Harrah's destroys Horseshoe

As I'm sure most of you know, Harrah's has taken over the fabled Horseshoe in downtown Las Vegas, previously the temple of Single Deck Blackjack. Harrah's has reopened the Horseshoe WITHOUT the favorable single deck. Following is an excerpt from the Sunday, April 25 Philadelphia Inquirer, in an article about the re-opening:

<The casino still has a handful of single-deck games, but there is a key difference; the house pays winners 6-to-5 rather than the traditional 3-to-2 on a blackjack - when the first two cards dealt to the player are an ace and a 10 or a face card (which counts as 10). While the difference may seem small, blackjack experts say the change takes away a game that had been nearly an even-odds proposition (when played correctly), and gives a decided advantage to the house. Other blackjack games at the Horseshoe now are either two- or six-deck versions.

"We're getting some feedback that the 6-5 game would make old Benny Binion roll over in his grave," said new general manager Wade Faul. "But the truth is that the tables are occupied." And, Faul added, the single-deck game recalled by the Binion faithful is nearly extinct in Vegas.

Such a game attracts skilled blackjack players who can shave the house edge to a sliver or even gain an advantage, and casinos can't make much money.

"It's not realistic," Faul said. "You just can't offer that game any more." >>

What infuriates me is that idiot players continue to patronize these non-blackjack rip-off games. I sent an email to Wade Faul and received the following reply:
<< I appreciate the feedback about 6:5 single-deck blackjack. I can assure you
that we are still offering many blackjack tables with traditional blackjack
rules. The 6:5 game appears to be in strong demand by some players and we will
continue to offer it as long as that demand exists. In the meantime, I hope you
will find your game of choice at Binion's Horseshoe.

Sincerely,

Wade D. Faul
Vice President of Operations
Binion's Horseshoe

May I suggest that EVERY ONE OF YOU WHO READS THIS EMAIL send your opinions to Wade Faul at wfaul@lvrio.harrahs.com

Lets not take this lying down.

I think Mr Faul said the most important thing: people (fools) are playing 6/5 and basically as long as they do, why in the world should he get rid of it, not because a bunch of AP's want to make money?

If you send an e-mail and Harrahs/Binions has a history on you as a good to advantage player, your e-mail will generate a laugh and self congratulations (the, hey we kept that bum out of here type laugh) Need some spys and get the names of some big Horseshoe loosers and have them send the e-mails, make reservations and then cancel them because they found out about 6/5, or you send them in their names.
Any disgruntled Horseshoe, Harrahs, or any other 6/5 casino marketing employee with a good list of loosers can be a valuable friend.

We could also just make hundreds of reservations and just cancel them but make sure we let them know why.

I do not think you can expect any casino to get rid of a game just for the honor of saying that they only have good games in their house. They are in this to make money, and only by educating the uneducated tourist who is playing 6/5 can we reduce the number of fools on these tables and kill this game.

I was at the Horseshoe about ten days ago. The tables in the front (i.e. right off Fremont Street) were 6:5 but in the back they were 3:2.

"They" (whoever they is) said the place had been completely remodeled but really it looks the same as before only with a lot less tables. The craps has gone from $1-$3 to $10 on at least one table.
I can't see how this ($10 craps)will work at the Horseshoe.

Many of the locals places off strip try to offer the 6-5, but what Ive seen is a clientele that is just smart enough to not play it (and why do it when you have a nice low limit well cut double deck with good rules). Of course the strip/downtown places are still herding in the ploppies to this 6-5 like cattle ranchers, but hopefully the trend of slower 6-5 tables at the offstrip places is a sign that word will spread. Of course for anybody who spreads green or black, these same places pretty much wont tolerate your play, but if you are a beginning red chip player, it would be worth it to rent a car (if you dont drive in) get a map, and go nuts.

Enjoy.

D

Caesars Entertainment reported that the first quarter 2004 had the best earnings since 9-11.

However, the individual casino result were interesting. The following is from the Las Vegas Review article dated 4-23-04 titled "CASINO EARNINGS: Analysts hail Caesars".

At the Caesars properties which have been heavily promoting the 6:5 game an analyst gave the following quote, "Goldman Sachs analyst Steve Kent pointed out that Paris Las Vegas and Bally's both had gaming volumes declined despite strong hotel operations."

At the Caesars property which removed the 6:5 games, "Nevertheless, he added, improved casino operations at Caesars Palace more than compensated for that slippage. Barr said the company is deliberately consolidating casino play at Caesars Palace to improve efficiencies and to avoid cannibalizing its own customer base."

Also note the property which Caesars Propertied sold, The Las Vegas Hilton, is the only property in which they installed the silly mindplay tables. Gaming revenues also have declined at the Hilton and Caesars Place has been openly attempting to move their best customers from the Hilton to the Place.

I believe someone at the Caesars Place understand that long term gamblers will not play bad games.

I too was at Harrashoe about 10 days ago. Their SD is all 6:5. Two DD's in back, and dozens of shoe games were (still) 3:2. Did find a 6:5 DD at O'Shea's on the strip...FULLY EMPTY!

phantom007.

...even in '02 Tamburin was trying to warn the plopps. Kind of a good overview of all the rip off games..

http://tamburin.casinocitytimes.com/articles/1321.html