Dean: Casino Bars Basic Strategy Blackjack Players

[Dean]

LAS VEGAS - It was like any ordinary Saturday night at the Tangiers casino. Darrin Klein placed a $5 bet on one of the 8 deck Blackjack tables. Pit boss Stephen Carroll asked him: "Will you be putting a dollar or two on the Super Sevens side bet, sir?" Knowing that side bets are usually a bad deal for the player, Darrin declined. The pit
boss then asked "Would you care to try one of our single deck games?" Knowing that single deck Blackjack pays only 6 to 5 for a "natural", Darrin declined again. The response was blunt: "We've been observing your play for quite a while. You're more than welcome to play slots, craps, or even [6 to 5] single deck blackjack. However, you're no
longer allowed to play [3 to 2 multideck] Blackjack here. Please leave."

Darrin replied: "Why?"

"You're too good for us. Please leave", replied Carroll.

"But I don't count cards", Darrin replied.

Stephen replied: "I know you don't count cards. But it doesn't matter. Please leave your seat so that another player can play."

With that, Darrin Klien, known to the Tangiers as a perfect basic strategy player over hundreds of hands became one of the many Blackjack players barred, not for cheating or counting cards, but for playing according to a set of strategies known as "basic strategy". Basic strategy guides players on when to "hit", "stand" and make other decisions at Blackjack tables.

For years, casinos such as the Tangiers have made it standard procedure to ban card counters. Countermeasures, including technology and surveilance, have made card counting impossible except for a small group of highly skilled "advantage players". Since casinos don't have to worry much about card counters anymore, they are now trying to counteract the profit-reducing effects of skilled basic
strategy Blackjack players. Many players, including Darrin Klien, feel that this practice is unwarranted since basic strategy players still lose money in the long run. "This is outrageous and overbearing", says Klien. However, Stephen Carroll sees it differently.

"We barred Mr. Klien for the benefit of our other players. Barring was a last resort. We offered [6 to 5] single deck blackjack, but he said no. We asked that he bet a dollar or two on the side bet to make up for his basic strategy play, but again he refused. We really didn't have much of a choice. Blackjack is no longer a profitable game at low bet levels."

An average Blackjack player gives the casino a profit, or "house edge", of 2.5% or $2.50 per $100 wagered. However, a player using basic strategy only gives up
0.5% or 50 cents per $100 wagered. As Mr. Carroll explains: "That $2 loss of potential profit adds up over the course of the thousands of hands of Blackjack that we deal everyday. Skilled basic strategy players lower our potential profit by 80%. When you factor in the costs of
dealer salaries and complimentary beverages, skilled Blackjack players lose money for the casino even if they don't count cards. We have stockholders to report to. If we didn't deal with this problem, we would have to remove Blackjack altogether."

Gaming industry reports show that the popularity of Blackjack has clearly declined in recent years as players migrate to slot machines and other more-exciting table games such as Caribbean Stud Poker. With players now knowing that they could be barred from a game even if they don't count cards, the game's popularity could decline even
quicker.

Replies appreciated.

If you couldn't tell, the Tangiers is a "unique" casino....

[Mr. X]

> If you couldn't tell, the Tangiers is a
> "unique" casino....

Unique, as in FICTIONAL. There is no Tangiers Casino in Vegas.
Tangiers was the fictional name of the casino in the movie 'Casino', which of course in real life was the Stardust.

While I agree there are a lot of inane barrings, this whole articles reeks of phoniness. Insisting on playing Super 7's or 6/5 or else be barred? As Maxwell Smart says, 'I find that hard to believe'. I am very well aware of the fact that innocent ploppies and idiots have been barred from casino, but this article doesn't pass the smell test.

[Martingale]

Mr X is right. There's no Tangiers Casino in Las Vegas.

Some "Perfect" Basic Strategy players get their comps
reduced significantly. On rare occasions, a good basic
strategy player is mistaken for a AP.

This article is from "Puke Fiction".

> Unique, as in FICTIONAL. There is no Tangiers Casino
> in Vegas.
> Tangiers was the fictional name of the casino in the
> movie 'Casino', which of course in real life was the
> Stardust.

> While I agree there are a lot of inane barrings, this
> whole articles reeks of phoniness. Insisting on
> playing Super 7's or 6/5 or else be barred? As Maxwell
> Smart says, 'I find that hard to believe'. I am very
> well aware of the fact that innocent ploppies and
> idiots have been barred from casino, but this article
> doesn't pass the smell test.

[victoria]

> Mr X is right. There's no Tangiers Casino in Las
> Vegas.

> Some "Perfect" Basic Strategy players get
> their comps
> reduced significantly. On rare occasions, a good basic
> strategy player is mistaken for a AP.

> This article is from "Puke Fiction".

While this story may be pure fiction, there is still something to it. I have family members who manage table games and their casinos do not back off basic strategy players but consider them a type of advantage player. The logic is as explained in the story: The casino expects to make 2.5% on blackjack, resulting in any player whose play would result in a loss of less than 2.5% being considered a skilled player or taken a little further, an advantage player.

Victoria

[Norm Wattenberger]

you should have seen what happened when I put my feet up on the BJ table.

[David Spence]

> you should have seen what happened when I put my feet
> up on the BJ table.

Did they use your head to open the f***in' door? Does your cowboy hat still fit?