My Conversation with a Pit Boss at the PA Sands
September 30th, 2010 at 2:59:58 PM
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Listen to this madness. So I am playing craps for fun and as its a no commission table, I will buy the other 5 or 9 for $40 when the point is 5 or 9. Don't ask me why, its just what I like to do and I don't mind the 2% HA if I am playing craps. The dealer looks confused and keeps trying to place my money. I explain that the odds are better on the buy and that I don't want to place the number. He switches it for me after I ask him to and I get a mean look from the boss. I play for a bit and lose, then run into the boss later while playing BJ and earning my money back ;)
I ask him nicely why it seemed the dealer was confused when I wanted to buy the five or nine. I kid you not, this was the exact conversation:
PB "Its harder for the dealers to do a buy on the 5 and 9."
Me "Its harder to charge a dollar for every 20? Then why offer buys on the 4 and 10 if its so difficult?"
PB "People like you are going to ruin the buy on 4 and 10 because you give the dealers a hard time on the 5 and 9. We are going to change it all to commission up front because of people like you."
Me "Wait, you expect me to intentionally take worse odds on a bet because I am somehow supposed to know that I am ruining the game for other people in the future?"
PB "Yep."
At which point I just stopped the conversation and continued to play BJ. So lets analyze this....
They want to move to a system where you have to collect commission on the buy and the win and thus collect two times on the 4 and 10. Whereas if they kept it the same way, they would still collect it only once for any 4, 5, 9, or 10. So we are talking four collections any way they slice it. Also, they are giving players attitude for taking the smarter bet on a 2% HA bet. Its already the worst number bet on the table and they are complaining that we won't let them make it worse.
Sounds to me like either the pit boss is a moron or the organization has decided to move to commission and want some sort of justification.
I ask him nicely why it seemed the dealer was confused when I wanted to buy the five or nine. I kid you not, this was the exact conversation:
PB "Its harder for the dealers to do a buy on the 5 and 9."
Me "Its harder to charge a dollar for every 20? Then why offer buys on the 4 and 10 if its so difficult?"
PB "People like you are going to ruin the buy on 4 and 10 because you give the dealers a hard time on the 5 and 9. We are going to change it all to commission up front because of people like you."
Me "Wait, you expect me to intentionally take worse odds on a bet because I am somehow supposed to know that I am ruining the game for other people in the future?"
PB "Yep."
At which point I just stopped the conversation and continued to play BJ. So lets analyze this....
They want to move to a system where you have to collect commission on the buy and the win and thus collect two times on the 4 and 10. Whereas if they kept it the same way, they would still collect it only once for any 4, 5, 9, or 10. So we are talking four collections any way they slice it. Also, they are giving players attitude for taking the smarter bet on a 2% HA bet. Its already the worst number bet on the table and they are complaining that we won't let them make it worse.
Sounds to me like either the pit boss is a moron or the organization has decided to move to commission and want some sort of justification.
September 30th, 2010 at 8:34:05 PM
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I have been told that a buy bet in PA has to be done in multiples of $20, so the vig works out to the exact amount. Is this true?
Always borrow money from a pessimist; They don't expect to get paid back !
Be yourself and speak your thoughts. Those who matter won't mind, and those that mind, don't matter!
September 30th, 2010 at 9:13:00 PM
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Quote: marangil
Sounds to me like either the pit boss is a moron
Some of them act like you're getting in the way of the casino making money, that you should just leave your money at the door.
"It too bad we can't just knock them in the head, steal their money and throw their bodies in the creek. But thats probably illegal." Al Swearengen, Gem Saloon, Deadwood SD
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
October 1st, 2010 at 8:45:46 AM
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Drop 'em. That's straight-up insulting and you shouldn't have to put up with that unless you really like the place. I would take my business to Mohegan or Mt. Airy.
"Dice, verily, are armed with goads and driving-hooks, deceiving and tormenting, causing grievous woe." -Rig Veda 10.34.4
October 1st, 2010 at 10:26:06 AM
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Actually they let you bet in any units you want and collect only 1 for every 20. They do insist on a $20 min for a buy which I can understand. I refuse to draw attention to myself by betting $39 on the 4 or 10 to maximize odds, but I will bet $35 to get a 69/35 return and then press by units of 20 from there if I feel like it.
As for moving to another casino, the Sands is 15 minutes from my house and its part of the Sands Co. which treats me well in Vegas. Not to mention that the odds at the table are exceptionally friendly to the player. Its just wierd to me that they would give you attitude for taking the smartest bet on a number. I am friends with the head of the eyes in the sky there, so I think I will bring it to his attention. I also know the pit boss' name so maybe he can adjust the attitude in a friendly way without any further incidents.
As for moving to another casino, the Sands is 15 minutes from my house and its part of the Sands Co. which treats me well in Vegas. Not to mention that the odds at the table are exceptionally friendly to the player. Its just wierd to me that they would give you attitude for taking the smartest bet on a number. I am friends with the head of the eyes in the sky there, so I think I will bring it to his attention. I also know the pit boss' name so maybe he can adjust the attitude in a friendly way without any further incidents.
October 1st, 2010 at 10:59:08 AM
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Maybe the root of the problem is that the Sands is still new.
Maybe after they are fully staffed and the dealers are broken-in, they might be more receptive to unusual betting strategies.
Maybe after they are fully staffed and the dealers are broken-in, they might be more receptive to unusual betting strategies.
I invented a few casino games. Info:
http://www.DaveMillerGaming.com/ —————————————————————————————————————
Superstitions are silly, childish, irrational rituals, born out of fear of the unknown. But how much does it cost to knock on wood? 😁
October 11th, 2010 at 5:30:07 PM
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Quote: marangilSounds to me like either the pit boss is a moron or the organization has decided to move to commission and want some sort of justification.
BINGO!
I know a pit/boxman JUST like this..straight up told the base dealer at the crap table that "People come to this table to LOSE money, if you're not willing to lose, then you do not belong here." (I was betting the doey/dont; if he had any sense at all, he'd realize it's quite the opposite, that I have no way to WIN, ONLY a way to LOSE.)
Gambling calls to me...like this ~> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Nap37mNSmQ
October 11th, 2010 at 6:41:08 PM
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Often casino employees do get an "us versus them" mentality and think that a player who is trying to win is as bad as one that is winning. Some casinos are perfectly willing to eject people who are winning even if they know, absolutely know, they are not cheating. One old-time pit boss used to say "If they are winning, they go out". Its similar to the way casinos now throw serious heat at small time card counters.
