El Cortez Gambling Update

Quote: IAchance5

How can you be sure that the Palms and El Cortez have the best hold %'s in Vegas? Does someone actually perform studies over every casino? How accurate are the studies (i.e. sample size)?

The Palms and El Cortez opened their books to Anthony Curtis from Las Vegas Advisor and the El Cortez hired a firm CDC Consulting to do an analysis.

Quote: Wavy70

The Palms and El Cortez opened their books to Anthony Curtis from Las Vegas Advisor and the El Cortez hired a firm CDC Consulting to do an analysis.

Do all Veags casinos do that? Or are they just comparing those numbers to what the published "win" percentages for each of the regions?

Quote: IAchance5

Do all Veags casinos do that? Or are they just comparing those numbers to what the published "win" percentages for each of the regions?

Most don't (in fact, the EC and the Palms are the only ones that I'm aware of that have), but the comparisons with the overall numbers are still valid.

Quote: 7winner

A new El Cortez review here at the WoV has some very inaccurate ( I think) Gambling info included.

I was just there 4 weeks ago and have been a regular visitor for over 2 years.

Craps has been a $3 to $1000, 10 times odds table for the longest time. Have never seen $1 craps there.
Most evening both tables are open until shift change when they close one.
I sure hope they have not changed.

They also have 4 roulette tables with 25 cent minimum bets, right next to the $5 min mini-baccarat table.
1 $5 min 3 card poker,
1 $5 min pai-gow poker

I will be there next week to find out for sure.

Did you ever go back to verify these table games there??

Quote: IAchance5

Did you ever go back to verify these table games there??

If any review of any casino is more than six minutes old, the number, configuration, and limits of the tables will almost certainly have changed since the review was written. Keep in mind that the reviews were written on a given date, and usually haven't been updated.

It's not so much that those reviews are "inaccurate", as that the Wiz doesn't have the time or resources to revisit every one of the casinos reviewed once a week to count all the blackjack tables.

Quote: IAchance5

Did you ever go back to verify these table games there??

I just returned from a 3 day stay at the El Cortez. I am never in Vegas on weekends so this is from tues thru friday.

Craps still during the week a $3 to $1000, 10 times odds table. Both box that I asked about $1 minimum said they have not had $1 craps for over a few years now.
Most evening weekends, as I was told, both tables are open until shift change when they close one.

Lots of fleas and low-lifes play craps at the EC.

Half of the Buy-ins I saw was for $20 and these players were mostly rude, making constant late bets, wanting, wanting and wanting. One fat, white guy... you could tell he just fell off a truck, like me- hehe, bought in for $20, in the middle of a hand, took his sweet time picking up his chips, made a late bet, the dice hit his hand and 7 out the table. I left after that one. I hate scum craps players and there are plenty to go around at the EC.
Watch your chips and bets closley. When only 1 table is open, like most weekdays, the Craps table gets crowed with about 10 players since you can count on a few wheelchairs, walkers and O2 tanks and a few very obese players, both male and female that take up so much room at the rail it is NOT funny.
Most of the dealers are breakins but they have good box at most times.

They also have 4 roulette tables with 25 cent minimum bets, right next to the $5 min mini-baccarat table.
3 table blackjack pit next to the 4 roulette tables- you can not miss the roulette tables. 4 marquees always lit up with the past spins.
$3 min. I hate Blackjack, dealing and playing so I say no more.
They have a few more 21 tables in the main pit around the corner from the cage. One was a min $25 table. Again, no 21 info from me.
1 $5 to $100 min 3 card poker
1 $5 min pai-gow poker

I found playing Craps in the morning and late evening more enjoyable, better group of older players with $100 buy-ins or more and hope to return there soon.
For $3 and $5 minimum bets, EC, they have them.

If it's $3 craps, can you bet / press in half-units?

I.E. Can I have a $3 place bet and get paid $3.50?

Quote: DJTeddyBear

If it's $3 craps, can you bet / press in half-units?

I.E. Can I have a $3 place bet and get paid $3.50?

Yes, they have either 50cent chips or 50 cent coins.
Even saw one player press up $3, to $6 then to $9 and was paid exactly $10.50.

Also, I saw many times points of 5 and 9s with $3 odds and they were paid $4.50.

I also played a lot at The Fremont that is Downtown, where they have only 1 $3 table 24/7 and also 50 cent chips. $3 place 6&8 also paid $3.50.

Quote: 7winner

Craps still during the week a $3 to $1000, 10 times odds table. Both box that I asked about $1 minimum said they have not had $1 craps for over a few years now.

Odd, I'm certain I played $1 craps there about a year ago. They could have done that for graveyard shift or something.

Last time I was there, it was $3 minimum, but I guess you only had to bet $1 on prob bets.
Several of the people there were only doing props; the pass line was too high-rolling for them, I guess.
When their bankrolls got low, they may only bet a buck at a time. Maybe if the table had been crowded, the dealers would have enforced the minimum.
I guess there's no sense in letting them leave with 2 bucks.