Just got back from a 5 casino tour. Didn't check out the high stakes areas anywhere. Started at Majestic Star, then moved to Ameristar both in Gary. Both casinos offered 6 deck $10 min. Not sure what the max was, but it was at least $500. Both are H17, DAS, around 75% pen. Played short sessions spreading $10 to 2X$75. Was thanked for playing and comped a meal at Ameristar. No heat in either place but didn't push it. After a big betting shoe I cashed out rather then going back down to table min. +$500 after about 3 hours due to good swings. Neither place had many tables, probably less than 10 open when I was there around mid day.
Next I checked out Horseshoe. Played one morning and one night session. BJ tables were $15 min, which was a little higher than I like. I played Spanish 21 and BJ switch. They had just one table of each. I believe Spanish was 6 deck, S17 no redouble. Switch was 8 deck h17. Down about $300 in Spanish 21 due mostly to bad swings, and partly to BS mistakes (im still learning that game. Using Katrina's method of counting starting at -24.) Won back $100 in BJ switch. Spent about 9 hours total there. I believe all of the tables there are $5000 max. They had at least 50 tables and 3 different pits.
On my way home I stopped in Joliet and Aurora. Harrahs Joliet had 2 small pits probably around 10 BJ tables. $10 min H17 DAS 8 deck. The interesting thing about this place was that they had a case over the discard tray and an opaque shoe so you couldn't see the cards for deck estimation. I hit 2 hot shoes in a row with the running count hitting 15 and basically staying there for most of the shoe. Did the best I could to keep track of the decks for TC conversion, but ended up erroring on the conservative side and under betting. Still, played only 2 shoes and was fortunate enough to win $400 on a $10-$75 spread.
Last stop was Hollywood in Aurora. They had 2 pits, maybe 20 tables H17 DAS 8 deck. Only 2 $10 tables, rest $15. Played 2 hours, lost $20.
Trip total won nearly $700! Was fun. I wouldn't recommend going to or staying away from any of these casinos, all were just "meh." They all offered reasonable 6 deck games. Didn't see any 2 deck offered anywhere. All had auto shufflers. I also saw a lot of CSMs, but was able to find shoe games at every stop.
Next I checked out Horseshoe. Played one morning and one night session. BJ tables were $15 min, which was a little higher than I like. I played Spanish 21 and BJ switch. They had just one table of each. I believe Spanish was 6 deck, S17 no redouble. Switch was 8 deck h17. Down about $300 in Spanish 21 due mostly to bad swings, and partly to BS mistakes (im still learning that game. Using Katrina's method of counting starting at -24.) Won back $100 in BJ switch. Spent about 9 hours total there. I believe all of the tables there are $5000 max. They had at least 50 tables and 3 different pits.
On my way home I stopped in Joliet and Aurora. Harrahs Joliet had 2 small pits probably around 10 BJ tables. $10 min H17 DAS 8 deck. The interesting thing about this place was that they had a case over the discard tray and an opaque shoe so you couldn't see the cards for deck estimation. I hit 2 hot shoes in a row with the running count hitting 15 and basically staying there for most of the shoe. Did the best I could to keep track of the decks for TC conversion, but ended up erroring on the conservative side and under betting. Still, played only 2 shoes and was fortunate enough to win $400 on a $10-$75 spread.
Last stop was Hollywood in Aurora. They had 2 pits, maybe 20 tables H17 DAS 8 deck. Only 2 $10 tables, rest $15. Played 2 hours, lost $20.
Trip total won nearly $700! Was fun. I wouldn't recommend going to or staying away from any of these casinos, all were just "meh." They all offered reasonable 6 deck games. Didn't see any 2 deck offered anywhere. All had auto shufflers. I also saw a lot of CSMs, but was able to find shoe games at every stop.
In the future please visit the HL rooms to check out conditions there, that is where you should be getting the far better games.
