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Blackjack Insider Newsletter, Dec. 2004, #59

Alene Paone 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 two newest books are: The Craps Underground: The Inside Story of How Dice Controllers Are Winning Millions from the Casinos! and Casino Gambling: Play Like a Pro in 10 Minutes or Less! For a free brochure call: 1-800-944-0406 or write: Paone Press, Box 610, Lynbrook, NY 11563. His websites are www.goldentouchblackjack.com, www.goldentouchcraps.com and www.scoblete.com.

You all may have noticed that in the last issue of Blackjack Insider, we wrote that Borgata was bringing in 8-deck games. They were. But guess what? They got so much heat from customers who loved their 6-deckers that Borgata decided to change their changes and went back to an all 6-deck casino. (Unless they change back again!)

That’s the good news.

The bad news is the fact that the penetration is around 70-75 percent, which means these games are marginally playable for card counters. They are, however, great games for basic strategy players. Keep in mind that basic strategy players are more concerned with the rules of play than the penetration. Penetration is not a big deal for them. Penetration is the almost be-all and end-all for the card counter; the rules are secondary for them. Atlantic City has great rules for their blackjack games.

Sands has completely pulled away from being the "gambler’s casino" unless you can cough up $50 to play their 10X odds craps game. God, you can fly to Tunica for about $250 and play 20X odds on a $5 game with buy bets on the 4, 5, 9, and 10 where the commission is only taken out of a win. The house edge on these bets is somewhere around 1 to 1.5 percent. And the comps are great in Tunica! At Sands, roulette players can play a single-zero wheel for $25 minimums.

Yes, the Sands still has some 6-deck blackjack games but they are reconverting to an 8-decker casino slowly but (maybe) surely. And the casino is still loud with that damn nightclub right on the casino floor. There is a rumor that is circulating that Sands is going to be torn down. Our reporter Dennis Lofton thinks it already has been torn down.

All the Atlantic City high roller rooms have 6-deck games with minimums ranging from $25 during off hours at Showboat to $200 at Bally’s and Borgata. And, of course, everything in between, depending on time, place, and the number of people playing.

Taj Mahal is looking very good lately. They are combining excellent dealers with decent games ("decent" as defined by Atlantic City standards). Some of their $25 and $50 8-deckers were giving 85 percent penetration when we were there a couple of weeks ago. But avoid their single-deck 6/5 monsters.

Yes, even Atlantic City has fallen for this scam. Why do we call it a scam? Because these mutated games are actually losing Las Vegas money. Check the blackjack figures for the last three years in Vegas and you will see that the revenues are declining. Why? Because players, even stupid players of the ploppy variety, sooner or later can see they are losing anywhere from 20 percent to 8 times more money than they were before. If you lose too much too quickly, the tendency for even the dimmest bulbs is to stop playing or, at least, cut back on how much you play. That’s what seems to be happening in Vegas.

We believe if Atlantic City attempts to incorporate these rotten games in their menu, blackjack will start to head downhill there as well. Remember this, casino executives who read this newsletter, if you want to bring in more people to your buffet and make more money, decreasing the quality of the food served is not the way to do it! That’s what these new blackjack games are – rotten food for gamblers.

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We’ve decided since many of our Golden Touch Craps dice controllers are now Speed Counters subscribing to this site, we are going to give a quick rundown of the craps games as well. We haven’t played in all the casinos in AC so we would appreciate it if you could email Frank with the table minimums, the odds bets, and anything else you think we might want to use (table lengths very helpful – if you just say "big" we will assume 14-feet as they are at Borgata). If you send us info we will give you a free month on our members-only board. Email address is fscobe@optonline.net.

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

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If you’re going to play blackjack, why not play with an advantage? Golden Touch Blackjack will give you the easiest method for getting an advantage at the game. Learn Speed Count and the new basic strategy in this class. We’ll be having upcoming classes in 2005. Go to www.goldentouchblackjack.com. The cost is a mere $895. Call 1-800-944-0406 to sign up or for more information.

Here are our ratings for December 2004.

BALLY’S PARK PLACE: No change from last issue. Always a crowded place. The 8-deck games on the main casino floor have about 70 to 75 percent penetration. Penetration is about 1.8 decks on the six-deck games in the high-roller pit and these games are almost always $100 to $200 minimums. You can resplit for a total of three hands, but aces can only be split once. Multiple Action and Spanish 21 are also available for minimums of $10. No mid-shoe entry in high roller room and on a few of the main $50 tables in casino, otherwise you can usually Wong here if you wish. For craps players, this is a good casino for the game. There is one 5X odds table, usually a $25 minimum; the rest are 2X odds. Crews are friendly. Tables are somewhat high so short shooters get your platform shoes. * *

BORGATA: Good news is the return of an all 6-deck casino. The bad news is that the penetration has sunk to about 70 percent to 75 percent. Standard AC rules which means that for basic strategy players it’s a fine game. High roller room is 6-decks with no mid-shoe entry. Plenty of $10 and $15 games in the main casino. Craps has long tables, 14-footers, and very bouncy. * *

CAESARS: No change from last issue. 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 minimums. Table game action has improved and that is very noticeable in the blackjack pits. Six-deck games in high roller room have 75 percent penetration, as do the eight-deckers on the main casino floor. Good casino for Golden Touch Blackjack. Multiple Action and Spanish 21 available at $10 and up! The craps games here are good with 12-foot tables and friendly crews. The tables we saw were all 2X odds. * * *

CLARIDGE: The action in this place is really slowing down. This used to be our favorite place in AC; now it isn’t. Tell all your slot-playing friends to head elsewhere. Craps players should avoid the mornings and afternoons here, as two pit bosses (or shift manager) are extremely emotional and abusive. The morning guy yelled at the top of his lungs at a $600 Golden Touch Craps player when we were last there. Their afternoon guy yelled at none other than Dominator and Howard "Rock ‘n Roller" Newman. Unfortunately, their blackjack games have deteriorated as well. However, you can find some $5 and plenty of $10 games. The high-roller action was 6-deck games with $50/$100 minimums most days, with penetration at 70-75 percent percent. No mid-shoe entry on the high roller action. You can resplit pairs up to four hands in high-roller room (but no more resplitting of aces). The rest of the casino, all 8-deckers, doesn’t allow any resplitting but does usually allow mid-shoe entry. Multiple Action and Spanish 21 available for $10 and up. To stay here, you have to make the trek to Bally’s Park Place to register, which is not the best thing for the senior citizen crowd, which really likes this place. The smallest craps tables in AC. Good craps bosses evenings. Stay away from the morning and afternoon games – crews are nice, but those pit bosses or shift managers are real downers.

HARRAH’S: Harrah’s has maintained a great corporate image and deservedly so. Very friendly dealers and pit personnel. Penetration now ranges in the 75 percent area. Resplitting allowed except aces. No midshoe entry. Play here and at Showboat and your play counts all across the nation. For those of you who like to go to Vegas you can get some good comps from your AC action in the desert! A room that would be discounted for $80 in AC would be free in Vegas based on the same play – this is not official but based on our calculations of the offers we’ve received. Good place for Golden Touch Blackjack. Friendly crews and decent tables at craps. We haven’t played there but reports are good. * * *

HILTON: No change from last issue. This place is good and bad now – all depending on the dealer you get. Resplitting allowed except aces. High roller room is 6-decks, rest of the casino is 8-decks with a few $25/$50 6-deckers. No mid-shoe entry on the six-deckers. Pits have been quick to jump on suspected counters, so be wary. High table minimums, especially on weekends, a lot of $25 tables, rare $10 tables. Penetration about 75 percent throughout the casino. The Multiple Action and Spanish 21 also have okay penetration for $10. Good place to play Golden Touch Blackjack. For craps, we are dealing with 12-foot tables and 2X odds. We haven’t played here in years. * * *

RESORTS: No change from last issue. Some 6-deckers on main floor with no mid-shoe entry, usually $25 minimums. Resorts penetration is about 75. Most of the $5 games have become $10 games, even midweek, but this is still a bargain by AC standards. Resplitting is allowed at all tables. Casino also offers multiple-action blackjack and Spanish 21 at $10 minimums. But Resorts has brought in those single-deck zombie-fied blackjack games. Avoid the single-deck scam. Good for Golden Touch Blackjack. Excellent place for craps. Mostly small tables, with some games 5X odds. Last we were there, the high roller room had two 10-foot craps tables. * * *

SANDS: You have 6-deckers in high roller room and some on casino floor but more 8-deckers have popped up. The place is very loud with their nightclub almost on the casino floor. You can resplit up to three times as you go deaf. Craps tables, 2X odds and one 5X odds (last time we were there) are mostly 12-footers and the crews are very friendly. * *

SHOWBOAT: Six-deck games in the high roller room have standard penetration of about 75 percent. Resplitting now allowed up to three hands. No mid-shoe entry. Eight-deck games have 80 percent penetration and allow mid-shoe entry. Can now occasionally find $25 games in high roller room. You can get great deals in other venues by using your card, as it’s a part of the Harrah’s Total Rewards program. Good place to play Golden Touch Blackjack. Craps is fine here. There is one 14-foot table, usually the one open in the morning, but around noon the other 12-foot tables open. There are 5X odds on all tables. * * *

TROPICANA: No change from last issue. Blackjack games have actually improved here. The main floor has eight-deckers with mid-shoe entry allowed on almost all of them. High roller room is 6-decks with no mid-shoe entry. Still the low man in the city but any positive movement is a good thing. Craps tables are 12-footers. * *

TRUMP MARINA: No change from last issue. Single-deck monsters are here, too. Six-deck games in high roller room and 8-deck games on the main floor have penetration of 70-75 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 6-deckers but you can jump in and out on the eight-deckers. Craps tables are 12-footers with 2X odds. Haven’t played here in years. * *

TRUMP PLAZA: The 8-deck games have penetration ranging from 70 percent to 75 percent on all, depending on the dealer. No midshoe entry on eight-deck games outside high-roller pit but you can find $25 (a few) to $50 minimums on these. Allows resplits, except aces. Most eight-deck tables are $10 and higher. Craps tables are 12-footers. Very friendly crews. * *

TRUMP TAJ MAHAL: The best casino in Atlantic City. Despite the fact that they have brought in those 6/5 single-deckers, this place is now #1 for blackjack in Atlantic City as well. We are becoming patrons of the Taj because their dealers and crews are so friendly and professional. Good game with 75-80 percent penetration (even saw some 85 percenters!), dealer dependent. Multiple Action, Double Exposure and Spanish 21 are still available at $10/$15 minimums and up. Excellent place to play Golden Touch Blackjack. This is the best casino for craps in AC as well. The crews have been universally pleasant. You’ll find 2X and 5X games here. There is one craps table with 20X odds. Tables are all 12-footers. In our estimation, this is the number one casino in Atlantic City. * * * *

WILD, WILD WEST: No change from last issue. Penetration has deteriorated in the last couple of months to slightly under 75 percent on all games. Still a good place to play, atmosphere wise. For craps this is a fun place to play with one 5X odds table. Crews are very friendly. ** ½ *

THE BEST BLACKJACK IN ATLANTIC CITY: Taj Mahal

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