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Are table games as popular as they were ten, twenty, or even thirty years ago?
I've not been to Las Vegas for some time, but based on what I see at tribal casinos there no longer seems to be as many blackjack or craps players as I once saw.
So I wonder: are table games holding their own, waxing, or waning in popularity?
As a whole I don't know the answer. Probably about the same.Quote:
Originally Posted by MisterV
But there are a lot more variety and new games popping up all the time. A whole new industry exclusively about getting their new games approved and on the floor.
So it may be the same number of table games, but far less of the old traditional games, blackjack, craps, roulette and that is very bad for me. A casino is still going to have blackjack of course, but a mid size casino will have 2 or 3 tables, maybe a few more on weekends when as recently as 10 years ago, they had 8 or 10.
What got me thinking about this was the comment that there are not many newbies asking questions on the boards about BJ, for example.
Of course there are several possible reasons for this, including declining numbers of new players, or aversion to the rough and tumble of message boards, or the availability of info from other online sources.
But it is my impression that BJ is not as popular as it once was: same with craps.
Absolutely, MisterV. There used to be 3 types of table games, now there are 10 or more.Quote:
Originally Posted by MisterV
As for forums, the reason there are far less real AP's sharing anything on these forums, is because of what they have become. A few of us remain, wade through, participate in the drama, but most have moved on to private membership forums that aren't open to the public, where they share experiences with one another. The kind of forums where one or more members has to vouch for you to become a member. Unfortuantely for the newer players that excludes them and means they no longer have access to many real players. Instead they are bombarded with magical progression systems, and all kind of goofy baccarat system sand guys claiming all kind of riches.
I honestly don't know where a newer player interested in learning to play some different casino games at an advantage can go today to begin to learn some of that. Maybe a $5000 "boot camp" or seminar or something. :(
Carnival games are taking over.
I believe there are multiple factors in play that is leading to a reduction in table games overall, and more carnival games as others have said.
Corporations continue to find more ways to cut costs while struggling to find employees. Obviously slots take less people to operate and have a higher profit margin, which makes the decision easier. Reports are also (at least on the strip) table minimums are increasing. KJ and others thoughts on that would be interesting.
And we know the carnival games with side bets have much higher holds and are far less likely to have players that play perfect strategy. So the profits in theory will be higher than a BJ table on average with the same labor of 1 dealer. And it seems the more opportunity for a big hit is what the younger crowd is looking for, which is why you see these progressive long shot bets on the carnival games. Along with higher possible non jackpots wins for certain hands compared to BJ. 3/2, or mainly 6/5 is nothing exciting to today’s action junkies.
And games that are considered classic like Roulette are being changed to Triple zero to increase the hold with little pushback from players. Like 6/5, look at a casino offering both and there is little difference in how busy a table is. The majority still playing just doesn’t care. Look at all the hoopla over the “Claw” slot machine, the average casino customer has little concern about odds, payback, etc. They are looking for short term excitement.
The busiest slots at a casino are usually the newer licensed machines with probably the worst payback due to fees. You are hard pressed to find older single line classics anymore. Again it’s about excitement and instant gratification.
The world is changing as the younger generations are taking over and I see casinos and table games as just a small indicator of the rest of the world if you really look at it. Like KJ said, BJ won’t go away anytime soon but the reduction in the amount tables of will continue.
I've suggested to tribal casinos and I now will suggest here that Las Vegas casinos consider opening up a new section containing only the old games, e.g. three reelers like Double Diamond etc.
They could call it "Retro Slots" or maybe "Old School Slots."
I hate the new games and never play them.
Eastside cannery used to have a retro section of older coin dropper machines (the kind you feed to nickles in)
Jerry's nugget also, including the diamond slot machines as well as old machines that had cherries and lemons. There would be old lady's with fingers that were literally gray from the coins sitting with a bucket. The section was near what used to be a main enterance right off of Las vegas Blvd. They closed that enterance after several snatch and grabs of buckets of coin and running right out the door.
Of course Eastside cannery never re-opened after covid and haven't been to jerry's nugget since before covid.
At one time in Oklahoma all you seen were the Class II slots (bingo slots, non random). But they have been mostly shoved aside in the Indian casinos for the newer Class III games. The Class III now dominates but the Class II still has a presence. These Class II's are old three reelers. The Indians pay no tax on Class II win, but pay about 6% for Class III win. Even with that incentive to keep the Class II's, the Class III's still dominate. That has to mean they make more money with Class III than Class II.Quote:
Originally Posted by MisterV
Grand Casino Shawnee is pretty big. They have a lot of old Class III's that have been moved to the outer locations of the building. They are old three reelers that have been moved as the new machines come in. Those areas don't get much action unless the main area is packed.
For the most part the public likes the new slots over the old three reelers.
I'd sure hate to see the three reel games become a thing of the past.
Maybe instead of a separate room the casinos could set aside a section of the floor for the older slots.
Keep them together, maybe with a sign saying "three reel slots."
Roulette Games are doing well at my Local Casinos.... But the Craps Game is usually empty.....
Wealthy gamblers, not just older ones, love the three reel slots. Not really sure why but I don't see them leaving HL rooms any time soon.Quote:
Originally Posted by MisterV