Outside Stick, Inside Stick, or Single Dealer Tub-Game...

What do you usually see?
Also, what do you think the break point is?
This particular casino I go to, almost ALWAYS has an Outside Stick (meaning fully staff 3 dealer table).
The funny part is, 99% of the time the dealers outnumber the people playing.
Obviously Fri/Sat nights and Special Events will draw a crowd...but under normal circumstances, they could run it with iniside stick.
Hell, as for me, I'd run inside stick during the week entirely.
Of course, Graveyard I'd just put up a tub and let one dealer deal it (as 99% of the time during grave NO ONE plays; the two dealers sometimes three just lean on the table and stare into space)
The most funny thing is...the REST of the entire pit is usually FULL, while the craps table remains empty.

Almost always two dealers and a stick. On occasion, I have on occassion seen a two person crew, but the stick was still on the "outside". They told anyone who wanted to play to stand on the end of the table where the the dealer position was staffed (This at Palace Station on a Sunday afternoon).

I think the management has to make a call regarding whether to close the table entirely or keep a crew there. "If you staff it, they will come". Even if only one guy walks up and drops $100 in half an hour, it may be worth keeping it open.

There may also be something to keeping folks on for a minimum number of hours, even with no action for some of them, to make sure you are fully staffed on the busy nights. If you let them go, or put them "on call", you will lose employees to joints where they offer hours, and the benefits that come with working a certain number of them.

Sounds like the dealers should try to hustle players or that management should teach classes on how to play. Craps is a little scary at first for new players.

As a player I am a fan of having a full table, 3 dealers and a box man I have seen some casinos where on slow shifts the box man sometimes will do floor duties, or one box man will work two craps tables.

Morongo did this on a Friday night, they closed the one half of the table and only had 1 dealer. Then they raised the bet from $5 to $10, on a half empty table. I cashed out as soon as my bets were resolved.

Quote: stinky

I cashed out as soon as my bets were resolved.

Good. The casino should realize its their fault when tables are virtually empty. Sure the casino wants lots of players provided they have plenty of money and very attractive females with them. Well, the casino can hope for this all they want but staffing and minimums are the primary factors and Player Development is the second most important factor. Closing half the table and chasing players off the other half just hardly makes sense yet I'm sure somewhere there is a casino executive making a speech about the economy.

Morongo's game isn't traditional Craps, but uses cards, no? It seems a waste of a perfectly good craps table to not play the game with dice based outcomes.

It is, but all games with dice-based outcomes are illegal in California, on or off tribal land. That's why you have products like this one.

Quote: MathExtremist

It is, but all games with dice-based outcomes are illegal in California, on or off tribal land. That's why you have products like this one.

I am mildly amused, and slightly irritated, that they (Morongo) go through the trouble of buying a full size table with the "pyramid" liner, even though dice are not part of the game.

I don't see how reducing staff, and pushing the players to one end of the table at a game without dice makes any difference. No one is shooting, so player position makes no difference. There's no reason to have a stick position staffed, as the boxman can handle the center bets.

I am pretty sure they have the table there just in case the day comes when dice are legal, they will be ready.

Even though its not the same as dice, it took a while for me to even fathom playing it. When I do, it goes way too fast. Since the boxman flips the cards, they dont have a 'slow pace' of a normal table. They just keep flipping.

I'll take dice over cards any day.

Quote: stinky

I am pretty sure they have the table there just in case the day comes when dice are legal, they will be ready.

Never underestimate the stupidity of a purchasing agent who decides upon a professional craps table with all the frets and stuff and never even realizes there are no dice involved.

Quote: Ayecarumba

Morongo's game isn't traditional Craps, but uses cards, no? It seems a waste of a perfectly good craps table to not play the game with dice based outcomes.

How else are you going to keep them card setters in check?

:P

I just came home from Fiesta, on dice tonight.
90% of the night (a Thursday) there were more players than dealers - and with a full crew.
It doesn't mattter is dealers outnumber players.
It matter if the table getting action and is making money.
When you consider that dealers make 7.25 an hour, it doesn't take much action to pay for the crew.