Blackjack hands per hour
All the dealers I faced were extremely aggressive in dealing out cards as fast as possible. I didn't enjoy the experience.
I'm wondering if they're being ridden hard to up the hands per hour so as to increase profits.
I played at the Wynn too ($15 and $25 minimums) and none of the dealers were as aggressive.
Is this a Vegas wide thing or just at MGM properties after the City Centre fiasco?
Quote: helpmespockI was in Las Vegas in mid-March and I played Blackjack at the Bellagio at their low-roller $10 minimum tables (6 decks, random shuffler, hit soft 17 -- yes I know it's worse odds).
All the dealers I faced were extremely aggressive in dealing out cards as fast as possible. I didn't enjoy the experience.
I'm wondering if they're being ridden hard to up the hands per hour so as to increase profits.
I played at the Wynn too ($15 and $25 minimums) and none of the dealers were as aggressive.
Is this a Vegas wide thing or just at MGM properties after the City Centre fiasco?
My guess is that it depends on the property management and maybe time of day. In "When the Mob Ran Vegas" the author states that after Howard Hughes bought the Sands they instituted an "expected hands per hour" which he (the author) felt ruined the place. This could also depend on time of day, on swing shift when it is packed you want more hands because the seat will empty when you lose and another player will step up. At say 10:00 AM with three seats empty anyhow no reason to speed it up.
Personally I think too many places place too much value on "hands per hour." If you consider the hourly pay of the dealers (and the fractional pit boss) my guess is you lose $2 in POed players for every $1 in extra play. But then again I have yet to start training for the tables. (BTW: That starts wednsday so I hope to update my blog late next week.)
IMO, The Wynn is a much more friendlier place to play. Drink service, IMO, is WAY better, the atmosphere much nicer, the dealers more friendly, and low key. But during the daytime, in this economy, you could probably play $5 or $10 Blackjack anywhere on the strip (except Wynn). Choose the place which is friendly to you and find a shoe that is shuffled to reduce your expected loss. There were 2 $5 tables at Bellagio were $5 at 8am in the morning when I was last there.
My feeling overall about the Bellagio is that they do not value the low valued player (with the exception of Pai-Gow Poker). With a number of other blackjack tables operated by MGM all around the Bellagio, I think they do this on purpose to drive players to their other properties.
Quote: boymimboI had the experience with the .66% CSMs at Bellagio. During the daytime the dealers at the $10 tables are extremely gruff, to say the least, and deal fast. The old battleaxe (sorry, still upset about the experience) that I had for a dealer made a comment about the clarity of my hand signal, something that had not been said to me since I started playing Blackjack 10 years ago. I cashed in and left.
I have two guesses as to why this happens. First is the casino management puts their worst people on the shift where they will do the least damage. Even at a high-end strip propery that has its pick of dealers you can't get 100% of the best people. Second is the older dealers have more pick of shift and take the days. As older dealers they may be worn down and should be working elsewhere but finding somwething else at an older age and similar income is impossibe.
Once I had a terrible driver on the Duece. I almost took down a number to complain. I don't expect the best personalities there, but this woman practically treated the passengers like it was a prison bus.
Hey, folks, if you hate the public that much, try housekeeping or maybe work the eye.
