Casino switching from 8 decks to 6 decks

[madscout1996]

This is my first post in this forum!

A casino near me for a long time had 8 deck games that were $10-$25 min. and were H17. They had 6 deck games that were $25-up and S17.

Just a month ago, they switched ALL their tables to 6 decks. Why would they do this? Isn't this better for players?

 

[Jack_Black]

why don't you just ask them?

they're probably not getting enough play on the 8D games.

 

[paymypush]

This is my first post in this forum!

A casino near me for a long time had 8 deck games that were $10-$25 min. and were H17. They had 6 deck games that were $25-up and S17.

Just a month ago, they switched ALL their tables to 6 decks. Why would they do this? Isn't this better for players?

Do the 6 decks come pre-shuffled? Are some tables still H17? Maybe they're just trying to save a few pennies. In any case, keep a close eye on the penetration.

 

[madscout1996]

Do the 6 decks come pre-shuffled? Are some tables still H17? Maybe they're just trying to save a few pennies. In any case, keep a close eye on the penetration.

I'm guessing the decks don't come preshuffled because I watched a dealer getting ready to open a new table by spreading all the cards out on the table in order as he checked each card. The penetration has always been and is still good, they cut out 1 - 1.5 decks in a 6 deck shoe. Some tables are still H17 with minimums from $10-$25. The S17 tables start at $25.

 

[shadroch]

The casino will save thousands of dollars in the cost of cards each year.
Assume they change cards twice a day. Thats 12 decks per day as oppossed to 16. How many tables? Lets say ten. Thats forty packs per day,some 1400 per year. More tables would mean even more savings.

 

[mjatte]

The casino will save thousands of dollars in the cost of cards each year.
Assume they change cards twice a day. Thats 12 decks per day as oppossed to 16. How many tables? Lets say ten. Thats forty packs per day,some 1400 per year. More tables would mean even more savings.

I never thought of that. They change all the cards twice a day?? wow, that is a lot of cards. I'd love to see their back room. They must have whole pallets full of cards! xD

 

[EmeraldCityBJ]

This is my first post in this forum!

A casino near me for a long time had 8 deck games that were $10-$25 min. and were H17. They had 6 deck games that were $25-up and S17.

Just a month ago, they switched ALL their tables to 6 decks. Why would they do this? Isn't this better for players?

Some possible explanations:
1) For many asian cultures, '8' is a lucky number, and too many of their asian customers were getting lucky. Switching to '4' decks (since '4' is considered unlucky) would have been too bold, so '6' decks was a reasonable compromise.
2) They got tired of playing "416 pickup", and made a change to accomodate dealers with smaller hands.
3) Their counter catcher in surveillance is incapable of counting down 8-decks, but can keep track a 6-deck shoe no problem.
4) They've switched to a shuffle machine which has a 6-deck capacity.
5) They want to screw the players on a popular side bet, where the 6-deck paytable offers a higher house edge than the 8-deck paytable.

 

[bjcardcounter]

Some possible explanations:
1) For many asian cultures, '8' is a lucky number, and too many of their asian customers were getting lucky. Switching to '4' decks (since '4' is considered unlucky) would have been too bold, so '6' decks was a reasonable compromise.
2) They got tired of playing "416 pickup", and made a change to accomodate dealers with smaller hands.
3) Their counter catcher in surveillance is incapable of counting down 8-decks, but can keep track a 6-deck shoe no problem.
4) They've switched to a shuffle machine which has a 6-deck capacity.
5) They want to screw the players on a popular side bet, where the 6-deck paytable offers a higher house edge than the 8-deck paytable.

6) Someone stole the 8D discard trays and left the 6D discard as good will.

 

[paddywhack]

6) Someone stole the 8D discard trays and left the 6D discard as good will.

You should hope they change them. Most joints just leave the larger discard tray which can cause confusion in estimation if you're not careful.

 

[Friendo]

Dropping multi-deck stacks

A dealer complained to me about handling 8-deck stacks. It's usually faster for the dealer to scoop up the whole shoe when feeding the automatic shuffle machine or the shoe. Cards being slick, they follow the laws of physics and not your desires - this dealer said she had dropped a whole 8-deck shoe on the floor.

I would hate to handle that large a stack.

 

[winr_winr_chicken_dinner!]

Less decks, quicker shuffle, more hands per hour... looks like your store is getting smart instead of paranoid. They will make more $$ this way, wish all of them would wake up and follow suit!

 

[madscout1996]

Less decks, quicker shuffle, more hands per hour... looks like your store is getting smart instead of paranoid. They will make more $$ this way, wish all of them would wake up and follow suit!

Doesn't it also mean shuffle more often? Plus they use ASM, they don't shuffle by hand.

And the old 8-deck discard trays are still in use at some tables while the 6-deck discard trays are used at others.

 

[Jack_Black]

Doesn't it also mean shuffle more often? Plus they use ASM, they don't shuffle by hand.

And the old 8-deck discard trays are still in use at some tables while the 6-deck discard trays are used at others.

did you ever end up asking them like I proposed? if the casino used ASMs for 8D and 6D tables, then most likely it's because they saw the numbers on the 8D tables and realized there was less action on it because of the higher hold. it's all about the different business strategies. higher profit at lower volume? or lower profit at higher volume?

I can't believe someone suggested that they changed the deck numbers based on chinese superstition. that is just plain retarded.

 

[Blue Efficacy]

The difference in HA is miniscule between 6 and 8 decks for the recreational player.

H17 vs S17 is a much bigger deal.

A local casino, mostly 6D, used to have its lone $2 table as an 8 decker. They recently switched that to 6D also. Certainly had nothing to do with lack of play, as being the only $2 table it has been and will continue to be perpetually packed.

My best guess would be they got sick of dealer complaints over how unwieldy a stack of 416 cards it.

 

[Lonesome Gambler]

It's unlikely that the casino is thinking "outside of the box," but 8D can create additional headaches for the casino, especially if the dealers are petite women. And speaking of frequent card changes, I know of a place that changes the cards more than twice a day, and they don't sell the used cards in the gift shop—they actually shred them. No joke!

 

[Jack_Black]

The difference in HA is miniscule between 6 and 8 decks for the recreational player.

H17 vs S17 is a much bigger deal.

A local casino, mostly 6D, used to have its lone $2 table as an 8 decker. They recently switched that to 6D also. Certainly had nothing to do with lack of play, as being the only $2 table it has been and will continue to be perpetually packed.

My best guess would be they got sick of dealer complaints over how unwieldy a stack of 416 cards it.

yes the HA is smaller, but every bit counts! especially if they're not getting play on it. A local casino had only 8D, then they switched back to 6D since no one ever played there. alas, no one still plays the 6D since everyone remembers the time they screwed us by switching in the first place!

While we're at it. the HA is only for off the top advantage. Plus we are all aware how stale the count gets and how long it stays in negative territory in a 8D vs 6D game. Not that ploppies know that, but they are aware that they lose more often on 8D vs 6D.

 

[madscout1996]

Update

It seems that this casino is using 6 decks at 3 out of the four main pits, and then that last pit it uses 8 decks. The S17 tables are all 6 decks, and the H17 tables are either 6 or 8 decks. That seems strange. Wonder why.

And the reason I'm hesitant to ask dealers or pit bosses about why they switched from 8 to 6, or why some are 6 and some are 8 is because I'm afraid of appearing too knowlegeable.

 

[Coyote]

And the reason I'm hesitant to ask dealers or pit bosses about why they switched from 8 to 6, or why some are 6 and some are 8 is because I'm afraid of appearing too knowlegeable.

I can appreciate your parinoia. I just hope more casinos will make the switch to 6 deck and offer better rules like LS.

 

[Blue Efficacy]

It seems that this casino is using 6 decks at 3 out of the four main pits, and then that last pit it uses 8 decks. The S17 tables are all 6 decks, and the H17 tables are either 6 or 8 decks. That seems strange. Wonder why.

And the reason I'm hesitant to ask dealers or pit bosses about why they switched from 8 to 6, or why some are 6 and some are 8 is because I'm afraid of appearing too knowlegeable.

People ask questions about the number of decks all of the time. Asking those questions doesn't expose your skill level.
One could simply say something like "that stack looks smaller, are you guys using less decks now?"