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.