Player may not merit a frolic frenzy
Dear Mark,
When I stayed at the NY, NY Hotel and Casino (Vegas), I played
BJ and whenever I wanted a comp for food or anything, they
said just put it on your room charge and your play will be
evaluated. Well, that was my first and last time. When I checked
out they didn't comp my food or beverage, only the room. What
gives? Scott R.
Your question, Scott, was not specific as to how much you
were betting or how long you were playing blackjack. That
makes a huge difference when it comes to the casino doling
out the goodies.
Casino comps are generally figured in the following manner.
The pit boss (bull) will take your average bet multiplied
by hours played, speed of the game and the casino advantage
of that game. The final figure, in theory, should equal your
loss. Comps are then rewarded accordingly. Conning the casino
to give you more comps than your play deserves is nearly impossible
now that corporate America is minding the store.
As for your room, it was easy to comp because it is a controlled
price. It can take as little as $20 to dress out a room for
the evening. When it comes to food and drink, many players
charge the feedbox huge, hit the wine list hard and drive
the comp expenditure to a point no pit boss could justify.
You very well could have been a typical blackjack player playing
$10 a hand, 50 hands an hour. Risking $500 and losing two
percent of that is a total loss of $10 to the house for every
60 minutes of play. Hardly worth carte blanc treatment by
the casino. But one complimentary buffet, possibly a room?
Yes, you probably qualify.
You could, Scott, increase your prominence in the casino's
eyes by playing $100 a hand for eight hours, but is it really
worth blowing a king's ransom just to get a shot at the steak
and lobster house and a few bottles of bubbly? That would
be dumb, foolish and costly if you can't afford to wager $100
a hand.
Dear Mark,
My friends and I get together once a month for a night of
poker. We were playing seven card, high low split. All the
cards had been dealt and the betting started. Brant opened
and checked. There were a couple of bets around the table
and then it came back to Brant. He saw the bets and raised.
At that time I protested and explained to him that because
he had checked he couldn't raise. I didn't get much support
at the table for this claim. I thought it was common knowledge.
What's the ruling? Woody J.
The decision from Nevada: you lose. All the Nevada poker
rooms play check and raise. But because Nevada is not your
kitchen table, house rules like check and raise among belching
buddies, should be discussed at the onset of the evening.
Not after an argument ensues.
Dear Mark,
I have heard that Atlantic City casinos allow card counters
but Nevada casinos do not. True? Jimmy C.
True, Jimmy, but a minefield of obstacles still hinders
card counters on the Jersey shore. On September 15, 1982 the
Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court ruled
that a player could not be discriminated against because of
his playing skills (counting). In Nevada, laws allow casinos
to operate as private clubs and you can be legally ejected
for using your intellect. Brains need to be checked at the
door.
Atlantic City casinos still have an assortment of countermeasures
to offset a counter's advantage. They lawfully impede skilled
blackjack players by using eight-deck shoes, shuffle at will
to thwart bet variance and instruct the dealers to move the
cut card near the top of the shoe on suspected counters.
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