Modern Blackjack nth Edition

Bring back the Mob...

Quite. Similarly n the UK I think there has been a marked move during the five years or so I've visited casinos, and had the odd flutter on sports events etc, to remove the "punters" money as quickly and efficiently as possible almost regardless of the consequences. An example of this is the recently taken over Gala chain of casinos by the Rank group - almost the first thing to be done was to swap out all of the 6 deckers for 1-2-6s. I don't think this has anything to do with game protection and dealing with the very small number of pesky card counters who might visit, but is purely around getting an additional ~20% more rounds dealt per table. I reckon the combination of the proficient dealer, and the 1-2-6 on the table I sat at, resulted in considerably more than 20% more cards hitting the felt than situations where a lesser skilled dealer was dealing from a shoe. It did occur to me just how much the aesthetic design of these things, and their cleaning up action, resembled a Dyson?

In response to Norm's comments about keeping the recreational players coming back, it is a longer term mindset - but as short-termism and short-term results tend to dominate management thinking, and 80%+ of profits come from 20% of the regular player base (many, many of whom will return and play regardless of what goes on), I can't see a longer term view being taken by operators? In the UK I think operators can see a time in the not too distant future where the Gambling Act will be heavily amended to rein in some of the excesses that have taken place over the last five years, and their endeavouring to get as much in the reserves section of their respective balance sheets as possible - making hay while the sun shines so to speak.

I intend to visit LV before I draw my last breath, although I have been told it's nowhere near what it once was.