Mt Airy, Mohegan (Poconos)
August 5th, 2010 at 7:17:41 PM
permalink
We scoped Mt Airy today, in anticipation of a place to stay overnight for our anniversary next month (#21). We figured to play some, and then see if we got a room offer.
It's a beautiful place from the outside, it should be; it's new. Parking is rough, IMO; not enough spaces, the ones they have are too far away, which is strange because the place sits out in the open, nothing round it for a mile in any direction. Put up a garage, already! On a Thursday afternoon, table limits were $15min/$200max. Like at Sands and Mohegan, tables were about 2/3 full, with the limiting factor being not enough dealers and pit personnel, there were players in line. Blackjack payouts are set by PA law, and it is a good game as has been discussed here. Tables are purple felt. I don't know why that struck me, but I liked it.
I got a space at a craps table, 3x/4x/5x, and played about an hour at $25 and $50 or $80, depending. Action was fast; the dealer at my end was new, but the stick was experienced, and dealer was sharp and listened as he told her the pays. She picked up quick and moved quickly. First shooter when I was there was good, shot about 10 rolls then hit the point (6). After a 7 out, the dice came to me, I hit a 7, hit a point (8), then 7'd out. The next shooter was a pretty older woman w/nice... features, who hit a 9 point when I had $80 up. I then proceeded to lose/win/lose/lose/win/lose, and walked away up $75.
Three Card at Mt Airy pays 40/30/6/4/1 on Pairs+, which has a house edge of only 2.32%, according to WoO! I sat down with $500 in, and played about an hour there. The Pairs + didn't matter, I got no flushes. Up, down, up, down. One dealer was fast and precise, one was fumbling but good personality. None of them overpaid any players, and they all got the ante bonus for straights correct. I lost about $100 and cashed in. I'd given Mrs Mosca $100 to play in slots, and another $30 later; she lost it. So for the trip we were down about $175 (I lost about $25 playing slots next to her).
We had some comps at Mohegan, so we drove over there (about 45 minutes) and ate for free. I gave Mrs another $100, and I played Three Card for about 90 minutes (same $15/$200), got a couple nice hands. The dealer was pretty doggone good, fast and personable but not too nice. He did accidentally overpay me on one hand, and I saw him overpay one other. He got the ante bonuses right on straights. Then some really nervous guy took over, I played one hand and cashed out, he was freaking me out. After that, we spent 20 minutes and dropped too much in the $5 slots, then went home down about $100 for the day.
Mt Airy; nice, but "eh". I won't pay $170 for a room there, 45 minutes from home. It's nice but not exceptional. Mrs had a hard time finding good slots; if you go with a slot-playing wife, notice this. If she plays tables, you'll be OK, the tables are decent. Table players at Mt Airy are mostly middle aged, 40-60.
Mohegan is my home base, I guess, 10 minutes from work and 15 from home. I wish it had better Three Card pay tables. I mentioned the Mt Airy pay tables to the dealer at Mohegan, he said they were going to be 6-4-1, but changed at the last minute. I haven't been able to get near a craps table yet, in two tries; they are doubling the number of tables next month, though, adding a non-smoking tables section equal to the size of the current section. Tables players at Mohegan are younger. Wilkes-Barre is a working class/college student town. There are lots of 20/30 year olds around the bj tables. Slot players at both places tend to be seniors.
I did see something that was similar to something The Wizard had written about. On our way into Mohegan, there was an old man, easy mid 80s, standing waiting for the buses. As we came down the steps from the parking lot, he let out a moan and just flat fell backwards, hitting the back of his head HARD on the sidewalk. We were about 100 yards away; long before we got there, other folks had come to his aid. I thought he'd just up and died there, but as we got nearer he was sitting up, then with help he got up on his feet. Man, he'd whacked his head HARD. I heard it hit 100 yards away, like a base hit up the middle. But the bus came, and he got on it. I hope he's OK.
It's a beautiful place from the outside, it should be; it's new. Parking is rough, IMO; not enough spaces, the ones they have are too far away, which is strange because the place sits out in the open, nothing round it for a mile in any direction. Put up a garage, already! On a Thursday afternoon, table limits were $15min/$200max. Like at Sands and Mohegan, tables were about 2/3 full, with the limiting factor being not enough dealers and pit personnel, there were players in line. Blackjack payouts are set by PA law, and it is a good game as has been discussed here. Tables are purple felt. I don't know why that struck me, but I liked it.
I got a space at a craps table, 3x/4x/5x, and played about an hour at $25 and $50 or $80, depending. Action was fast; the dealer at my end was new, but the stick was experienced, and dealer was sharp and listened as he told her the pays. She picked up quick and moved quickly. First shooter when I was there was good, shot about 10 rolls then hit the point (6). After a 7 out, the dice came to me, I hit a 7, hit a point (8), then 7'd out. The next shooter was a pretty older woman w/nice... features, who hit a 9 point when I had $80 up. I then proceeded to lose/win/lose/lose/win/lose, and walked away up $75.
Three Card at Mt Airy pays 40/30/6/4/1 on Pairs+, which has a house edge of only 2.32%, according to WoO! I sat down with $500 in, and played about an hour there. The Pairs + didn't matter, I got no flushes. Up, down, up, down. One dealer was fast and precise, one was fumbling but good personality. None of them overpaid any players, and they all got the ante bonus for straights correct. I lost about $100 and cashed in. I'd given Mrs Mosca $100 to play in slots, and another $30 later; she lost it. So for the trip we were down about $175 (I lost about $25 playing slots next to her).
We had some comps at Mohegan, so we drove over there (about 45 minutes) and ate for free. I gave Mrs another $100, and I played Three Card for about 90 minutes (same $15/$200), got a couple nice hands. The dealer was pretty doggone good, fast and personable but not too nice. He did accidentally overpay me on one hand, and I saw him overpay one other. He got the ante bonuses right on straights. Then some really nervous guy took over, I played one hand and cashed out, he was freaking me out. After that, we spent 20 minutes and dropped too much in the $5 slots, then went home down about $100 for the day.
Mt Airy; nice, but "eh". I won't pay $170 for a room there, 45 minutes from home. It's nice but not exceptional. Mrs had a hard time finding good slots; if you go with a slot-playing wife, notice this. If she plays tables, you'll be OK, the tables are decent. Table players at Mt Airy are mostly middle aged, 40-60.
Mohegan is my home base, I guess, 10 minutes from work and 15 from home. I wish it had better Three Card pay tables. I mentioned the Mt Airy pay tables to the dealer at Mohegan, he said they were going to be 6-4-1, but changed at the last minute. I haven't been able to get near a craps table yet, in two tries; they are doubling the number of tables next month, though, adding a non-smoking tables section equal to the size of the current section. Tables players at Mohegan are younger. Wilkes-Barre is a working class/college student town. There are lots of 20/30 year olds around the bj tables. Slot players at both places tend to be seniors.
I did see something that was similar to something The Wizard had written about. On our way into Mohegan, there was an old man, easy mid 80s, standing waiting for the buses. As we came down the steps from the parking lot, he let out a moan and just flat fell backwards, hitting the back of his head HARD on the sidewalk. We were about 100 yards away; long before we got there, other folks had come to his aid. I thought he'd just up and died there, but as we got nearer he was sitting up, then with help he got up on his feet. Man, he'd whacked his head HARD. I heard it hit 100 yards away, like a base hit up the middle. But the bus came, and he got on it. I hope he's OK.
A falling knife has no handle.
August 6th, 2010 at 6:25:31 AM
permalink
Interesting, I thought the payouts would be set by the State Gambling Commission, but I guess it's up to the discretion of the casino. Meadows and, I think Rivers, are both 6-3. What colleges are there in Wilkes-Barre?Quote: MoscaMohegan is my home base, I guess, 10 minutes from work and 15 from home. I wish it had better Three Card pay tables. I mentioned the Mt Airy pay tables to the dealer at Mohegan, he said they were going to be 6-4-1, but changed at the last minute. I haven't been able to get near a craps table yet, in two tries; they are doubling the number of tables next month, though, adding a non-smoking tables section equal to the size of the current section. Tables players at Mohegan are younger. Wilkes-Barre is a working class/college student town. There are lots of 20/30 year olds around the bj tables. Slot players at both places tend to be seniors.
"Dice, verily, are armed with goads and driving-hooks, deceiving and tormenting, causing grievous woe." -Rig Veda 10.34.4
August 6th, 2010 at 6:30:56 AM
permalink
I would assume that minimum payouts (and perhaps maximums) are set by the commission. Nothing stopping a casino from paying more, or even running the table at a loss.Quote: teddysInteresting, I thought the payouts would be set by the State Gambling Commission, but I guess it's up to the discretion of the casino.
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? 😁
August 6th, 2010 at 8:06:53 AM
permalink
I think that is so, DJTB.
The point hidden between the lines is, go play these casinos while the dealers are inexperienced. My accounts of overpays are true and accurate, but I have also heard secondhand of lots of blackjack overpays as well on missed counts. The players will take care of the underpays, but no one is correcting the dealers. The pit bosses are also new, and everything is moving way too fast for them. It won't last much longer, as the dealers and pit personnel get better. There's also a little bit of timidity going on. At The Sands, when the dealer overpaid, I could see that the dealer instantly knew he'd made a mistake, but was intimidated by his situation. The players have the emotional upper hand right now, and that is important. Do it now.
The point hidden between the lines is, go play these casinos while the dealers are inexperienced. My accounts of overpays are true and accurate, but I have also heard secondhand of lots of blackjack overpays as well on missed counts. The players will take care of the underpays, but no one is correcting the dealers. The pit bosses are also new, and everything is moving way too fast for them. It won't last much longer, as the dealers and pit personnel get better. There's also a little bit of timidity going on. At The Sands, when the dealer overpaid, I could see that the dealer instantly knew he'd made a mistake, but was intimidated by his situation. The players have the emotional upper hand right now, and that is important. Do it now.
A falling knife has no handle.
