El Cortez Gambling Update

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?

I'm quite sure that is the case.

Quote: dudestupid

Last time I was there, it was $3 minimum, but I guess you only had to bet $1 on prob bets....

In most casinos, you can place $1 prop bets at a $25 table.

Prop bets are like organized side bets. Since they have a high house edge, of course they're gonna let you bet below the table minimum.

The difference is, because they don't have the same high payout potential of a typical side bet, it's not limited like a side bet or Fire Bet....

Quote: Wizard

I'm quite sure that is the case.

Do you think they take themselves out of the average first? Or do they compare their return % to the mean return % with themselves included in the calculation of the mean? To the extent that they're better than average, they'd look even better if they compared themselves to the average of all others...

Quote: mkl654321

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

Binion's was doing $1 craps, but only after 3AM. El cortez may have been matching them. But they didn't advertise it, the pit boss just made the call after looking at all the empty tables. They do expect you to make every "come" bet and to put at least 5X odds with those minimums. It's kind of fun to get all that action without having to play too much money.

I doubt that the casino cares about odds bets, but the dealers working the table don't want to see you betting a dollar and just hanging out to see if it hits. They know that your just phishing for drinks, and your not going to tip.

I was a the EC several times in the first two weeks of July. If I remember correctly they had 2 roulette tables with a 25 cent minimum. several BJ games $5 single deck,
$3 Double Deck, $3 shoe game and $3 Double Attack. Craps was 1 table in the afternoon with $3 and 2 tables in the evening with 1 $3 and 1 $5. The craps tables are indeed crowded in the evening but you will find a spot in the afternoon. the $3 double deck BJ table is ALLWAYS full and there a only a few people playing the other 21 games. BTW all BJ's are dealt from a shoe. The $5 baccarat table is mostly empty. I saw ones an Asian gentlemen playing the game with a $25 bet and on another occasion 2 gentlemen 1 placing $25 bets, the other $5. Roulette is also not very popular.

Thanks for posting the update. I'll try to post one after my Labor Day Weekend visit.

Quote: rdw4potus

Do you think they take themselves out of the average first? Or do they compare their return % to the mean return % with themselves included in the calculation of the mean? To the extent that they're better than average, they'd look even better if they compared themselves to the average of all others...

You are right, but the difference would be so small that it wouldn't be worth the confusion. They would also look better if they compared themselves to just the Strip, but once again it would only be a small improvement, and it would make people more suspicious of the ad.

I don't have anything to add to Flynn's post, pretty much what I saw during my visit this past weekend(9-3/9-5)

I played a bit at El Cortez this trip. Craps is still $3 with 10x odds. It's not the best place to play craps. The players are fleas, and the dealers are break-ins. Not to say it is a horrible experience, but it isn't great. I lost big, too, so that probably colors my review, but I think I'm somewhat on the ball here.

Blackjack is still $5 for the single deck game. Bacc, and I believe Pai Gow too, is $5. Normal rules for both. Low tables available if that appeals to you. Lots of smoke everywhere in the casino. Blackjack gets you one or two rounds before the shuffle. Spread 1-4 with no heat. The atmosphere could be so much better if they could attract a better clientele. They try so hard to be classy, but the fleas just can't be avoided, especially with the Western closing down. The new Parlour bar is especially nice, although I heard some long-time customers were unhappy with it. (What do they know about style? ;P)

Quote: teddys

I played a bit at El Cortez this trip. Craps is still $3 with 10x odds. It's not the best place to play craps. The players are fleas, and the dealers are break-ins. Not to say it is a horrible experience, but it isn't great. I lost big, too, so that probably colors my review, but I think I'm somewhat on the ball here.

This is all true. However, since the majority of players are $3 players, then by playing $5, you suddenly look like a big shot. And the pit boss will definitely notice. (The dealers are way too green to notice.) It's easy to get comped here by simply playing $5. Further, if you are tipping, you'll probably be the only person tipping, and you'll get a lot of attention for that as well.

In other words, it's easy to get treated like a big shot while still betting under the limits available on the strip. LOL.