2017 Play....already been hammered at the end of 2016 in Macau. April beckons for me in Las Vegas, where I will spend pretty much all of April, with 50 nights being comped (2 rooms). I wonder how anyone can survive playing 3-6 hours a day minimum, for 25 nights straight. Perhaps I need distractions.
That is insane! 3-6 hours a day? Too much! You guys will be AMAZED at what you can accomplish in only 20 minute sessions! Sure, you might not win, but you certainly aren't gonna get your nuts clipped betting conservatively in 20 minute sessions. Problem is that everyone wants to swing for the fence, hoping for the home Runs, when in reality, the "walks", bunts, & base hits are just as profitable!
Believe me TableTop, if I can "bunt" along and survive 25 nights, with 50 comp nights, then I'll 'Bunt" along. Herein lies the problem....and one that is discussed heavily on other forums. "Comps". For me to achieve 50 nights of comps on the room alone, I'll need to play a certain number of hours to generate a Theo through which the host can apply 30-35% to comp me. Either that, or they generate a comp amount based on losses. 25 nights is a ridiculously long time in Vegas. No one I've ever known has been able to walk away with a profit with that extended length of time in town. The best thing a Casino wants you to do when you win, is come back tomorrow... Now, the best advice I've received years back is that if you make money on the 1st night, then simply withdraw your comp rooms and pay for them. Don't get pressurised. Great advice...except my flying time to Vegas is about 22 hours, and I'm not going to sit around for 24 days without playing craps!!!
How does Macau compare to Vegas in regards to craps? Table minimums/maximums, etc. Isn't Baccarat the big game over there?
Macau and Craps. It's a joke actually. There are less craps tables in all of Macau than in the Bellagio Casino Las Vegas. Macau itself is 7-8 times the gaming revenue of Las Vegas however. Table Minimum is HK$100 for the City of Dreams ($13) during the week day. Most of the tables are HK$200 minimum (US$26) with a maximum per number of HK$10,000 (listed) but I've seen more being put on numbers by the regulars. The table in the new Parisian Casino is HK$300 minimum. It's a hard game to win, especially with the way most play out there. Most who play are regular. Very regular... They even put their own bets on the numbers themselves and adjust the amount as the game is played (a no no in Vegas). Most play all across and press until the 7 shows. I've seen HK$5m won, but I mostly see losses pile up. I watch as most get the 4 and 10 to max bet as quickly as possible. Superstition is rife. There are a few players that throw consistently (I won't say DI) and care about their throw. The tables are no way the quality of Vegas. The best story is on the Galaxy Casino. They had a 3/4 table once (about 3 years ago). One night a guy (foreigner) came in a supposedly won US$1m on the table. After he lost his roll, they closed the table, broke it up and took it away from the floor !! They don't do craps anymore... The Wynn casinos also don't offer craps in either of their spankingly beautiful properties. Casinos: City of Dreams: Two (HK$100 minimum during week days. HK$200 at weekends) MGM: One (HK$200 minimum( Sands Himalaya: One (HK$300 minimum) Sands Venetian: One (HK$200 minimum and it's frequented by Chinese Mainland Gawkers who push to see what's going on). Sands Plaza (inside 4 seasons Hotel): Best table for quality - One. HK$200 minimum and only open on the weekend. Sands Parisian: One HK$300 minimum Apparently Studio City have one now as well (can't verify). And that's it. Odds - same as Vegas 3-4-5 (exception is City of Dreams which is 5x as standard), except no bingo bets like AT/AS or Firebet. Baccarat - the big game is an understatement. I usually see players bet on the ground floor an average of HK$5,000 a hand - and that's an average player. Most tables are HK$2000 to $3000 minimum bet. (that's US$250 - 350 minimum bet). Blackjack - usually 2-4 tables in each casino. That's all. Minimum is HK$500 which is packed. HK$1000 is what you usually see (so it's already high limit compared to Vegas and it's a continuous shuffle machine). This town is about Baccarat. It's not Vegas. It's not even close.
I can see why you're ready for a month in Vegas. Thanks for the great report on Macau craps! Best luck to you in Vegas! There are lots of distractions in Vegas, if your table time isn't paying off.
1st one of the new year was a <1 hour detour on the way home from the office. Not much going on there when I arrived at around 5PM, with only a couple of tables working and some of my least favorite crew. I am not too difficult to get along with, but just about every dealer that has rubbed me the wrong way over the years was working, and none of the majority of dealers I look forward to BS'ing with were there. No problems with anyone today, but a lot of the same old same old with the results. The one bet at a time play has been resulting in nothing, a waste of time. Records over a long time have consistently shown that I can get into at least the start of my progressive betting between 30-40% of sessions. Lately, can't seem to manage even starting this, which requires getting ahead by at least $75. Have only managed this 5 times in the past 30. Currently at -100 on the year, but am not ready to give up playing yet. You'd think that getting in to play a lot less frequently over the past year would make playing more interesting, but can't say that it has. It sucks to struggle and then to lose, especially when piddling around with 5 and 10 dollar bets. Give me some good news. Dave?
Sounds to me like you need a change in betting strategies , and based on what I am reading from your posts I would think that maybe you are too conservative > That's just my opinion from reading your posts It seems to me like you may be playing a little scared , not so much scared about the money , maybe just hate to lose Just an observation
James, I know from observation that no one plays the game like I do. It is not often interesting play. However, my only two personal concerns when playing are to minimize amount lost and maximize amount won, and I have NOT found a better way to always do at least one of these things while possibly doing both. For me, this amounts to one bet at a time with aggressive progression when ahead. To each his own.
kokojoe-you aren't like most posters on this board. youre one of the few that doesn't post bullshit. good luck buddy, still hoping we can hook up somewhere in PA this winter or spring.
Hi Koko Played New Year's.I did not shoot and played $44 inside coming down on the 5&9 on first hit ($10 min).Only 20% of the time got that second hit which is dreadful because the short hands have a way of appearing.Will get back to playing with me shooting.But yes- no fun to lose! I wish that I could give you a suggestion to your play.Respecting your one bet play- I would only place a come bet if the shooter repeated a hit on a box number- especially looking for someone who could hit the 4&10!
Yesterday's play was unlike any I have ever seen. Almost all winners were the result of parlayed naturals, and very few involved odds. Got there around 3:30 and went out on the Pass to see two quick 5 flat/20 odds losers and then three straight come out craps losers. Down $65 in a flash. Each of the next three shooters made at least 3 points in a row.. One of them had 4, because they had to pay out a lot of fire bet winners. I was about the only person NOT paid there. What is interesting is that there were loads of come out winners, and EVERY one of them was parlayed, and EVERY one of them hit. Took a decent amount of money off the table during this run, and only two of the winning points were sitting with odds. When I had a quarter out, here comes the natural. Let the 50 ride, and saw another natural. Went to 50, hit another natural, let it ride, then a point comes out, no odds on the parlay and the point comes back. Same thing at $75, then at $100. Talk about seeing the 7 at the right time. Since the naturals were showing like a whore at a convention, I was purposely keeping my flat bets as large as possible, so would only play double odds when a point came out. Turned my $300 into $570, so not too shabby. I believe I was ahead by as much as $450, but stayed to shoot and shouldn't have. Headed home at around 4:30, so wasn't there more than an hour.
Heading up to 'The Woods' today for some lunch at The Golden Dragon and some gaming. Hopfully I can match you koko. 777