[A] Casinoboss Answers Your Questions

Quote: Bohemian

Because Nevada is the Wild Wild West of no Laws and regulations worth a hill of beans where the Fox guards the hen house.

Yeah, but there are always those Neserian types and newspaper headlines that act as a dampener on the over zealous CMs what still want to break bones just because a guy is winning even if they absolutely know he ain't cheatin'.

Sides, in Mississippi that Gaming Board's got teeth!!! And in NJ, it used to.

Even if its no longer the Wild West in Vegas (or anywhere else) you got corporate this and that and those bean counters now have real clout. Heck, look what happened when a performer got injured and a CM lost her job the very next week. No one ever mentioned the incident that precipitated her retirement, but she was out because the bottom line had already been suffering.

Quote: terapined

Now this and some of your other answers come off as somewhat arrogant. The above answer is correct but its short. Like someone being friendly and gets a short response. Maybe answering like this amuses you. But its all cool, everybody is here for there personal amusement.

There's nothing arrogant about the answers. Frankly, I'm surprised he's bothered to answer half the questions as they either seem to be an effort to learn how to game the system, or are outright hostile to the gaming industry.

Quote: terapined

Anyway, I'd like to add more to the above question and hopefully you wont be short with me.
I think Casinos are missing a segment of the gambling public that would play more if they knew exactly what the odds are. I myself enjoy gambling but only if I know exactly what I'm up against. If I don't know, I don't play. I used to be strictly a poker TX holdem player. I know all the odds. You must know all the odds to be a good player. Last couple years I discovered video poker. I actually love it and play that more then TX Holdem. Now I don't sit down at a video poker machine until I check out the odds. I don't mind playing at a machine that with perfect strategy, I'll still lose in the long run such as 9/6 JOB. The gambling market has become very competitive. I live in Tampa, got 3 poker rooms in town and one of the largest casinos in the country here, Seminole Hard Rock Tampa. I think Vegas or casino can gain a competitive advantage providing gamblers odds. Think of the advertising gimmicks exploiting this competitive advantage. And it would attract more people like me to other games that I wont touch because I don't know the odds.

This "question" (seems more like a suggestion as there isn't a question mark in sight) shows more that you don't understand how the gaming industry works than anything else. If you had a rudimentary grasp of how things work, from the house's point of view, you'd see your suggestion has pretty much zero chance of happening.

Quote: MonkeyMonkey

There's nothing arrogant about the answers. Frankly, I'm surprised he's bothered to answer half the questions as they either seem to be an effort to learn how to game the system, or are outright hostile to the gaming industry.

+1

To be honest, after seeing how he's been treated by some of the members here, I wouldn't blame him if he left this forum, which would be a damn shame.

Quote: EvenBob

You don't deal with me every day, you have no
Idea what I do in the casino. Nobody does. If they did
they'd be changing their underwear three times per
shift.

huh? why the hostility towards casinoboss?

I am enjoying this thread. I just have one question. What does +1 mean as a response? Maybe that was explained somewhere.

Quote: FrankScoblete

I am enjoying this thread. I just have one question. What does +1 mean as a response? Maybe that was explained somewhere.

Scored 1 point for your side of the discussion/ argument. Its simply just a way of showing you agree.

Thanks.

Quote: EvenBob

You don't deal with me every day, you have no
Idea what I do in the casino. Nobody does. If they did
they'd be changing their underwear three times per
shift.

By far the most mysterious post I've have read to date. What could EvenBob be doing to cause the casinos (as a collective?) to change pants three times per shift. Would that be 12 times a day? I'm guessing that's it's management having to change their pants. What is EvenBob saying here?

Quote: treetopbuddy

What could EvenBob be doing to cause the casinos (as a collective?) to change pants three times per shift.

Over-inflating some psychological quirk?

Quote: terapined

Quote: casinoboss

Quote: rxwine

Casinoboss,

This slot machine (youtube vid) (which is in Vegas casinos and other places.) has in its playing instructions that with maximum bet it will average 95% return. There's at least a couple other similar games with same statement in game instructions.

Is it bad for business to actually list paybacks? I mean, even with payback listed you still only know the average.

Stores list costs of products, and people will buy premium products for different reasons, not just cost. Why don't casinos run the same way and just inform the customer the actual average return?

Because we don't have to.

I have a question A Casinoboss.
1st off I appreciate you being here and answering questions. Now this and some of your other answers come off as somewhat arrogant. The above answer is correct but its short. Like someone being friendly and gets a short response. Maybe answering like this amuses you. But its all cool, everybody is here for there personal amusement.
Anyway, I'd like to add more to the above question and hopefully you wont be short with me.
I think Casinos are missing a segment of the gambling public that would play more if they knew exactly what the odds are. I myself enjoy gambling but only if I know exactly what I'm up against. If I don't know, I don't play. I used to be strictly a poker TX holdem player. I know all the odds. You must know all the odds to be a good player. Last couple years I discovered video poker. I actually love it and play that more then TX Holdem. Now I don't sit down at a video poker machine until I check out the odds. I don't mind playing at a machine that with perfect strategy, I'll still lose in the long run such as 9/6 JOB. The gambling market has become very competitive. I live in Tampa, got 3 poker rooms in town and one of the largest casinos in the country here, Seminole Hard Rock Tampa. I think Vegas or casino can gain a competitive advantage providing gamblers odds. Think of the advertising gimmicks exploiting this competitive advantage. And it would attract more people like me to other games that I wont touch because I don't know the odds.

The odds are available for every game except slots and as I explained before that's just never going to happen for slots. It'd be silly to do anyhow because the payback on a slot is over an infinite number of trials. So if we published 98% payback people are going to expect to have $98 every time they put a hundred bill in the machine.

Quote: treetopbuddy

By far the most mysterious post I've have read to date. What could EvenBob be doing to cause the casinos (as a collective?) to change pants three times per shift.

Spiking their drinks with ultra-lax?

Quote: teddys

Spiking their drinks with ultra-lax?

Bingo!

Quote: casinoboss

The odds are available for every game except slots and as I explained before that's just never going to happen for slots. It'd be silly to do anyhow because the payback on a slot is over an infinite number of trials. So if we published 98% payback people are going to expect to have $98 every time they put a hundred bill in the machine.

They post those kind of signs on high or full pay video poker machines and people continue to play and probably lose money at those machines due to variance and perfect strategy is difficult in the long run. I see the signs all over downtown and the off strip casinos on their full pay or almost full pay video poker. Have they received complaints from video poker players about payback in a short session? Many will play a full pay machine, lose a 100 and move on. I do it all the time. The last thing I'm gonna do is complain because I am an educated gambler. I know exactly what I am up against and if I lose, that's variance. If a casino is looking to attract more gamblers and increase revenue, why not attract gamblers like me. I am willing to lose money, but only if I know the odds.

Quote: 100xOdds

huh? why the hostility towards casinoboss?

We are talking about Bob. You can side with him in a debate and he'll still attack you.

Quote: 100xOdds

huh? why the hostility towards casinoboss?

What hostility. I have different concerns than the
the rest of you. I don't care why there aren't
drinking fountains in casinos, or why the odds
aren't listed on the slots, or how I can get a host
to tie my shoes for me. I'm interested in how
casinos think about and deal with AP's. I'm
interested in why they think there isn't any room
for anybody in their business model who outsmarts
one of their games. I'm interested in why THEY are
are often hostile to people who do what their ads say
to do, 'come on in and give it your best shot'.

Thats all, no hostility on my part.

Quote: treetopbuddy

By far the most mysterious post I've have read to date. What could EvenBob be doing to cause the casinos (as a collective?) to change pants three times per shift. Would that be 12 times a day? I'm guessing that's it's management having to change their pants. What is EvenBob saying here?

Agreed.

E-Bob:

Can we assume you are up for the year ? Can we also assume you are not cheating ? What else would the Casino be THAT concerned about ?

Quote: JohnnyQ

Agreed.

E-Bob:

Can we assume you are up for the year ? Can we also assume you are not cheating ? What else would the Casino be THAT concerned about ?

Cheating by who's standards. All AP's are cheats as far
as the casino is concerned according to insider Paigowdan.

Quote: rdw4potus

Why are you assuming that the warning and bouncing are still valid rolls? It seems pretty obvious that the warning language would be "No Roll! Don't do that again, or you're done."

Because casino boss said nothing about a "no roll". What he said was this:

Quote: casinoboss

Technically the answer is once.

But my guess of 3 is validated. First time will catch the box's eye, second you get a warning, third you get bounced from the game.

And a warning doesn't mean a "no roll" does it? Sure, give me a warning but pay the bet. And go ahead and bounce me from the game after the third slide and that bet is paid too.

Now, perhaps casinoboss wishes to clarify? If so, can he also respond to my other questions about craps. He's told us he has not been a craps dealer and his expertise is marketing.

Quote: casinoboss

The odds are available for every game except slots and as I explained before that's just never going to happen for slots. It'd be silly to do anyhow because the payback on a slot is over an infinite number of trials. So if we published 98% payback people are going to expect to have $98 every time they put a hundred bill in the machine.

I didnt expect to see this answer.

What about for video poker? Do you have signs advertising 99% or better video poker machines? Do you have signs advertising machines with greater than 100% pay tables? Many casinos do.

Quote: casinoboss

So if we published 98% payback people are going to expect to have $98 every time they put a hundred bill in the machine.

Slots at 98%!

The last slot I played not only took all my money, I think it tried to draw a pint of blood out of my arm! (but it was an Indian casino, so there's that)

Quote: EvenBob

You don't deal with me every day, you have no
Idea what I do in the casino. Nobody does. If they did
they'd be changing their underwear three times per
shift.

Quote: EvenBob

What hostility.

This can go on the first page of your 'Duh' book.

Quote: EvenBob

I'm interested in how
casinos think about and deal with AP's.

I thought PaigowDan taught you everything you needed to know on the subject.

Quote: EvenBob

I'm
interested in why they think there isn't any room
for anybody in their business model who outsmarts
one of their games.

I'm interested in why Walmart discourages shoplifting.

Quote: EvenBob

I'm interested in why THEY are
are often hostile to people who do what their ads say
to do, 'come on in and give it your best shot'.

Oh no, some one watched you record numbers from a roulette game. The horror, the hostility!

For someone that dishes out so much of their own hostility you seem remarkably thin-skinned.

Casinoboss, thanks for opening the floor, but honestly I'm having a hard time coming up with any questions... It just doesn't seem all that complicated. You pays yer money, you takes yer chances.

Regarding house edge on slots and games, my take is that the market finds its level. Seeing as how there are casinos that are in financial trouble, it is fairly obvious that the deciding factor in a house's success isn't the odds offered by the games, but rather the service offered by the house. That word, "service", covers a pretty wide swath, but to me it includes things like attitudes, ambiance, decor, cleanliness, security, quality of side attractions like pools, restaurants, shows, parking and checkin/checkout, experience of personnel, etc.... hospitality. A casino in trouble that tries to draw customers by jimmying the odds on slots is bolloxed: offer 100% return and it loses because there is no money to make improvements, offer 50% return and it loses because no one plays and there is no money for improvements.

Who are we? Regarding the play of Mrs and myself: 2-3 times a year we go to AC. We get comped rooms midweek at Borgata, which works for me because I work Saturdays. I take $2k for 2 days, Mrs takes around $500. We get free slot play offers, I'm usually between $50-100 and she's usually around $50. We usually visit Revel, but we don't normally play anywhere else in AC (refer to the "service" comment above). I used to bet quarters, but now its dimes, she plays penny slots. I always run a few hundred through the $5 Wheel of Fortune, and spend about half of my time trying not to lose while sitting next to her at the penny machines. We eat, we play, we walk around, we usually get a couple tickets for whatever standard show is there (this time it was the burlesque thing). We have fun, we smile we laugh, we spread good cheer. (Its a dance, not a performance, what you and we share. The player has to participate in the show to get the best experience.) Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose, but we always feel like we get a fair shake. It's not about the odds, for us: it's about getting good value for our entertainment dollar.

We also play at our local Indian casino, but our experience and expectations are different there. We still expect hospitality, but we define it differently, in subtle ways, because the visit is local. We visit more frequently, we take less money, we leave sooner, we don't stay overnight. PA imposes a heavy tax burden on slots. It sometimes (read: usually) shows up in the tally. We get ticked sometimes about the low comp offers, which are small amounts and on specific days: "$10 free slot play Tuesdays and Thursdays in July!" Is typical. But really, what would we expect? We go when we go, if there's free play that day we use it. They do a nice job there, Mohegan Pocono. They've expanded slowly, offering more services and amenities as they've solidified each position. It's like watching an expert player of Sim City. I respect that.

There's quite a few meals in a couple/two/three whales, but there's a lot of protein in a million minnows, too. Gotta get it all to be successful, I believe. Can't live on just one or the other. Thanks for reading. Thanks for offering gaming.

Hi casinoboss,

first time poster but have been visiting this site a lot lately to learn more. i appreciate you answering questions. i'll give some background before i ask my questions.

my partner and i enjoy going to vegas for all aspects of it....we call them our "gamble, drink, and eat with an occasional show" trips. if anything gets left of the list, it's the show. we're on a mission to try every steakhouse on the strip. we play blackjack ($25), pai gow poker ($25+), 3 card poker ($10+), video poker/blackjack ($1), let it ride ($10) and we can't seem to stay away from the wheel of fortune slots ($.25-1.00). we have been working on being able to take a trip once a quarter. so far this year, we have been 3 times. our trips are usually only 2 nights with the occasional 3 night stay. we are members of the 2 major players clubs and our accounts are linked. i feel our offers are pretty fair but i would like to know a little more "inside baseball" about how they rate me/us so here goes:

1) if my partner and i are playing blackjack or any other game at the same time at $25/hand are we rated individually at $25 or at $50 since the accounts are linked?

2) as players we get a card of a certain color that categorizes us but are there categories/groups or, to borrow your term, "buckets" that players are placed in for marketing/host office purposes? for example are players rated 1-10 with 1 being a low roller but just enough to get on the radar and 10 being the high rollers.

3) if there are buckets, what is the minimum ADT to get placed in each bucket? i.e. low-roller bucket, mid-roller bucket, high-roller bucket

thanks again for taking the time to answer questions.

1)Any stories about casino employees stealing large amounts from the casino and how they did it?
I read once an executive said he stole $500,000 because he had a sports gambling problem. Anything along those lines no matter the position and how they did it? Third hand stories are better than something someone can look up on the internet, so I'll accept them.

2)The IGT double feature glitch case question. IGT knew about it and played dumb? Yes?

I worked as a cashier for a casino. One cashier stole $10k but was caught fairly easily after a week or so. If you want details send me a pm

Quote: Beardgoat

I worked as a cashier for a casino. One cashier stole $10k but was caught fairly easily after a week or so. If you want details send me a pm

A Vegas casino?

Harrahs Indian casino

I wonder how often casino boss has had
to deal with roulette APs.

hi casinoboss! do u have experience with the f&b side?

Hi casinoboss:

The situation about Revel promotion is getting weird by the minute. However, in that entire thread several questions have popped up, and you may be able to answer them.

1. Is it acceptable to use other's player card to run through the Free Plays?

2. Can casinos take out machines at whim or they have to get permission from regulators?

3. Can casinos revoke player's cards? what could be possible reasons?

4. Can casinos revoke the promised comps (future or present)? under what circumstances?

5. Can casinos ban Advantage Players (before and after they have won/lost money)?

5a. 5a. Can the casino ban a player who has gained their advantage specifically and only by playing in the casino's widely advertised loss-rebate promotion? (from rdw4potus)

5b. What if the player has a past histroy of taking advantage of lucrative offers, and not giving any action?

Thanks in advance.

Quote: Bhappy

Hi casinoboss:

The situation about Revel promotion is getting weird by the minute. However, in that entire thread several questions have popped up, and you may be able to answer them.

1. Is it acceptable to use other's player card to run through the Free Plays?

2. Can casinos take out machines at whim or they have to get permission from regulators?

3. Can casinos revoke player's cards? what could be possible reasons?

4. Can casinos revoke the promised comps (future or present)? under what circumstances?

5. Can casinos ban Advantage Players (before and after they have won/lost money)?

Thanks in advance.

5a. Can the casino ban a player who has gained their advantage specifically and only by playing in the casino's widely advertised loss-rebate promotion?

5c.
Will AceofSpades one day own The Revel? Lol (sorta)

Well, it looks like casinoboss logged in yesterday, but he hasn't posted since Saturday. Let's hope he wasn't turned off to this forum by confrontational members who would rather try to pick fights than ask useful questions. Casinoboss was a great source of information, and it would be a damn shame if he stopped posting for good.

Quote: Beethoven9th

Well, it looks like casinoboss logged in yesterday, but he hasn't posted since Saturday. Let's hope he wasn't turned off to this forum by confrontational members who would rather try to pick fights than ask useful questions. Casinoboss was a great source of information, and it would be a damn shame if he stopped posting for good.

I finally got through this thread. And by some of the responses, I wouldn't be terribly shocked. And I know who I really would be blaming the most. Let's hope he was just too busy on the last few days to answer anything. Everyone please keep in mind, answering a boatload of questions does take a reasonable amount of time and effort.

Quote: terapined

They post those kind of signs on high or full pay video poker machines and people continue to play and probably lose money at those machines due to variance and perfect strategy is difficult in the long run. I see the signs all over downtown and the off strip casinos on their full pay or almost full pay video poker. Have they received complaints from video poker players about payback in a short session? Many will play a full pay machine, lose a 100 and move on. I do it all the time. The last thing I'm gonna do is complain because I am an educated gambler. I know exactly what I am up against and if I lose, that's variance. If a casino is looking to attract more gamblers and increase revenue, why not attract gamblers like me. I am willing to lose money, but only if I know the odds.

Customers not interested in the odds are more profitable.

Quote: AlanMendelson

I didnt expect to see this answer.

What about for video poker? Do you have signs advertising 99% or better video poker machines? Do you have signs advertising machines with greater than 100% pay tables? Many casinos do.

Not at my joint. Yes, I know some places do.

Quote: SBTX

Hi casinoboss,

first time poster but have been visiting this site a lot lately to learn more. i appreciate you answering questions. i'll give some background before i ask my questions.

my partner and i enjoy going to vegas for all aspects of it....we call them our "gamble, drink, and eat with an occasional show" trips. if anything gets left of the list, it's the show. we're on a mission to try every steakhouse on the strip. we play blackjack ($25), pai gow poker ($25+), 3 card poker ($10+), video poker/blackjack ($1), let it ride ($10) and we can't seem to stay away from the wheel of fortune slots ($.25-1.00). we have been working on being able to take a trip once a quarter. so far this year, we have been 3 times. our trips are usually only 2 nights with the occasional 3 night stay. we are members of the 2 major players clubs and our accounts are linked. i feel our offers are pretty fair but i would like to know a little more "inside baseball" about how they rate me/us so here goes:

1) if my partner and i are playing blackjack or any other game at the same time at $25/hand are we rated individually at $25 or at $50 since the accounts are linked?

2) as players we get a card of a certain color that categorizes us but are there categories/groups or, to borrow your term, "buckets" that players are placed in for marketing/host office purposes? for example are players rated 1-10 with 1 being a low roller but just enough to get on the radar and 10 being the high rollers.

3) if there are buckets, what is the minimum ADT to get placed in each bucket? i.e. low-roller bucket, mid-roller bucket, high-roller bucket

thanks again for taking the time to answer questions.

1.) $25. Linked generally just means the other person is allowed to use comps and whatnot. You will need to ask your specific casino exactly what they mean by linked.

2.) Yes. Offers received in the mail generally have nothing to do with your card status unless it's a "Top Tier Gift Giveaway" or something like that.

3.) Depends on the casino. There can be a lot of science behind the segmentation. Minimum to get in the "high roller bucket" at Jerry's Nugget is a lot different than at Wynn.

Quote: onenickelmiracle

1)Any stories about casino employees stealing large amounts from the casino and how they did it?
I read once an executive said he stole $500,000 because he had a sports gambling problem. Anything along those lines no matter the position and how they did it? Third hand stories are better than something someone can look up on the internet, so I'll accept them.

2)The IGT double feature glitch case question. IGT knew about it and played dumb? Yes?

Sorry can't help you with either one of these.

Quote: Keyser

I wonder how often casino boss has had
to deal with roulette APs.

First hand only once and it involved a particular game having a big variance on hold from there narrowed down that there was cheating involved.

Quote: YesThereReal

hi casinoboss! do u have experience with the f&b side?

Not first hand. But marketing folks work pretty closely with them and I used to date a restaurant manager so I can probably figure out whatever your question is.

Quote: Casinoboss

First hand only once and it involved a particular game having a big variance on hold from there narrowed down that there was cheating involved.

What do you mean they were cheating? Or, did they win a large amount of money because something was wrong with the wheel?

See below.

Quote: Bhappy

Hi casinoboss:

The situation about Revel promotion is getting weird by the minute. However, in that entire thread several questions have popped up, and you may be able to answer them.

1. Is it acceptable to use other's player card to run through the Free Plays?

Technically, every place I know forbids using other players' cards for anything.

2. Can casinos take out machines at whim or they have to get permission from regulators?

Depends on the state. I can't remember exactly how difficult it is in NJ.

3. Can casinos revoke player's cards? what could be possible reasons?

Of course. Self-exclusion, theft/cheating, banned from property (e.g., fighting), etc. etc. etc.

4. Can casinos revoke the promised comps (future or present)? under what circumstances?

What do you mean by promised.

5. Can casinos ban Advantage Players (before and after they have won/lost money)?

We can ban anyone we want (with certain exceptions like a protected class) as we are a private business.

5a. 5a. Can the casino ban a player who has gained their advantage specifically and only by playing in the casino's widely advertised loss-rebate promotion? (from rdw4potus)

I think this one is going to be decided by the courts.

5b. What if the player has a past histroy of taking advantage of lucrative offers, and not giving any action?

See 5.
Thanks in advance.

Quote: Keyser

What do you mean they were cheating? Or, did they win a large amount of money because something was wrong with the wheel?

Collusion with staff.

The staff did something to the wheel? Or did they share the TCS data download report with players? Or was the dealer marking the wrong numbers?

Quote: Keyser

The staff did something to the wheel? Or did they share the TCS data download report with players? Or was the dealer marking the wrong numbers?

Overpaying

Have you ever decided to ban players for winning too much, even if you haven't specifically figured out what they were doing, if anything.

I ask this, because there has to be some players (out of all those millions) who've had incredible streaks possibly in different games, but were doing nothing wrong. But the casino got suspicious and kicked them out.

Quote: rxwine

Have you ever decided to ban players for winning too much, even if you haven't specifically figured out what they were doing, if anything.

I ask this, because there has to be some players (out of all those millions) who've had incredible streaks possibly in different games, but were doing nothing wrong. But the casino got suspicious and kicked them out.

We call it "backing off" players. I've personally done it once.

It's generally not because you get suspicious of cheating but it's because we just don't want to take your action. For example, you come in and ask us to raise our dice limits and we do then you clean our clocks a few times we might consider backing you off because it's causing us too much heartache.

The cards always declare that they are the property of the casino and the casinos usualy try to discourage any sort of card swapping. I can understand a casino frowning on using someone else's card to use up their free play, but it is quite common for a high roller to use a niece's card or else a "niece's" card for a day of gambling so as raise her meal and free-play ratings. This is done openly. After all, its easy for the Floor men to look up a card in the computer and figure out that an elderly gentlemen is not some 24 year old "Stephanie".

Quote: casinoboss

We can ban anyone we want (with certain exceptions like a protected class) as we are a private business.

Are state-run casinos, like PA say, unable to say the same thing?

Quote: casinoboss

We call it "backing off" players. I've personally done it once.

It's generally not because you get suspicious of cheating but it's because we just don't want to take your action. For example, you come in and ask us to raise our dice limits and we do then you clean our clocks a few times we might consider backing you off because it's causing us too much heartache.

You ban them completely, or just refuse to continue to honor special requests?

Quote: odiousgambit

Are state-run casinos, like PA say, unable to say the same thing?

Unlike Pennsylvania liquor stores, the casinos are not "run" by the state. At least not in the sense that any other state "runs" casinos.