Blackjack Examiner rates CityCenter in Las Vegas

[JSTAT]

The sun is blotted out two hours before sunset at the Paris hotel rooms facing Bellagio by the monstrosity of skyscrapers of the recently opened CityCenter complex. Owned by MGM Mirage and Dubai World, CityCenter cost $8.5 billion to build and much of the Las Vegas economy is based on this gamble. There are three hotels, a condominium complex, and a shopping center, Aria Resort & Casino, a 61-story, 4,004-room resort, Mandarin Oriental, a 47-story luxury hotel, Vdara Hotel & Spa, a 57-story tower, Veer Towers, twin 37-story condos designed with a 5-degree tilt, and The Crystals, a 500,000-square-foot enclosed high end shopping mall comprise this property. A complete eyesore to many of its neighbors whose views of the Strip no longer exist.

With over 6,000 rooms, access to Aria casino is not a problem while visitors outside the resort will find it difficult with the lack of obvious directions. While most casinos display marqees and identifiable entrances such as people movers or water and volcanic displays, Aria does not. The tram from Bellagio is an adventure by itself with the massive amount of walking through the casino to the second hotel built past pools in the back. The tram drops passengers at the shopping mall at Crystals where another hike is required to the Aria casino, if they are lucky enough to find it in the first attempt. The logistics of confining CityCenter's 6,000 guests to gamble at Aria casino is possibly a stroke of genius or could go down as the worst planning design in Las Vegas history.

The axiom of relieving gamblers of their money from the Strip's walking traffic will be tested due to the Aria's casino location (1/4 mile) off the beaten path.The casino is just ordinary with a small sports book and tight video poker payouts that will break a family budget in no time at all. The six double deck blackjack games located in the center of the casino offer the best odds in town. The casino edge is only .19% with perfect basic strategy (a basic strategy card can be bought at some hotel/casino gift shops) and minimums of $25 on weekdays and $50 on weekends. The odds can be changed to the players favor of this low house percentage game by counting tens vs non tens.

Note from Admin: As you can see from the ensuing discussion below, portions of this post were edited to remove misleading and inaccurate information contained in the original article. If you want to read the article as originally written, here's the link: http://www.examiner.com/x-18051-San-Francisco-Blackjack-Examiner~y2010m1d18-Blackjack-Examiner-rates-CityCenter-in-Las-Vegas

 

[creeping panther]

Jstat

The sun is blotted out two hours before sunset at the Paris hotel rooms facing Bellagio by the monstrosity of skyscrapers of the recently opened CityCenter complex. Owned by MGM Mirage and Dubai World, CityCenter cost $8.5 billion to build and much of the Las Vegas economy is based on this gamble. There are three hotels, a condominium complex, and a shopping center, Aria Resort & Casino, a 61-story, 4,004-room resort, Mandarin Oriental, a 47-story luxury hotel, Vdara Hotel & Spa, a 57-story tower, Veer Towers, twin 37-story condos designed with a 5-degree tilt, and The Crystals, a 500,000-square-foot enclosed high end shopping mall comprise this property. A complete eyesore to many of its neighbors whose views of the Strip no longer exist.

With over 6,000 rooms, access to Aria casino is not a problem while visitors outside the resort will find it difficult with the lack of obvious directions. While most casinos display marqees and identifiable entrances such as people movers or water and volcanic displays, Aria does not. The tram from Bellagio is an adventure by itself with the massive amount of walking through the casino to the second hotel built past pools in the back. The tram drops passengers at the shopping mall at Crystals where another hike is required to the Aria casino, if they are lucky enough to find it in the first attempt. The logistics of confining CityCenter's 6,000 guests to gamble at Aria casino is possibly a stroke of genius or could go down as the worst planning design in Las Vegas history.

The axiom of relieving gamblers of their money from the Strip's walking traffic will be tested due to the Aria's casino location (1/4 mile) off the beaten path.The casino is just ordinary with a small sports book and tight video poker payouts that will break a family budget in no time at all. The six double deck blackjack games located in the center of the casino offer the best odds in town. The casino edge is only .19% with perfect basic strategy (a basic strategy card can be bought at some hotel/casino gift shops) and minimums of $25 on weekdays and $50 on weekends. The odds can be changed to the players favor of this low house percentage game by counting tens vs non tens.

Nice article and a great dd game!!!:1st:

CP

 

[kewljason]

The odds can be changed to the players favor of this low house percentage game by counting tens vs non tens.

I agree with CP. It is a nice article. One of your better ones. I noticed the "Jstat count" managed to make its way into the article. While I have no problem with that, just once I would like to hear you acknowledge that this is not the only count that can change the odds to the players favor. Nor is counting the only method that can do so. But that's just me. Again, congrats on writing a nice informative article.

 

[Sonny]

I noticed the "Jstat count" managed to make its way into the article.

It has been removed. The article is actually very accurate and informative now.

-Sonny-

 

[bjcount]

It has been removed. The article is actually very accurate and informative now.

-Sonny-

Sonny the "Snipper" strikes again!

BJC

 

[shadroch]

A number of my friends stayed at City Center for the CES show and all said the transportation system( the people mover ) worked great.
I'm curious whose view of the strip was obstructed by City Center? Having not been there yet, but having driven past it I'd say it's an improvement over what was there, or what lies north of it. It looks nice from the Voodoo Lounge.

 

[FLASH1296]

Word on the Strip is that the HEAT at Aria is the worst.

 

[kewljason]

It has been removed. The article is actually very accurate and informative now.

-Sonny-

So funny! Sonny removed said remarks and Jstat immediately put them back in. I wonder who will win this battle. :laugh: (actually, I am not wondering at all...pretty sure I know the outcome)

 

[JSTAT]

It has been removed. The article is actually very accurate and informative now.

-Sonny-

I put back the betting/playing advice because the strategy is valid, accurate, and informative. Throw me a bone for once and leave the article whole since it does help the reader reduce the house edge. The article agrees with the tenets of the high-low count with more aces and tens giving a counter an advantage.

 

[kewljason]

The article agrees with the tenets of the high-low count with more aces and tens giving a counter an advantage.

There ya go!! Good for you! Was that so hard?

 

[bjcount]

I smell a vacation in the offing....

BJC

 

[JSTAT]

A number of my friends stayed at City Center for the CES show and all said the transportation system( the people mover ) worked great.
I'm curious whose view of the strip was obstructed by City Center? Having not been there yet, but having driven past it I'd say it's an improvement over what was there, or what lies north of it. It looks nice from the Voodoo Lounge.

One unlucky place that the strip view is obstructed was Ken Uston's old residence in Vegas, The Jockey Club, where a cement wall is constucted against the entire south side of the towers. The cement walls height is at least 11 stories high and all the south side residents stare at the wall instead of the Strip. The Monte Carlo's view of the north side of the Strip also has been eliminated because of the CityCenter's buildings. New York-New York also has lost much of the priceless views along with Bellagio.

 

[Sonny]

I put back the betting/playing advice because the strategy is valid, accurate, and informative.

I can't remember how many times we've been through this already. The Jstat count system is a terrible choice for beginners, recreational players and most pros as well. To make matters worse, your advice on using it has been completely misleading and in many cases flat out incorrect. You have ignored these facts and have shown repeated disrespect for the members, moderators and even the owner of this website. You've been warned several times and I still have had to edit too many of your threads. It's time to give you "the tap." You have often said that you wear a barring as a badge of honor. I am more than happy to honor you.

-Sonny-

 

[SystemsTrader]

Very informative article. I feel that City Center is a blight on the strip. It's just too big and a pain in the ass getting in, out and around the place. When will these casino execs get over this bigger is better mentality. With an aging population there is going to be less repeat visits to Vegas because just getting to and from your room in these places is becoming such an inconvenience.

 

[moo321]

They're not kidding, it is a REAL hassle trying to figure out how to get into that behemoth mother****er. I got lost each time I went there. Real classy place, though. One of the nicest buildings I've ever been in.

 

[3aces]

"Green" Aria

My understanding is that the dim lighting and dark tones in the Aria are because it's a "green" facility. Lots of recycled materials everywhere, including the rooms. Dealer told me this, I had not heard it before. Truly a pain to access, but good games, and contrary to earlier post, I could detect no heat.

 

[ArcticInferno]

Aria really has some of the best blackjack games.
A few weeks ago, I was using the Hi-Lo system at the 6-deck, $25-minimum table.
I used mostly 1-4 spread, but a few times I went to two hands of $75 each.
I didn't split 10's or do anything overly suspicious.
I did hit 12 vs 6 on a negative count and stood on 16 vs 10 on positive count,
which drew some attention from other players.
After 4 shoes, I won about $750.
As I got up and was walking away, the pit boss said to me,
"Yes, money management is the key."
His facial expression and the tone of his voice was sarcastic and rude.
Did he identify me as a counter?
Should I stay away from Aria for a while?
After all, $750 isn't going to break Aria.

 

[creeping panther]

Artic

Aria really has some of the best blackjack games.
A few weeks ago, I was using the Hi-Lo system at the 6-deck, $25-minimum table.
I used mostly 1-4 spread, but a few times I went to two hands of $75 each.
I didn't split 10's or do anything overly suspicious.
I did hit 12 vs 6 on a negative count and stood on 16 vs 10 on positive count,
which drew some attention from other players.
After 4 shoes, I won about $750.
As I got up and was walking away, the pit boss said to me,
"Yes, money management is the key."
His facial expression and the tone of his voice was sarcastic and rude.
Did he identify me as a counter?
Should I stay away from Aria for a while?
After all, $750 isn't going to break Aria.

Don't worry about it, maybe, maybe not. Your best reply in that situation is, "Hell NO!!!, Progressions are where its at!!" That will work.:grin:

Congrats on the win, next time spread more, and best not to split 10's, imho.:laugh:

CP

 

[chichow]

Aria really has some of the best blackjack games.
A few weeks ago, I was using the Hi-Lo system at the 6-deck, $25-minimum table.
I used mostly 1-4 spread, but a few times I went to two hands of $75 each.
I didn't split 10's or do anything overly suspicious.
I did hit 12 vs 6 on a negative count and stood on 16 vs 10 on positive count,
which drew some attention from other players.
After 4 shoes, I won about $750.
As I got up and was walking away, the pit boss said to me,
"Yes, money management is the key."
His facial expression and the tone of his voice was sarcastic and rude.
Did he identify me as a counter?
Should I stay away from Aria for a while?
After all, $750 isn't going to break Aria.

Pit bosses vary a LOT in terms of what they know of the game and Casino comps and well they REALLY vary a LOT so take what you hear from any one pit boss with a grain of salt.

 

[chichow]

Very informative article. I feel that City Center is a blight on the strip. It's just too big and a pain in the ass getting in, out and around the place. When will these casino execs get over this bigger is better mentality. With an aging population there is going to be less repeat visits to Vegas because just getting to and from your room in these places is becoming such an inconvenience.

There's a nice tram that will take you to the Bellagio for more center strip activities.