WallStRunoff: Has anyone read this book?

[WallStRunoff]

Has anyone read the book "Casino Operations Management" and if so, is their anything the AP can get from this book. It costs $70 so I'd like to get an opinion before I waste my money.

Thanks in advance,
WSR

[kiosk]

this is basically a UNLV freshman textbook. you can see the table of contents of the previous edition on Amazon.

Little or no information about surveillance or anti-AP issues. This book is meant to train youngsters for entry level positions, so you got history of gaming, examples of lots of different financial forms, credit and collections procedure (perhaps this section is somewhat useful), basic game rules, casino floor layouts, and the bread and butter of any gambling bean counter, the "table hold".

the end part of the book covers different marketing strategies such as rating players, match plays, junkets/sprees, loss rebates, and a special chapter on premium (read: whale) recruitment. It seems to be the author's dream to turn everyone who reads this book into a baccarat host to million dollar asian players (can ya help it?!)

is it a good book and a fun and informative read? yes. is it worth $70 compared to just about any other other book you could read to become a better AP? probably not. there are no secrets being taught in universities to 18 year old kids that any knowledgeable gambler couldn't figure out himself or with the help of other people on a message board.

[Lee Aaron Blair]

Kiosk is right on: it's not very useful for most advantage players. It does look impresesive on the shelf, however, & may help convince spouses/parents/GA interventionists you're a serious student of casino ops.

About the only worthwhile surveillance-type tidbit is a reference to ace location, which the author says has "generated much concern by casino operators." He implies that the concern is overblown and discourages lengthy, revenue-sapping shuffles. (I'm citing the 1998 edition in case anyone cares.)

He also makes a pitch Max Rubin & others would appreciate: player ratings should reflect the speed of the particular game, especially for blackjack. "Each player at a full table will receive approximately one fourth the hands per hour they would receive at a heads-up game..." In my experience, casinos don't adjust for speed or crowdedness when valuing your play. They should.

> this is basically a UNLV freshman textbook.
> you can see the table of contents of the
> previous edition on Amazon.

> Little or no information about surveillance
> or anti-AP issues. This book is meant to
> train youngsters for entry level positions,
> so you got history of gaming, examples of
> lots of different financial forms, credit
> and collections procedure (perhaps this
> section is somewhat useful), basic game
> rules, casino floor layouts, and the bread
> and butter of any gambling bean counter, the
> "table hold".

> the end part of the book covers different
> marketing strategies such as rating players,
> match plays, junkets/sprees, loss rebates,
> and a special chapter on premium (read:
> whale) recruitment. It seems to be the
> author's dream to turn everyone who reads
> this book into a baccarat host to million
> dollar asian players (can ya help it?!)

> is it a good book and a fun and informative
> read? yes. is it worth $70 compared to just
> about any other other book you could read to
> become a better AP? probably not. there are
> no secrets being taught in universities to
> 18 year old kids that any knowledgeable
> gambler couldn't figure out himself or with
> the help of other people on a message board.

[WallStRunoff]

Great feedback, thanks a lot guys.