Two icons of the 1950’s and 60’s were Sugar Ray Robinson, the greatest fighter of all time, and Elvis Presley, every teenage girl’s dream singer. These two men had unique styles. How they dressed; how they combed their hair; how they walked; where they lived and with whom they associated.

They were two different men with two distinct styles. Yet, they both shared a love for pink Cadillacs. Those cars said something to people about them, something they wanted everyone to know. The cars said they could and should be noticed; check out the Cadillac; check out me in my pink Cadillac. That’s who I am.

In point of fact, everyone has a style. It seems that everyone desires others to know something about them and what better way to do this than by exhibiting oneself. You don’t have to be a celebrity to want some eyes upon you. Even if some individuals claim they don’t care what other people think about them, they go out of their way to let all those "other people" know they don’t care what those people think. That’s their style – the "I don’t care" style!

Casino gamblers have their own styles too. In fact, every table game player approaches the games in his or her unique way.

Go to a craps table and watch the shooters throw the dice. Just about all of them, have unique ways of doing this. Some set the dice in different configurations; some shake the dice; some talk to the dice; some yell at the dice; some stack the dice one upon the other; some cup the dice; some do almost all of these things. Some shooters loft the dice high into the air while some others throw fast line drives where the dice will bounce all over the table after they hit the back wall. For as many shooters as there are, there are almost as many ways to shoot.

Dice throwing styles are truly individual things. While very few dice shooters can alter the probabilities of the game, still these shooters feel good about how they throw and how they look to the other players when they are throwing. Style and craps "go together like a horse and carriage."

How people place their bet at craps can also signal their stylistic sensibilities. Often, such players will wait until the shooter has the dice, at the precise moment when the table is full of quiet anticipation, and then they will flip, spin or loft their bets onto the layout shouting, "Give me a yo!" or "The hard six!" or "A horn high twelve!" or calling out any of the innumerable wagers at that game.

Such folks’ styles certainly irritate the other players since you aren’t supposed to make bets when the shooter has the dice, but doing so brings quite a bit of attention to the bettor and that seems to be what these players want.

The high-roller room baccarat players have unique styles of dealing and looking at their cards. Often the players will bend their cards; often they will squeeze them together so they can only see a slight coloration on the corners. They will throw or flip their cards down or into the center of the table when they know what those cards are. Some will often say incoherent mantras as they deal or look at the cards.

Blackjack players using hand signals at four-, six- and eight-deck games will use their index finger or middle finger or pinky to indicate they want a hit. Some will spread their index and middle fingers to have the dealer split their pairs. Some will scratch their fingers on the layout; some will pound their fingers asking for a hit.

In single- and double-deck games where players can hold the cards some will scratch long and hard for a hit; and some will just subtly indicate with a little movement for one. Some players will throw down their blackjacks as if these cards are red hot or they will coolly turn them over in a nonchalant way as if getting a blackjack is no big deal.

At roulette, some players will only bet from the top of the layout down to the bottom; they won’t bet lower to higher. Others will only bet lower to higher. Some players will only bet when the dealer is just about to say, "No more bets." Some players love to bet in slow motion; some bet as if they are on super fast forward. Some love to call out the number and the color just as the dealer is doing so.

You can even see a wealth of styles just watching people walk in the casinos. Some people strut; some walk tentatively; some exhibit the sense of being sexy; some are actually shy about the fact that they will be challenging Lady Luck. Some players are intense; some relaxed. Many young men will imitate the styles they see in television commercials, giving their own particular spin to them. Young women will do this as well. Some players enjoy walking around holding drinks.

There’s little doubt that if you study people in the casinos you will see that all of them have a certain way about them. They have style.

If you wish to contribute your reports or observations, we need to receive them by the 18^th of the month for the next month. Write to: fscobe@optonline.net

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Dear Frank:

Regards your article: Where Have All the Blackjack Teams Gone?

You are right. No point.

There may be the occasional advantage to take advantage of, but by and large AC is not a preferred destination.

Too many other opportunities exist within the same driving range to bother with AC

Nycpro

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Dear Frank:

There are too many casinos in Atlantic City [because] the new economy of Pennsylvania and New York and Delaware casinos is making it hard for enough people to support AC, since they can gamble close to home. I was reading somewhere that the New York City Empire Casino made more money than any casino in America in the last six months (I think it was the last six months).

The actual "city" part of Atlantic City, with a few blocks of exceptions here or there, just isn’t very welcoming. Certain casinos attract the lowest of the low that hang out there and make them unattractive places to be.

The Boardwalk is great and the police presence is noticeable. However, the Boardwalk is not why people come to casino towns. They come to gamble and eat and watch shows. You need a hell of a crowd for a casino town to be successful and AC does not have those "hell of a crowd" [numbers] to overcome its problems.

Karl L.

Readers: If you write me a letter that I publish I will send you a free copy of my new book The Virgin Kiss. My email address is fscobe@optonline.net.

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* * * * *

***** = Excellent

**** = Very Good

*** = Good

** = Fair

* = Poor

General rules: Atlantic City casinos basically have the same rules – on occasion this or that casino might change how many splits you can do or offer those horrible 6-to-5 blackjack games. Sometimes casinos will offer surrender (a rarity). Just about all casinos have gone to the H17, although most will have some games where dealers stand on soft 17 (high roller rooms mostly). The best games in terms of penetration and number of decks are invariably found in the high roller rooms. Players can double on any first two cards; they can split two or three times (make sure you ask about this or read the signs on the table); aces can only be split once and each ace receives one card (the standard rule all across the country). You can usually play up to three hands but most of the casinos will let you play all the spots if you make arrangements beforehand – obviously the casino is looking for high roller action in such a case. Check out the new wording on many of the layouts – amazingly wordy and almost totally BS.

BALLY’S PARK PLACE: Good cuts of about 80 percent. Could be a happy time for small-time 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 sad fact. Crews are friendly. Craps games are quite good. High roller minimums can go as high as $200. Three stars: * * *

BORGATA: The hottest place in AC bar none. The 6-deck games are now almost everywhere again and the penetration is starting to look like the old Borgata, if you can call a relatively new casino "old." A mixture of S17 and H17 were found but the H17 is starting to dominate. Sometimes these tables are right next to each other so – obviously – read the layout to see which of the two games you prefer to play. This is a happening place and caters to a swinging 30-something crowd that Revel is trying to attract but failing at it miserably. You’ll enjoy the night clubs and the beautiful people. This is still a decent casino for blackjack. Not a good casino for craps with some tables as long as 16 feet! Two and one-half stars: * * *

CAESARS: Looks to be a casino that is still flourishing from what we can see during those midweek periods. 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 just as most of the regular floor does. High roller room is S17; the main floor is H17 when we were there. 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: Closed every time we’ve stopped by. You can enter the lobby – dusty with that old, old smell but the entrances to the casino were boarded up. It is possible that in July and August the Claridge casino might come back – kind of like a partime worker. This is an historic hotel. If it weren’t, we think it would be torn down and be another empty lot across from the empty lot that used to be the Sands. If this place doesn’t re-open it is possible it will just become an empty, old building with landmark status and pigeon poop decorating the sidewalks and bricks.

HARRAH’S: The blackjack games are so-so with eight decks and penetration of about 70-75 percent. Seems to be holding its own in the down-trending AC landscape. Good place for craps. I must say this without equivocation, players like Harrah’s. Two and one-half stars: * * ½ *

ACH [formerly the Hilton]: My last trip here was interesting. It was a Tuesday morning and the place had some fairly good action. High roller room is 6-decks; rest of the casino is 8-decks with a few $25/$50 six-deckers on occasion. No mid-shoe entry on the six-deckers. For craps, we are dealing with 13-foot tables and a couple of 12 footers. This place might be heading for a good turn around. Two and one-half stars: * * ½ *

RESORTS: Same as last issue. The reports are in and out about this casino’s games and the casino’s future. Many H17 games on main floor; high roller room is S17. Penetration on all games is about 70-75 percent which is not bad considering this is AC. Decent craps games. Has opened the first Atlantic City gay nightclub and is courting the gay community, which is a smart move as gay vacation resorts and nightclubs seem to make a good go of it. Two and one-half stars: * * ½*

Yeah, it’s on slot machines but if you have a friend or relative who enjoys slots this can give them time on a machine until that loss of $100 occurs. Not bad at all. If they win on the slots, then that would be even better.

As for the rest of the casino? Only a little over a year into its existence and it is already in bankruptcy. This was originally going to be a smokeless casino. If dealers came to work smelling of smoke from their commute or smelling of smoke when the snuck out of the building on their breaks, they were fired. This is now changing. The market of AC says quite clearly, "Hey, I want to smoke in the casino when I am playing." So now Revel will have smoking sections as do all the casinos in AC. They might lose some of their players to lung cancer but they don’t want to lose them to other casinos.

As for blackjack, some games are good and some are bad. Look for the six decks with S17; the eight deckers are hit on soft 17. The six deckers are in the minority and the best are right by those giant escalators. Penetration is now about 80 percent on those. These are damn good games.

You’ll meet a lot of sad-faced dealers who left previous casinos in AC. That should help you get acclimated seeing those familiar faces. But whoever decided to originally go with the small comps, highly expensive rooms, and non-smoking did not understand the AC base. This place wanted to become a destination resort and its destination seems to be the bottom of the economic barrel. I am rooting for Revel. Actually I am rooting for all of Atlantic City. Three stars: * * *

SHOWBOAT: Same as last issue. Slots dominate this place now. The blackjack has deteriorated considerably with little penetration – maybe you play 60-66 percent of the shoe. All games are hit on soft 17. High roller room is passable with better penetration, about 75 percent, and at some slow times the minimums are $25 – although you won’t see this much in the summer. Pass this place by unless you are walking Fido since they are now the animal friendly hotel – disgusting! One star: *

As stated for several issues now, Trop is starting to really look like a top-notch property. This place is going in the opposite direction from Trump Plaza and ACH by bringing the highest rollers into AC. Now the place is H17 on all games except those outside the high roller room. Still has some good penetration, maybe 75 percent; sometimes excellent penetration of 80 percent. Three stars: * * * (for penetration)

THE GOLDEN NUGGET: The casino looks good. The restaurants are top notch. The newly renovated guest rooms are beautiful. The place is catching on. The blackjack games in the high roller room are excellent with penetration of 80 percent [I didn’t get to play there for a long time – a half shoe – when Michael, the shift boss, did the old Atlantic City thing of shuffling up and limiting me to one bet of $100 – not a good sign.] and top rules such as splitting and resplitting; and standing on soft 17. The eight-deck games in the casino are ho-hum and basically the same as all the other casinos in AC. The craps games are excellent and – as always – this place has the nicest and most professional dealers you will find. Give it a whirl but again, the report of others as well is that blackjack paranoia now reigns supreme here, otherwise I might have rated this one of the best games in town. Two and one-half stars: * * ½*

TRUMP PLAZA: Has been sold but it might be too late for this place which is now called "Dump Plaza" or "The Trump Dump" but it does have fairly good games when those games are open. Still something has to be done with the dark, dingy casino and the low-life scum slithering through it. The penetration is 70-75 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 and friendly down to arrogant and ignorant. Some days the place is practically empty. Two and one-half stars: * * ½ *

TRUMP TAJ MAHAL: No change from last issue. Now they are hitting soft 17 except in high roller room. 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, great dealers and pit personnel. Too bad it isn’t the premier place to play any more because it is a great place to stay. Two and one-half stars: * * ½*

WILD, WILD WEST: Tumble-weed is blowing through this place now. Maybe it too will be open on occasion for table games but the last two times I visited only slot machines were open for play and had maybe five people playing them. You could hear the echoes.

THE BEST BLACKJACK IN ATLANTIC CITY: Bally’s, Borgata, Revel and Tropicana

Best Craps in Atlantic City: All except: Borgata, Taj Mahal, Showboat and Wild, Wild West (if open).

By Frank Scoblete

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Frank Scoblete is the #1 best selling casino gambling authority in America. His books, DVDs, articles, web sites and television shows have helped millions of people become better casino players and also help players get real edges over the house at certain games such as blackjack and craps.

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