Gripe: Limits vs. minimums

It annoys me that people often confuse the two terms, as in "Ellis Island offers really low table limits." Although that might be true, the person speaking probably means MINIMUMS rather than limits. You see this even among people who write professionally about Vegas or gambling.

To be clear, I am not singling out anyone on this board.

To be fair, they have kind of taken on the same meaning. In context, it's pretty easy to figure out what you're talking about. I confess to doing it too, sometimes.

Whoa, one-second concurrent posting!

Well, if you're getting picky, "minimum" and "maximum" are both "limits".

For the most part the maximums are sufficiently high for most people. They are just there so the casino doesn't risk too much money, and probably so that they aren't required by the NGC to keep too much cash in the casino. Only the very smallest downtown casinos will only take a $200 bet. Most will take at least $1K. Upper limits on free odds for craps table at Main Street are either $2.0K for the outside numbers and $2.5K for 6 and 8. But these are per bet limits, so you can have several come bets going with the same odds. I think the odds have to be under either $5K or $10K total at the El Cortez.

Golden Nugget will take a $15K bet for blackjack. I have no idea why they do this, as every other casino stops at $10K. I think it might be historical. They may just want bragging rights. However, Ceasars put in three tables that will take $50K bets on blackjack.

I don't think you'll see the Binion philosophy again where he would take a million dollar bet. I just don't think the accountants would risk it for a company, and I'm not sure there are individuals like that anymore.

But most people don't really care about the maximum.

Quote: nyuhoosier

It annoys me that people often confuse the two terms, as in "Ellis Island offers really low table limits." Although that might be true, the person speaking probably means MINIMUMS rather than limits. You see this even among people who write professionally about Vegas or gambling.

To be clear, I am not singling out anyone on this board.

Often the sign announcing both the min and max says "limits." And technically the low end is a "low limit." So I give them a pass on it.

Precision is wasted on small minds.

But if you think minimums vs limits is a tough distinction, try mass vs weight sometime.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

Well, if you're getting picky, "minimum" and "maximum" are both "limits".

Actually, no they are not. Think about speed limits and budget limits.

Here is how the Random House dictionary defines "limit" in the context of games:

Games. the maximum sum by which a bet may be raised at any one time.

This is how the meaning of words is gradually eroded. Not that I haven't said "limits" when I meant "minimums" before.