Why do casinos offer decent rules?

[biggg]

I am new to the game but am almost certain from my time at the tables that 90% or more of players have no idea that it is better for the dealer to stand on 17, would misplay surrender if it were offered, and don't care about the number of decks at all (although I do know many plops hate 6:5, no DAS, and CSMs because these are more obvious).

Now I do understand why decent pen is offered, and maybe understand that some might want to play pitch games, but for example why even have a 6 deck game when 8 decks is more hands per hour and much easier to protect against APs? Are there markets in this country where basic strategy gamblers will seek out the best rules? Just seems like such a small percentage of players I see at the tables.

[21forme]

Most casino DON'T offer decent rules. Just look at the proliferation of 6:5 shoe games on the Strip. They do in PA because it's state law. Otherwise, you will only find decent rules at the higher limit tables. High rollers often do notice rule variations and also demand hand shuffled games.

[Freightman]

[QUOTE=biggg;106158]I am new to the game but am almost certain from my time at the tables that 90% or more of players have no idea that it is better for the dealer to stand on 17, would misplay surrender if it were offered, and don't care about the number of decks at all (although I do know many plops hate 6:5, no DAS, and CSMs because these are more obvious).

Now I do understand why decent pen is offered, and maybe understand that some might want to play pitch games, but for example why even have a 6 deck game when 8 decks is more hands per hour and much easier to protect against APs? Are there markets in this country where basic strategy gamblers will seek out the best rules? Just seems like such a small percentage of players I see at the tables.[/QUOTE

Two parts to the equation.
Regardless of the business, consumers have a choice. Educated consumers make better choices. You can buy discounted 6:5 at Walmart or get higher quality S17 at Nordstroms. Caveat Emptor. Just because a consumer is more discriminating does not mean they know how to wear the merchandise.

Casinos, like any business, have a range of "options", which, depending on margin, increase or decrease profitability. If you want the better options like surrender, rsa , DAS, da2, with good pen, you usually pay for them through higher min games. If you're strictly a price shopper, you'll play crap at crowded tables.

[biggg]

I see, it almost sounds like it is a state law thing in the northeast at least, perhaps the regulators want to limit player loss rates? MD has pretty good rules as well.

[RS]

My guess would be because thy used to offer great rules. As time goes on, they start to offer worse and worse rules because they can get away with it. But they aren't just going to jump from great rules to really really bad rules.

If gas was $2/gal and all of a sudden jumped to $5, would you still buy it? Or what if it took some 20-25 years to go from $2 to $5?

[bigplayer]

To attract more customers. Most people walk into a casino with a set amount of money they are willing to lose. They realize that better rules allows them to play longer and occasionally walk out with more money than they came in with. That's how you create repeat customers. Same reason why McDonald's has a 99c value menu.

For typical non-counting players, deep penetration gives more hands per hour and thus more profits for the casino. There are more unskilled players giving up 2% than skilled players getting 1% so wise casinos have deep penetration.

[21gunsalute]

I am new to the game but am almost certain from my time at the tables that 90% or more of players have no idea that it is better for the dealer to stand on 17, would misplay surrender if it were offered, and don't care about the number of decks at all (although I do know many plops hate 6:5, no DAS, and CSMs because these are more obvious).

Now I do understand why decent pen is offered, and maybe understand that some might want to play pitch games, but for example why even have a 6 deck game when 8 decks is more hands per hour and much easier to protect against APs? Are there markets in this country where basic strategy gamblers will seek out the best rules? Just seems like such a small percentage of players I see at the tables.

I don't know if this is the main reason or not, but have you ever seen a petite dealer with small hands try to stuff 8 decks into a shoe? Trust me, that more hands per hour is only in theory when they have to keep picking messes of cards off from the felt, the floor, counting to see if cards are missing and reshuffling, not to mention pissing off the customer base who are waiting to play.