When a New Casino Opens

[Baberuth]

What helps them succeed? We zero in on the BJ game rules, but is that really a make or break decision? Will enough people flock to a casino because of good BJ rules/games to make a casino a success or is this just part of it and how much a part? Example being if the new Revel had great BJ games would they get enough losers to overcome the small number of winners to help them be a success? This may be a question where there be many opinions and no mathematical evidence to justify any of them. The "experts" must evaluate and plan all stategies before huge investments.
Another example is The El Cortez keeps ticking with its single deck game. They aren't filing for bankruptsy.

[RWM]

I think good BJ rules have very little to do with a casino's success. Casinos are a service business. I think the most important thing is good customer service, and good inexpensive food.

[Goatlife]

I think if the casino's make the big loosers feel important they will do well. I have seen some real dumps keep their big ploppies because they are generous with comps regardless of time played. Casinos need to realize this, if a guy is a gambler and brings 5-10k twice a month to the casino does it matter if he lputs the time in at the table. Sometimes he gets really unlucky and losses in all in 3 shoes. Sometimes he gets lucky and plays all weekend and then comes more frequently until he gives it back. Treat the people with ADT's (average daily theo) in the 1000's well , give them comps when before they have to ask. Know them by first name. Most of them suffer from low self esteem that's why they engage in this addicting behavior. Being treated good by the casino makes them feel important and that's why they come back. They like the rush of winning and the like the rush of feeling important. Subconsiously that rush is worth 5-10k a trip. When the revel started all ac players where willing to give them a shot, well they blew their first opportunity and many ploppies have not returned

[bronco60]

I think good BJ rules have very little to do with a casino's success. Casinos are a service business. I think the most important thing is good customer service, and good inexpensive food.

Begging to differ, more options make for a better social experience (and blackjack is a "social" game"). The more options
like surrender and DAS, the more opportunities to comment, the things to lament, the more ways to congratulate (or castigate) your fellow players. Also, restrictive rules just grates against some people and gives the impression a casino is cheap or out for the jugular.

[RWM]

The question was what makes a casino succeed. The majority of people that visit a casino don't even play blackjack. Of the ones who do, it is a tiny percentage that are even aware of the difference in rules.

I think in general it is better for a casino to have looser games because it means the players will last longer so their experience will be better. But to the average ploppy I think things like quality and price of food, and friendliness of employees has a lot more to do with a casino's success.

[NoID]

If a casino could, they would eliminate BJ. Ever wonder why carnival games are becoming so popular? Casino greed is why.
shufflemaster leads the way. Read the brochures on their carnival games and you see house edges of 5% or so. But in reality, because poppies have no idea of strategies some games Hoover around 30 to 40% hold for the house.
I'm with RWM, give the plops the world and they will return, especially the addicts. Rules are irrelevant to 99% of the patrons.

[NoID]

http://www.mgc.dps.mo.gov/2013_fin/F...detail1212.XLW

This is an interesting site, really opens ones eyes to the corruption of this business

[Stealth]

What helps them succeed? We zero in on the BJ game rules, but is that really a make or break decision? Will enough people flock to a casino because of good BJ rules/games to make a casino a success or is this just part of it and how much a part? Example being if the new Revel had great BJ games would they get enough losers to overcome the small number of winners to help them be a success? This may be a question where there be many opinions and no mathematical evidence to justify any of them. The "experts" must evaluate and plan all stategies before huge investments.
Another example is The El Cortez keeps ticking with its single deck game. They aren't filing for bankruptsy.

I believe if you check their revenue streams you will find that table games are not the major generator, its the slots by a huge variance!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now that does not mean table games are not important. For example there are some 10,000+ and growing blackjack tables in North America with a proforma revenue generation of some $14B for the gaming industry. It is, however, bewildering that their management is willing to pay serious (way beyond anything I can forecast about their exposure) loss of revenue dollars to prevent AP play.

As my hero said, stupid is as stupid does.

[21forme]

Table games are important because while hubby is playing BJ or 3CP, the wife is feeding the machines. If there are multiple casinos in a venue, and some have machines only, they will be losing a lot of business without table games.

[mofungoo]

I believe if you check their revenue streams you will find that table games are not the major generator, its the slots by a huge variance!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now that does not mean table games are not important. For example there are some 10,000+ and growing blackjack tables in North America with a proforma revenue generation of some $14B for the gaming industry. It is, however, bewildering that their management is willing to pay serious (way beyond anything I can forecast about their exposure) loss of revenue dollars to prevent AP play.

As my hero said, stupid is as stupid does.

Casino consultant Bill Zender says the same thing:

http://www.casinoenterprisemanagemen...rson-sitting-t

[KJ]

I think good BJ rules have very little to do with a casino's success. Casinos are a service business. I think the most important thing is good customer service, and good inexpensive food.

I am going to disagree with RWM here. BJ rules are an indication of the rest of the casino games. If BJ rules are tight, they most likely are offering tight games everywhere. 7-5 video poker, lower payout slots, etc.

Now the thing about a new casino, especially a big expensive type with all the bells and whistles, casinos like Revel, Cosmo, Aria, is people will come once to check it out. To marvel at all the shiny decor. But to get them to keep coming back, you have to offer them a decent opportunity to occasionally win.

Obviously, us AP type players know the numbers. We understand the different house edged and when the casino is jacking them up. But the casino isn't after our dollar. They are after older ladies (for example) who sit for hours feeding the slot machine. They think that these ladies won't notice a difference if they lower the slot payback from say 97% to 95%. They think it won't matter in the slightest. The little old ladies will still come, feed the machines and go home. But it does matter. While the little old ladies might not know the exact numbers, nor exactly what it means, but they soon realize that they lose their money faster and have fewer winning trips than they used to. In my final days of regular play in AC a few years ago, while riding the train, I overheard a number of conversation just like this.

A second problem for the places with crappy BJ conditions is they think they are losing only the table game player, which maybe they don't care all that much about. But what about a husband and wife combo, where he plays table games and she plays slots, two sisters, or a group of friends that 3 play slots and one plays tables. When the table games player, who is more likely to know and understand the numbers, decides he doesn't want to play at XXX casino, they all end up somewhere else.

[21forme]

While the little old ladies might not know the exact numbers, nor exactly what it means, but they soon realize that they lose their money faster and have fewer winning trips than they used to. In my final days of regular play in AC a few years ago, while riding the train, I overheard a number of conversation just like this.

I agree. I hear ploppies in LV Strip casinos saying things like, "I came to lose $500. A few years ago that lasted 3 days. Now it only lasts 1 day. It's not worth the trip any more."

[Baberuth]

I wonder if the Revel ever had a chance no matter what they did, but we will never know. Should they have had games from BJ to VP and decent slot payoffs would they have attracted enough people or did the surroundings in AC doom them. Many said they hoped they would come in with good games and slots or they had no chance. It actually makes sense to create an image of prople having a better chance to win. Many racinos seem to be doing well. I hear people say they win once in a while and certainly more than local casinos. The casinos in PA seem to be thriving with better games. I wonder what a Revel with good games would do there.
Couldn't the heads of all the casinos in AC get together and figure out a way to save themselves? Acouple of you guys could be the consultants and run the meeting.