Jack Binion casinos
- Thread starter ZOD
- Start date
LV vs. Tunica.....Binion to Harrah's....
Since I only get to LV 1-2x/year, I cannot really proclaim to be a Downtown Horseshoe expert. Being a "monthly" Tunica visitor, my knowledge is a little more current. But since you asked "historically", I will respond with my experience and knowledge.
LV PRE-HARRAH's:
Their motto went something like "The Place for Gamblers". Back when I was a "Crap's Pro", I often made special trips Downtown just to play at The Shoe, which usually had 20x Odds, and later, 100x Odds, back when the Tight Asses on the strip would only give Double Odds. Single-deck abounded. They would back ANY bet. Several stories bounce around the boards regarding those who have won AND lost $1M bets there. Food was good. Rooms were cheap.
LV POST-HARRAH's:
SUX! Lots of SD, if you like 6:5. Lots of 6D, if you like to "work" while counting. A couple of decent DD tables, if you do not mind waiting in line for your chance to play. Food choices have diminished. New motto should be: "The Place for Ploppies!"
TUNICA PRE-HARRAH's:
Binion's Horseshoe was great! Lots of good SD and DD, and usually a few $10 ($5 when slow) min. BJ tables, so that those of us who struggle by on 6-Figures a year can afford to play. All hotel rooms are "Suites". Great steakhouse, Great buffet, and a "New Age-Type" Cafe that is quite simply GAY! (They DECORATE your food)!
TUNICA "POST"-HARRAH's:
"Post" is in italics since one Dealer told me recently that the transition is still occuring. Whatever, Jack Binion's picture is still used in mailings and billboard advertising. Rooms and Restaurants so far have remained the same (wish they would change the Gay place to one where they simply FRY things).
In May of this year, Penetration acutely TANKED! Down to 50% for both SD and DD. A Dealer told me they were only supposed to go 1/2-way through the deck. Then suddenly in June, it was better, likely 60/75% for SD/DD.
Comps have also tightened. Last year, for my B-day, they sent me a coupon for a FREE STEAKHOUSE DINNER for 2!; AND a Free night in a Suite! SWEET! This year, I got a Coupon good for $20. off a room, Mon.-Thurs. only, and a Free Buffet for one. Happy PH#cking B-Day!
Certainly, there are several other H.S. properties involved in this transition, but of these I have no knowledge nor info.
Hope this answers a few of your questions.
phantom007.
Since I only get to LV 1-2x/year, I cannot really proclaim to be a Downtown Horseshoe expert. Being a "monthly" Tunica visitor, my knowledge is a little more current. But since you asked "historically", I will respond with my experience and knowledge.
LV PRE-HARRAH's:
Their motto went something like "The Place for Gamblers". Back when I was a "Crap's Pro", I often made special trips Downtown just to play at The Shoe, which usually had 20x Odds, and later, 100x Odds, back when the Tight Asses on the strip would only give Double Odds. Single-deck abounded. They would back ANY bet. Several stories bounce around the boards regarding those who have won AND lost $1M bets there. Food was good. Rooms were cheap.
LV POST-HARRAH's:
SUX! Lots of SD, if you like 6:5. Lots of 6D, if you like to "work" while counting. A couple of decent DD tables, if you do not mind waiting in line for your chance to play. Food choices have diminished. New motto should be: "The Place for Ploppies!"
TUNICA PRE-HARRAH's:
Binion's Horseshoe was great! Lots of good SD and DD, and usually a few $10 ($5 when slow) min. BJ tables, so that those of us who struggle by on 6-Figures a year can afford to play. All hotel rooms are "Suites". Great steakhouse, Great buffet, and a "New Age-Type" Cafe that is quite simply GAY! (They DECORATE your food)!
TUNICA "POST"-HARRAH's:
"Post" is in italics since one Dealer told me recently that the transition is still occuring. Whatever, Jack Binion's picture is still used in mailings and billboard advertising. Rooms and Restaurants so far have remained the same (wish they would change the Gay place to one where they simply FRY things).
In May of this year, Penetration acutely TANKED! Down to 50% for both SD and DD. A Dealer told me they were only supposed to go 1/2-way through the deck. Then suddenly in June, it was better, likely 60/75% for SD/DD.
Comps have also tightened. Last year, for my B-day, they sent me a coupon for a FREE STEAKHOUSE DINNER for 2!; AND a Free night in a Suite! SWEET! This year, I got a Coupon good for $20. off a room, Mon.-Thurs. only, and a Free Buffet for one. Happy PH#cking B-Day!
Certainly, there are several other H.S. properties involved in this transition, but of these I have no knowledge nor info.
Hope this answers a few of your questions.
phantom007.
Thanks
Phantom,
Appreciate the response. The question I posed originally arose after a martini induced conversation with two friends (both old and dear) who happen to work for casinos on the corporate level. The debate was whether or not counters are actually good for the house. Both of them know about my blackjack hobby.
Their argument came from the bottom line, of course. Casinos make money with their edge; anyone taking the edge away should not be allowed to play. While they both agreed that counting wasn't cheating, they were worried that the 20,000 counters out there would eat up all the profits in no time. Same old argument, blah, blah, blah.
I argued that the actual number of real counters was less than 10% of their estimate and that we should actually be catered to as ambassadors of the game. I suggested that they relax the rules a bit and INVITE us to beat them. Market the game by offering counting courses to the public and giving advice on which rules are better. Proclaim loudly "NO 6:5 games; NO CSMs". Hell, list the SCORE right there on the table! Do everything they can to get the wannabes and their dead money in the door, just like the WSOP. I bet them that the take would rise, not fall, and that interest generated would spill over into other table games as well. I challenged them to change their practices and their philosophy and monitor the numbers.
Needless to say, I went a little too far after that sixth or seventh martini. They told me that what I was asking for was a Jack Binion casino with a big sign out front that said "Counters Welcome--Let Us Teach You How", alluding to Horseshoes being known more for gambling than "gaming." Seeing as I have never been to a Binion's (except in Vegas), I thought I'd ask about the general feel of the place--if it seemed to have a more relaxed attitude toward table games, counters and gamblers in general. After reading your response and several private ones, it sounds like the Horseshoes would be a great place to begin a blackjack renaissance.
Thanks again for the response. Let me know if you see a big sign out front of the Tunica 'Shoe.
Best...
ZOD
Phantom,
Appreciate the response. The question I posed originally arose after a martini induced conversation with two friends (both old and dear) who happen to work for casinos on the corporate level. The debate was whether or not counters are actually good for the house. Both of them know about my blackjack hobby.
Their argument came from the bottom line, of course. Casinos make money with their edge; anyone taking the edge away should not be allowed to play. While they both agreed that counting wasn't cheating, they were worried that the 20,000 counters out there would eat up all the profits in no time. Same old argument, blah, blah, blah.
I argued that the actual number of real counters was less than 10% of their estimate and that we should actually be catered to as ambassadors of the game. I suggested that they relax the rules a bit and INVITE us to beat them. Market the game by offering counting courses to the public and giving advice on which rules are better. Proclaim loudly "NO 6:5 games; NO CSMs". Hell, list the SCORE right there on the table! Do everything they can to get the wannabes and their dead money in the door, just like the WSOP. I bet them that the take would rise, not fall, and that interest generated would spill over into other table games as well. I challenged them to change their practices and their philosophy and monitor the numbers.
Needless to say, I went a little too far after that sixth or seventh martini. They told me that what I was asking for was a Jack Binion casino with a big sign out front that said "Counters Welcome--Let Us Teach You How", alluding to Horseshoes being known more for gambling than "gaming." Seeing as I have never been to a Binion's (except in Vegas), I thought I'd ask about the general feel of the place--if it seemed to have a more relaxed attitude toward table games, counters and gamblers in general. After reading your response and several private ones, it sounds like the Horseshoes would be a great place to begin a blackjack renaissance.
Thanks again for the response. Let me know if you see a big sign out front of the Tunica 'Shoe.
Best...
ZOD
On This Note......
Several years ago, one of the Tunica stores actually had a well-known BJ personality, I believe Frank Schoblete, put on a gambling seminar, which covered many areas (craps, roulette, etc.) and CC'ing!
Either this was simply promotional, they did not care, or possibly a trap...all graduates now in Griffin.
"Sorry Sir, no more BJ. You are a graduate of the CC'ing class we put on 2 years ago."
phantom007.
Several years ago, one of the Tunica stores actually had a well-known BJ personality, I believe Frank Schoblete, put on a gambling seminar, which covered many areas (craps, roulette, etc.) and CC'ing!
Either this was simply promotional, they did not care, or possibly a trap...all graduates now in Griffin.
"Sorry Sir, no more BJ. You are a graduate of the CC'ing class we put on 2 years ago."
phantom007.