What are the current BlackJack playing conditions at Crown Casino (Melbourne)?

[STAATSWANN]

I am from Perth and obviously the BlackJack conditions over here at Burswood Casino are crap unless you play in the Tournament which I will be next time it comes around. I am planning a trip over to Melbourne soon and as a result i wanted to know the current BlackJack conditions for card counters there, so I ask this question:

What are the current BlackJack playing conditions at Crown Casino (Melbourne)?

My main concerns are:
- Are there Continuous Shuffling Machines (CSM's) in use? If so, are they at all tables or only some?
- What are the table minimums?
- How easy is it to get on a table?
- What are the current rules? For example does the dealer hit on soft 17? Does the dealer take only original bets on dealer BlackJack?
- What is the heat level like for card counters?

Any other information that seems relevant would also be helpful.
Thanks.

[sleepydaz]

-No continuous shufflers are used

-On the main floor table minimums range from $10-$100, usually $10, $15, $30, $50, $100 ($10 are open 24/7 and the other tables vary on business.)

-Getting a seat at a table sunday-thursday is no problem. during the weekend the $10-$15 tables will be packed. i play $30 tables normally and there isn't usually a problem getting a seat.

- Blackjack Rules

8 Decks, dealt from shoe
Double on 9, 10 or 11.
Dealer stands on soft 17 (S17)
Split to 3 hands
Aces split to 2 hands
One card only on split aces
Double after split (DAS)
Double for less allowed
Blackjack pays 3:2
Insurance pays 2:1
Dealer blackjack takes Original and Busted Bets Only (OBBO)
First card from shoe burnt

-You get a lot of "perfect pairs" players, those bets often carry more value than the blackjack bets on some of the lower limit tables. Perfect pairs is a bet that pays on the first two cards dealt to a player, pays 6-1 mixed colour pair, 12-1 same colour pair, 25-1 for perfect pair. you can bet someone elses hand as well if you like.

-I've found that if you play well for a few hands people will start jumping in behind you quiet a bit, especially on busy nights. They aren't afraid of telling you how to play the hand either sometimes so just tell em to go jump if they say anything.

-As far as card counting heat goes i haven't noticed anything significant, the only times i've seen pit bosses is when the dealer is confirming a cash or colour change. the security is very tight and any table disputes etc are settled quickly as the video is spot on.

any other questions let me know, i generally play there a couple of nights a week for blackjack and another night for poker. The poker room downstairs at crown is fantastic and also has blackjack tables and is a good spot to play as the skill level of the players is usually slightly higher down there.

[STAATSWANN]

Cheers man.
That's exactly what I was looking for.

[golfnuts]

Originally Posted by sleepydaz

-No continuous shufflers are used

-On the main floor table minimums range from $10-$100, usually $10, $15, $30, $50, $100 ($10 are open 24/7 and the other tables vary on business.)

-Getting a seat at a table sunday-thursday is no problem. during the weekend the $10-$15 tables will be packed. i play $30 tables normally and there isn't usually a problem getting a seat.

- Blackjack Rules

8 Decks, dealt from shoe
Double on 9, 10 or 11.
Dealer stands on soft 17 (S17)
Split to 3 hands
Aces split to 2 hands
One card only on split aces
Double after split (DAS)
Double for less allowed
Blackjack pays 3:2
Insurance pays 2:1
Dealer blackjack takes Original and Busted Bets Only (OBBO)
First card from shoe burnt

-You get a lot of "perfect pairs" players, those bets often carry more value than the blackjack bets on some of the lower limit tables. Perfect pairs is a bet that pays on the first two cards dealt to a player, pays 6-1 mixed colour pair, 12-1 same colour pair, 25-1 for perfect pair. you can bet someone elses hand as well if you like.

-I've found that if you play well for a few hands people will start jumping in behind you quiet a bit, especially on busy nights. They aren't afraid of telling you how to play the hand either sometimes so just tell em to go jump if they say anything.

-As far as card counting heat goes i haven't noticed anything significant, the only times i've seen pit bosses is when the dealer is confirming a cash or colour change. the security is very tight and any table disputes etc are settled quickly as the video is spot on.

any other questions let me know, i generally play there a couple of nights a week for blackjack and another night for poker. The poker room downstairs at crown is fantastic and also has blackjack tables and is a good spot to play as the skill level of the players is usually slightly higher down there.

You are a great man. I wish one day I get to know you. Good luck to you

[Katweezel]

Originally Posted by sleepydaz

-No continuous shufflers are used

-On the main floor table minimums range from $10-$100, usually $10, $15, $30, $50, $100 ($10 are open 24/7 and the other tables vary on business.)

-Getting a seat at a table sunday-thursday is no problem. during the weekend the $10-$15 tables will be packed. i play $30 tables normally and there isn't usually a problem getting a seat.

- Blackjack Rules

8 Decks, dealt from shoe
Double on 9, 10 or 11.
Dealer stands on soft 17 (S17)
Split to 3 hands
Aces split to 2 hands
One card only on split aces
Double after split (DAS)
Double for less allowed
Blackjack pays 3:2
Insurance pays 2:1
Dealer blackjack takes Original and Busted Bets Only (OBBO)
First card from shoe burnt

-You get a lot of "perfect pairs" players, those bets often carry more value than the blackjack bets on some of the lower limit tables. Perfect pairs is a bet that pays on the first two cards dealt to a player, pays 6-1 mixed colour pair, 12-1 same colour pair, 25-1 for perfect pair. you can bet someone elses hand as well if you like.

-I've found that if you play well for a few hands people will start jumping in behind you quiet a bit, especially on busy nights. They aren't afraid of telling you how to play the hand either sometimes so just tell em to go jump if they say anything.

-As far as card counting heat goes i haven't noticed anything significant, the only times i've seen pit bosses is when the dealer is confirming a cash or colour change. the security is very tight and any table disputes etc are settled quickly as the video is spot on.

any other questions let me know, i generally play there a couple of nights a week for blackjack and another night for poker. The poker room downstairs at crown is fantastic and also has blackjack tables and is a good spot to play as the skill level of the players is usually slightly higher down there.

Thanks for the excellent report sleepyd. I gave up going there when they went h17 and mostly CSMs main floor. Since then I been hangin out further N and W. How long ago did the better main floor news happen?

[Howie]

Originally Posted by sleepydaz

-No continuous shufflers are used
.

Can anybody else confirm this?

The post is a little old, and i heard there was a few.

If anyones been there lately, how many are there (%) are they around mostly weekends?

What tables do/dont have them? $10 $15 $30 $50 $100

Howie.

[Traveller]

I hear there is a lot of heat around Melbourne at the moment.

[ragroller]

i know that in the mahogony room in melb they dont have any shuffling machines , also not sure how many decks they use.

Overseas players who have seen melb crown casino compared to american casinos is it any good or do the american casinos much betteR?

[mikus8788]

I went to Crown last night, and I've got to say the blackjack conditions suck.
I watched a guy put $20 on perfect pair on every hand, granted he won a few times, but that was nothing compared to what he invested (others might have better luck).

Crown have also employed automatic shuffling machines on most blackjack tables, they use 6 decks and shuffle after every hand. I don't like their automatic shuffling machines, it's really suss when they press a button before dealing only their hand and get blackjack.

I hate to say card counting is a dieing trade but Crown are all over it, I think their gaming conditions are horrible, they have been busted using short decks before.

By shuffling after every hand and using 6 decks, mathematically they have an edge over all blackjack players, most of the time there is roughly 250+ cards in the shoe to be dealt at the end of each hand, then they cram the cards everyone just used back in and re-shuffle.

[Katweezel]

Originally Posted by mikus8788

I went to Crown last night, and I've got to say the blackjack conditions suck.
I watched a guy put $20 on perfect pair on every hand, granted he won a few times, but that was nothing compared to what he invested (others might have better luck).

Crown have also employed automatic shuffling machines on most blackjack tables, they use 6 decks and shuffle after every hand. I don't like their automatic shuffling machines, it's really suss when they press a button before dealing only their hand and get blackjack.

I hate to say card counting is a dieing trade but Crown are all over it, I think their gaming conditions are horrible, they have been busted using short decks before.

By shuffling after every hand and using 6 decks, mathematically they have an edge over all blackjack players, most of the time there is roughly 250+ cards in the shoe to be dealt at the end of each hand, then they cram the cards everyone just used back in and re-shuffle.

Mikus, I think you may find these are 126Continuous Shuffle Machines, and not Automatic Shuffle Machines.