Casino Table Minimums

[mz-s]

2 hours ago, bstel said:

I just got off the Pride this past weekend.  Blackjack was $10 min on 6/5 and $25 min on 3/2.  All tables were continuous shufflers.  They also raised the minimum on the Lucky Lady side bet from $1 to a new $5/$10 option with a jackpot (not that I play that crap anyways, such a sucker bet).

 

When I cruised last year on the Pride, in March, it was still $5 blackjack minimums.

 

Also, what the hell is up with the epidemic of people staying on a hard 16 against a dealer showing 10?  Also had numerous comments, from players, on whether to hit or not depending on what happened the hand before, using a continuous shuffler or what happened to the guys hand to the right of him.  And one guy quoting that "the card" said to hit/not hit on a certain hand, and being totally wrong.  I had to leave the tables a few times because no one was playing anything close to the basic strategy, and was making by blood pressure rise.

 

Still ended up $100 in the black by the end of the trip, so consider that a win for hours of entertainment with a few extra bucks in my pocket.

 

We were all new at one time. My first time playing blackjack was on a Carnival cruise and I imagine that's true for many others.

[ronandcarla]

On 12/22/2022 at 6:24 PM, cruisingguy007 said:

 

Then they wonder why folks aren't so enthusiastic about Vegas anymore. Between the $20 for a basic meal, high table minimums, slow drink service, $15-$20 bar drinks etc, it's lost its luster. You can get a great room rate and flights are still cheap (sometimes) but that's about it. They've priced a lot of folks out and many that go now play, eat and buy off the strip with many long time gamblers avoiding the strip altogether. Even CES was a bust in 2022, it will be interesting to see if 2023 is bust also, I predict it will be with all this flu/covid/sickness going around.  

As for the Las Vegas part of the story, years and years ago we stayed one time up on the strip, too much walking for us and we were young.  With all that said we prefer downtown and the Golden Nugget is for us. Walk outside for musical entertainment, walk up and down the enclosed street and you'll see all of the walking by entertainment you could want, food is always affordable and plenty of places to choose from and as a craps player, more than enough casinos to play in.  

[ninjacat123]

11 hours ago, ronandcarla said:

As for the Las Vegas part of the story, years and years ago we stayed one time up on the strip, too much walking for us and we were young.  With all that said we prefer downtown and the Golden Nugget is for us. Walk outside for musical entertainment, walk up and down the enclosed street and you'll see all of the walking by entertainment you could want, food is always affordable and plenty of places to choose from and as a craps player, more than enough casinos to play in.  

DH and I stayed at the Tropicana back in the early 90's.  I wanted to stay there because the Trop had a swim-up blackjack bar.  I played $20, lost pretty quickly and hung out by the pool.  Quite a hike to anything else back then. This week I saw the Trop torn down on tv. RIP Tropicana!

[PlanoTim]

On 3/20/2024 at 3:04 PM, tha sista said:

I have the same observation on the Vista. Staying on 15 and 16 with dealer 10 showing. A couple of these guys were playing $50 and $100 a hand. I couldn’t take it and walked away. 

I don’t gamble much.  I have nothing against it, just doesn’t trip my trigger.  So this question is to help me understand better - not a challenge.  What does it matter to the other players if someone stays on 15 & 16 against a dealer showing 10?  I mean isn’t it their card to take or not?  I know they may be sitting upstream from you and it could impact the cards you end up getting.  But you don’t know what the next card is and neither do they.  Isn’t it their option?  As I said, I’m just trying to understand.  Thanks.

[tha sista]

1 minute ago, PlanoTim said:

I don’t gamble much.  I have nothing against it, just doesn’t trip my trigger.  So this question is to help me understand better - not a challenge.  What does it matter to the other players if someone stays on 15 & 16 against a dealer showing 10?  I mean isn’t it their card to take or not?  I know they may be sitting upstream from you and it could impact the cards you end up getting.  But you don’t know what the next card is and neither do they.  Isn’t it their option?  As I said, I’m just trying to understand.  Thanks.

Completely fair question.  For me, there is nothing more satisfying than sitting at a full blackjack table when everyone plays "right".  I could be wrong, but everyone's odds are better in this case.  I am a rule follower, so I try to play by the rules of the game.  I guess I twitch just a tad when blatantly obvious bad plays are made.  This is my problem and no one elses.  That said you are absolutely correct.  They are their hands to play.  I just don't have to stay and suffer the downstream consequences, therefore I don't.

[mz-s]

2 minutes ago, PlanoTim said:

I don’t gamble much.  I have nothing against it, just doesn’t trip my trigger.  So this question is to help me understand better - not a challenge.  What does it matter to the other players if someone stays on 15 & 16 against a dealer showing 10?  I mean isn’t it their card to take or not?  I know they may be sitting upstream from you and it could impact the cards you end up getting.  But you don’t know what the next card is and neither do they.  Isn’t it their option?  As I said, I’m just trying to understand.  Thanks.

 

If a player at the table hits when they shouldn't, they'll sometimes bust and take the card from the shoe that could have caused the dealer to bust.

[PlanoTim]

41 minutes ago, mz-s said:

 

If a player at the table hits when they shouldn't, they'll sometimes bust and take the card from the shoe that could have caused the dealer to bust.

Yep, I get that.  But I still figure that is their card to take or not.  This comes from a non-gambler, so I may just not "get it" because of my inexperience.  If I were to take a seat at the table (as a noob), should I take the last spot so it doesn't impact others as much?

[tha sista]

1 minute ago, PlanoTim said:

Yep, I get that.  But I still figure that is their card to take or not.  This comes from a non-gambler, so I may just not "get it" because of my inexperience.  If I were to take a seat at the table (as a noob), should I take the last spot so it doesn't impact others as much?

Honestly if you’re new and want to sit down the last seat may not be available. If you are interested in playing and are willing to receive guidance just ask. Most of the players are very friendly. Heck even the dealers will help if you ask. OTOH if you want to muddle your way through and make a bunch of bozo plays some players may get up and leave.  You are correct it is your hand to play. 

[PlanoTim]

6 minutes ago, tha sista said:

Honestly if you’re new and want to sit down the last seat may not be available. If you are interested in playing and are willing to receive guidance just ask. Most of the players are very friendly. Heck even the dealers will help if you ask. OTOH if you want to muddle your way through and make a bunch of bozo plays some players may get up and leave.  You are correct it is your hand to play. 

Thanks.  I appreciate you time to help me understand.  My brother enjoys Blackjack and I'm sure he prefers a table where friendly folks are playing as expected.  I'll chat with him further about it sometime.

 

Now, can you explain to me in one sentence how to play Craps? 😁

[tha sista]

1 minute ago, PlanoTim said:

Thanks.  I appreciate you time to help me understand.  My brother enjoys Blackjack and I'm sure he prefers a table where friendly folks are playing as expected.  I'll chat with him further about it sometime.

 

Now, can you explain to me in one sentence how to play Craps? 😁

LOL no!  

[mz-s]

39 minutes ago, PlanoTim said:

Yep, I get that.  But I still figure that is their card to take or not.  This comes from a non-gambler, so I may just not "get it" because of my inexperience.  If I were to take a seat at the table (as a noob), should I take the last spot so it doesn't impact others as much?

 

If you don't know how to play it's better to ask than it is to play incorrectly. If you're not willing to play correctly then you are accepting that other players at the table may question your motives and or leave.

[john91498]

2 hours ago, tha sista said:

Honestly if you’re new and want to sit down the last seat may not be available. If you are interested in playing and are willing to receive guidance just ask. Most of the players are very friendly. Heck even the dealers will help if you ask. OTOH if you want to muddle your way through and make a bunch of bozo plays some players may get up and leave.  You are correct it is your hand to play. 

 

I can't tell you how many times I've seen people stay on 13 or 14...smh...

[mz-s]

58 minutes ago, john91498 said:

 

I can't tell you how many times I've seen people stay on 13 or 14...smh...

 

There when the dealer is showing a 2-6, staying on a 13 or 14 is the right play if you're following basic strategy.

[john91498]

2 minutes ago, mz-s said:

 

There when the dealer is showing a 2-6, staying on a 13 or 14 is the right play if you're following basic strategy.

 

it's usually when the dealer has a 17 or higher.

[mz-s]

2 minutes ago, john91498 said:

 

it's usually when the dealer has a 17 or higher.

 

🙄

[john91498]

exactly and it's annoying as heck. I don't mind helping out noobies, but they play on emotions...

[ChuckF]

I am less upset when someone doesn't hit, as opposed to taking a hit when they absolutely should not. 

[ChuckF]

On 4/1/2024 at 3:35 PM, PlanoTim said:

Thanks.  I appreciate you time to help me understand.  My brother enjoys Blackjack and I'm sure he prefers a table where friendly folks are playing as expected.  I'll chat with him further about it sometime.

 

Now, can you explain to me in one sentence how to play Craps? 😁

Roll the dice and hope you never roll a 7. 

[mz-s]

9 minutes ago, ChuckF said:

I am less upset when someone doesn't hit, as opposed to taking a hit when they absolutely should not. 

 

One of my favorite things to say to people asking for advice is "just let the dealer bust"

[aborgman]

On 4/1/2024 at 5:03 PM, mz-s said:

 

If you don't know how to play it's better to ask than it is to play incorrectly. If you're not willing to play correctly then you are accepting that other players at the table may question your motives and or leave.

 

My opinion on this is that all the "blackjack" rules are black and white - but the actual statistical odds are a continuum.

 

It means blackjack players often act like someone is doing something really awful - when their actual play is like 2% worse statistically.

 

About 90% of Blackjack players I've ever talked to about Blackjack - really don't seem to even understand basic statistics. They know what the book has trained them to be the right play - but couldn't mathematically show why what the book taught them was actually correct.

 

...but then, lots of folks believe a coin coming up heads 5 times in a row means a tail is more likely on the next toss.

[sparks1093]

My son mentioned that he might consider playing Hold Em when we cruise in a couple of weeks and he asked me what the minimums were. Can anyone help with that? I know a little about how it all works in a casino but certainly no expert (and would probably be booed off of the Black Jack table🤪).

[ninjacat123]

50 minutes ago, sparks1093 said:

My son mentioned that he might consider playing Hold Em when we cruise in a couple of weeks and he asked me what the minimums were. Can anyone help with that? I know a little about how it all works in a casino but certainly no expert (and would probably be booed off of the Black Jack table🤪).

I found this website https://www.247freepoker.com/

I have never played on it, but it says it's free🤷‍♀️😺