Continous Shuffle Machines

#1
I was at a casino in CT on tues and noticed more and more continous shuffle machines are showing up replacing the true dealer shuffle.
Is this a trend happening at casinos around the country (LV/AC) or is this limited to the two CT casinos. Is this an attempt by the casinos to put the card counters out of business permemantly?
bobp
 

ihate17

Well-Known Member
#3
Less in Vegas

The number of CSM's has actually gone down in Vegas. Unless you hit town on a very busy weekend or go to the worst of casinos, CSM's have been relegated to the lowest limit tables because non counting, green chips and higher players will not play on them.

The purpose of the CSM has nothing to do with cardcounters. The world is not only about us, but stopping/limiting the cardcounter happens to be a side benifit for the casino.
The reason casinos purchase or lease CSM's is simple. 20% more hands per hour, 24/7/365. That is a huge number. With only lower limit players generally in the game, it has become a worthwhile method of extracting money quicker from the red chip player. Remember, much of the casino business is run by the cost accountants. They know that it costs about as much overhead and other expenses for the casino to run a $100 table and a $5 table, so upping the percentage profit per hour on that low limit table is an important factor.

Now I do not play in Ct., but my understanding is that the two big casinos are not that far from each other and there is competition. If one of them was to start putting CSM's on green and black chip tables, I would bet heavily that their drop on these tables would go down significantly. The use of CSM's in an isolated casino with no competition but a good number of addicted gamblers works well.

Two years ago Mohegan Sun contracted with Alliance Gaming to purchase a huge number of Mindplay21 cheating devices to install on their tables. Announcements were made, Alliance/Bally gaming and the Eldorada in Reno were sued (setteled) for using Mindplay to cheat, and I never heard or read another word about Mohegan Sun purchasing these things. My guess, is someone there got smart and cancelled the order or perhaps they spoke to management at the Hilton and found out that Mindplay was a major cause in their blackjack profits dwindling to near nothing, loss of loyal customers and big hits that counters made against them.

So my guess is the casino is Mohegan Sun because they seem to want to tinker, are more on the greedy side and because they are not in Vegas, may be able to do it without committing casino suicide as the Hilton did.

ihate17
 
#4
Ms

Yes, it was at Mohegan Sun. I was in the non-smoking section trying to play at the lowest limit tables ($10 on Wed morn) to work on my counting skills.
Anyways, they are about 50% in the non-smoking section and popping up now in the regular high traffic areas around the entrances.
Have not been to Foxwoods to compare, but may have to take the ride soon to scout it out.
Thanks for your input.
Bob
 
#6
gbesq said:
I played at Mohegan Sun yesterday. Although there are a number of CSM games, there are still plenty of shoe games available, including $10 and $15 minimum tables. I haven't been to Foxwoods in a while, but last time I was there I don't recall having seen any CSMs in the pit where I played, although I'd be surprised if they don't have them for at least some games.
Plenty of 6 deck in Casino of the Earth with poor pen but it varies.

Foxwood 8 deck with good pen, some 6 deck high limit.
 

dacium

Well-Known Member
#7
Looks like I am going to have to give up blackjack... there are only two casinos with in about 1000 miles of me. Last weekend I went to one that once had about 6 to 8 shoe games. There was only one now, and apparently only because they didn't have enough card machines because one broke down. The shoe game was $5 min $500 max, but it appears the only game left and probably won't last long. Also they recently dropped the minimum bet "as a promotion" but I think it was really so they could find the card counters more easily and finally wrap it all up.
 
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