Aruba report

techster

Well-Known Member
#1
My wife and I just got back from a wonderful weak in Aruba. All day on the most beautiful beach I've ever seen; all night at various casinos. Here is what I found:

Downtown: The casinos in Oranjestad play European no hole card, six deck, DAS, double any hand, 70% penetration. I HATE no hole card! It seems like every 10 or 11 I got was against a dealer ace or ten. I broke even downtown, while my wife (who does not count but plays basic strategy) got hot and won a couple of hundred $$.

Palm Beach--High rise hotels: There are 7 or 8 hotels in a row, and most of them have a casino. We stayed at the Holiday Inn, probably the oldest of them all, but still a decent place (and once again, an INCREDIBLE beach). Very small casino. Same rules as town except not "no hole card." Also the only one that I found that dealer stood on soft 17. Broke even here also. The largest and nicest casinos in this area are at the Hyatt and the Radisson, although don't expect anything like Vegas anywhere on the island. Most don't even start dealing blackjack until late afternoon or early evening (around 6:00). I did come out about $300 ahead, playing at $10 tables. All the rules the same as the Holiday Inn, except dealer hit S17. If you go look for local tourist magazines that have free play offers from many of the casinos.

By the way, the Radisson had one table with a wildcard. WHoever got this wildcard (only one in an 8 deck shoe) got an automatic 21 (not blackjack--pay even money). Even though this wildcard also gave the dealer an automatic win, the house was advertising "best odds on the island--one more way for you to win.) I don't see an advantage, here, so did not play long.
 

GeorgeD

Well-Known Member
#2
techster,

Our paths may have crossed in Aruba. We were at the Holiday in from 3/20-27. Maybe even played together at one of the tables ... where are you from? Most people I spoke to were NYC, New Jersey or Boston. I'm near Buffalo, NY.

I pretty much found the same experience. Played a little at the Radisson Downtown. No hole, but you only lost your initial bet if you doubled or split and the dealer had a BJ, . I think that makes the odds the same as a US game. Still that style of play seemed annoying

At Palm beach the Holiday Inn was pretty good. Some $10-15 tables had CSM's, but one $10 table was hand dealt. They had a $15 double deck but you could only double 10 or 11. I wasn't sure of that, so didn't play. I think there were $25 and $100 tables hand dealt. Overall I'd say it was a nicer casino than Radisson. Probably because it's newer.

At Palm beach there was a $10 six deck hand dealt game at the Marriott, but it was also hit on Soft 17. They pretty much took the money I won at Hoiday inn, so I was overall about even not counting free drinks. At $6 a drink otherwise I guess that was pretty good +Ev

I never asked about players cards, because I heard they're all pretty tight with comps unless you're a high roller. I didn't see anything remotely resembling heat, but didn't see anyone playing that would bring on attention or even any big winners. Pit crew at all seemed pretty disinterested ... most of the times dealers would call out a buy-in or color up and not even wait for an OK


Yea, not vegas, but with so many places to play, I'd go back, but more for the beautiful beaches, great weather, friendly locals and great (but expensive) restaurants.
 

Doofus

Well-Known Member
#3
GeorgeD said:
I never asked about players cards, because I heard they're all pretty tight with comps unless you're a high roller. I didn't see anything remotely resembling heat, but didn't see anyone playing that would bring on attention or even any big winners. Pit crew at all seemed pretty disinterested ...
I've spent the last two Christmas holidays in Aruba, and echo the comments here. Would also add the interesting point that at the Holiday Inn I had a Basic Strategy chart out for ready access should my mind have seized up; the pit boss asked me what it was, and commented that she had never seen such a thing before. Amazing. But then again with all the horrific play I saw at virtually every table, I am not surprised; they have some of the dumbest players one could imagine, including standing on a 15 against a 7, not doubling 11s, etc...
 
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