The "New" Las Vegas

So I have had 3 days to check out many of the casinos in my Las Vegas playing rotation looking for changes. As a player who makes a living playing blackjack, most of my concerns and things I was looking for pertain to blackjack, but I will mention other changes noticed.

I have not yet visited the strip, opting to check out the local type casinos and downtown, where the majority of my best games are.

So most if not all casinos are doing a temperature check at the door, which I believe is required, rather than a recommendation. Some have a medal detector-like archway that you walk through, some a gun that takes temp from a far and some place a gun thermometer right up to your head. No one has attempted to take my temperature anally yet, although I haven't been to South Point....they seem a little anal, but that is a different matter.

A couple unusual procedures: At one Station property on Thursday, they requested ID at the door, then just inside took your temperature (with a gun) AND a photograph. Yikes! However by Saturday at that same property the ID request and picture were no longer part of the process. Not sure what that was about.

Most unusual changes I have encountered: Silver Seven. They too request ID at the door prior to temperature check. They also have reduced hours, opening at 10am until 2am and no tables games are open (at least when I was there). Not surprising, there were about 10 cars total in the parking lot and almost no customers.

Obviously buffets are closed. Not a gaming related thing, but for a player who eats out every day, a definite "change".

Ok, my main interest blackjack conditions. I am going to keep it general because I don't want to reveal specific casinos that may be part of my rotation. 3 seats to a blackjack table. Again, that is a requirement, not recommendation. Some tables have been outfitted with some sort of plastic shield dividers between players and player and dealer. Seems a joke to me. Air flows! A 2 foot plastic divider does not stop the flow of air. lol I think that is about making people feel better but in actuality meaningless.

At least some games that previously allowed players to touch cards are now face up. And some dealer hand-held dealt games are dealt from a show, even double deck. For comparison, this is how El Cortez always has done it so think that as an example.

Some of the lower limit games seem to have a higher minimum, at least right now. games that were normally $5 and $10 games are now $15 and even $25. As a $25 minimum wager this actually helps me. More games available.

And finally, I have discovered a couple casinos that now have "playable" games for me, which previously did not. There may be more. I will have to check all places I don't play to be sure, but for now +2. No one in my previous rotation became unplayable. a couple initially worse penetration, but that may be just temporary (hopefully). so +0 on that. BUT I had 2 casinos that I previously played at that table games are not open right now so that is a -2, for now.

So that is my initial assessment. We'll see how it shakes out.

Kewlj,

Good to hear from you again. Longtime follower, this is my first reply to one of your posts.

So...
Masks?
Smoking?

I'm a low-level player, so without being specific as to location...
$5, any number of decks and rules, but 3-2?
My recollection in the past is that you can usually always find such a game downtown, weekdays.

Although I'm up in Reno, the casinos that I have visited are following the guidlines that have been put in place by the gaming commission. However they are not ENFORCING social distancing. And they are not keeping track how many guests are inside the casino.

I wanted to ask a couple of things.

1) Smoking bans or not?
2) Are they giving masks out or not?
3) How is seating in places like the coffee shop at the Orleans or TGIF at Gold Coast or other examples? Are they abiding by half capacity or less or not really?

The things I'll be doing differently, assuming I make my usual end-of-July trip, include passing on the Boyd free rooms and staying somewhere with separate apartment type rooms and no elevators like Alexis Park or Tuscany. Also car rental as opposed to using any public transport like shuttles or monorail. If you play video poker or slots, you're gonna have to wear gloves. No guarantee I make the trip, as I expect the virus to blow up starting the third week this month and possibly be really bad by the end of July.

I will miss the buffets, for sure. Given the size of the MSS buffet room, that's one buffet where it would be worthwhile to have servers and keep the place open.

No Nevada casino has banned smoking in the casino as far as I know.

Quote: tringlomane

No Nevada casino has banned smoking in the casino as far as I know.

isn't it a little bit difficult to smoke while wearing a mask?
especially if you're smoking a cigar........................................................................................... 😃

Quote: redietz

I wanted to ask a couple of things.

1) Smoking bans or not?
2) Are they giving masks out or not?
3) How is seating in places like the coffee shop at the Orleans or TGIF at Gold Coast or other examples? Are they abiding by half capacity or less or not really?

The things I'll be doing differently, assuming I make my usual end-of-July trip, include passing on the Boyd free rooms and staying somewhere with separate apartment type rooms and no elevators like Alexis Park or Tuscany. Also car rental as opposed to using any public transport like shuttles or monorail. If you play video poker or slots, you're gonna have to wear gloves. No guarantee I make the trip, as I expect the virus to blow up starting the third week this month and possibly be really bad by the end of July.

I will miss the buffets, for sure. Given the size of the MSS buffet room, that's one buffet where it would be worthwhile to have servers and keep the place open.

Smoking as usual. So far, I haven't seen them handing out any masks. I know the D was giving people masks. Of course, I haven't been to all that many places. From what I understand, for best results, everybody must be wearing masks. From what I'm seeing about 1 out of 7 customers are wearing masks downtown. From what I've noticed, and from what other people are saying they are not really wiping down machines all that much. I personally didn't noticed any machine wiping at all.

Quote: tringlomane

No Nevada casino has banned smoking in the casino as far as I know.

There’s a report that Park MGM will go smoke free when it opens. Time will tell.

They dropped the ball. Perfect time to dump smoking in all Nevada casinos. Money over health ruled the day. Governor has no backbone. Casino bosses are hypocrites and the “health experts” ruled on everything except when they were presented with the idea that smoking may spread the disease. Those 2 faced hacks ran and hid on that question as they were obviously on the “payroll”.

Sadly...smoking will continue to be allowed even though all in charge have been banging the drum that health is the only priority. Hypocrites x 1,000.

regarding smoking: First day, Thursday at The D, I saw a woman playing a machine wearing a mask. She had cut a dime size hole in the mask and a cigarette was dangling. I think I may have mumbled idiot to myself.

Silverton is giving out masks to those that want one. At least one other place was doing likewise, but cant remember who right now.

Also at Silverton today, I actually saw several employees wiping down machines. First I have seen that.

I don't know if any casino is adhering to the 50% occupancy rule. At least I haven't seen any people waiting to get in.

When Planet Hollywood re-opens, I think they will be nonsmoking. 1st on the strip to go smokeless.

Kewlj

The virus travels on spittle and other spewed air particles so the plastic shields work in a similar way to face masks, blocking a person from sending you his virus through the air.

The virus itself is not truly airborne.

The entire point of six feet social distancing is because of that aspect

Quote: redietz

I wanted to ask a couple of things.

1) Smoking bans or not?
2) Are they giving masks out or not?
3) How is seating in places like the coffee shop at the Orleans or TGIF at Gold Coast or other examples? Are they abiding by half capacity or less or not really?

1. Unfortunately, not.
2. I was offered one somewhere, I think the Wynn, but I didn't need it. I would expect that to be an optional thing per the casino.
3. Seems to me everybody took out half their tables already. I like it.

I think one has to look at the fine print on the gaming control “guidelines”. It seems not all the changes are mandated...but merely suggested. Suggested tells me the casino can do whatever the hell they want based on player demand.

There were supposed to be strict adherence numbers on the tables....but slots wasn’t really clear. While they removed seats at slots, I noticed all the machines were still on and playable at my local casino, which tells me you could get 4 players playing a bank of 4 machines (2 standing and 2 sitting)...or people dragging over a chair and sitting. I’m not sure how they are handling that.

Without clear cut rules...I expect very little adherence to what gaming control mandates. Player demand ($$) will drive what is ignored as far as guidelines go.

Quote: Vegasrider

When Planet Hollywood re-opens, I think they will be nonsmoking. 1st on the strip to go smokeless.

That was originally reported and I think they had literature printed up saying no smoking....but Planet Hollywood reversed that decision in about 24 hours. I suspect a few people called their casino hosts and had the change dumped.

It seems like casinos are trying to minimize customers touching the cards on blackjack. Is it the same procedure for Ultimate Holden, Let it Ride, 3CP, and Mississippi Stud where they deal face up?

Quote: kewlj

regarding smoking: First day, Thursday at The D, I saw a woman playing a machine wearing a mask. She had cut a dime size hole in the mask and a cigarette was dangling. I think I may have mumbled idiot to myself.

Silverton is giving out masks to those that want one. At least one other place was doing likewise, but cant remember who right now.

Also at Silverton today, I actually saw several employees wiping down machines. First I have seen that.

I don't know if any casino is adhering to the 50% occupancy rule. At least I haven't seen any people waiting to get in.

If she MUST smoke, i possibly would consider her smarter.

But when she wasn't smoking, she should have a regular mask.

Quote: lilredrooster

isn't it a little bit difficult to smoke while wearing a mask?
especially if you're smoking a cigar........................................................................................... 😃

It is. But if he/she put on a regular mask when she didn't want to smoke, he/she might be "smarter". I was addicted to nicotine once. That's pretty tough to break too. A very big reason why casinos don't want to ban smoking. The addictions are likely correlated.

Quote: Vegasrider

When Planet Hollywood re-opens, I think they will be nonsmoking. 1st on the strip to go smokeless.

Again. Believe it when I see it. Most things from Vital Vegas are rumors that do NOT come true. On my forum we are infracting posts linked to him now due to their general lack of accuracy.

The Planet Hollywood rumor was discredited by CET themselves.

https://vitalvegas.com/some-las-vegas-casinos-could-be-smoke-free-upon-reopening/

Also Vital Vegas is the only one reporting Park MGM might go non-smoking. Hmmmm...

Quote: Vegasrider

When Planet Hollywood re-opens, I think they will be nonsmoking. 1st on the strip to go smokeless.

1st to permanently close. 🤷‍♂️

wow! no masks needed for these Vegas folks
in the 2 pics I count 5 out of at least a couple hundred
they must be feeling 𝗹𝘂𝗰𝗸𝘆 𝗹𝘂𝗰𝗸𝘆

Quote: lilredrooster

wow! no masks needed for these Vegas folks
in the 2 pics I count 5 out of at least a couple hundred
they must be feeling 𝗹𝘂𝗰𝗸𝘆 𝗹𝘂𝗰𝗸𝘆

Here in California, I can't think of an open casino that doesn't require all customers to wear a mask right now. I don't think the state is forcing them, I think they all just decided on their own. I may be wrong.

Quote: SiegfriedRoy

It seems like casinos are trying to minimize customers touching the cards on blackjack. Is it the same procedure for Ultimate Holden, Let it Ride, 3CP, and Mississippi Stud where they deal face up?

Those game would give players an advantage and even reduce the houses edge if they were dealt face up. Either they let the players handle the cards or dont offer the games are the two options. Kind of like live poker, you either offer ut playing 4 or 5 handed or dont open up the poker room. Irrelevant anyways, you still have to touch the chips.

I don’t believe a player could gain an advantage with the three player limit on these games dealt face up. If it were a full table yes but not enough information limited to three players. I have seen two casinos outside of Las Vegas that only had half or less of their carnival tables open and never Mississippi Stud, where the players didn’t touch the cards. Others I’ve seen dealing carnival games still had players touch them. The couple that did not, they’d deal it face down, then the dealer would flip face up the cards of one player at a time and wait for a decision before setting face down again and moving on to the next player.

Quote: Vegasrider

Those game would give players an advantage and even reduce the houses edge if they were dealt face up. Either they let the players handle the cards or dont offer the games are the two options. Kind of like live poker, you either offer ut playing 4 or 5 handed or dont open up the poker room. Irrelevant anyways, you still have to touch the chips.

None of those games will give any possible advantage dealt face up with 3 people. Only MS is vulnerable with 5-6 people. So no, those aren't the two options.

Quote: bobbartop

Here in California, I can't think of an open casino that doesn't require all customers to wear a mask right now. I don't think the state is forcing them, I think they all just decided on their own. I may be wrong.

How do players smoke with a mask on?

Have they also banned smoking?

Having gone to a couple California casinos over the weekend I can confirm smoking is not banned in the casinos I visited. Guests would just take their masks off and smoke. I did see staff telling people who had their masks off to put them on but as soon as the staff walked away they took it right back off. I would say I noticed a decrease in smoke though.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/cruise-ships-on-land-as-las-vegas-reopens-a-huge-test-for-casinos/ar-BB15bH1s?ocid=spartan-dhp-feeds


Here you go. That's what my friend called them two months ago -- cruise ships on land.

Quote: sabre

None of those games will give any possible advantage dealt face up with 3 people. Only MS is vulnerable with 5-6 people. So no, those aren't the two options.

I disagree, playing 3rd base in UTH or even DJ Wild and seeing what cards are still live or dead is an advantage. Obviously having a full table with players exposing more cards would be a greater advantage but even knowing certain cards are still live or dead can dictate what you bet.

Quote: Viper21

Having gone to a couple California casinos over the weekend I can confirm smoking is not banned in the casinos I visited. Guests would just take their masks off and smoke. I did see staff telling people who had their masks off to put them on but as soon as the staff walked away they took it right back off. I would say I noticed a decrease in smoke though.

Didn’t think so. Such a crock. Require masks to be worn but you can remove them to smoke and blow smoke all over?

Quote: redietz

/en-us/news/us/cruise-ships-on-land-as-las-vegas-reopens-a-huge-test-for-casinos/ar-BB15bH1s?ocid=spartan-dhp-feeds


Here you go. That's what my friend called them two months ago -- cruise ships on land.

It's very true that casinos are cruise ships on land. Also it's very true that casinoland is a land of the free, but freedom of choice is NOT freedom of choice anymore when any gambler can bring home COVID19 and may kill his family members .

For example, the famous AP ( SmallCap) brought home covid19, was sickened himself, killed his auntie dead, and almost killed his mother because of covid19.

Quote: TDVegas

]

Without clear cut rules...I expect very little adherence to what gaming control mandates.

Having worked with casinos and Nevada Gaming regulators I would expect about 99% of the mandates to be met at the major casinos. The suggestion of 6 foot social distancing will not be enforced by the casinos because that can't be enforced unless the patrons agree to do it.

Quote: DRich

Having worked with casinos and Nevada Gaming regulators I would expect about 99% of the mandates to be met at the major casinos. The suggestion of 6 foot social distancing will not be enforced by the casinos because that can't be enforced unless the patrons agree to do it.

And what about the 50% occupancy limit? Nobody was keeping track on who was coming and going. And from the pictures from this past weekend, looks like many casinos were packed. But again. You could have surveillance keep tabs on the number of guests via the cameras and we would never know it. But the casino sure seemed pretty crowded when I went. And I wore a mask. Also didn't see anyone wipedown my machine when I left.

You think gaming agents are strolling through the casinos undercover to see if any one of them is in violation?

Can anyone report on the four person limit in elevators? I can imagine enforcement works in the lobby, but if I'm om the fifth floor trying to go down to the lobby, after three or four doors open and my entry is "illegal" because there are already four people inside... well, I'm getting on, and anyone uncomfortable with me being there is more than welcome to get out. You cannot remain six feet away from three other strangers in an elevator. Just another example of a rule for the sake of rules.

Quote: TDVegas

How do players smoke with a mask on?

Have they also banned smoking?

Pretty sure there are a couple, few, two or three, whatever, who are NOT smoking. I'll have to look back at my notes later. I'll try to post back here if I am correct, or if I am wrong.

If there's one thing that I can't stand it's weakness. Cutting holes in your mask to smoke...that's pretty sad.

Are they enforcing "social distancing" at the Craps table, the most social game in the casino? Are the players standing shoulder to shoulder around the table as usual or just one or two on each side?

FYI, between all these protestors, Vegas, etc. you should prepare yourself for outbreak number 2 in a few weeks.

I was going to watch The Poseidon Adventure, but the surveillance footage surely suggests The COVID-19 Adventure.

Duplicate deleted.

Quote: bobbartop

Pretty sure there are a couple, few, two or three, whatever, who are NOT smoking. I'll have to look back at my notes later. I'll try to post back here if I am correct, or if I am wrong.

Here's one, the very first one I looked at in my notes, Table Mountain, a rather large casino in Fresno. Just opened TODAY. Everyone wears a mask, and NO smoking.

https://abc30.com/business/exclusive-look-table-mountain-casino-reopens-monday-at-25-capacity/6232263/

My understanding is 6 players max on craps table. 3 on each side of stickman. 4 on roulette and I think 3 on blackjack type tables.

These rules are supposed to be strictly adhered to. The other social distance rules are pretty much ridiculous and will likely not get enforced.

It was supposed to be every other slot machine but I saw every machine open and playable. There was just no chair. I don’t know if that means you can’t stand and play as I saw a guy standing and playing and no one said a word.

Here's another, Fantasy Springs in Indio, close to Palm Springs. They're calling it "Phase 1" opening. Several are opening in phases. They say everyone wears a mask, and NO SMOKING. 50% capacity.

By the way, the one I already mentioned, Table Mountain, is 25% capacity.

Quote: TDVegas

My understanding is 6 players max on craps table. 3 on each side of stickman. 4 on roulette and I think 3 on blackjack type tables.

These rules are supposed to be strictly adhered to. The other social distance rules are pretty much ridiculous and will likely not get enforced.

It was supposed to be every other slot machine but I saw every machine open and playable. There was just no chair. I don’t know if that means you can’t stand and play as I saw a guy standing and playing and no one said a word.

Technically people aren't supposed to play consecutive machines if they are strangers.

Employees can ask them to move afaik, but will they dare ask people to do that? I highly doubt it.

Quote: bobbartop

Here's one, the very first one I looked at in my notes, Table Mountain, a rather large casino in Fresno. Just opened TODAY. Everyone wears a mask, and NO smoking.

https://abc30.com/business/exclusive-look-table-mountain-casino-reopens-monday-at-25-capacity/6232263/

This is the way it should be done. Vegas once again caved into the demands of casino bosses and put health and safety behind their drive for money.

Shameful and hypocritical.

Quote: tringlomane

Technically people aren't supposed to play consecutive machines if they are strangers.

Employees can ask them to move afaik, but will they dare ask people to do that? I highly doubt it.

I guess my question is whether the employee will ask them to move when this is spotted or will they wait until there is a complaint from a player on the next machine. My guess is the latter....which could make for an uncomfortable situation. The easy solution is turn off the machine entirely.

I doubt the Casinos want to do this as it looks like dead space with a blue and black screen.

Quote: ChumpChange

I was going to watch The Poseidon Adventure, but the surveillance footage surely suggests The COVID-19 Adventure.

Actually the thing to do is smoke, viollate the social distance rules, and when (if) they make you leave saunter down Freemont Street and dine at the Heart Attack Grille, taking deep breaths all the way. :-)

Quote: Lovecomps

If there's one thing that I can't stand it's weakness. Cutting holes in your mask to smoke...that's pretty sad.

Are they enforcing "social distancing" at the Craps table, the most social game in the casino? Are the players standing shoulder to shoulder around the table as usual or just one or two on each side?

FYI, between all these protestors, Vegas, etc. you should prepare yourself for outbreak number 2 in a few weeks.

Has Vegas even peaked from the first wave? Here in Arizona, we are still two weeks from the first peak, and cases are up 50% from a few weeks ago. The only bar close to me has been so packed on weekends that they have decided to do Friday-Sunday only. A months vacation showed them they were working way harder than they needed to. A nice Sunday can bring 200 bikes and an equal amount of cars. I see very few people wearing masks except in the supermarket.

I don't know what the maximum capacity is for the bigger casinos in Vegas. I would doubt if any of them are more than 30% of capacity yet.

Quote: billryan

Has Vegas even peaked from the first wave? Here in Arizona, we are still two weeks from the first peak, and cases are up 50% from a few weeks ago. The only bar close to me has been so packed on weekends that they have decided to do Friday-Sunday only. A months vacation showed them they were working way harder than they needed to. A nice Sunday can bring 200 bikes and an equal amount of cars. I see very few people wearing masks except in the supermarket.

Bill, be careful with interpreting the lingo. Some folks are trying to use "first wave" as a calendrical thing even if cases haven't peaked in a state or area. There's a reason for this. The red states that pushed to re-open want to define a peak in some past tense even if there wasn't a peak in their state. It's a lot better for them to define their re-openings as being swamped by a "second wave" as opposed to acknowledging that cases and/or deaths never peaked prior to the re-openings. Arkansas tried this stunt. The governor came out and blatantly said they were experiencing a "second wave" when their cases had been climbing steadily the entire time. Arkansas never shut down, so he is trying to create a narrative where things peaked in the past (they did not), so keeping everything opening was logical.

You'll probably get "second wave" talk in Florida or Georgia or Tennessee soon, even though none of these states peaked. They were projected to peak by old and horrifically wrong U of W IHME models, but they never actually peaked. All of these states re-opened in the middle of their first wave.

Quote: billryan

Has Vegas even peaked from the first wave? Here in Arizona, we are still two weeks from the first peak, and cases are up 50% from a few weeks ago. The only bar close to me has been so packed on weekends that they have decided to do Friday-Sunday only. A months vacation showed them they were working way harder than they needed to. A nice Sunday can bring 200 bikes and an equal amount of cars. I see very few people wearing masks except in the supermarket.

Story in the news tonight, they say they're seeing a DOUBLING in new cases in Fresno County since relaxing the shutdown over the last two weeks.

i just would like to know, for those who earn their living at blackjack isntead of poker, is it easier or harder to win now? i heard rules might be better but with the min bets far higher, u might only have 400 betting units instead of 2000. and that might put a lot of mental stress on you and high risk of going broke. are there still good $5 shoe games? and i mean anywhere in the country, im sure theres a lot better games outside of vegas. maybe in Lousiana or mississippi, or missouri.

i wish i knew of anywhere that installed a new dealers angels machine too from aruze gaming but i think most of the casinos started buying those interblock machines which are totally worthless.

if i visited reno would i be asked for ID anywhere now? being over 50 im normally never asked. only reason im concerned is mine expired the end of march and cant be replaced right now, its a long story. thinking of moving back to reno from houston.