On a recent Saturday night at a crowded Riverboat casino. Only $5 table was using the casino's only CSM. Only 2-4 players there every time I looked.
Meanwhile, the $10 tables were all pretty full (6d shoes). Of course, usually you would expect to see it jam-packed at the $5 table with slightly less traffic at the $10 tables but here it was the opposite thanks to the CSM.
This is great news and I wonder if other advantage players have made similar observations as to the average ploppy's aversion to the CSM. I didn't specifically approach any players with their thoughts on the CSM's. Just observed that nobody wanted to play them at this particular casino. I'd be willing to bet that several players simply trust or ar more comfortable with a hand shuffle (or even an automated shuffler where they can at least see the cards) more than a CSM.
Obviously, this casino will likely not be going to an all CSM format any time soon because nobody wanted to touch it even though it was the only $5 table in the whole place.
Also, there is a popular misconception in shoe play to bring out the big bets for the last couple hands. I've seen several players ask if this was the last hand and then everyone raised their bet 3x or so while I held steady at 1 unit thanks to a minus-count or low Aces remaining.
Thus, the casinos were actually making money from the ploppies faster despite the time lost for the hand-shuffle. I think players on CSM's are more likely to keep their bets lower, especially since they are not able to try to "take advantage" of the last hand of the shoe.
My other theory - If casinos got rid of counters entirely (by CSM's or other methods) they would miss an opportunity to maximie their profits.
1. Most counters aren't that good and often times overbet thus losing their bankroll faster then they would if they were just flat-betting. These counters should be welcomed with open-arms.
2. The reputation that blackjack is a beatable game attracts the ploppies. Implement the CSM's and quickly the repuation is gone.
3. Quality counters who are able to take a few bucks here and there serve as a positive advertisment to sit down at the game.
In other words, if you're a ploppy or a first-time player, you are more likely to play if you see at least one player has a modest stack of chips. If it's a table full of ploppies all clinging to their last 5 chips you are not as likely to join the game.
I have had several occassions where a ploppy has told me he was staying at the game because I was obviously bringing good luck to the table. Nevermind the fact that I was the only one at the table who was winning.
One time this guy was happily losing his green's and I was grinding away the red's. When I cashed out, he decided to call it a night also because the good-luck charm was leaving. I was +100 or so and he was probably down 500 but I think he would have bought in for more if I had stayed.
