ATLANTIC CITY BLACKJACK REPORT─ January 2011 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. 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.
Looking Ahead to 2011 Atlantic City casinos have a lot of ground to make up in 2011. Their income is way down for 2010, a slide that is due in large part to the competition from casinos in Pennsylvania and the poor economy. The general critique of AC has to do with how the casinos have been handling comps and recognition of the loyal customers that continue to come. The belief among many casino aficionados seems to indicate that several casinos will close, or go into bankruptcy, or both. Resorts has already been sold and is changing its theme to "Boardwalk Empire" of the 1920s. (Yes, yes, Frank has received several emails mentioning that he mentioned doing just such a thing before Resorts did it – but Frank is happy to share his ideas – preferably for a fee?) Such a themed casino sounds good until "Boardwalk Empire" leaves the air. In addition, once the novelty becomes routine, will young people who think of the 1920’s as current with the Civil War actually want to continue playing there? Who knows? But we certainly love the idea of a roaring 20’s casino in AC, which was a roaring town in those bygone days. Will the Trump name be dumped from the Marina? This property, one of our favorites, nestles in a great area, with great views of the casinos across the bay. It is one casino that attracts very few low-lives, and for that, it should be booming. For some reason, it isn’t. It has great restaurants and one of the best hosts in the country in Alan Korman. This property should be zooming and blooming but it isn’t. Give it a try, and give Alan a call. He might be able to help you out. Hell of a nice guy. Trump Plaza? Not one of our favorites, in fact, our least favorite casino in all of Atlantic City. Trump’s Taj is a terrific hotel with great dealers. The Hilton is now a quiet hotel, so different from the days when it was owned by Steve Wynn and named The Golden Nugget. Borgata is a happening place, even in 2010. Still, the games have deteriorated and now you see the typical Atlantic City blackjack games at most of the tables. In fact, we don’t really know how Atlantic City will fare in 2011. Sadly, it could get worse.
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.
********************************************************************** Dear Frank and Alene: Just to let you know that I have enjoyed your AC Updates, especially because AC tends not to innovate or bring in great blackjack games. Frank, loved your new blackjack book Beat Blackjack Now! Speed Count is the greatest innovation in blackjack in my opinion. Jimmy T.
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************************************************************************ Here are our ratings for blackjack for January 2011. 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. The deepest cuts in AC as we write this. Could be a happy holiday season for card counters. This might be a good time to check this casino out. 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. Craps games are quite good. Three stars: * * *BORGATA : They have 8-deck games now, although some 6-deck games still remain This is a happening place and caters to a swinging young crowd. You’ll enjoy the night clubs and the beautiful people. Two and one-half stars: * * ½ *CAESARS : No change from last issue. You can now expect about 75 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 and one-half stars: * * ½ *
CLARIDGE : No change from last issue. We have fond memories of this place but we have avoided playing here since a pit boss named Francis went animal-crackers on some Golden Touch dice controllers. Maybe we’ll actually play on our next trip. A 20 million renovation is planned for this historic hotel. Casino is now penetrating deep into their 8-deck shoes. Can this place rebound from its recently sad past? Who knows but we are happy with the new attitude. Two and one half stars: * * ½*
HARRAH’S : We don’t know why Harrah’s is heated by inveterate players, although it is an empire. Many folks call this company the Empire, as in the dark side of the force. This is Darth Vader’s casino corporation. One star: *
HILTON: No change from last issue. Wild swings in penetration on blackjack games and many more eight-deck games throughout the casino. 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 and one-half stars: * * ½ *RESORTS: Resorts has decided to go with a "Boardwalk Empire" theme for its casino. That means everyone will mimic the roaring 20’s. It might work. Of course, offering great games usually works better. The blackjack game has added a new feature – you can play for $2 up to $5 but you have to pay a 25-cent fee per hand. Why not just write the casino a check and forget about playing? Otherwise the BJ games are about the same as they always have been. Two stars: * *
SHOWBOAT : No change from last issue. The blackjack has deteriorated considerably with little penetration – maybe you play 60 percent of the shoe. Go elsewhere. One star (for cleanliness and rooms): *TROPICANA: S17 for this casino? No more. Now the place is H17. Still has some good penetration, maybe 75 percent; sometimes excellent penetration of 80 percent. Two and one-half stars: * * ½ *TRUMP MARINA: You now can "buy" your way into a rotten game by paying 25 cents for $1 blackjack. Do they know the meaning of shame? Yes, those low-limit commission fuelled games have arrived. Complete rip-off of blackjack players looking for $5 and under games. 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. Still if you can afford the $50 and $100 minimums, the high roller room’s games are good with S17. They offer surrender which they now advertise – asking for surrender was a trick in the past that Marina used for ferreting out card counters. Floor games are mostly $15/$25 and up, 8-decks, H17. No mid-shoe entry on the high roller room six-deckers but you can jump in and out on the eight-deckers. Craps tables are 12-footers with 5X odds and good crews. Now here is something interesting – this is our favorite casino right now in AC. Two and one half stars: * * ½ *TRUMP PLAZA: No change from last issue. Same as Marina, you now can "buy" your way into a rotten game by paying 25 cents for $1 blackjack. Do they know the meaning of shame? Yes, those low-limit commission fuelled games have arrived. Complete rip-off of blackjack players looking for $5 and under games. This place has fairly good games but something has to be done with the dark casino and the low-life scum slithering through it. Something should also be done with its ploppy management team. Maybe the time has come to raze the place? 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. The dealers range from professional to friendly down to arrogant and ignorant. Two and one-half stars: * * ½ *
TRUMP TAJ MAHAL: As with Marina and Plaza, you now can "buy" your way into a rotten game by paying 25 cents for $1 blackjack. Do they know the meaning of shame? Yes, those low-limit commission fuelled games have arrived. Complete rip-off of blackjack players looking for $5 and under games. 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: The penetration has gone deeper lately and this is a very, very good thing. Crews are friendly. All games are 8-decks. Two and one-half stars: * * ½*THE BEST BLACKJACK IN ATLANTIC CITY: Bally’s and then toss a coin but avoid any casino rated under two and one-half stars. The Best Craps in Atlantic City: Bally’s The Best Hotel/Casino in Atlantic City: Borgata / Taj Mahal
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