Just got back from a 5 casino tour. Didn't check out the high stakes areas anywhere. Started at Majestic Star, then moved to Ameristar both in Gary. Both casinos offered 6 deck $10 min. Not sure what the max was, but it was at least $500. Both are H17, DAS, around 75% pen. Played short sessions spreading $10 to 2X$75. Was thanked for playing and comped a meal at Ameristar. No heat in either place but didn't push it. After a big betting shoe I cashed out rather then going back down to table min. +$500 after about 3 hours due to good swings. Neither place had many tables, probably less than 10 open when I was there around mid day.
Next I checked out Horseshoe. Played one morning and one night session. BJ tables were $15 min, which was a little higher than I like. I played Spanish 21 and BJ switch. They had just one table of each. I believe Spanish was 6 deck, S17 no redouble. Switch was 8 deck h17. Down about $300 in Spanish 21 due mostly to bad swings, and partly to BS mistakes (im still learning that game. Using Katrina's method of counting starting at -24.) Won back $100 in BJ switch. Spent about 9 hours total there. I believe all of the tables there are $5000 max. They had at least 50 tables and 3 different pits.
On my way home I stopped in Joliet and Aurora. Harrahs Joliet had 2 small pits probably around 10 BJ tables. $10 min H17 DAS 8 deck. The interesting thing about this place was that they had a case over the discard tray and an opaque shoe so you couldn't see the cards for deck estimation. I hit 2 hot shoes in a row with the running count hitting 15 and basically staying there for most of the shoe. Did the best I could to keep track of the decks for TC conversion, but ended up erroring on the conservative side and under betting. Still, played only 2 shoes and was fortunate enough to win $400 on a $10-$75 spread.
Last stop was Hollywood in Aurora. They had 2 pits, maybe 20 tables H17 DAS 8 deck. Only 2 $10 tables, rest $15. Played 2 hours, lost $20.
Trip total won nearly $700! Was fun. I wouldn't recommend going to or staying away from any of these casinos, all were just "meh." They all offered reasonable 6 deck games. Didn't see any 2 deck offered anywhere. All had auto shufflers. I also saw a lot of CSMs, but was able to find shoe games at every stop.
Next I checked out Horseshoe. Played one morning and one night session. BJ tables were $15 min, which was a little higher than I like. I played Spanish 21 and BJ switch. They had just one table of each. I believe Spanish was 6 deck, S17 no redouble. Switch was 8 deck h17. Down about $300 in Spanish 21 due mostly to bad swings, and partly to BS mistakes (im still learning that game. Using Katrina's method of counting starting at -24.) Won back $100 in BJ switch. Spent about 9 hours total there. I believe all of the tables there are $5000 max. They had at least 50 tables and 3 different pits.
On my way home I stopped in Joliet and Aurora. Harrahs Joliet had 2 small pits probably around 10 BJ tables. $10 min H17 DAS 8 deck. The interesting thing about this place was that they had a case over the discard tray and an opaque shoe so you couldn't see the cards for deck estimation. I hit 2 hot shoes in a row with the running count hitting 15 and basically staying there for most of the shoe. Did the best I could to keep track of the decks for TC conversion, but ended up erroring on the conservative side and under betting. Still, played only 2 shoes and was fortunate enough to win $400 on a $10-$75 spread.
Last stop was Hollywood in Aurora. They had 2 pits, maybe 20 tables H17 DAS 8 deck. Only 2 $10 tables, rest $15. Played 2 hours, lost $20.
Trip total won nearly $700! Was fun. I wouldn't recommend going to or staying away from any of these casinos, all were just "meh." They all offered reasonable 6 deck games. Didn't see any 2 deck offered anywhere. All had auto shufflers. I also saw a lot of CSMs, but was able to find shoe games at every stop.