Player may not merit a
frolic frenzy
15 October 1999
By Mark Pilarski
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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