mike_from_tulsa , Oklahoma casinos

Mike,

Are there many Indian casinos using SD?

In other words what ratio of casinos in Oklahoma have shoe and what is the percentage of single decks in those casinos?

Count Blackjacula

The tribes must have read some books or hired consultants (or listened to the ShuffleMaster salesman), 'cause right from the start, players had to watch out for CSMs mixed in with the 6 deck shoe tables. And almost every shoe table has an ASM, which is good for fast play and bad for shuffle trackers.

I have yet to see a real SD game, just 6:5. A few places offer DD on a table or two. Unfortunately, I'd say it's 95% or more shoe and/or CSM. I'm really hoping that as they gain experience, they'll add more DD tables.

The real trick to playing in Oklahoma is finding a place and time when a casino is offering "free" ante. As part of the compromise to get around issues on Class II versus Class III gaming, all table games in Oklahoma collect an ante which goes into a prize pool at each casino. IIRC, the ante is $.25 on bets under $3, $.50 for $3 to $50, and $1 for bets $50 and up. Well, $.50 on a $10 bet is a whopping 5% drain on your bankroll. (Common max bet is $500, so $1 ante on $500 is only 0.2%, which is a more manageable drain, if someone can afford the bankroll to bet that high constantly.) So playing during the times when the casino pays the ante for you makes all the difference.

Mike_from_Tulsa,

That's terrible that they haven't loosened up and shown greater gamble and sport. Sounds like they are as tight as the Silver Club in Reno. I was hoping to move back there for awhile after 'tornado season' as there is something I rather like about Oklahoma. A few people from there claimed the casino industry in Oklahoma offered the same things as Nevada. But from your observation, one would be giving up too much of a percentage.

If you ever get out this way, try east to west on I-80(Wendover, Elko, mabe north to Jackpot). Look over Lake Tahoe and you'll think you are in BLACKJACK HEAVEN when you play Reno.

They want to attract more tourists and ploppys by offering SD and DD, although Harrah's is about the worst place to play here.

Though I hate it, they are offering true BS type games; that 6 to 5 BJ game we all hate the change that's going down.

Sienna offers double down on anything without 6 to 5; but they have security walk around you intimidating you if you take em for more than three hundred.

Good Luck,

Count Blackjacula

Million Dollar Elm - Sand Springs will be revamping their table games area April 16th-20th. I'll plan to visit on the weekend of 21st-22nd and report back any improvements.