Pennsylvania is killing AC and when PA gets table games…well it will get worse. The economy is hurting AC too. See the Hubert Report below for a full description.

Now in AC, except for a decent S17 and six-deck game here or there, the only place to play blackjack is in the high roller rooms. In these rooms, you get a decent game, mostly six decks with S17 and fairly good penetration. Of course, table minimums of $100 aren’t everyone’s cup of bankroll. Yes, mid-week you can sometimes find $50 minimums but at a spread-rate of one to 10-12, you’re talking $500 to $600 for a max bet – damn steep for most BJ card counters.

AC is using the wrong technique to bring players into their casinos as well. They are cutting back on comps and making their blackjack games poorer. The casinos wish to get more money from fewer players too – but as those "fewer players" lose more money then fewer of them will go to the casinos as often. It’s a lose/lose proposition. And AC is losing.

The Trump properties, two of which are excellent (Marina and Taj Mahal) and one of which is not up to par (Plaza) are ready to sink. Resorts and Tropicana are treading water right beside the Trump properties. Bally’s hasn’t renovated enough in recent years to make the hotel/casino a decent one – chalk another disaster up for Harrah’s.

Our ratings of AC casinos when compared to an absolute standard are probably exaggerated, which is what happens when you play AC – you think games are better than they really are because these are the games you are used to. So maybe knock off a half or full star on our ratings if you play the better games in other parts of the country.

Wither goes AC? Perhaps the salty drink.

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

Anyone who has visited AC since the end of the summer has certainly experienced the return of the blues from last spring. A recent article in the New York Times titled "Raising the Stakes in Atlantic City?" (Oct.25, Business Section, pp.1,7) underscores that fact. The article analyzes the reasons behind falling revenues in AC stressing both the economic turndown and the opening up of competing sites in near-by states. But more to the point is the table showing no less than five casinos in bankruptcy right now (the three Trumps, Resorts, and Tropicana).

At least one other is behind in its payments and only Borgata seems to have weathered the storm in relatively good shape. The casino win has shrunk noticeably, declining 24% at Trump Plaza and AC Hilton, and in the teens elsewhere, except for five percent at Taj and Borgata (Jan-Sept figures). In addition, construction has stopped on several new projects or they have been postponed indefinitely, i.e. Pinnacle.

The new Revel is still a go, but some question if it will ever open and ask whom it will attract in this climate after the initial hype wears off. The Borgata Water Club, after an initial surge, goes mostly unoccupied during the week. The industry work force now stands at 39,000, down from nearly 50,000 in 2003.

Although each casino reacts in its own way, the over all cut backs are seen and felt by everyone. Several places have closed the buffet or will do so over the coming months. Services have been curtailed and offices open fewer hours. Some of the more exotic games never open. But in part all this is justified. Recently I walked into one of the smaller Boardwalk casinos in the late afternoon and no one was playing dice. In another place at 9AM there were less than 10 card players and four dice players. No wonder at least two casinos have taken out some dice tables and replaced them with $5 blackjack tables.

What does this mean for us advantage players? It is good news and bad news. The bad news is that casinos continue to change the rules hoping to increase their take while making it tougher for the advantage player. The good news is that it is much easier, even on weekends, to find a seat that one wants. At casinos that offer playable rules only at higher states tables, there is almost always room.

One casualty of this downturn is a noticeable thinning of the ranks of black and green chippers. Conversely, one sees many more buy-ins of less than $100 and the five-dollar bill has made a comeback at the tables.  Seats at dice tables are more available too for those who want their shooting positions.

Finally, for anyone playing either blackjack or dice I have one strong recommendation: shop around. Some casinos still offer reasonable games with the old rules but you have to find them and, as noted here many times, the rules may be different at different tables in the same casino. Try Trump Plaza for Blackjack, for example.

Good luck to all.

 
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Here are our ratings for November 2009. 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.

***** = 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: All the tables hitting soft 17 now. Directly across from Caesars is The Pier – a must see attraction in AC with some of the finest restaurants and views. Caesars itself also has excellent restaurants. Cheerful place and worthy of the name it bears. Hotel/casino rating is A. 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 now better and the BJ crews are friendlier. Penetration is about 70 percent. There are early mornings when no blackjack tables are opened. Two and one half stars: * *

HARRAH’S: Slots and more slots. Nice hotel. Blackjack games aren’t worth the time. 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: No change from last issue. Might be going, going, gone before you know it. Getting a little better with blackjack though. But more tables are hitting soft 17. Not really worth playing. Two stars: * *

SHOWBOAT: Another Harrah’s disaster. Great rooms; good restaurants and that about sums it up. Blackjack is way below any reasonable standard. One star: *

TROPICANA: Falling down. Had some great games about six months ago; not now. Poor penetration; bad rules. Bankruptcy in process. Two stars: * *

TRUMP MARINA: No change from last issue. Okay, mixed reports. Rooms are clean; hotel is well kept, with great restaurants. 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: Blackjack is all eight decks now. 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: 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 stars: * *

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