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ATLANTIC CITY BLACKJACK REPORT─NOVEMBER 2014
by Frank Scoblete
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 website is
www.frankscoblete.com. Befriend Frank on Facebook.Atlantic City Layoffs
At its height, Atlantic City had 16 casinos. Going down the Boardwalk from South to North, the ones in
red are now closed. The ones underlined are rumored to be closing either in 2014 or 2015.At the Marina
Add it all up and 7 of 16 casinos are now shuttered; and 11 of 16 casinos could be gone by the time you say Happy Thanksgiving in 2015! What are the current dealers and pit people thinking as they work with the Sword of Damocles hanging over their heads? They have seen the loss of over 10,000 casino jobs in the last couple of months. They are all aware that the darkness is closing in – perhaps not their casino but in the city where they work.
My good friend and fellow columnist Jerry "Stickman" and I made one of our annual Odysseys to the still-opened casinos on Wednesday in the late morning of October 15. This was not an advantage-play Odyssey. No, we hung out and played one hand of blackjack each; one hand of Pai Gow Poker each; one turn with the dice each; one turn at mini-baccarat each; and $21 in slot machine play total in each of the opened casinos.
And we talked. To the dealers. To the pit people. To the players. To the security guards. To the tellers. To the push cart men. To the remaining vendors along the Boardwalk.
Many of the Boardwalk businesses were closed; perhaps 15-20 percent. There were very few push cart men and fewer taxis than I had ever seen.
The very first word that came to everyone’s lips when I asked them what they thought of Atlantic City’s implosion was this one: "sad." This great gambling town, which had challenged Vegas in the early 1990’s in terms of casino wins, was now --- just about --- a town about to be transformed into a ghost. Sad.
Tropicana was going strong. I think it will be one of the two Boardwalk casinos to survive this "casino apocalypse." The other being Resorts, which also had a decent crowd for a late morning. However, I did notice one thing at Tropicana and then at some of the other remaining casinos – drug dealers laundering their cash. Even in the Marina casinos there were shadier, stony-eyed characters ambling about than I had ever seen.
Dealers were not blind. They knew that the old Atlantic City might return. One dealer said, "These creeps have returned. I thought over the years we had gotten rid of them."
I used to see these snarling denizens slithering at Trump Plaza (in its last days known as the "Trump Dump") and occasionally at Bally’s. Now these folks had spread out – or had to spread out. Will they take back Atlantic City as they once owned it before the advent of casinos? If only five casinos remain, the underbelly will most likely inherit the body. The return of the creators of the drugged-out living dead might be near.
The dealers at Tropicana seemed upbeat but those at Caesars were edgy. They knew that their company was in trouble and that, therefore, they were potentially in trouble too. Jerry and I mentioned to our dealers at the various games that we were heading to each casino and many of them said something to the effect "get to them fast because a lot of us won’t be around."
At Bally’s some of the dealers were lethargic and one woman at mini-baccarat wouldn’t even look at us when she dealt the cards. She mumbled and slammed the cards on the layout. When we got up to leave she growled and then said something vile under her breath. This woman was inches away from a breakdown.
The security guards at Bally’s were quite friendly but when asked about a possible closing, they just shook their heads as if to say, "I’m praying."
The push cart operators chorused, "Business sucks. There is no one here." The store operators just grimaced. One said, "I need this job. I’ve got a family."
The Taj Mahal was practically empty. This is a big casino; a big casino with a tiny fraction of its past crowds. Even the Asian pit, which usually is packed, had fewer than half its tables opened. This would not have been so several years before. The rest of the casino? A few blackjack tables and a couple of carnival games were available.
Sad. All very sad.
The Marina casinos will probably survive. They might actually become the new Atlantic City; three casinos across the Bay, a small enclave in what was once a booming casino empire.
The outlook is this: Tropicana, Resorts, Borgata, Golden Nugget and Harrah’s will survive. The others? It’s sad.
Our Readers Report
If you wish to contribute your reports or observations, I need to receive them by the 18th of the month for the next month. Write to:
fscobe@optonline.netWe 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 when they report.
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.
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Hi Frank:
You know it. I know it. AC is over buddy. It is over. People are walking around like the end of the world is happening and that seems right for this city. It’s like a balloon popping in slow motion.
---Nat
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Dear Mr. Scoblete:
I was there when Showboat closed and I was there when it opened too. I enjoyed that casino even when Harrah’s took it over and ruined it by making it a slot casino. Now they closed the place even though it still made some profit. I hear all the Harrah’s properties except Harrah’s itself will close.
---Barrie
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Frank,
I played last week but the games are dead. The cuts aren’t so bad at some casinos but it is like playing in a morgue. It is sad to see what is happening. Those Pennsylvania casinos have put the knife in AC’s heart.
---Martin
Readers:
If you write me a letter that I publish I will send you a free copy of one of my new books, either The Virgin Kiss or Confessions of a Wayward Catholic. Just let me know which one you want. My email address is fscobe@optonline.net. Make sure you send me your address so I can get the book out to you.********************************************************************************************
CASINO RATINGS
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’ experiences.
A word to the wise: it’s always best to check out the casinos for yourselves. As homage, I will now put in all the casinos from all the years of Atlantic City’s existence.***
NOTE: It is possible that the bosses won’t give a damn that you are counting now that they face losing their jobs. It’s a thought.Rating system:
***** = 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). 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 as opposed to BJ.ATLANTIC CLUB:
From dust thou art…BALLY’S:
Might be going under. Still, they have redone their casino and it looks good. BJ has cuts of about 70 percent. All 8-deck games except for the high roller room which was totally empty when I visited. The hitting on soft 17 is now a sad fact. Crews are friendly. Craps games are quite good; they even have 10X odds. Just look for it. Two and one-half stars: * * ½ *BORGATA
: The hottest casino in AC bar none. The 6-deck games can still be found and the penetration has gotten quite good. A mixture of S17 and H17 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. You’ll enjoy the night clubs and the beautiful people. This is still a decent casino for blackjack. Not a good casino for craps. Continues to be the number one casino in AC despite the horror of what’s happening to other casinos. Three stars: * * *CAESARS:
Might be going under. We are seeing a big decline in the number of blackjack games open midweek; also the number of players has dropped off significantly. 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. 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:
…to dust thou shalt return.
HARRAH’S:
No change from last issue. The blackjack games are so-so with eight decks and penetration of about 70 percent. Good place for craps. I must say this without equivocation, players like Harrah’s. On a recent walk-through mid-week there were plenty of players around the place. Two and one-half stars: * * ½ *PLAYBOY CLUB / WORLD’S FAIR:
A concrete monster next to old Convention Center. Closed long ago.
RESORTS:
Every time I’ve been there midweek the business seemed fairly brisk. Casino looks great. There are new restaurants and the entrance on the Boardwalk is pleasing to the eyes. Many H17 games on main floor; high roller room is S17. Penetration on all games is about 80+ percent which is darn good. Decent craps games too. 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.Three stars: * * *
REVEL:
The billion dollar bust.SANDS:
A wind-blown lot.
SHOWBOAT
: Voyage to the bottom of the sea.TROPICANA:
A lot of renovations going on. This casino seems to have weathered the worst AC has offered. It is bringing the highest rollers into AC. Blackjack is H17 on all games except those outside the high roller room. Has excellent penetration, maybe 85 percent. Three and one-half stars: * * * ½* (for penetration)THE GOLDEN NUGGET:
The blackjack games in the high roller room are excellent with penetration of 80 percent 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. Crowd is heavily slanted towards carnival games. The craps games are excellent (10X odds on one table) and – as always – this place has the nicest and most professional dealers you will find. Give it a try. Three stars: * * *TRUMP PLAZA:
Fully and completely a true dump.TRUMP TAJ MAHAL:
Might be going under. Great hotel and great restaurants and great entertainment. Also, great dealers and pit personnel. But depression has set in. 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:
Empty. Echo-ee. No table games here.THE BEST BLACKJACK IN ATLANTIC CITY:
Any rating of three or more stars.Best Craps in Atlantic City:
All except: Borgata, Taj Mahal.* * * * *
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****************
Bless me father for I have sinned
.Confessions of a Wayward Catholic
Confessions of a Wayward Catholic
is a hilarious yet insightful account of Frank Scoblete’s years from kindergarten through grandparenthood as a confused, wayward, seemingly ever-sinning Catholic. Join Frank for an entertaining but possibly hell-bound ride as he attempts to understand what God and religion are all about. Will Frank reach the pearly gates or be banished to eternal damnation?"I love my husband but there is stuff in this book that is disgraceful and should never have been written!" – Alene Scoblete, wife
"Francis Scoblete has been a major sinner ever since he came to elementary school. I watched him closely at the dances." – Sister Jerome Blake, in charge of making sure girls and boys slow danced a foot apart.
"I don’t know why Jewish kids went to a Catholic school but I’m proud they did well in religion." – Chief Rabbi Sol Bernstein
"I believe that you should love your neighbor as yourself. Luckily, Frank lives in another town and is not my neighbor." – Jesus Christ
"Scoblete says I have no sense of humor. I will afflict him with boils and sores over his whole body, just like I did Job." – God
"Frank Scoblete has been wayward for over six decades. He’s my main man!" – Satan
Price $16.95 + $6 shipping and handling (total $22.95)
Call 1-800-944-0406 for mail order
Checks / Money Orders to:
Frank Scoblete Enterprises
PO box 446
Malverne, NY 11565
Amazon.com at http://tinyurl.com/kvux22v
(Kindle
http://tinyurl.com/pfnqhph
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