000 in cash. Play on machines in the Classic Slots room does not qualify for the point multiplier.
The Palms also recently added a seniors program, on Thursdays, which includes dining and movie discounts and promotions. At least for now there are slot tournaments and drawings.
Station Casinos, including the Fiestas, have a $3,000 slot tournament at each property and half-price dining with payment in points until 6 p.m. Signs indicated that, as a special for this month, the program also includes a bonus point day, bringing points earned from the usual 3 per $1 coin-in to 10 for reels and 6 for video poker. Let's hope this "special" becomes a regular part of the program, as a point multiplier used to be. And, Stations, how about bringing back the drawings you used to have?
The M Resort has a drawing for seniors at 6 p.m. Tuesdays. The unusual thing about it is that you do not need to play, or activate your tickets, on Tuesday, and you need not be present to win. Tickets can be earned any day of the week and must be activated at a kiosk on the day earned. The winners' names are posted shortly after 6 and all prizes must be claimed at the satellite rewards center by 7 p.m.
The Silverton has two seniors drawings on Monday. Tickets must be earned that day but prizes can be picked up until 6 p.m. Tuesday. There are 50 winners in each drawing, and each winner gets a minimum of $50 and maximum of $500. A player may win twice each week, once in each drawing. Although the prizes are modest (expect $50 most of the time), it appears that this promotion offers an unusually good chance of winning something.
The Gold Coast recently cut the point multiplier on video poker for its Monday seniors day from 5 times to 4 times, but that's still a good deal given that casinos' inventory of strong games. Reel players get 10 times points. A maximum of 10,000 points on video poker and 100,000 points on reels are eligible for promotional multipliers at the Gold Coast. Seniors day there also includes a bingo special and a small video poker tournament.
The Orleans offers 7 times points and a card swipe after earning 50 base points, both from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays. My prizes from the card swipe have included two dinner buffets, two ticket to Big Al's Comedy Club, 5,000 points and 10,000 points. The great things about this swipe are that, opposed to the slot tournaments and drawings at other casinos, almost no time is involved in participating and everyone wins something.
South Point this month added a $5,200 slot tournament for seniors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays. This is a relative large prize pool and the tournament could be attractive to more players than those at Stations and Sam's Town, depending on how many people participate.
In addition to gambling- and dining-related promotions, some seniors days include movie ticket specials. Often the qualifying age for these is 60.
A few tips regarding casino seniors programs: As with any casino promotion, these may be altered or discontinued at any time. Most if not all require that you be enrolled in the program, not just that you have a players card and meet the age requirement. Many will put a small sticker on your players card showing that you qualify for discounts and other offers. Beware of time time limits and other restrictions on promotions. This information should be available at the players club.
These programs differ in details but their staples have been slot tournaments, dining discounts, point multipliers and drawings. Different casinos' programs may be better for some players than others. Here's a brief summary of what's offered. Essential information is often available on signs in the casinos and details can be obtained at the players' clubs.
Sam's Town offers a complete program on Thursdays comprising a $3,500 slot tournament, a $3,000 drawing, 5 times points on video poker and 7 times points on reels, half-price buffet and a free variety show. Low rollers with time on their hands might find value in the slot tournament. The formula for determing the long-term value of (or your average win in) such promotions is the total of prizes divided by the number of entries. In this case it's likely to be less than $5. Another consideration for some is the time it takes to play in the tournament plus the amount of time spent waiting to play. For higher rollers, the point multipliers and drawings can offer more value. Sam's Town recently has added a scaled-down Monday seniors day to compete with the new offering of its neighbor, the Eastside Cannery.
The Eastside Cannery's program, which runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays, is unusual in that the qualifying age is 55, not 50. Enrollment at the players' club is required. Benefits are a 3 times point multiplier, half-price dining at selected restaurants and, after 300 base points are earned, a card swipe with prizes from $10 in free play to $1,000 in cash. Play on machines in the Classic Slots room does not qualify for the point multiplier.
The Palms also recently added a seniors program, on Thursdays, which includes dining and movie discounts and promotions. At least for now there are slot tournaments and drawings.
Station Casinos, including the Fiestas, have a $3,000 slot tournament at each property and half-price dining with payment in points until 6 p.m. Signs indicated that, as a special for this month, the program also includes a bonus point day, bringing points earned from the usual 3 per $1 coin-in to 10 for reels and 6 for video poker. Let's hope this "special" becomes a regular part of the program, as a point multiplier used to be. And, Stations, how about bringing back the drawings you used to have?
The M Resort has a drawing for seniors at 6 p.m. Tuesdays. The unusual thing about it is that you do not need to play, or activate your tickets, on Tuesday, and you need not be present to win. Tickets can be earned any day of the week and must be activated at a kiosk on the day earned. The winners' names are posted shortly after 6 and all prizes must be claimed at the satellite rewards center by 7 p.m.
The Silverton has two seniors drawings on Monday. Tickets must be earned that day but prizes can be picked up until 6 p.m. Tuesday. There are 50 winners in each drawing, and each winner gets a minimum of $50 and maximum of $500. A player may win twice each week, once in each drawing. Although the prizes are modest (expect $50 most of the time), it appears that this promotion offers an unusually good chance of winning something.
The Gold Coast recently cut the point multiplier on video poker for its Monday seniors day from 5 times to 4 times, but that's still a good deal given that casinos' inventory of strong games. Reel players get 10 times points. A maximum of 10,000 points on video poker and 100,000 points on reels are eligible for promotional multipliers at the Gold Coast. Seniors day there also includes a bingo special and a small video poker tournament.
The Orleans offers 7 times points and a card swipe after earning 50 base points, both from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays. My prizes from the card swipe have included two dinner buffets, two ticket to Big Al's Comedy Club, 5,000 points and 10,000 points. The great things about this swipe are that, opposed to the slot tournaments and drawings at other casinos, almost no time is involved in participating and everyone wins something.
South Point this month added a $5,200 slot tournament for seniors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays. This is a relative large prize pool and the tournament could be attractive to more players than those at Stations and Sam's Town, depending on how many people participate.
In addition to gambling- and dining-related promotions, some seniors days include movie ticket specials. Often the qualifying age for these is 60.
A few tips regarding casino seniors programs: As with any casino promotion, these may be altered or discontinued at any time. Most if not all require that you be enrolled in the program, not just that you have a players card and meet the age requirement. Many will put a small sticker on your players card showing that you qualify for discounts and other offers. Beware of time time limits and other restrictions on promotions. This information should be available at the players club.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Barely off the Strip
This post is directed to serious blackjack and/or video poker players who are coming to Las Vegas and staying on or near the Strip, but looking for better games than the Strip casinos offer.
When it comes to blackjack, there are good games on the Strip, but the double-deck games are often available only at minimums of $25 and higher. There is little good video poker on the Strip, defined as games with 99.5 percent payback or better. Some Strip casinos do offer 9/6 jacks or better, but rarely at less than $5, unless you're willing to forgo comps (New York New York offers 9/6 Jacks at $1 and $2, but those machines don't accept a players club card).
This may come as a surprise, but Hooters offers some of the best video poker near the Strip. The good video poker is all on two banks of machines in front of the cage. Games include jacks or better (99.54 percent payback), "not so ugly" deuces wild (99.73 percent) and, on one machine only, double bonus deuces wild (99.81 percent). Slot club points for video poker accrue at a rate of one for every $3 coin in, but each dollar of free play costs only 100 points.
Hooters also offers $10-minimum double deck blackjack with typical locals casino rules and a 0.40 house edge. This game is not open all the time and is never on more than one table. Penetration varies by dealer.
This casino is a very short walk from the Strip at Tropicana, just east of the Tropicana hotel. It is easily accessible by the Monorail, which stops just across Tropicana Avenue at the MGM Grand.
Moving north, a longtime favorite of Strip casino workers and other locals is Ellis Island, a few minutes’ walk east of the Strip on Koval Lane just south of Flamingo Road. This casino, which got its name from founder Gary Ellis, features shoe and double deck blackjack games at $5 and video poker including “not so ugly” deuces at 25 cents and 9/6 jacks or better at up to $2. The casino building also houses a microbrewery, karaoke bar, restaurant, barbecue and Metro Pizza outlet. The casino and karaoke bars serve very generous drinks at moderate prices. Expect a wait at the restaurant (open 24 hours every day) and barbeque (open 4-10 p.m. every day). The restaurant is famous for its off-the-menu steak special, a 10-oz. filet-cut sirloin for $7.99, including an Ellis Island beer.
Farther east at Flamingo and Paradise Road, a fair walk or short bus or taxi ride from the Strip, is Terrible’s (named after founder “Terrible” Herbst, so-called by his competitors in the gas station business for undercutting their prices). The only video poker that meets the 99.5 percent criterion here is 9/6 jacks or better, at up to 50 cents, near the cashier. Double-deck blackjack is consistently offered at $10, based on my experience.
On the other side of the Strip, a long walk or short bus or taxi ride away, are the Palms and Gold Coast, directly across the street from each other. The Palms has one of the best and biggest selections of good video poker in Las Vegas, including a 25-cent full pay deuces wild (100.76 percent) progressive and a $1 full-pay double bonus (100.17 percent) progressive with progressives on the straight flush and quads as well as the royal flush. “Not so ugly” deuces and 9/6 jacks or better are available at pretty much all denominations, including on Triple Play/Five Play machines. Slot club points are worth a generous 0.25 percent.
The Palms also offers a range of blackjack games, including the variation Blackjack Switch. In the past double deck has been offered at $10, but I haven’t seen that for a while. Expect a minimum for double deck of $15 or even $25. Card counters would do better elsewhere; double deck penetration is set at 50 percent with a notch.
The Palms is a big, high-end property with lots of dining and entertainment options. On weekends it is filled with young club goers; during the week it draws an older crowd heavy with locals there for the good video poker and promotions.
The Gold Coast, across the street, has lots of $5 blackjack at all times with good Vegas rules (but consistently lousy penetration) and lots of good video poker, including 9/6 jacks, “not so ugly” deuces and double bonus deuces, at denominations of up to $2. A favorite of Chinese Americans, the Gold Coast has two Chinese restaurants among its dining options. Another nearby casino, the Orleans, is also part of the Coast group owned by Boyd Gaming. A free shuttle connects two and goes to the Strip at Flamingo as well.
Bracketing Las Vegas’ Chinatown area to the north, at Sahara Avenue at Interstate 15, is Palace Station, which offers blackjack with excellent rules and, usually, good penetration at as little as $5 for shoes and $10 for double deck. The selection of positive video poker games (found on machines labeled “Optimum Play” is less than at most other Station properties. To my recollection, no such games are offered at more than 50 cents, but like all things casino-related, that could change at any time.
Finally, the property most like a major Strip resort, but with much better games, is the Las Vegas Hilton, on Paradise Road east of the Strip and south of Sahara Avenue. The Hilton is a major property famous for its entertainment offerings and with excellent restaurants and full major-resort amenities.
The only downside concerning video poker at the Hilton is that all the good games are in the sports book area, which can be crowded, loud and smoky. The upside is the games themselves, including “not so ugly” deuces, loose deuce deuces wild (100.15 percent) and 9/6 jacks. All are offered at 25 cents and $1; the jacks are also offered at $5.
Blackjack at the Hilton is also excellent, with surrender offered not only on shoe games but also on double deck. Shoe games are sometimes offered at $5, usually at $10; double deck is offered at $25. Penetration for both is set by a notch, with about a deck and a third cut off for the six-deck game and about a third of the pack cut off the double-deck game.
The Hilton is a short walk from the Sahara or Riviera, and is accessible by the Monorail, which stops right at the hotel.
When it comes to blackjack, there are good games on the Strip, but the double-deck games are often available only at minimums of $25 and higher. There is little good video poker on the Strip, defined as games with 99.5 percent payback or better. Some Strip casinos do offer 9/6 jacks or better, but rarely at less than $5, unless you're willing to forgo comps (New York New York offers 9/6 Jacks at $1 and $2, but those machines don't accept a players club card).
This may come as a surprise, but Hooters offers some of the best video poker near the Strip. The good video poker is all on two banks of machines in front of the cage. Games include jacks or better (99.54 percent payback), "not so ugly" deuces wild (99.73 percent) and, on one machine only, double bonus deuces wild (99.81 percent). Slot club points for video poker accrue at a rate of one for every $3 coin in, but each dollar of free play costs only 100 points.
Hooters also offers $10-minimum double deck blackjack with typical locals casino rules and a 0.40 house edge. This game is not open all the time and is never on more than one table. Penetration varies by dealer.
This casino is a very short walk from the Strip at Tropicana, just east of the Tropicana hotel. It is easily accessible by the Monorail, which stops just across Tropicana Avenue at the MGM Grand.
Moving north, a longtime favorite of Strip casino workers and other locals is Ellis Island, a few minutes’ walk east of the Strip on Koval Lane just south of Flamingo Road. This casino, which got its name from founder Gary Ellis, features shoe and double deck blackjack games at $5 and video poker including “not so ugly” deuces at 25 cents and 9/6 jacks or better at up to $2. The casino building also houses a microbrewery, karaoke bar, restaurant, barbecue and Metro Pizza outlet. The casino and karaoke bars serve very generous drinks at moderate prices. Expect a wait at the restaurant (open 24 hours every day) and barbeque (open 4-10 p.m. every day). The restaurant is famous for its off-the-menu steak special, a 10-oz. filet-cut sirloin for $7.99, including an Ellis Island beer.
Farther east at Flamingo and Paradise Road, a fair walk or short bus or taxi ride from the Strip, is Terrible’s (named after founder “Terrible” Herbst, so-called by his competitors in the gas station business for undercutting their prices). The only video poker that meets the 99.5 percent criterion here is 9/6 jacks or better, at up to 50 cents, near the cashier. Double-deck blackjack is consistently offered at $10, based on my experience.
On the other side of the Strip, a long walk or short bus or taxi ride away, are the Palms and Gold Coast, directly across the street from each other. The Palms has one of the best and biggest selections of good video poker in Las Vegas, including a 25-cent full pay deuces wild (100.76 percent) progressive and a $1 full-pay double bonus (100.17 percent) progressive with progressives on the straight flush and quads as well as the royal flush. “Not so ugly” deuces and 9/6 jacks or better are available at pretty much all denominations, including on Triple Play/Five Play machines. Slot club points are worth a generous 0.25 percent.
The Palms also offers a range of blackjack games, including the variation Blackjack Switch. In the past double deck has been offered at $10, but I haven’t seen that for a while. Expect a minimum for double deck of $15 or even $25. Card counters would do better elsewhere; double deck penetration is set at 50 percent with a notch.
The Palms is a big, high-end property with lots of dining and entertainment options. On weekends it is filled with young club goers; during the week it draws an older crowd heavy with locals there for the good video poker and promotions.
The Gold Coast, across the street, has lots of $5 blackjack at all times with good Vegas rules (but consistently lousy penetration) and lots of good video poker, including 9/6 jacks, “not so ugly” deuces and double bonus deuces, at denominations of up to $2. A favorite of Chinese Americans, the Gold Coast has two Chinese restaurants among its dining options. Another nearby casino, the Orleans, is also part of the Coast group owned by Boyd Gaming. A free shuttle connects two and goes to the Strip at Flamingo as well.
Bracketing Las Vegas’ Chinatown area to the north, at Sahara Avenue at Interstate 15, is Palace Station, which offers blackjack with excellent rules and, usually, good penetration at as little as $5 for shoes and $10 for double deck. The selection of positive video poker games (found on machines labeled “Optimum Play” is less than at most other Station properties. To my recollection, no such games are offered at more than 50 cents, but like all things casino-related, that could change at any time.
Finally, the property most like a major Strip resort, but with much better games, is the Las Vegas Hilton, on Paradise Road east of the Strip and south of Sahara Avenue. The Hilton is a major property famous for its entertainment offerings and with excellent restaurants and full major-resort amenities.
The only downside concerning video poker at the Hilton is that all the good games are in the sports book area, which can be crowded, loud and smoky. The upside is the games themselves, including “not so ugly” deuces, loose deuce deuces wild (100.15 percent) and 9/6 jacks. All are offered at 25 cents and $1; the jacks are also offered at $5.
Blackjack at the Hilton is also excellent, with surrender offered not only on shoe games but also on double deck. Shoe games are sometimes offered at $5, usually at $10; double deck is offered at $25. Penetration for both is set by a notch, with about a deck and a third cut off for the six-deck game and about a third of the pack cut off the double-deck game.
The Hilton is a short walk from the Sahara or Riviera, and is accessible by the Monorail, which stops right at the hotel.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
My favorite Vegas sign
What’s great about this sign is that the Gold Coast, the favorite casino of local Asian players, does function as sort of a cultural center, in that gambling is very important in East Asian societies. The Gold Coast has two excellent Chinese restaurants, Ping Pang Pong and the Noodle Exchange, and is always full of Asian players. It has a massive table games area for a casino its size to accommodate the Asian players’ interest in baccarat as well as other table games.
Below is another sign, this one behind the Gold Coast off Valley View. It’s all in Chinese except for one word -- comps. It’s hard to believe there’s no Chinese equivalent, but there you have it. If anyone can translate the rest of the sign, I’d love to know what it says.
The Gold Coast is the nearest casino to Las Vegas’ linear, strip-mall Chinatown, which runs west from Valley View along Spring Mountain Road, a few blocks north of the Gold Coast. Two other locals’ casinos popular with Asian players are Palace Station, on Sahara Avenue just west of I-15, and the Orleans, on Tropicana a little farther west of I-15. Like the Gold Coast, the Orleans is part of the Coast chain owned by Boyd Gaming.
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