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Blackjack Insider Newsletter, March 2004, #50

ATLANTIC CITY BLACKJACK REPORT

By Alene Paone & Frank Scoblete

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 and the author of Best Blackjack. Frank’s books and tapes have sold over a million copies. For a free brochure call: 1-800-944-0406 or write: Paone Press, Box 610, Lynbrook, NY 11563. His websites are www.goldentouchblackjack.com and www.scoblete.com.

Don’t believe the newest financial figures coming out of AC – they are only "apparently" accurate. The fact of the matter is that Borgata is making money and Bally’s Park Place is doing okay but the other casinos are not coming off a banner year; particularly the Trump properties. The increase in play is only seen in a small number of properties; the rest are hurting or about to hurt.

Yet, there is still talk that AC is looking to get more casinos on the sands, hoping that this will drive up the, well, the drive ups. Those are folks who come to AC, not just for the afternoon, but for several days. The feeling is that the drive-ups will bring more money to play with; eat at more restaurants; buy more products – in short, they’ll spend more money.

Interestingly enough, Atlantic City does bring in a lot of money, but running a casino in New Jersey is loaded with expenses proportionally much greater than running a casino in Las Vegas, Tunica or most other areas of the country. The prices for goods, staff, and upkeep are very high. And, as a day market of largely senior citizens, AC has to deal with many "players" who don’t actually play that much.

Borgata has become the table game casino of AC, with almost 20 percent of the table-game market coming to the casino. The newness and freshness of the property can’t be overlooked. Steve Wynn always knew that a property that looks new and is in good condition will tend to bring in the crowds.

So how good are the blackjack games in AC? Borgata is still number one but they are not cutting as deeply as they first did. The other casinos are (more or less) just where they were on our last report. Sands has made a big comeback, although Frank has still not tried their tables to see what kind of reaction he gets. This is coming soon.

Here are our ratings for March, 2004.

BALLY’S PARK PLACE: There are $5 games most times in the gaming parlor near the poker room. These are 8-deck games, with about 75-80 percent penetration. Penetration has improved to about 1.2 decks cut off on the six-deck games in the high-roller pit but these games are almost always $100 to $200 minimums. The rest of the casino is the standard AC eight-deck games with penetration that varies but is consistently around the 75-80 percent mark. Some tables have been changed to Let It Ride and Three Card Poker. 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. ***

BORGATA: The place to beat in AC. Aggressive marketing has given it the lion’s share of the BJ market and it has become the place to play blackjack in Atlantic City. All 6-deck games. Penetration is 80 percent. Standard AC rules which means that for basic strategy players it’s a good game. Plenty of $5 and $10 games, especially midweek and you can even get rooms midweek since the hotel has 2,002 rooms raring to be rented! They are aggressively marketing. * * * *

CAESARS: No change from last report. 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. We’ve seen more $5 and $10 games of late. Multiple Action and Spanish 21 available at $10 and up! ***

CLARIDGE: The high-roller action was six-deck games with $50/$100 minimums most days, but penetration about 70 percent when we visited. You can resplit pairs up to four hands in high-roller room (but no more resplitting of aces). The rest of the casino, all eight-deckers, doesn’t allow any resplitting. 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. **

HARRAH’S: They are making a concerted effort to keep their players in the face of Borgata’s onslaught. Very friendly dealers and pit personnel. Penetration now ranges close to 70-80 percent. This place is improving gradually over time. 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 for 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. ***

HILTON: No change from last issue. Still a solid place to play blackjack in AC but no longer the best. Resplitting allowed except aces. High roller room is 6-decks, rest of the casino is 8-decks. 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 75-80 percent. The Multiple Action and Spanish 21 also have okay penetration for $10. *** ½*

RESORTS: No change from last issue. Now in its 25^th year of operation, Resorts looks better today than it did when it opened and it is undergoing major renovations. Resorts has cut back on the penetration on both six and eight-deck games, to about 75 percent. 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. Pits are friendly. ***

SANDS: Now offers the highest limits in AC. You can bet up to $50,000 on a single hand. So hurry, hurry and get down there! The penetration is at 75 to 80 percent on its 6-deck games and 75 percent on its 8-deckers, just lagging behind Borgata. However, with the new high roller room of 6-deck games and with eight 6-deck tables just outside the high roller room, those 16 tables are seeing some action. You can also resplit up to three times. *** ½*

SHOWBOAT: Six-deck games in the high roller room have standard penetration of about 75 percent. Resplitting now allowed up to three hands. Eight-deck games have 80 percent penetration. Can now occasionally find $25 games in high roller room. They announce them with a big sign during slow times. You can get great deals in other venues by using your card as it’s a part of the Harrah’s Total Rewards program. ***

TROPICANA: No change from last issue. Slot city. Slot heaven. Slot madness. Ignore this place. *

TRUMP MARINA: No change from last issue. The joint is losing money. This place has a big youth clientele -- and youth is fickle -- because of all the rock bands that play here. So if you like the high energy of often-dimwitted young folks loudly having a good time, this is the place for you. Six-deck games in high roller room and eight-deck games on the main floor have penetration of 75 percent mark, but you won’t find any dealers going much deeper. Games are mostly $15/$25 and up, especially on weekends. **1/2*

TRUMP PLAZA: Six-deck blackjack games in high limit area are about 75 percent penetration with $100 minimums – sometimes the dealer will now go even deeper. Sometimes when it’s slow, they will honor a request for $50 minimum. The eight-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. ***

TRUMP TAJ MAHAL: No change from last issue. Has now been officially eclipsed by Borgata as the big kahuna casino in AC. Decent game with 75 percent penetration, dealer dependent. Multiple Action, Double Exposure and Spanish 21 are still available at $10/$15 minimums and up. ***

WILD, WILD WEST: 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. ** ½ *

THE BEST BLACKJACK IN ATLANTIC CITY: Borgata

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