Back From Vegas

[CathyRas]

I had a great time in Vegas. The trip didn't start too well but I won't go into that.

I found that the casinos on the strip mostly paid 6 to 5 on a Blackjack some only paid even money. Single deck games were hard to come by on the strip and 2 decks were not to easy to find either.

$5 table non existent on the strip. I didn't go into all the casinos so they maybe there but I only hit a few casinos.

I found things a little better downtown on Fremont Street. I did pretty well at Binions.

I played Texas Holdem as a table game and did really well . That was a lot less intimidating than an actual tournament. The only other game besides the BJ I played was craps and did good. I left when I was ahead before my luck turned bad.

I came home with more money than I left with!

Cathy

 

[tribute]

I found that the casinos on the strip mostly paid 6 to 5 on a Blackjack some only paid even money.
Cathy

It's been five years since I was there. Have games deteriorated this bad?
I find it hard to believe. What about Mandaly Bay, Monte Carlo, Bellagio, and Mirage? Where did you play? This news is hard to swallow.

 

[shadroch]

That is not correct, at all. The vast majority of games on the strip pay 3/2.
The number of non Single Deck games that pay 6/5 is even less. there are a few $5 games on the strip.
Btw-that Texas Hold Em table game is strictly a carny game.

 

[johndoe]

I was there recently, and saw FAR more 6:5 games downtown than on the strip. Lots of places were running 6:5 shoe games! (as well as DD)

Shoe conditions were much better on the strip (plenty of 6D S17), no good SD (no surprise) and a few ok DD.

 

[shadroch]

Where did you see a 6/5 shoe game downtown? The number of 6/5 SD games downtown isn't even equal to the amount in The Flamingo, let alone the whole strip? Get serious, folks.

 

[Randyk47]

Just returned yesterday from a 3-7 July visit to Vegas. We stayed on the Strip and did not go downtown. We didn't spend a lot of time going up and down the Strip so my observations are based on visiting 5-6 places over the 4-day period. The most common game was 8-deck shoes. Most days these started at $15 minimum and were switched to $25/$50 minimums depending on the "traffic" at night. On the evening of the 4th there was virtually not a $15 table to be had. Most places offer at least one or two single-deck tables but these were all 6-5 games. Double-deck games were available at most places, mostly $25 minimum. We stayed at Paris, because of comps, and they ran at least one up to three of these games depending on the traffic. We had a good time but this was just one of those visits and we came away down. Had some pretty brutal sessions but that happens. We'll be going back in November.

 

[cpage727]

the $5 min tables are avail in the morning....trop, mgm grand, nyny, monte carlo all have them to start in the morning and i only checked the south part of the strip.....also the only 6:5 i ever saw was single deck....this was checked every mid week in june so unless they've changed since last month that's what you'll get around these places

 

[johndoe]

Where did you see a 6/5 shoe game downtown? The number of 6/5 SD games downtown isn't even equal to the amount in The Flamingo, let alone the whole strip? Get serious, folks.

I saw 6:5 shoes at most of the big stores downtown, often with 3:2 tables right next to them, it didn't seem to be all that rare. These tended to be the real low limit tables ($5) though, and it was during the day. Lots of 6:5 DD as well, and of course 6:5 SD with heavy restrictions (NDAS etc.) There were very few playable shoe games; just one good table. (And it was still $5 H17/NS; I took them for a couple hundred, at least... good sloppy dealer, and I spread $10-2x$100

On the strip, saw 6:5 shoes at IP and O'sheas, again with the 3:2 tables right next to them. I mostly avoided Harrah's places.

 

[shadroch]

Name these big stores.

 

[ihate17]

They have not changed!

the $5 min tables are avail in the morning....trop, mgm grand, nyny, monte carlo all have them to start in the morning and i only checked the south part of the strip.....also the only 6:5 i ever saw was single deck....this was checked every mid week in june so unless they've changed since last month that's what you'll get around these places

Your post is correct. We get posts like that of the original poster way too often. Most often it comes from someone who got a comped trip to a HET owned casino and limited their play and opinion of the strip to mainly what Harrah's has to offer.
The strip has no 3/2 single deck games, all 6/5, but when it comes to 6/5 DD or shoes, with perhaps one exception they are all at HET garbage tables.
Six deck games, paying 3/2 are the most common games found on the strip.
Double deck and 6 Deck games where the dealer stays on S-17 can be found at several MGM owned properties and a few independents but generally at $25 and above.

The South Strip is a good place for 6 Deck games.
Good DD rules, not pen, can be found at TI, Mirage, Bellaggio and one table at MGM generally for between $25-$100 depending upon the casino and how busy it is.

The best games offered at HET casinos equal the most marginal of games offered at most other strip casinos. The worst games offered at HET strip casinos happen to be some of the worst games known.

ihate17

 

[ihate17]

Bet you based your opinion on HET casinos or North Strip

I had a great time in Vegas. The trip didn't start too well but I won't go into that.

I found that the casinos on the strip mostly paid 6 to 5 on a Blackjack some only paid even money. Single deck games were hard to come by on the strip and 2 decks were not to easy to find either.

$5 table non existent on the strip. I didn't go into all the casinos so they maybe there but I only hit a few casinos.

I found things a little better downtown on Fremont Street. I did pretty well at Binions.

I played Texas Holdem as a table game and did really well . That was a lot less intimidating than an actual tournament. The only other game besides the BJ I played was craps and did good. I left when I was ahead before my luck turned bad.

I came home with more money than I left with!

Cathy

Cathy
If you stay out of HET owned property, you will really struggle to find a game that is DD or a shoe that pays anything but 3/2!

Many MGM owned casinos have a full pit of DD games but the minimum is always more than $5

There are now plenty (based upon weekday play and the economy) of $5 6 deck shoes on the strip.

If you avoid HET casinos and dumps like Sahara, spending more time on the South Strip at places like MGM, Trop, Monte Carlo and Mandalay Bay, you will find much better games.

ihate17

 

[johndoe]

Name these big stores.

I didn't take notes as I strolled through, but it was probably 4Q, Fitzgerald's, and possibly Fremont.

 

[ihate17]

The one casino that is all 6/5

I saw 6:5 shoes at most of the big stores downtown, often with 3:2 tables right next to them, it didn't seem to be all that rare. These tended to be the real low limit tables ($5) though, and it was during the day. Lots of 6:5 DD as well, and of course 6:5 SD with heavy restrictions (NDAS etc.) There were very few playable shoe games; just one good table. (And it was still $5 H17/NS; I took them for a couple hundred, at least... good sloppy dealer, and I spread $10-2x$100

On the strip, saw 6:5 shoes at IP and O'sheas, again with the 3:2 tables right next to them. I mostly avoided Harrah's places.

Sorry, you did not see any 3/2 games at O'**** for Games. Everything, even 8 deck is 6/5.

ihate17

 

[SystemsTrader]

I didn't take notes as I strolled through, but it was probably 4Q, Fitzgerald's, and possibly Fremont.

I haven't been to Vegas since Jan. but the 4Q did not have any 6-5 at the time. Golden Nugget definitely has one 8D 6-5 table. All of Ihate17's info has been correct.

 

[johndoe]

O'Shea's was way too loud and annoying to spend any time in, so I didn't look closely. I am certain about IP though, two tables, right next to each other, one 3:2 and one 6:5, both with players.

 

[FLASH1296]

The Station Casinos are pretty reliable for good low stakes DD games.
H17 DAS with penetration often between 65% and 70%.

 

[callipygian]

I'm convinced either a lot of people are confusing SD with DD/shoe or extrapolating from Flamingo/O'Sheas to the entire Strip.

In my experience ...

- $10 shoe games 3:2 DAS DA2 LS are abundant and the predominant game, although some are CSM, at all non-HET properties and some HET properties. $5 shoe games with the same rules can be found at Tropicana, Monte Carlo, and ti sometimes, and at the fancier places minimums might go up to $15 on the weekend nights.

- 6:5 shoe games can be found at the Flamingo party pit (but the tables in the main casino are 3:2 or at least were last time I went) and at O'Sheas, and nowhere else.

- 3:2 shoe games with other unfavorable rules (nDAS, D10/D9) can be found in various party pits (e.g. Caesars), usually with a higher minimum too.

- 6:5 single-deck is the norm. There are no 3:2 SD games on the Strip.

- 3:2 DD games exist but usually with higher minimums. $10 3:2 DD games exist but they often have compensating bad rules (nDAS, D10/D9).

- I've never seen a 6:5 DD game ever.

I don't go downtown very often so I can't comment but I walk around the Strip a LOT and this is what I see.

 

[johndoe]

I agree with callipygian's observations. I'll just add that I'm absolutely positive that there was a 6:5 shoe game at IP; I played at the table next to it with some friends looking for a low-stakes game.

They even tried to change our table to $15 6:5, and at my advice we all got up and left. The pit critter chased us down, said it was a mistake, and left it at $15/3:2.

 

[Sonny]

They even tried to change our [shoe game] table to $15 6:5, and at my advice we all got up and left. The pit critter chased us down, said it was a mistake, and left it at $15/3:2.

You are my hero. :grin:

-Sonny-

 

[ihate17]

Dealertainers pit

I agree with callipygian's observations. I'll just add that I'm absolutely positive that there was a 6:5 shoe game at IP; I played at the table next to it with some friends looking for a low-stakes game.

They even tried to change our table to $15 6:5, and at my advice we all got up and left. The pit critter chased us down, said it was a mistake, and left it at $15/3:2.

I generally have no reason to go to IP but they did have a pit where the dealers were so called "entertainers" dressing up as Elvis, Marylyn etc, where you got a 6/5 shoe game. More HET garbage.

ihate17