Change in Playing conditions Pre-Covid v Post Covid?

MJGolf

Well-Known Member
#1
I posted this in another forum but didn't get too many replies. Contemplating a trip back out there and wondered.....

BUT I have noticed a change in conditions...............not just the Covid reasons: Like less players at the tables (3 for BJ); some procedures changed (face up v hand held cards); plexiglass shields; chip washing; table disinfectants and the like but as to PLAYING conditions.

I wondered (since everyone seems to be having a bit of cabin fever on board and not many BJ discussions lately) IF you have played, what changes YOU have noticed from Pre-Covid v. Post Covid (Open v after re-opening).

For example some of ones I have noticed both locally and in Vegas are:



  • Casinos reducing number of tables; not just spots........removing tables.
  • Some here will not reopen table games for an indefinite period, which just confirms how much more they make from slots.
  • Using so called social distancing to keep onlookers "per se" away from tables (making back counting difficult).
  • Increased minimums.....(to make up for fewer players? or?)
  • Another got rid of LS...........and they have ALWAYS had it. (worsening playing rules?)
  • But another one extended their times for "no ante" play. (much better playing rule)
  • But on the other hand, at moment, offers from hosts/casinos have increased and at moment........for next month or so...........seem to be a bit more generous. That's in Vegas........our local comps really, really suck in my opinion.


You guys who have ventured out and played maybe you have noticed some differences. I know conditions never stay static. But it does seem like things are changing in a weird sort of way. Thoughts?
 

beating vegas

Well-Known Member
#2
MJGolf said:
I posted this in another forum but didn't get too many replies. Contemplating a trip back out there and wondered.....

BUT I have noticed a change in conditions...............not just the Covid reasons: Like less players at the tables (3 for BJ); some procedures changed (face up v hand held cards); plexiglass shields; chip washing; table disinfectants and the like but as to PLAYING conditions.

I wondered (since everyone seems to be having a bit of cabin fever on board and not many BJ discussions lately) IF you have played, what changes YOU have noticed from Pre-Covid v. Post Covid (Open v after re-opening).

For example some of ones I have noticed both locally and in Vegas are:



  • Casinos reducing number of tables; not just spots........removing tables.
  • Some here will not reopen table games for an indefinite period, which just confirms how much more they make from slots.
  • Using so called social distancing to keep onlookers "per se" away from tables (making back counting difficult).
  • Increased minimums.....(to make up for fewer players? or?)
  • Another got rid of LS...........and they have ALWAYS had it. (worsening playing rules?)
  • But another one extended their times for "no ante" play. (much better playing rule)
  • But on the other hand, at moment, offers from hosts/casinos have increased and at moment........for next month or so...........seem to be a bit more generous. That's in Vegas........our local comps really, really suck in my opinion.


You guys who have ventured out and played maybe you have noticed some differences. I know conditions never stay static. But it does seem like things are changing in a weird sort of way. Thoughts?
last time I played was 3/19. I rather not play under these conditions. I did walk through a casino. Not worth playing.
 
#3
I have been playing at Foxwoods since June reopening. This is probably more than you are interested in but I'll comment on the full resort experience. They are using 3 spot tables in the high limit room. They started out using 3 spot tables and quickly moved to 4 spot tables in the general gaming areas when they found they could not accommodate the traffic. They have not changed gaps between tables nor shut down tables. The state laws limit their capacity, but that is calculated based on their overall floor space (which in this case is huge so if all of the people are jammed into the casino, you figure it out). They started out with only $25 and $50 tables on the general gaming floor, but have since moved back to a normalized minimum of $15. It seems that most of the patrons are not concerned with social distancing as people are still climbing over each other. Shields, hand sanitizer and masks are a must. The shields make it difficult to communicate with the dealer (e.g., they have late surrender available but it is done verbally). It's almost impossible to talk to the other players, dealers and floors. The floors are quick to enforce the mask rule (many people try to expose their noses). They try to keep the "fans" (observers) 6 feet from the players, but they have mostly given up on that. They have only one of their 4 casino floors open during the week. The others open on the weekends only. I understand that they have had trouble getting a sufficient number of dealers to return (having been open for 28 years now, many of their dealers are older veterans). Many of the dealers are working 6-7 days and do a lot of complaining about this in front of the customers. Smokers have to corral in a corner off of the casino floor which is nice for the non-smoker, but the casino interests are not served by that. The player lounges have been consolidated into the ballroom temporarily and it's a terrible experience. Many of the restaurants remain closed; however, more have been re-opening. Room service is decent, but don't try to order within an hour of closing time since it's very busy and they won't answer the phone. The retail has mostly re-opened. Tanger Outlets are having huge sales and several stores are permanently closing so having close-out sales. There is no valet parking and all people must park in the parking garages and enter through 1 of 3 open entrances which is a pain for people that don't want get stuck searching for a spot. I'm used to valet. People pass through a thermal scanner when entering. I have seen them pull a few people out of the line that were hot only to let them go determining that it was just because it was hot outside (hmmm). They claim to be performing some kind of extra cleaning of the hotel rooms which are limited, but I have found them to be just as dirty or clean as before. They put a sticker to seal the door as if to represent it has somehow been sanitized. Basically, most people here don't seem too concerned about getting sick or they would not be here. That said, I am seeing many older and morbidly obese people who should probably not be there.

At Twin River in Rhode Island, they are taking your ID when entering and scanning it purportedly for the purpose of contact tracing if needed. They are also taking your picture and scanning you, but in a much more personalized and unnerving way. You also have to insert your ID into the same scanner to leave the building. A little Orwellian.

Edit: Foxwoods has been installing more 6:5 tables. Obviously I would never play them, but they open them on the weekends when the unsuspecting person out for a night of entertainment might play. The casual player has no idea when you try to explain it to them. Foxwoods had tried to push more 6:5 but then pulled back on it probably due to customer revolt and competition with Rhode Island casinos which are all 3:2 all the time. During the week, all tables are 3:2.
 
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#4
MJGolf said:
I posted this in another forum but didn't get too many replies. Contemplating a trip back out there and wondered.....

BUT I have noticed a change in conditions...............not just the Covid reasons: Like less players at the tables (3 for BJ); some procedures changed (face up v hand held cards); plexiglass shields; chip washing; table disinfectants and the like but as to PLAYING conditions.

I wondered (since everyone seems to be having a bit of cabin fever on board and not many BJ discussions lately) IF you have played, what changes YOU have noticed from Pre-Covid v. Post Covid (Open v after re-opening).

For example some of ones I have noticed both locally and in Vegas are:



  • Casinos reducing number of tables; not just spots........removing tables.
  • Some here will not reopen table games for an indefinite period, which just confirms how much more they make from slots.
  • Using so called social distancing to keep onlookers "per se" away from tables (making back counting difficult).
  • Increased minimums.....(to make up for fewer players? or?)
  • Another got rid of LS...........and they have ALWAYS had it. (worsening playing rules?)
  • But another one extended their times for "no ante" play. (much better playing rule)
  • But on the other hand, at moment, offers from hosts/casinos have increased and at moment........for next month or so...........seem to be a bit more generous. That's in Vegas........our local comps really, really suck in my opinion.


You guys who have ventured out and played maybe you have noticed some differences. I know conditions never stay static. But it does seem like things are changing in a weird sort of way. Thoughts?
I have played 5 or 6 days in the last week, at various casinos on the west side and downtown. Rules have been decent, 10-25 dollar min, 3:2 most places. Lots of the ritzy casinos downtown use CSM and only have shoe games for high limit or sometimes for 25. Still have managed to pull 2.5 grand profit in those 5-6 days, environment for counting seems ripe. 60 --> 540, 120 --> 970, 420 --> 1680, 300 -->0, 300 -->0, last 5 sesh
 

MJGolf

Well-Known Member
#5
I'm heading there again in about a week/10 days or so. I have been told the biggest change is the violence on the Strip. He said they aren't really relaying just HOW many arrests are made on weekends but it's sizeable. I hope the gaming is the same. I would say that there were definitely less lower limit tables while there. My hope is there may be more tables open now that folks are starting to trickle back in. If I can pull in $2k profit or more on a weekend+ trip like you did VegCC22, I will be happy.......especially with everything basically comped.
 
#6
MJGolf said:
I'm heading there again in about a week/10 days or so. I have been told the biggest change is the violence on the Strip. He said they aren't really relaying just HOW many arrests are made on weekends but it's sizeable. I hope the gaming is the same. I would say that there were definitely less lower limit tables while there. My hope is there may be more tables open now that folks are starting to trickle back in. If I can pull in $2k profit or more on a weekend+ trip like you did VegCC22, I will be happy.......especially with everything basically comped.
Yeah I found that most tables are lowest at 10 minimum in vegas as of rn. No casinos in town are running 5 or below, some that consistently used to run 5 n below have even closed their table games entirely. There are still some good double deck tables for 10 at places like rampart, red rock, dealt face up day/night. Good pen. If you drive an hour/hour n a half to mesquite, NV they have 2 casinos that run 5-500 tables double deck, good rules, generous comps too and after slamming 2 beers in their face the pit bosses were laughin and rollin their eyes at me. Allowin me to spread pretty much heat free. Downtown vegas has been sweaty w heat and it seems like a lot of the good tables in the snazzier joints are specifically made to trap counters. Lil warning too, nearly got backed at the rampart 3 days ago, so they may be sweaty to AP's if you do roll through there. Best of luck to you brother
 
#7
The best part about COVID conditions are playing heads up or with only 1 or 2 other players at the table so I’m seeing at least twice as many hands per hour than normal conditions. I can also spread to two hands at anytime because each player has two spots available.
 

Toxic

Well-Known Member
#8
Is CBJN for December 2020 accurate? I'm looking for better playing conditions in Vegas this month.

Or if you have info on good penetration for 6d games (or DD games with 25min) I'd love if you'd DM me.
 

KewlJ

Well-Known Member
#13
LC Larry said:
I don't trust either one of them!

LC Larry, if you don't trust the casino industry, and that is a pretty reasonable position to take based on history, why do you have such a hard time believing casinos, casinos personnel and/or the casino industry wouldn't stoop to cheating with shuffle machines if the capability was available, which it obviously is? The one position seems to contradict the second.
 

BoSox

Well-Known Member
#16
LC Larry said:
My trust issues have nothing to do with my thinking of them cheating.

Casinos' are using questionable and speculative safety measures without real concern for employees, and customers. Who cares if some lives are lost in the process? Not to mention spreading the virus more in the name of profits. Why stop there, as you cannot get any worse than that? Greed will always be the downfall for the unconscionable.
 
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#17
I don’t like to defend casinos for any reason but I’ll support the AC casinos for what I’ve seen relative to Covid. I’ve made about 20 trips since July, most are overnighters so I’m using the hotel. I have not contracted Covid. If AC casinos were spreading the virus, there is no doubt our Governor would shut it down immediately. NJ is a very liberal state - one which doesn’t think twice about taking away it’s citizen’s liberties. Wearing masks and washing hands frequently is working in casinos.
 

BoSox

Well-Known Member
#18
Southbound said:
I don’t like to defend casinos for any reason but I’ll support the AC casinos for what I’ve seen relative to Covid. I’ve made about 20 trips since July, most are overnighters so I’m using the hotel. I have not contracted Covid. If AC casinos were spreading the virus, there is no doubt our Governor would shut it down immediately. NJ is a very liberal state - one which doesn’t think twice about taking away it’s citizen’s liberties. Wearing masks and washing hands frequently is working in casinos.
That is just one state I don't recommend you try out one specific sovereign nation reservation up north from AC. Who's practice does not even have plexiglass on all the tables in one of the high limit pits because some customers prefer to play without them, at least that is how it was up to the first week of October.
 
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#19
Yeah, PA has more lax rules. Wide open craps and BJ in HR room at mount airy lodge. And you can smoke but not drink alcohol on the floor in PA too....no sense on that one.
 

MJGolf

Well-Known Member
#20
This is an update and even change in "during Covid" conditions. In a short word, they suck...........

The simple fact is "post Covid" minimums have increased and conditions have worsened. Even since I was here in Oct, conditions have seriously worsened. Used to be DD games at Caesars properties, with $25 minimums during day and $50 at least at night, you still have 3-2 games (nDAS-hit 17) games. NOW they are almost ALL gone. They are 6-5 monstrosities. With still high limits. At Paris for example, no 3-2 unless playing high limit table DD $100 minimums. Cromwell advertises 3-2 BJ on their signs, so they have to have it, right? Well only during the early hours and they they convert to 6-5. Flamingo seemed to be the same. You can still get 3-2 on 8 shoe games but you have to watch because they will be right next to a 6-5 game. You would think that John Q Public would be able to figure out the difference but apparently NOT.

I will confirm that TI had one $15 DD table but it was limited to 3 players and full the times I walked through. I am here currently for Superbowl and for the couple days after. The Strip is a weird place at moment. Very low class, Los Angeles or Southern Calif clientele. I think it's because they have very cheap room rates. But food prices are very, very high........even from my last trip. And they are limiting capacity in restaurants (or the ones you would like to eat at) to 25%. I do not think I will be back for awhile, even though I have friends here. At least to the Strip.
 
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