Bad news from Borgata Casino

Borgata Casino had been dethroned in Jan & Feb. First time in years that Borgata's bj winnings were consecutively beaten by Harrah's Casino in Jan ($7,008,814.00 vs $7,011,427.00), then by Caesars Casino in Feb ($3,497,792.00 vs $5,499,093.00). See tables below for details. Hmm... perhaps that's why Borgata has downgraded some of its good bj games from s17 to h17. It gets to do something drastically in order to catch up with the Jones, aka Harrah's & Caesars Casinos. By the way, Borgata's 6.2 holding percentage was the lowest among all AC casinos in February. So, what do you guys think about Borgata's dethronements 2 months in the row?

I don't think much of this fluctuation. Blackjack is becoming of decreasing importance to casinos. Table revenue was $19,067,680 at the Borgata for January (that's about 37%). On the Vegas strip Blackjack is down to 23% of table & poker revenue.

So why don't they go back to s17 and also advertise: we have the lowest hold percentage of anyone in town, that means our players get to keep more money than at any other casino in town.

Big news

Quote: FleaStiff

So why don't they go back to s17 and also advertise: we have the lowest hold percentage of anyone in town, that means our players get to keep more money than at any other casino in town.

because (average) people are too dumb to know what that means?

most people dont realize that 6:5 is worse than 3:2 - even if they knew that the game was a 6:5, they would probably think that "6 and 5 are bigger numbers than 3 and 2, so it must be more gooder!"

Quote: nullzero00

because (average) people are too dumb to know what that means?

most people dont realize that 6:5 is worse than 3:2 - even if they knew that the game was a 6:5, they would probably think that "6 and 5 are bigger numbers than 3 and 2, so it must be more gooder!"

People have been saying this for a long time now, but I think we may be ready for a little counter-programming. Blackjack started off the decay in the recession, and the game has dropped far worse than slots, or any other major table game.

It's time for the pendulum to swing back a little. I think that people would pay for a more fair game. By pay, I mean they would gamble more money.

Quote: nullzero00

so it must be more gooder!"

I'm not sure.
I think slot players are too dumb to remember to breathe but blackjack players, if sober, just might be more educated than we think.

Quote: FleaStiff

I'm not sure.
I think slot players are too dumb to remember to breathe but blackjack players, if sober, just might be more educated than we think.

Just bottom line the problem.

At it's peak in October 2007,
Blackjack brought in roughly $3 million a day on the Vegas Strip, now it brings in roughly $2 million (actually a -32% change)
Over the same period slots had a -20% change

If you look at cash "drop"
Blackjack changed by -17%
Slots changed by -24%

So while slots managers were able to increase win percent by 0.36% by seducing people towards "penny slots", blackjack players are turning away from the tables sooner and not playing as long.
So slots changed "cash drop" by -24% and revenue by the smaller -20%;
blackjack changed "cash drop" by -17% and revenue by the larger -32%.

Craps and Roulette changed revenue by half the percentage amount as Blackjack, and even less than slots.

The game is in serious trouble, over and above the effects of the recession. That alone should tell you that someone should try something different than what they are doing to lure people back to the game.

My personal prediction is that baccarat had a much less stellar performance than last year for Chinese New Year's now that it has Singapore as competition. I am expecting the state of Nevada to set a new 3.5 year low when the numbers are released in two weeks. There is an outside chance that they will be low enough so that the Vegas Strip sets a new 3.5 year low as well.

Its odd, I've heard that Sic Bo is in such decline that it is difficult to find. Sure its a terribly high house edge but I guess social trends affect Las Vegas too.

I think there are two ways to analyze the numbers: Absolute decline in gambling time/dollars/bang-for-buck, etc. and relative decline in such numbers. I've long suspected that there should be an Index of Expenditures in order to shed better light on the gambling profits. Casinos make a big thing about a reduced room rate but forget that their customers will also be spending money on arcades, movies, restaurants, shows, ... and as these seem to be taking increasing time and cost bites, that might just be the reason for the decline in the gambling.

The clubs live the lines because it lets them charge for line passes and doorman's bribes. The hotels seem to love long lines at check in perhaps because it drives up booze sales or something.

Remember the days of old in Laughlin where the movie was only two dollars but getting a comp for it took less than two minutes. Remember when the much publicized buffet at Circus Circus could be comped in a snap. I think Las Vegas has indeed suffered a decline in travel and in "action", but when you add up the airport delays, the shuttle/taxi delays, the hotel check in delays, the twenty dollar upgrade delays, the concierge delays, the line pass delays... egads, its a wonder more people don't choose to simply head just a bit down the road to an Indian casino and be done with it.