...in order to keep the mystique of what's really happening below.
There is no fun in magic once the trick is figured out.
Same thing with the CSMs, once you figure out what is really happening below the surface.
The local casinos have CSMs. They also have 3:2 blackjack. Why not 6:5?
Go figure...the magic...!!! Local casinos are making their numbers.
...have been on the rise lately. Not that anybody should be playing at Harrah's anyway, but I'm sure this will become standard procedure there, no doubt. I've heard reports of this throughout the country, so its not just happening in one location.
I don't think its anything to freak out about though, the improvising AP will realize the many ways around this. For example, I have developed a prototype count system that provides 100% accuracy at TC's +1 through +5, with absolutely no deck estimation required whatsoever. This is an expert level system, and is by no means "easy" to implement (is UAPC or AOII?), but if these counter-measures do become the standard, I'll sure as hell resort to using it before going and getting a real job.
ANS
I have played in the Northwest and in Nevada and have not seen an increase in CSM's. The ploppies in your location may very well be starting to accept CSM's now that they have been around for over 10 years. It is possible that we are seeing different things in different places. From my experience, ploppies believe that there is some mystical "flow" to the cards and also do not like to play against CSM's.
As for covered shoes and discard trays, these would require a counter to keep track of the number of decks played by some method other then estimating discards IF they are using a balanced count, which would not be very difficult. I say again, this does not have a serious negative impact on a counter. However, it may have a serious negative impact on the ploppies ability to trust the casino.
An unbalanced counting system is one where the total value of assigned tags does not equal zero. For KO, 2-7 are counted as +1, and tens and aces are -1. So, after counting down a deck, your running count will be 4.
Unbalanced counts do not require you to estimate remaining unplayed cards or make a TC conversion, because the running count naturally increases the farther that you get into the shoe. So, if you start with an initial count of -20 at the start of a 6 deck shoe, then as soon as your running count gets to +4, you will on average be at a similar advantage as a Hilo TC of +4, regardless of where you are at in the shoe.
I also play in the NW, and I have seen no CSMs in Oregon or Washington. Also, covering the discard tray is no big deal. Just learn an unbalanced count, or learn to estimate the decks remaining by number of hands played (which is probably more accurate than eyeballing the discard tray anyway).
I just got back from Reno and saw 90% single deck games. I have never seen a covered shoe / discard tray.
I actually have seen 2 CSM's in Washington. One place tried one for a couple weeks, then got rid of it. Another place moved it over to the Spanish 21 table, because nobody would play it on the BJ table. Oh, I think I have also seen continuous shufflers on Pai Gow tables. They spit out little packets of 7 cards at a time.
Needless to say, I haven't started to panic yet.
you will. and so will Voltaire
This sounds like the typical railbirds who blab about the nasty droppings they cast upon us card counters. They know nothing about card counting and dont understand that if a casino hides cards an unbalanced count system is a simple solution and easier to use.
Railbirds never get off the ground. It cant be the end for them because they never left the nest. They are still babybirds in infancy who cant fly. They much enjoy flopping,chirping and casting droppings of dribble.
Lets see, BJ brings in a huge portion of casino revenues and ploppies don't play CSM's (at least they haven't for the past 10 years, maybe there has been a sudden attitude change recently in certain parts of the country). So if casino's are bringing in CSM's to all BJ tables, then the people who need to panic are in casino management.
Of course, they may just start covering up the shoes and discards (oh, and also get rid of the single deck and double deck games that ploppies prefer). This would force card counters to use easier unbalanced counts and allow them to spend more time/effort on the finer points of card counting. I don't see this as a problem either. Maybe I'm just an optimist, but I would rather worry about things that are actually happening.
I've been counting for 5 years and have done quite well. I will not play against a CSM; I prefer double deck. I was in Vegas for New Year's 2002 (comp'd at the Golden Nugget) and complained to the pit boss about the CSM's and he told me to get used to them because within 6 months, that is all I'd see in Vegas. I was back in Vegas the following May and immediately noticed all the CSM's were gone from the Golden Nugget. I asked the friendly pit boss what happened. He told me, "The dealers hate them, and even the novices rarely play against them." "Dealers hate them because there are no breaks and much less tipping than with conventional dealing." My experience in Vegas (I go about 6 times per year.) are that CSM's are on their way out. I was told the casinos lease these machines and most of them are being stored in warehouses. The best place to play currently is at the Mirage at a double deck green chip table. Surrender is allowed, splitting and doubling on any two cards is allowed and dealer standson a soft 17. Penetration is 1 3/4 decks. Have fun!
...these trolling railbirds.
The sad part is this is actually considered terrible news to the railbirds. They refuse to accept that csms are not a warm welcome to the public.
The player has the right to be able to see all the cards that are in play, all the time. Far as I am concerned, it is never appropriate to hide cards, whether in the shoe, the discard pile, or in the innards of a CSM. I think this is a matter that deserves legislative attention.
Is there a PAC that represents the interests of gamers? Should we have a PAC? Do we know anybody in the Nevada legislature? (I know Nevada can't do anything about Harrah's elsewhere, but it seems like the logical place to start).
