That is actually good news for the players as comps are getting easier to obtain for low and medium rollers. Not a day – and we mean this literally – goes by without us getting a letter or brochure from some property in AC – even properties that we have never played at.

Okay, so we are high rollers, but many of our low-rolling friends are getting almost daily solicitations too.

Casinos are faced with three things they can do to stem the blood hemorrhaging from their vaults:

1. They can reduce their employees, which many are doing.
2. They can make their comping policies stiffer, which Hilton and some other are doing.
3. They can loosen their comping policies to get more players into their casinos – which most are doing.

Obviously, those of you looking for comps should spread your action around the AC casinos the next time you go. You’ll probably discover that with even moderate play, the bargains will start flooding in.

The blackjack games have actually improved somewhat, and you can find some pretty good games if you look for them.

So get on the comps bandwagon while the AC malaise continues.

Hi Frank and AP:

Just returned from AC and here is my report.

Trump Plaza is now all six-deckers with one exception. The high stakes pit is no mid-shoe entry. There is one single deck game with 6/5 BJ payout. I had not been there for a while and they have totally remodeled the place. The floor area devoted to slots has expanded at the expense of tables.

Visited Caesar’s, Claridge and Bally’s too. In all three places the machines’ spaces are larger, table space smaller than before. My wife and I could not get a seat at a Pai Gow table. There were only two or three tables, and they were all occupied.

It also seemed to us (and this is confirmed by talking to other people) that the casinos have cut back in terms of staff. There are a few cracks showing at the edges too. Borgata usually has terrific service but, on this trip, the maid did a sloppy job cleaning the room, and they got the room service order wrong.

You are 100% correct about the bouncy craps tables. I also found the two short dice tables though still bouncy. Restaurants still great. The dealers are much nicer after the summer crowd has left too.

Anyway use what you want of the above without a name please. Do not want to be identified as a complainer. Oh yes, the lady at the kiosk was thrilled by your including that story about her.

Thanks.

All for now,

Howard Herbert

Dear Frank and Alene:
 
I just wanted to give an update on the conditions that I saw in AC this month.  I'll start from the north and work my way south.
 
Trump Taj Mahal:  I still have to give them the "Paranoid Award."  Eight decks, $25 minimum, 70 - 75% penetration with no mid-shoe entry.  Still not sure what they're afraid of here. They are now offering "blackjack tournaments" here though.  They're held on Thursdays in the Ego Lounge from 7 PM to 11 PM.  You play 12 hands against the dealer.  Top 6 places by the end of the night get paid.  1st is $1000, 2nd through 4^th is $250, 5th and 6th is $100.  Free entry, but requires 1/2 hour of play that day.
 
Resorts:  Still offering a couple of $25, 6-deck games with mid-shoe entry outside the high roller room.  All eight decks after that on the main floor, with the standard 70 to 75 percent penetration.
 
Trump Plaza:  I give the Trump Plaza the "Tease Award."  Yes, they are indeed offering several $25 6-deck games with no mid-shoe entry outside the high roller room.  But they must have been given instructions not to give anyone anything to look at.  The penetration was horrible.  Every table was cutting off at least 2 to 2 1/2 decks, which is 58 to 67 percent penetration.  The rest of the main floor was the standard 8 decks and 70-75 percent penetration.

Tropicana:  Well, I have another award to give out here, as well.  The Tropicana deserves the "Shuffle Award."  Still the worst average penetration I have been observing recently in AC.  No one was given better than 75% penetration, and most dealers were cutting off about 2 ½ decks for a penetration of less than 70%.  I once again observed one dealer cutting off more than 3 decks.  If you love to be mesmerized by watching dealers shuffle, then this is the place for you!
 
Hilton:  I know that you have had some bad reports about comps here, but from what I've seen, they offer the second best game in AC on the main floor, although Borgata's 6-decks on their main floor wins.  The worst penetration that I saw at the Hilton was 75%.  Many dealers were cutting off about 1 ½ decks, 81% penetration, and a couple dealers were cutting off 1 ¼ decks, 84% penetration.  Of course my experience is limited, but this is the best penetration that I've seen in AC recently.  The penetration has looked good here the last couple times I've been here.
 
That’s it for this month.

All the best!

Ron

Dear Frank and Alene:

I don’t like the smoking ban. I feel we are being discriminated against like the old lepers. Do you really think second-hand smoke is that harmful when you breathe it in for a few hours of play? If the dealers don’t like smoke in their faces they should have thought of this before they applied for the jobs.

Disgusted,

William D.

Dear Frank and AP:

I respect you folks as experts but I think you are too generous with your ratings of Atlantic City’s casinos. Someone else wrote about this a while ago and I agree. You should subtract one-half to one star from every casino and that would be a more accurate reflection of most games.

Keep in mind, please, that most of your readers are not high-rollers who can play those high-limit games, which tend to be better. We are stuck with those eight-deck monsters because often you can’t get into a game at Borgata, which is moving more and more towards higher limits starting at $25.

Just my opinion,

Ted J.

Good Evening Frank:

 I bought your book on the Golden Touch Blackjack Revolution! and tried out the Speed Count. My first night was between a 1-5 unit spread with $100 chips.  I won over $5000 in about one hour, but the pit boss didn't offer me any comps before I left the table. Is this normal?  Do you think that they might think there was something up?  I have been a player in that casino for about six months.

Do you think I should have used a smaller spread or a smaller unit sized bet? I'm just wondering, if I'm drawing any heat. I'm new to this, so any help would be appreciated. 

Thanks Again for a great read!  
 
You could charge $100 a copy for that book! LOL.
 
Thanks!

Kim

Dear Kim:

I'm glad you have found some initial good fortune with Speed Count and the Optimum Basic Strategy as presented in my book Golden Touch Blackjack Revolution! As advertised it is the easiest way to get the edge at blackjack.

Your one-to-five spread is not that much in a double deck game. If you are somewhat worried, start the game at two units and then go to three or one, depending on how the initial count moves. Jumping from two units to four on a win in a positive count is no big deal and then if the count stays up there putting out five units shouldn't alert any undo attention.

Just because the floor person or pit boss didn't offer you a comp is not indicative of any heat. He might have had other things to do.

But you certainly learned one great thing. Don't play long sessions at one casino. Usually 45 minutes is enough. Then head for another casino. A moving target is the toughest to hit.

Next time, if you want a comp ask for it.

Finally, if you have the bankroll for $100 to $500 bets, make them. You want to maximize your wins.

All the best in and out of the casinos!

Frank Scoblete

* * * *

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Or buy our new book The Golden Touch Blackjack Revolution! and learn the easiest advantage-play method ever developed for blackjack.

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

Here are our ratings for December 2007. We thank many of our readers for helping us to stay as updated as possible.

Rating system:

***** = Excellent

**** = Very Good

*** = Good

** = Fair

* = Poor.

BALLY’S PARK PLACE: More slots. This used to be a premium property but it now seems to be a Harrah’s after thought. No mid-shoe entry in high roller room and on a few of the main $50 tables in casino. 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. All tables are now 5X odds, with a range of minimums. Crews are friendly. Tables are somewhat high so short shooters get your platform shoes. Some correspondents disagree with this statement but we are guessing they are all over 6-feet tall! There are many more carnival games than ever before. Looks like Three-Card Poker rivals blackjack! Hotel has declined a lot. Two and one-half stars: * * ½*

BORGATA: Still the superior venue in Atlantic City, despite some negative reports about declining service, and still number one for blackjack. There are always at least two $5 tables available. Penetration is pretty good too. 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, and not worth playing unless you like to see dice flying off the tables. There are two 12-foot tables but these are bouncy too. Only if you like to watch those cubes flying off the table should you play craps here. Go elsewhere for craps, except for Taj which has mimicked Borgata in craps. This is a happening place and caters to a swinging young crowd. Great casino for Golden Touch Blackjack. Four stars: * * * *

CAESARS: No change from last issue. Directly across from Caesars is The Pier, which is a pleasure to walk through – a must see attraction in AC with some of the finest restaurants and views. Caesars itself also has excellent 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 and higher 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: The idiot pit boss is gone; one fewer jerk but fewer table games and more machines. The place still stinks although there is some chatter that the craps games have gotten better but we have been reluctant to play here in the past year – sour taste in our mouths from the maniac pit boss. This is now a "new dealer" break-in casino so games tend to be slow. One and one-half stars: * ½ *

HARRAH’S: In the casino you will find very friendly dealers and pit personnel. Penetration now ranges somewhat below the 75 percent area. Resplitting allowed except aces. No midshoe entry in the high roller room of 6-deck action, with the rest of the casino being 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 Vegas comps from your AC action! 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. But we must warn you; this is a big slot place. Sadly, Harrah’s properties in Las Vegas and in Tunica are getting awfully bad reports about how some of the boxmen treat customers who practice a careful shot at craps and there is overwhelming paranoia at the blackjack games as well. So beware when outside AC. Harrah’s prefers their slot customers and all their casinos tend month after month to be adding more machines. Two and one-half stars: * * ½*

HILTON: The profits are down somewhere around 25 percent right now! The hotel-casino is laying off people and severely limiting comps which seems damn stupid, doesn’t it? The blackjack games here are getting good reports concerning their penetration from some of our correspondents but you must pick the game based on the dealer because the penetration is still highly 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. Great casino for Golden Touch Blackjack. For craps, we are dealing with 14-foot tables and a couple of 12 footers. Three and one-half stars: * * * ½*

RESORTS: No change from last issue. Up and down. This casino went up in our estimation when the new company took over and now it is heading downhill. If Resorts wants to start to compete with the big boys of AC, it has to loosen up its pockets to draw good numbers of them in. 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 and one-half stars: * * ½*

SHOWBOAT: No change from last issue. Where are the table games? This used to be a great table-game casino and Harrah’s has made it a slot paradise. The table games are squeezed into a little area of the casino now with awfully bouncy craps tables and awful blackjack games, a really sad fate. Had been one of the best and now is the worst blackjack casino in AC. One-half star: ½*

TROPICANA: No change from last issue. Gangs away! Blackjack games are now decent and so is the new "Quarter" shopping area. But bad reports have come in about the level of service, cleanliness and security throughout this hotel-casino. 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. Two and one-half stars: * * ½ *

TRUMP MARINA: Another casino that is economically bleeding to death. This place is giving good comps from some reports and the game is okay. Six-deck games in high roller room and 8-deck games on the main floor have penetration of 75 to 80 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. Two and one-half stars: * * ½ *

TRUMP PLAZA: Just about all 6-deck games with somewhat low penetration of penetration of 70-75 percent, depending on the dealer. No midshoe 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. Very friendly crews but a dark casino with a real smattering of low-lifes. Good casino for Golden Touch Blackjack. Three stars: * * *

TRUMP TAJ MAHAL: No change from last issue. Say it ain’t so, Donald! 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. 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 the 6-deck games have $100 minimums. Now the worst casino to play craps in all of Atlantic City with incredibly bouncy and high tables. The crews spend half their time scooting around looking for the dice that have jettisoned off the tables. Good casino for Golden Touch Blackjack. Three stars: * * *

WILD, WILD WEST: No change from last issue. 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: Resorts

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