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Hello Frank,

Just got back from a couple of days of blackjack in AC.

1. Showboat - high roller pit ($50 min) continues to cut off 2 decks of 6.
2. Taj - no mid-shoe entry at all tables.  Just awful!
3. Resorts - they continue a few 6D games ($25 min) outside high roller pit, but still poor pen (2 decks cut off.)
4. Borgata - All 6D.  Penetration varies by dealer.  A few cutting 1 deck out, most 1.5.  More heat than there used to be.  One floor person told the dealer to start cutting 50% on me at a $15 table. Yes, I'm a counter, but really!  A couple of other players got up and left in disgust.  They never learn that they lose in the long run doing things like this.

Barry

Dear Frank and Alene,

Well, I spent a little time playing in the Tropicana and the Hilton.  These two properties had very different conditions.  The main floor was all eight-decks at the Tropicana.  The $25 tables on the main floor where no mid-shoe entry.  On top of this most dealers were cutting off two and a half to three decks.  Penetration of only about 62% to 68%.  Most were closer to three decks.  I saw one dealer cutting off at least three and a half decks!  I'm convinced that the dealers at the Tropicana must love to shuffle.  I only found one or two dealers cutting off just two decks.  The lack of mid shoe entry on just $25 tables and the poor cuts made this some of the worst conditions that I have seen in AC.

The Hilton was the complete opposite.  As I walked by the tables (all eight decks on the main floor as well) I noticed that most dealers were cutting off about two decks.  I finally settled in at a table cutting off only one and a half decks (82% penetration!).  After a short stint of play we received our substitute dealer and I expected a poor cut and to be moving on.  She only cut off one deck, 88% penetration!  I stayed.  A closer look at other tables revealed no one cutting off more than 2 decks and several cutting off less.

You also have talked about the pressure AC faces from slot parlors and comps.  Well the USA Today had an article on this.  Here is the link for your readers: 

 
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2007-06-11-atlantic-city-comps_N.htm  

This news report was also on the local TV and radio news.  As you can see some casinos are reducing comps to scrimp on costs (Hilton, Tropicana and Resorts) while the other casinos are increasing comps to draw in customers. 
Now which casinos do you think I would more likely play after reading this article?

I hope this helps.

Jon

Dear Frank and Alene,

Well, it seems that conditions for blackjack are evolving in AC.

I previously reported that Showboat was looking good three months ago, including great penetration.  Since then someone else reported that Showboat is now hitting soft 17.  So I took a closer look this month.  They are indeed hitting soft 17 on ALL tables on the main floor.  Both the 8 deck and single deck games.  Penetration was only okay (75%) range when I walked through.  The high roller room offered 6 deck games where the dealer stood on soft 17.  No reason to play here unless you're planning to play in the high roller room.  Oh, I actually saw a $5 table on a weeknight here, so this table that hits soft 17 will take your money at a slower rate.

The Taj Mahal can't seem to make up its mind.  Six-deck games outside the high roller room, then they take them away, then they put them back, and now they are indeed gone again.  The $25, no mid-shoe entry, eight-deck games with so-so penetration are back.  What are they so concerned about?  I guess they're concerned about my business.  So I left.

Resorts was offering two six-deck $25 games outside the high roller room still, with mid shoe entry.  Most dealers seemed to be cutting off about 30% of the shoe.

Once again The Borgata was, well, The Borgata.  I think they are the only casino in AC really willing to offer a decent game.  All six decks.  No 6-to -5 blackjack games.  Mid-shoe entry allowed on many $25 and $50 games.  Rules as good as any other AC casino, including standing on all 17's at every table.  Always at least one $5 table (okay that's just a token offer).  Blackjack tables in four different locations.  Two high roller rooms.  I have always received decent comps for my play. 

Frankly, we should all just take our play to The Borgata until the other casinos are willing to offer a comparable game.  Of course if we all did that at once it might be a little crowded.

I hope this helps.

Jon

* * * *

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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 that has over 5,000 paid members. Email address is fscobe@optonline.net.

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

***********************************************************************

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Here are our ratings for August 2007.

Rating system:

***** = Excellent

**** = Very Good

*** = Good

** = Fair

* = Poor.

BALLY’S PARK PLACE: High minimums now in effect. Rumor is that Harrah’s is looking to dump this three-casino property – one of the top 20 biggest casino properties in the United States. 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. Mixed reviews about how deep the penetration is but we found it in the 75 percent area. All 8-deck games except for the high roller room action. 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. There are many more carnival games than ever before. Looks like Three-Card Poker rivals blackjack! Two and one-half stars: * * ½*

BORGATA: Read one of the letters above. This is still a superior venue in Atlantic City and still number one for blackjack. Always at least two $5 tables available and there are seats as well! Summer is bringing higher limits throughout the casinos, so you might have to play very early in the morning if you are a low roller. Hotel rating is an A. Penetration is pretty good right now. Casino is all six-deck games, which is great – for AC, that is. Penetration on games varies between 80 and 85 percent so you can get some good games here. Craps has long tables, 14-footers, and very bouncy, although there is talk of two smaller tables - somewhere. This is a happening place and caters to a young crowd. Great casino for Golden Touch Blackjack. Four stars: * * * *

CAESARS: If you thought the minimums were high in the spring, welcome to summer. Even Three Card Poker has $25 minimum tables! Amazing! What is even more amazing is the fact that when we visited these tables were full of players. Caesars is making the bucks and The Pier is a pleasure to walk through – a must see attraction in AC with some of the finest restaurants and views. Caesars also has xcellent restaurants but you have long walks to find them. Cheerful place and worthy of the name it bears. Hotel/casino rating is A. They are going deeper at blackjack too. 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. The craps games here are good with 12-foot tables and friendly crews. The tables are a little high so smaller controlled shooters should wear their "special shoes." Three stars: * * *

CLARIDGE: One star for old times sakes: *

HARRAH’S: No change from last issue except that the minimums are higher. Harrah’s Atlantic City properties are excellent. 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 is 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. However, Harrah’s properties in Las Vegas are getting very bad reports about how some of the boxmen treat customers who practice a careful shot. Three Stars: * * *

HILTON: The blackjack games here are getting good reports from some of our correspondents but you must pick the game based on the dealer because the penetration is dealer dependent. 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 75 percent, sometimes up to 80 percent. Good casino for Golden Touch Blackjack. For craps, we are dealing with 14-foot tables and a couple of 12 footers. Three Stars: * * *

RESORTS: Now Resorts is starting to compete with the big boys of AC. This place is starting to challenge the other casinos. Resplitting is allowed at all tables but penetration barely makes it to 75 percent now. Casino also offers multiple-action blackjack and Spanish 21 at $10 minimums. Avoid the single-deckers that pay 6 to 5 for blackjacks. Excellent place for craps; mostly small tables, with some games 5X odds. The new hotel addition is clean and serviceable, but not luxurious. Two Stars: * *

SHOWBOAT: Had been one of the best and now is the worst blackjack casino in AC. No stars.

TROPICANA: Hotel/casino rating is A. Blackjack games are now decent and so is the new "Quarter" shopping area. Those main-floor six-deck games are now gone. High roller room is 6-decks with no mid-shoe entry. Penetration is about 75 percent on all games. Big improvement here in all areas of play. Craps tables are 12-footers. Good casino for Golden Touch Blackjack. Three stars: * * *

TRUMP MARINA: No change from last issue. 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.

Two Stars: * *

TRUMP PLAZA: Is this place coming on or going out of business? Some of our Golden Touch craps players love this place. The eight-deck games have penetration at 80 percent, 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 six-deck games. Craps tables are 12-footers. Very friendly crews. Good casino for Golden Touch Blackjack. Three stars: * * *

TRUMP TAJ MAHAL: The best national casino-hotel at one time is no longer even in the top 10. Ouch! We were there recently and the 6-deck games outside the high roller room are gone again. Lucky Ladies bet now available, no thanks. Good game with 75-80 percent penetration, dealer dependent, throughout the casino. In the high roller room all games have $100 minimums. Now the worst casino to play craps in Atlantic City. Three

stars: * * *

WILD, WILD WEST: Lacking the spark it used to have. All 8-deck games with about eight tables now offering H17 games – insane. This is a part of Bally’s Park Place and Harrah’s is looking to sell this complex like a pan of gold. Penetration is about 75 percent on all games. For craps this is a fun place to play with one 5X odds table and one 2X odds table. I remember when this place had many more tables. Crews are very friendly. Two Stars: * *

THE BEST BLACKJACK IN ATLANTIC CITY: Borgata

The Best Craps in Atlantic City: Tropicana

The Best Hotel/Casino in Atlantic City: Borgata. Taj Mahal