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Blackjack Insider Newsletter, April 2005, #63

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. Frank’s books and tapes have sold over a million copies. His two newest books are: The Craps Underground: The Inside Story of How Dice Controllers Are Winning Millions from the Casinos! and Casino Gambling: Play Like a Pro in 10 Minutes or Less! For a free brochure call: 1-800-944-0406 or write: Paone Press, Box 610, Lynbrook, NY 11563. His websites are www.gamblersjamboree.com, www.goldentouchblackjack.com, www.goldentouchcraps.com and www.scoblete.com. And don’t forget to find out about our new blackjack method, Golden Touch Blackjack!

It’s April, our termites have arrived in swarms again – flying and mating and happily attempting to eat our house out from under us – and Atlantic City is now entering its glory time of the year with the Boardwalk about to be filled by young people as well as the ubiquitous old people of the Winter months.

Last month Frank related his horrible experience with horrible fluctuations at blackjack. This month, we have some really nice news.

As many of you know, we rely on our Atlantic City correspondents to keep us filled in about many of the events and games in AC all month long so that our reports are as accurate as we can make them. We just received this from one of our correspondents:

We congratulate the Borgata for doing this. That would have been an easy $500 take for them and it shows true character to return the money – without being asked first, too.

Here’s some more good news for $25 players. Taj Mahal and Showboat both have $25 six-deck games during the week and sometimes on slow weekend days and nights. These games generally have very good cuts – about a deck and a quarter to a deck and a half at most. Good rules and pleasant dealers as well.

It tough to find six-deck games at under $100 and these should be given your patronage.

Before I summarize the latest playing conditions in Atlantic City, here’s a summary of my upcoming Gambler’s Jamboree.

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May 21 and 22 are two days for YOU! Special 10% discount for BJ Insider readers!

Casino gambling’s greatest authors, experts and celebrities are coming to the beautiful Casino Windsor in Ontario—just minutes from Detroit. Don’t miss this event! Sign up today!

Enjoy a weekend of over 42 seminars and hands-on individual instruction at Casino Windsor! Come to Frank Scoblete’s Gamblers Jamboree! Just minutes from Detroit!

This weekend has something for every casino player:

·          Slot Players—Find the loosest machines and learn how to play them! Learn the truth about the RNG and which slot myths are merely nonsense and which are worth believing! And what about those new machines? Which machines are worth playing and which should you avoid? Learn to win at slot tournaments. Great money management advice, too! Join slot experts John Robison and Frank Scoblete and learn how to attack those machines!

·          Video Poker Players—Learn the best strategies and money management for the most popular video poker machines with Jerry "Stickman" Stich, an expert video poker player. Jean Scott will also address some video poker issues in her seminars. Video poker is a game that can be beaten in many cases. So learn how!

·          Craps Players—Learn dice control from the experts who taught Stanford Wong with the Golden Touch Craps crew of Dominator, Mr. Finesse, Street Dog, Stickman, Daryl "No Field Five" Henley, Randy "Tenor" Rowsey, Howard "Rock ‘n Roller" Newman, Arman "Pit Boss" Pirim and Frank Scoblete. Learn THE CAPTAIN’S method of rhythmic rolling and how to use the 5-Count! Novices will learn how the game is played and which are the best bets to make and the bets to avoid! Learn about regressions and progressions. Darkside or Don’t Players—there’s a special seminar for you too! Also, hands-on individual instruction in dice control during the breaks between seminars.

·          Blackjack Players—Learn how to get the edge with card counting! Learn everything you need to know to be a consistent winner at tournament blackjack! For new players, learn all the elements of the basic strategy and why it reduces the house edge. Hands-on instruction also available during the breaks between seminars. We will discuss (but not reveal) the new Speed Count strategy – the simplest advantage-play technique at blackjack. Join blackjack experts Dr. Henry Tamburin and Dan Pronovost and learn how to beat the game at these seminars. You will also meet John Marchel, Lance Humble’s co-author of World’s Greatest Blackjack Book, Walter Thomason, the maverick of blackjack writers and author of 21^st Century Blackjack; Frank Scoblete, author of Best Blackjack and Armada Strategies for Spanish 21; Dominator, author of 10 Easy Steps to Winning at Blackjack.

·          Is your gambling fate in the stars? Let the famous astrologer Gwen Miller show you how gambling astrology can increase your chances that today will be your lucky day at the slot machines and at the table games.

·          Learn how to play winning Texas Hold’em with best-selling author and poker expert Bill Burton. Hands-on instruction also available during the breaks between seminars.

·          Great seminars on Roulette with author John Marchel; Baccarat with author John Grochowski; The Ten Best Casino Bets with author Walter Thomason; How to play the best strategies at Three-Card Poker, Caribbean Stud, Let It Ride and Four-Card Poker with author John Grochowski; the KISS Strategy for all casino games with author John Marchel; the P.O.W.E.R. Plan with author Dominator; how to handle the legal and financial/tax issues of casino gambling with attorney John Kreuz. Let gambling mathematician Dr. Don Catlin show you exactly how the casino gets its edges at all its games.

You’ll also be treated to seminars that will show you how to maximize your comps and cashback while minimizing your risk with the one and only Jean Scott; also let Jean Scott and Frank Scoblete thrill you with their amazing adventures in casinos throughout America; AND learn how to develop the mental attributes that contribute to successful play in skill-based games; how to budget your bankroll so you’ll never have to worry about tapping out, and much, much more! This is a weekend for people who love to play in the casinos and want to hone their skills and give themselves a good shot at the casinos’ money! This weekend is for players! Join our celebrated authors, experts and celebrities in this first of its kind event in Tunica history! Register early! Limited Seating.

CLICK HERE for more information.

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We’ve decided since many of our Golden Touch Craps dice controllers are now Speed Counters subscribing to this site, we are going to give a quick rundown of the craps games as well. We haven’t played in all the casinos in AC so we would appreciate it if you could email Frank with the table minimums, the odds bets, and anything else you think we might want to use (table lengths very helpful – if you just say "big" we will assume 14-feet as they are at Borgata). If you send us info we will give you a free month on our members-only board. Email address is fscobe@optonline.net.

All the ratings of casinos are based on the blackjack games.

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If you’re going to play blackjack, why not play with an advantage? Golden Touch Blackjack will give you the easiest method for getting an advantage at the game. Learn Speed Count and the new basic strategy in this class. We’ll be having upcoming classes in 2005. Go to www.goldentouchblackjack.com. The cost is a mere $895 and you can get a $100 discount if you register online.. Call 1-800-944-0406 to sign up or for more information.

Here are our ratings for April 2005.

BALLY’S PARK PLACE: No change from last issue. This property needs some serious upgrading. The casino is getting dingy. The darkness is powerful. The hotel rooms really need refurbishing, as do the elevators and hallways. There are magnificent views from the Tower but all those views are on the outside! Hotel/casino rating is a B-. The 8-deck games on the main casino floor have about 70 to 75 percent penetration. Penetration is about 1.8 decks on the six-deck games in the high-roller pit and these games are almost always $100 to $200 minimums. 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. No mid-shoe entry in high roller room and on a few of the main $50 tables in casino, otherwise you can usually Wong here if you wish. For craps players, this is a good casino for the game. There is one 5X odds table, usually a $25 minimum; the rest are 2X odds. Crews are friendly. Tables are somewhat high so short shooters get your platform shoes. * *

BORGATA: According to my great source E.M. who has spent several days at this casino, things are looking up. The place is lovely but the rooms are not the best rooms in AC. They are clean and new and the beds are great, however, and your views are spectacular of city and bay. Hotel/casino rating is A. Good news is the return of an all 6-deck casino. Penetration is now 75 to 85 percent. High roller room is 6-decks with no mid-shoe entry. Plenty of $10 and $15 games in the main casino. The $5 games are somewhat harder to find. Craps has long tables, 14-footers, and very bouncy, although there is talk of two smaller tables - somewhere. Great casino for Golden Touch Blackjack. * * * *

CAESARS: Great property; bright casino; well-attended rooms and suites. Excellent restaurants. Cheerful place and worthy of the name it bears. Hotel/casino rating is A. They are going deeper. You can expect about 80 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 minimums. Table game action has improved and that is very noticeable in the blackjack pits – which are all 8-deck games. Six-deck games in high roller room have 80 percent penetration, as do the eight-deckers on the main casino floor. Good casino for Golden Touch Blackjack. Multiple Action and Spanish 21 available at $10 and up! The craps games here are good with 12-foot tables and friendly crews. The tables we saw were all 2X odds. * * * ½ *

CLARIDGE: They closed the best restaurant in the Bally’s-Claridge complex, Luna. Hotel/casino rating is C+. Nothing but bad reports coming from the casino. Remember when this was advertised as "the friendly casino"? Their blackjack games have deteriorated as well. However, you can find some $5 and plenty of $10 games. The high-roller action was 6-deck games with $50/$100 minimums most days, with penetration at 70-75 percent. No mid-shoe entry on the high roller action. You can resplit pairs up to four hands in high-roller room (but no more resplitting of aces). The rest of the casino, all 8-deckers, doesn’t allow any resplitting but does usually allow mid-shoe entry. Multiple Action and Spanish 21 available for $10 and up. New craps tables make this the same as most AC casinos. Good craps bosses evenings. Stay away from the morning and afternoon games – crews are nice, but those pit bosses or shift managers are real downers.

HARRAH’S: Excellent property, good rooms, good views, good staff in all areas. As a corporation Harrah’s is doing something right! Harrah’s has maintained a great corporate image and deservedly so. Hotel/casino rating is A. In the casino you will find very friendly dealers and pit personnel. Penetration now ranges in the 75 percent area. Resplitting allowed except aces. No midshoe entry. High roller room is 6-deck action, the rest of the casino was 8-decks. 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 from your 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. Good casino for Golden Touch Blackjack. Friendly crews and decent tables at craps. We haven’t played there but reports are good. But we must warn you, this is a big slot place too. * * *

HILTON: Just spent some time in this hotel, which used to be our favorite a long, long time ago under Steve Wynn. Hotel/casino rating is now a B- due to darkness of casino and also what look like halogen lights on some of their slot machines. Very off-putting. The blackjack games are good and bad now – all depending on the dealer you get. 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. 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 percent throughout the casino. The Multiple Action and Spanish 21 also have okay penetration for $10. Good casino for Golden Touch Blackjack. For craps, we are dealing with 14 foot tables and a couple of 12 footers which were closed during the times we spent there. * * *

RESORTS: The casino is extremely dark, though upgraded, and while the rooms in the main hotel are small (as fits the standard of the 1940s), they are bright and clean. New annex is nice. Hotel/casino rating A-. Some 6-deckers on main floor with no mid-shoe entry, usually $25 minimums. Most games are 8-deckers. Resorts penetration is about 75%. Resplitting is allowed at all tables. Casino also offers multiple-action blackjack and Spanish 21 at $10 minimums. But Resorts has brought in those single-deck zombie-fied blackjack games too. Avoid the single-deckers. Good casino for Golden Touch Blackjack. Excellent place for craps. Mostly small tables, with some games 5X odds. Last we were there, the high roller room had two 10-foot craps tables. * * *

SANDS: Hard to believe but this place actually made a bigger profit in the last quarter than it did the year before. Maybe that’s because they haven’t changed or cleaned the different types of carpets in the place? Games are mediocre. Pit is paranoid. *

SHOWBOAT: Excellent place to stay, bright casino, fun atmosphere. Rooms are all full-sized and spacious; suites are great. Hotel/casino rating is A. Six-deck games in the high roller room have standard penetration of about 75 percent. Resplitting now allowed up to three hands. No mid-shoe entry. Eight-deck games have 80 percent penetration and allow mid-shoe entry. Can now find $25 games in high roller room at those very good 6-deck games. You can get great deals in other venues by using your card, as it’s a part of the Harrah’s Total Rewards program. Good casino for Golden Touch Blackjack. Craps is fine here. All the tables are now 12 footers. There are 5X odds on all tables. * * *

TROPICANA: Starting to get some good reports on this place. Mornings seem to be good for penetration. Going on the upswing with the new Quarter. Many rooms have been redecorated (awful colors however) and the pedestrian traffic seems large now. Hotel/casino rating is A. Blackjack games have actually improved here. The main floor has 8-deckers with mid-shoe entry allowed on almost all of them. High roller room is 6-decks with no mid-shoe entry. Craps tables are 12-footers. * * ½ *

TRUMP MARINA: No change from last issue. Small may not be better any more and this place is somewhat small. The casino seems cramped and the slots are backing right up on the table games. The hotel rooms, while clean and well appointed, are small as well. Hotel/casino rating is B+. Single-deck monsters are here, too. Six-deck games in high roller room and 8-deck games on the main floor have penetration of 70-75 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 6-deckers but you can jump in and out on the eight-deckers. Craps tables are 12-footers with 2X odds. Haven’t played here in years. * *

TRUMP PLAZA: We spent some time in this casino on our last trip. The place is going downhill. In the center of the boardwalk, Plaza is a black eye. That’s how one former patron of the Plaza characterizes the place. Needs serious renovations. Hotel/casino rating is now C+. The 8-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. High roller room is 6-deck games. Craps tables are 12-footers. Very friendly crews. * *

TRUMP TAJ MAHAL: The best casino in Atlantic City and the best hotel too. Rooms are all clean and well attended; the building and casino are light and spacious. The staff in all areas is terrific. This is the place to stay. Hotel/casino rating is A+. Despite the fact that they have brought in those 6/5 single-deckers, this place is now tied #1 for blackjack (with Borgata) in Atlantic City as well. We are becoming patrons of the Taj because their dealers and crews are so friendly and professional. Good game with 75-80 percent penetration (even saw some 85 percenters!), dealer dependent. You can find 6-deck games with $25 minimums right outside the high roller room. In the high roller room all games have $100 minimums. Multiple Action, Double Exposure and Spanish 21 are still available at $10/$15 minimums and up. Excellent casino for Golden Touch Blackjack. This is the best casino for craps in AC as well. All 5-X odds tables and one 20X odds table. The crews have been universally pleasant. Tables are all 12-footers. In our estimation, this is the number one craps and blackjack casino in Atlantic City. * * * *

WILD, WILD WEST: All 8-deck games. This is a part of Bally’s Park Place. 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. For craps this is a fun place to play with one 5X odds table. Crews are very friendly. ** ½ *

THE BEST BLACKJACK IN ATLANTIC CITY: Taj Mahal and Borgata

The Best Craps in Atlantic City: Taj Mahal

The Best Hotel/Casino in Atlantic City: Taj Mahal