Sands update

Looks like their working on opening a new pit and BJ tables near the cashier, didn't notice it until today. Presumably it replaced a bunch of slot machines. Presumably the locals are catching on its much better to play a < 0.5% house edge game than 10%

BJ tables still packed has hell on a random weekday, especially $15 tables, but seems to have thinned out just a bit lately. At least I didn't have to wait an hour for a table recently.

Today pen wasn't too great (8 deck, 1.75 cuttoff or less) but quite often it is better. I was just sticking around because this has place still has the most poorly trained dealers with their constant mis-pays.

It doesn't matter if they add more tables. They don't even staff the current ones.

Yep, so not sure why they're adding them.

Actually can hazard a guess. Looked like it was all BJ tables they were working on - but would have to double check.

Maybe their opening up new BJ only pits, or planning to reconfigure their tables. Currently they small have pits that are mixed, so what they have is BJ tables mixed with Carribean stud, Let-it-ride, etc., While BJ tables are packed, often these games are empty. So they probably don't open up new pits for this reason. It is a stupid set up to say the least.

Off the top of my head can't think of any casino recently that has a setup like this.

Yeah they don't get it, they think that BJ players are getting away too cheap and if the tables are full we'll just give up and play some Caribbean Stud.

What they don't understand is that the players who would do that are going to give them just as much hold at blackjack, and with less variance. No jackpots to sweat.

Sands really doesn't get it at all. The dealers aren't too bright. I mentioned they should put in a couple Spanish 21 tables, and the response was they don't get many hispanic customers.

:laugh: What dumbasses. Guess it explains why so many black people play Black Jack.

Another update on Sands. Ha ha they did open up the new section of tables, but its high limit $50+ (on a weekday) and were empty.

Anything lower you still have to wait. The game itself per se is pretty good, but the conditions around it are horrible, like crowding, PC holding up the game 20 minutes, ahem and losing money to boot, while trying to fix an ASM. Never seen a place so paranoid about shuffling! :laugh:

Its all about location I guess, being the closest casino to NYC metro area (Mt. Airy might be close 2nd). Holy crap I've never seen so many chinese people crowding around a bunch of midi-baccarat tables on a weekday, nevermind the BJ tables.

These tables are all leased from Shuffle Master, no? I believe I read that SM pays out the jackpots, not the casinos. Casino pays the same per table, full or empty so it it makes sense they would try to keep these full at the expense of a non-leased table.

I don't know about the jackpots, or whether or not PA state law would allow that. The casino has to be ultimately responsible for paying it because they accepted the bet, what happens if Shufflemaster decides not to pay or is bankrupt and can't pay? And I'm sure they would like to fill up their carnival game tables, but if a person is a BJ player or a craps player it is unrealistic to expect they would just start playing carnival games because they are there.

Sands high limit pit questions

Was high limit $50 6D or 8D? Any better rules at the high limit pit such as rsa or pen?

Sorry to say I'm not that experienced with HL tables.

All the lower tables are 8D. Think HL is 8D but don't quote me on that.

I'm one of the oddballs who actually prefer 8D over 6D for a couple of reasons. Just take my word on that.

Typical PA rules, S17, LS. Won't go into further details in public.

Wow, still has them. Has been a year now since my experience and thought the dealers would be up to speed or fired and replaced by now. The dealer at our table made so many errors and mis-pays in favor of the player, I felt sorry for the guy. Was nice and friendly. After a while following suit of other kind folks, I felt guilty and had to correct him on those mistakes on my hand. Was really taking a beating. Was also being harrassed to some extent by ignorant ploppies due to his slow speed.

Couldn't even get to check out the bad dealers on my last trip. Table conditions so crowded I left early in disgust.

Saw a glimmer of hope a couple weeks, where it wasn't as crowded, bunch of $10 tables open, but it was Thurs. before Memorial Day weekend, and they might have just over-estimated the crowd.

Was there recently and they still refuse to open up extra BJ tables at $15-$25, guess they don't like making money. Plenty of open $50 tables though.

Penetration Was Terrible

Went to Mt. Airy on vacation, the week b4 July 4th.
Pen was terrible. So bad I wouldn't play, although
half of the tables were $10 min. No seats, anyway.

I estimated they were cutting off 2.5-3 decks. Practiced
some back counting and left. Smallish casino.

Next year I'll check out the golf course, too.

BJinNJ

Sands Update?

Has anything changed at Sands over the last month? Last time I was there was Dec '10 and playing conditions were so bad I have not been back. If they would open some more tables to give people options, I'd try them again.

Crowd wise its been been getting ever so slightly a little less than horrendous as of late. Instead of waiting for an hour for a $15-$25 table on a weekday, now you wait 15-30 minutes! Sometimes better.

Dealers also seemed to have improved, not the boatload of errors like they used too. Still get new dealers who make laughable errors though. Had a dealer not turn over his first card, then mistakenly turn over his second, then to "fix" the error, hides that second card again, and then flips over the first!

Don't know BS for HC, but yeah I'm doubling my A7 v 12. And I lost. :laugh: Its the only way I know how to HC!

Was there recently on a weekday night... 5 or 6 15/25/50 dollar tables..didn't have the pleasure to check out any sort of HL rooms.... 50 dollar tables about half are nmse (6 decks).

No more even money, now you'd have to insure to get the money.... Penetration very dealer dependent. 1.5 to 3 deck (8 deck). Typical PA rule... A little difficult to get a seat at low limit tables, take about 10 to 15 min to get a seat....

Huh?

I believe he means...........That they no longer allow you to just take "Even Money" when you have a BJ and the dealer is showing an Ace up........... They now make you go through the entire process of buying the insurance, them taking the losing ins. bet then paying 3 to 2 on your BJ........or you winning the ins. bet and pushing on your BJ. Either way you are getting even money but now they make you jump through the hoops to get it.......then again he could be talking about his auto or homeowners policies