Stan: Trip report on aria

[Stan]

Here are my observations on aria. 25 min dd s17 60-62% pen. Dealt face up like bellagio. Hand shuffle. Minimum increases to 50 in the afternoon and 100 at night. Was playing black spreading 1-10 with no heat. Played there several sessions ranging from 15 minutes to 4 hrs. No heat whatsoevr. Was asked couple times if i wanted a players card
which I declined (I am flagged in the MGM mirage system). Delaers are transfers from other sister properties. Played with ex-Mandalay and mirage delaers.
This place definitely brings out the women of the night. Was playing with
a guy with a stack of purple and black and 3 different women over the
course of my session was moving in on him. And I thought this only
happened at Caesars!
Other observations of aria.
I like the exterior architecture.
The chairs for the table games are laughable. It's made of cheap cloth.
Already showing wear and tear after 2 weeks of use. It seems they cut alot of corners when they built this place. Check out the escalators and the cheap plastic handrail.
The Buffett is thumbs down. Paid $33 for lunch on a weekday and the food was nothing special. they have 4 different sausages from different countries. Each one tasted like an oversized slim Jim. Uggh. Decor is
similar to wynn Buffett. Never got served a beverage until I had to ask. A
joke. They don't have their act together yet.
I like the bathrooms. They have the Toto sinks and toilets.
The casino area is too dark with cheesy 80s type black and white
decorations. Yet the upstairs is nice with natural light and ultra modern look.
Taxi drivers tell me they hate aria because there is no separate taxi
access.
The best thing about aria is the free tram to bellagio. The tram structure is
very modern looking and the view of the aria hotels while taking the tram night is superb.

[Don Schlesinger]

Thank you. Lovely report, much appreciated.

I'd be very careful, though, about thinking that there is "absolutely no heat whatsoever." All players are, more or less, brand-new to them, so there is an observation period, which, of course, will be done from up above.

If you play four-hour sessions spreading 1 to 10 in black, don't be surprised if, when you come back in the near future, you're given the tap. Don't get too greedy.

Don

[Daily Dubble]

I am curious if you were playing with much cover, and if you don't mind my asking, were you playing just 1 hand? I will be in Vegas soon, and was planning to test them out playing short sessions, rated, two hands but with a lesser spread.

[Stan]

My cover was drinking bourbon (i put on an Oscar worthy drunk performance) and talking it up and schmoozing with the boisterous big player on 3rd base. Was playing just one hand.

I also played heads up, but very short sessions. No cover. It was like speed chess...over 240 hph.

> I am curious if you were playing with much cover, and
> if you don't mind my asking, were you playing just 1
> hand? I will be in Vegas soon, and was planning to
> test them out playing short sessions, rated, two hands
> but with a lesser spread.

[Aslan]

> Here are my observations on aria. 25 min dd s17 60-62%
> pen. Dealt face up like bellagio. Hand shuffle.
> Minimum increases to 50 in the afternoon and 100 at
> night. Was playing black spreading 1-10 with no heat.
> Played there several sessions ranging from 15 minutes
> to 4 hrs. No heat whatsoevr. Was asked couple times if
> i wanted a players card
> which I declined (I am flagged in the MGM mirage
> system). Delaers are transfers from other sister
> properties. Played with ex-Mandalay and mirage
> delaers.
> This place definitely brings out the women of the
> night. Was playing with
> a guy with a stack of purple and black and 3 different
> women over the
> course of my session was moving in on him. And I
> thought this only
> happened at Caesars!
> Other observations of aria.
> I like the exterior architecture.
> The chairs for the table games are laughable. It's
> made of cheap cloth.
> Already showing wear and tear after 2 weeks of use. It
> seems they cut alot of corners when they built this
> place. Check out the escalators and the cheap plastic
> handrail.
> The Buffett is thumbs down. Paid $33 for lunch on a
> weekday and the food was nothing special. they have 4
> different sausages from different countries. Each one
> tasted like an oversized slim Jim. Uggh. Decor is
> similar to wynn Buffett. Never got served a beverage
> until I had to ask. A
> joke. They don't have their act together yet.
> I like the bathrooms. They have the Toto sinks and
> toilets.
> The casino area is too dark with cheesy 80s type black
> and white
> decorations. Yet the upstairs is nice with natural
> light and ultra modern look.
> Taxi drivers tell me they hate aria because there is
> no separate taxi
> access.
> The best thing about aria is the free tram to
> bellagio. The tram structure is
> very modern looking and the view of the aria hotels
> while taking the tram night is superb.

I am surprised Aria is as you describe. I know one of its surveillance staff who told me they were going to outclass the Bellagio.

[Aslan]

> Thank you. Lovely report, much appreciated.

> I'd be very careful, though, about thinking that there
> is "absolutely no heat whatsoever." All
> players are, more or less, brand-new to them, so there
> is an observation period, which, of course, will be
> done from up above.

> If you play four-hour sessions spreading 1 to 10 in
> black, don't be surprised if, when you come back in
> the near future, you're given the tap. Don't get too
> greedy.

> Don

I know for a fact that they have the ability to ID counters. If you're playing cheap, they may have bigger fish to fry, but if you continue to grace their doorstep, you will be ID'd. Count on it.

[Aslan]

> My cover was drinking bourbon (i put on an Oscar
> worthy drunk performance) and talking it up and
> schmoozing with the boisterous big player on 3rd base.
> Was playing just one hand.

> I also played heads up, but very short sessions. No
> cover. It was like speed chess...over 240 hph.
Your cover may be good for PCs and dealers, but the eye in the sky cannot hear you. If they decide to evaluate your play, such cover will mean nothing. But I will grant you that if you can keep the PC from asking for an evaluation of your play, you have accomplished something. Just hope the eye does not decide to give you a look on his own, and he will if you are betting it up. In a place like Aria or other MGM properties, I would suggest you play for no more than an hour, don't worry about masking your play, and do not repeat one visit upon another at the same casino. If you spend more time than that, don't be surprised if you are asked politely to either flat bet or not play Blackjack at all. Oh, and no player's card. That makes it too easy for them to pick you up on your next visit.

[Aslan]

> My cover was drinking bourbon (i put on an Oscar
> worthy drunk performance) and talking it up and
> schmoozing with the boisterous big player on 3rd base.
> Was playing just one hand.

> I also played heads up, but very short sessions. No
> cover. It was like speed chess...over 240 hph.
There's no better cover than short sessions, but repeated short sessions in the same casino will get you ID'd, especially an MGM property IMO. Their surveillance is well trained.