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ATLANTIC CITY BLACKJACK REPORT─ January 2010

by Frank and Alene Scoblete

 

Alene Scoblete is the CEO of Paone Press, which sells gaming books and tapes at discount prices. She also writes for www.scoblete.com. Her husband, Frank Scoblete, is the #1 best-selling gaming author in America. Frank’s books and tapes have sold over a million copies. His newest book is The Golden Touch Blackjack Revolution. His newest DVD is Golden Touch: Beat Craps Using a Controlled Throw! For a free brochure call: 1-800-944-0406 or write: Frank Scoblete Enterprises, Box 446, Malverne, NY 11565. Frank’s websites are www.goldentouchblackjack.com, www.goldentouchcraps.com and www.scoblete.com.

 

Your 10 Commandments for 2010

Repeat after us:

  1. I will never play a game that I cannot beat. So goodbye to all those carnival games and all the negative expectation slot machines that litter the casinos.
  2. I will only play advantage-play slot machines which Frank will have in his new book on slots that will be coming out in the fall of 2010. I promise to buy copies of this book for everyone I know.
  3. I will never play poor blackjack games even if I have to wait to go to areas that offer good blackjack games than the cheap casino right across the street from my house.
  4. I will never tell anyone at a blackjack game how to play his or her hand. If asked, I will refer them to the dealer. "He’s the pro." When those annoying loudmouths tell me how to play my hand I will say, "I will play the way you want me to play but if I lose the hand, you have to pay me what I would have won." We have never yet heard anyone agree to this.
  5. If I like to play craps, I will learn a Golden Touch controlled throw. If I succeed to develop this skill I will now have another advantage-play game.
  6. I will never play for comps. If comps come they come. I do not care if the casino hosts cater to me. I am there to win money, not friends or comps.
  7. I will get right off a table that has another card counter there. Nothing brings down the heat like two players playing the same way.
  8. I will keep my advantage playing time to under an hour even if I experience no heat at the table. It is better to play three shifts of one hour each. I can always go to several casinos if I want to play more during the course of a day.
  9. If I am not yet an advantage player at blackjack, I will buy Frank Scoblete’s new book Beat Blackjack Now! that will be coming out this spring. I want to become the type of player the casino hates – which means a smart player who can actually beat them.
  10. I will always read Blackjack Insider! I want to stay current by reading all the great writers who write for this newsletter.

Our Readers Report

If you wish to contribute your reports or observations, we need to receive them by the 24th of the month for the next month. Write to: fscobe@optonline.net

We have many readers who send us their reports on various aspects of Atlantic City and we do have some that give us reports just about every month – so we have decided to give them the fame and glory (as opposed to "fortune and glory") of their own columns. I also give them a free subscription to my private web site at www.goldentouchcraps.com.

You will note that our correspondents tend to have somewhat different views. Always it is up to you to decide which games you want to play by scouting them for yourselves.

 

The Jon Report

Dealer play of the month: Dealer has an up-card of 4, flips over his hole card, it’s an ace (15 total), draws a queen (still 15), draws a 2 (17) and then draws a jack for a total of 27! Sadly I did not get to collect on this error. I was only watching but the guy at third base standing on 13 looked up at me with a big smile as he got paid. 

Here is what I saw this month:

Showboat: H17, 8 decks 75 percent penetration. I continue to be impressed with Showboat’s "excellent" attitude toward their patrons. Last month I explained how their BJ tables have two table maximum bets. One table limit if you have a player’s card and a lower table limit if you do not have a player’s cards. This month I noticed another feature of their customer friendly service. While playing at Trump Taj, there was a player at the table reluctant to double down. Another player took several of his double downs as the two players enjoyed the fun of winning hands together. I then went to play at Showboat. The player next to me did not want to double down so I offered to take the double down for him. I was told that that was not allowed. Way to be fun suckers, you silly Showboat even during a recession when you’re starved for customers, just to save a few bucks!

Trump Taj: S17 on tables in front of high limit room. H17 elsewhere. 8 decks. 75 percent penetration.

Resorts: S17 on tables in front of high limit room. H17 elsewhere. 8 decks except for two 6 deckers in front of high limit room. 75 to 85 percent penetration.

Tropicana: S17, 6 decks outside the high roller room and 8 decks elsewhere, 65 percent to 80 percent penetration. As usual this is the most dealer dependant place for penetration.

Hilton: A few S17 six deck games in front of the high roller room. The rest of the place is H17 eight-deck games. Penetration is really dealer dependent. I saw some good ones and some really bad ones.

Just a little update:  The New Jersey Casino Control Commission has approved rules for a hand held double deck game in AC.  Here is the link  http://www.state.nj.us/casinos/actreg/reg/docs_temp_regs/t091014.handdealtbj.pdf
 
Hope this helps,
 
Jon

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Dear Frank:

I am so tired of playing blackjack in AC casinos where the floor people are surly and the dealers seem disinterested in my play. I range my bets from $25 to two hands of $150 but I do this in gradual ways. I know how to stay under the radar but I have to say I am getting really disgusted with the unprofessional attitude I find in AC. No wonder their casinos are going under.

Johnny J.

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Dear Frank and AP:

Want to thank you for your reports. They are full of information. Keep it up in the coming year.

Harry

 

Dear Frank:

I think you are too calm and reasonable about the games and attitude in AC where they have basically made casino gambling a bore. With games that are generally suckie, I don’t see why you don’t just hammer them. You’re a funny guy and I have read all your stuff. Take the kid gloves off and let it rip.

Bretboy

 

************************************************************************

Want to learn dice control from the masters? Get a copy of our new DVD Golden Touch: Beat Craps by Controlling the Dice! [$299 plus $6 shipping] Call 1-800-944-0406.

Frank’s new book, The Virgin Kiss! is now available by mail order (1-800-944-0406) or at the store at www.bjinsider.com.

All the ratings of casinos are based on the blackjack games.

************************************************************************

Here are our ratings for January 2010. We thank many of our readers for helping us to stay as updated as possible. There may be some disagreements in ratings among our correspondents but all these reports are based on individuals’ experience. A word to the wise: it’s always best to check out the casinos for yourselves.

Rating system:

***** = Excellent

**** = Very Good

*** = Good

** = Fair

* = Poor.

 

BALLY’S PARK PLACE: No change from last issue. Not a premier place any more. No mid-shoe entry in high roller room and on a few of the main $50 tables in casino. Mixed reviews about how deep the penetration is but we found it in the 75 percent area. All 8-deck games except for the high roller room action. The hitting on soft 17 is now a fact all over the place. Crews are friendly. Hotel has declined a lot. Two stars: * *

BORGATA: No change from last issue. The casino where Patricia DeMauro had her spectacular 154-number craps roll. Penetration is around 70 to 75 percent on all games, including the six deckers which still make up most of the casino. Craps has long tables, 14-footers, and very bouncy, and not worth playing unless you like to see dice flying off the tables or gaze upon beautiful cocktail servers ducking out of the way or if you see Patricia DeMauro at the table. Go elsewhere for craps, except for Taj which has mimicked Borgata’s craps tables. This is a happening place and caters to a swinging young crowd. Okay casino for Golden Touch Blackjack. Three stars: * * *

CAESARS: You can expect about 70 percent penetration with most of the dealers. The main floor of eight-deckers has some of the upper-limit tables ($25 and $50) with no mid-shoe entry. All the games in the high roller pit are also no mid-shoe entry with $100 and higher minimums. Six-deck games in high roller room have 75 percent penetration. The craps games here are good with 12-foot tables. The tables are high so smaller controlled shooters should wear their "special shoes." Two stars: * *

CLARIDGE: No change from last issue. Penetration is about 70 percent. There are early mornings when no blackjack tables are opened. This place is a training ground for new dealers and often the last roundup for washed up personnel. Two and one half stars: * *

HARRAH’S: Blackjack games aren’t worth the time. Harrah’s is now called "the evil empire" by savvy casino players. One star: *

HILTON: No change from last issue. Wild swings in penetration on blackjack and many more eight-deck games. Penetration getting worse even as you read this. Place is in trouble. The hitting of soft 17 brings this place down a peg as well. Resplitting allowed except aces. High roller room is 6-decks; rest of the casino is 8-decks with a few $25/$50 6-deckers on occasion. No mid-shoe entry on the six-deckers. High table minimums, especially on weekends, a lot of $25 tables, rare $10 tables. Penetration about 70 percent. For craps, we are dealing with 14-foot tables and a couple of 12 footers. Two stars: * *

RESORTS: Going, going, gone. There’s new ownership as Resorts goes down the tubes. Not going to write anything until we see what will happen.

SHOWBOAT: The Showboat should change its name to Titanic. Read Jon’s Report about the new double maximum bet rule and the new "other" rules. Great rooms; good restaurants and that about sums it up. Blackjack is way below any reasonable standard. Oh, yes, this place is owned by "the evil empire." One star: *

TROPICANA: S17 for this casino. Usually good penetration; sometimes excellent penetration. Good casino for Golden Touch blackjack. Three stars: * * *

TRUMP MARINA: No change from last issue. On blackjack they are hitting soft 17 on main floor, but not in the high roller room. Six-deck games in high roller room and eight-deck games on the main floor have penetration at 80 percent mark, but you won’t find any dealers going much deeper. Games are mostly $15/$25 and up, especially on weekends. No mid-shoe entry on the six-deckers but you can jump in and out on the eight-deckers. Hitting on soft 17. Craps tables are 12-footers with 5X odds and good crews. Two and one half stars: * * ½ *

TRUMP PLAZA: This place has fairly good games but something has to be done with the dark casino and the low-life scum slithering through it. Six-deck games are back outside the high roller room. The penetration is 75 percent. No mid-shoe entry on games outside high-roller pit but you can find $25 (a few) to $50 minimums on these. Allows resplits, except aces. All tables are $10 and higher. Craps tables are 12-footers. Two and one-half stars: * * ½ *

TRUMP TAJ MAHAL: No change from last issue. Six-deck games in front of high roller room. Now they are hitting soft 17 except in $25 or higher games. First they screwed up the craps tables so the dice go flying off the table every third roll and now they have decided to give the blackjack games a wicked colonoscopy with barbed wire. Great hotel and great restaurants and great entertainment. Also, generally great dealers and pit personnel. Too bad it isn’t the place to play any more. Two and one-half stars: * * ½*

WILD, WILD WEST: No change; no gold-rush either. The silver rush is over too. This place is over as well. Seems like more often than not on "off" hours there are no table games in this place. Another Harrah’s wipe out! All eight-deck games with H17 – insane. This is a part of Bally’s Park Place and Harrah’s is looking to sell this complex like a pan of fool’s gold. Penetration is about 75 percent on all games. For craps this is a fun place to play with one 5X odds table and one 2X odds table. I remember when this place had many more tables. Crews are very friendly. One star: *

THE BEST BLACKJACK IN ATLANTIC CITY: Borgata

The Best Craps in Atlantic City: Bally’s

The Best Hotel/Casino in Atlantic City: Borgata / Taj Mahal

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