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Money Dropped
As I have visited Las Vegas these last few months, it is
no surprise that the economy has created a significant
financial impact on the casino environment. The number
of visitors to the casinos has dropped. With the world
economy shifting, it is no surprise.
What is a surprise is the way casino management is
treating their loyal patrons, particularly the craps
floor people. I mean, the slightest hint of the dice
falling favorably for the player is enough to send the
floor people of some casinos into a fear mode and
unleash their verbal warnings with the hopes of
controlling the payouts. What a turn off for those
players just beginning their journey into this game.
Let me share some of the feedback that I am hearing from
Las Vegas locals and visitors alike who play in casinos
with what used to be friendly and playable craps tables.
A player makes two points rather quickly and then
receives a warning from the stickman about hitting the
back wall, which she does because we always promote the
"endeavor to hit the back wall" mantra. Or, after one
roll, the pit boss will come over to the shooter and in
a very aggressive way state that if so much as one die
does not hit the back wall they can no longer play
there. I mean really, who would want to shoot in that
environment?
It was just year, that their own gaming consultants
concluded that dice influencers were good for the game.
Dicesetters are the games most passionate fans. If the
casino management makes the decision that they must
mistreat us, how long before encouragement become
discouragement? Then who will stand and encourage the
players to drop their money on the table?
I do understand that as the economy changes, so does the
playing climate in the casino. In my view, the casinos
are in a state of financial flux just like every other
business and they are confused and demoralized. And, The
casino personnel are behaving as if the financial crisis
is in a state of permanence. This has caused some
general grumpiness among the craps floor management as
they take on a fear based arrogance that is being
expressed to certain players in the dice community.,
These same players are the very ones who are doing their
best to bring new players to the tables.
During my last visit to Bellagio, I was saddened to be
informed by a floor supervisor sitting "box" that some
of my favorite box men have been laid off. Perhaps the
grumpiness is hinged to changes in job description.
Unfortunately, the floor staff are now required to do
the work of two, as they sit box. The word from the
lucky few dealers that still have a job is that some
casinos have eliminated employee health insurance
benefits. While some other casinos have dropped 401K
matching contributions.
Over on the Harrah's side, with the stroke of a computer
key, casino marketing has eliminated complimentary
offers. The list of items the casino management is
cutting out in an effort to financially survive
continues to grow. Those casinos in that group are
taking the opportunity to misinform our playing
community that dice setting is banned in Nevada. This is
totally untrue and is based on fear and anger the pit
people feel from having their jobs on the line if the
payout percentages are affected.
And so it goes. The playing climate has changed and with
this change so will the patron's "drop." Casinos vie for
that "drop" known as your buy in. If the casino staff's
unfriendly behavior continues the "drop" will be
dropping and not in a good way. There won't be anything
to payout if the casino doesn't get our "drop." There is
a contradiction in this situation somewhere.
By the way, I'm surprised to know that a lot of players
in our community don't know what the "drop" means as it
relates to the craps world. Just exactly what does the
drop mean to a craps game? Well, if you are playing it
has to do with the average return on the money you
gamble with that the casino keeps as profit. If you are
a casino, I would think that it should mean a lot.
Data mined from the casino players is evaluated on a
routine basis. And, in this economy, the "drop" and
"result" are dropping. "Drop" is casino speak for the
amount of money we craps players drop on the table's
come line to buy in to the game. "Result" is the amount
of money kept by the craps table after the day or the
game is over for a particular shift. With these two
figures the determination of the daily Payout Percentage
can be calculated. The casinos don't want to pay the
player anymore than they have to during these
financially trying times. The drop and the result play a
significant part in calculating what the casino gets to
keep after players are done playing.
So sadly, casinos misinforming and misguiding players at
the craps tables is "money dropped." Not on their
tables, that is.
Soft Touch
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Chasing your losses is like chasing a wild goose. - From Wit & Wisdom To Help You Win, by John Gollehon - |
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