JMT, sorry to be late with this response but I just reread your question and will take a stab at an answer.

As far as I am aware, blackjack is the only casino game that has recently changed in an effort to decrease the Player's advantage.

By a casino's refusal to pay 3-2 for a blackjack, the House Percentage is raised considerably. I'm sorry that I don't have that figure at my fingertips but I'll do my best to find it or compute it if no one comes to my assistance here.

To the best of my knowledge .... The only other casino "game" that the casinos could tamper with to raise the House Advantage (Percentage) would be with the slots. For example ... Instrad of a 95% payback a casino could lower that payback to 85%.

How they accomplish that ... I don't know. Can those chips be changed overnight?

Is anyone aware if the Gaming Commission has any control over slot paybacks?

I recently had a brief discussion with a slot mechanic (a licensed, legal mechanic) and asked him if there was a central point within the casino where someone could push a button to reset the 'return percentage'.

He said, "No, but we are working towards the ability to do that!"

And another avid slot enthusiast told me that all the slot machines in the Aria casino are hooked up to a central location where such a 'button' exists right now.

Interesting stuff that I'd like to know more about.

But to get back to your question, I am not aware of any other casino game in which the payoffs have been significantly readjusted for the benefit of the house.

If you know differently, please advise so I can have another subject to complain about.

BTW.. they no longer check for ID's when entering the remodeled bar at Ellis Island. (Unless you look underage of course!)

Either the Commission changed the rules to check ID's regardless of age or they are in violation or just don't give a darn.

Personally.... I think that stupidity was overcome.

.

JMT, the following may be of interest to some of us TalkVegas fans ...

The Nevada Gaming Control Board breaks down its Las Vegas slot statistics by area and not by individual properties.

The areas are:

1. The Strip
2. Downtown
3. Boulder Strip
4. North Las Vegas

The annual gaming revenue report for the period beginning July 1, 2008 and ending June 30, 2009 is shown as follows: (Sorry but I cannot locate the up to date stats.)

Slot payback is the overall percentage that a machine will return to the player in the long run. These figures are programmed into the machines computer chip and are set by the manufacturer to the specifications that the casino wishes to use for that machine. This may be anywhere from 75 to 99 percent. Some states regulate the minimum payback that a machine can return

1¢ Slot Machines
The Strip - 88.35% payback
Downtown - 88.68% payback
Boulder Strip - 90.03% payback
N. Las Vegas - 90.69% payback

5¢ Slot Machines
The Strip - 89.23% payback
Downtown - 91.12% payback
Boulder Strip - 95.41% payback
N. Las Vegas - 94.81% payback

25¢ Slot Machines
The Strip - 91.93% payback
Downtown - 94.54% payback
Boulder Strip - 96.82% payback
N. Las Vegas - 96.44% payback

$1 Slot Machines
The Strip - 93.65% payback
Downtown -95.38% payback
Boulder Strip - 96.77% payback
N. Las Vegas - 96.89% payback

$1 Megabucks Machines
The Strip - 88.06% payback
Downtown - 89.04% payback
Boulder Strip - 90.77.48% payback
N. Las Vegas - 90.01% payback

$5 Slot Machines
The Strip - 94.84% payback
Downtown - 95.11% payback
Boulder Strip - 96.02% payback
N. Las Vegas - 94.75% payback

$25 Slot Machines
The Strip - 96.16% payback
Downtown - 96.38% payback
Boulder Strip - 95.42% payback
N. Las Vegas - N/A

All Slot Machines
The Strip - 92.98% payback
Downtown - 93.42% payback
Boulder Strip - 94.96% payback
N. Las Vegas - 94.36% payback

BUT you gotta remember this! These stats are computed over the long run and an hour or two of slot play a day is definitely not Long Run which complicates the use of stats to figure an individual's expected return percentage.

That is why most of us play for the fun of playing. And that is why slot machine manufactures are making games that are definitely more fun to play.

For example, I love those little Alien Moo Cow critters, while others prefer to follow Dorothy into the land of Oz or spin those globes in the newest Star Wars bandit.

Vodka martini with three olives, please!

Thanks for posting this.

I think I used to see this table in Casino Player magazine.

I found a couple of things very interesting. For some reason I always thought that all Megabucks machines had the same payout. Apparently not true.

The other thing was how close together the return was on all the denominations from 25 cent to $25 everywhere except the strip.

I wonder if this is an effect of video poker.

You are right about the alien cows.

E&E, Shhhh, don't tell anyone about ALIAN COWS! Someone just might come after you with a straight jacket.

But seriously .... it's been harder and harder to find an unused cow these days.

The word about how these little cows are paying off has gotten out and it's difficult to find a lonesome cow in a decent 'pasture'.

And that right 'pasture' is critical.


HINT: Look for a tree on the west side!

Confused?? ........... Good!!

That leaves those little, profitable critters free to play with me!!

And I usually leave them UTTERLY depleted with a bit of a thicker cowhide wallet.

Shhhhhhhh......

E&E, BTW ..... have you tried the 'adjacent forest' ???

Shhhhhh......

I recently found this bit of information ….. Reducing blackjack payouts from 3:2 to 6:5 adds a substantial 1.39% to the casino's advantage.

Now back to the subject at hand……

It is now apparent to me that a good number of ‘gamblers’ within any given casino have no idea how to play the casino games to their best advantage.

And a good number of those kind folk don’t even have the slightest clue of what to do while playing blackjack at $5 or $10 a hand.

Last evening I found myself at a table where four of the players had no idea how to play the game. Needless to say, they knew nothing about basic strategy and would often ask for my advice.

Should I hit this 13 with the dealer’s ace?
Should I stand on 12 with the dealers 4?
Should I split these aces?
How about these eights?
How about these 4’s?

And those were the smart players who were asking the right questions.

But there were others who weren’t even smart enough to ask. They just sat there silently made very bad decisions and watched their money fly away.

It was another learning experience about casino gamblers I hate to learn about …. but one of the gamblers who profited from my advice placed a $100 chip in my betting space and said, “Thank you!” as he headed off.

And also needless to say, I lost that bet before I could even say thanks in return.

Maybe one of you was/were at that table last nite, so just maybe the following very basic info may be somewhat eye-opening.

There are ten best bets to make in any given casino. The best of these best bets are those bets which offer the smallest house advantage.

I won’t go into the house advantage details here but the following is a list of the best casino games that have the lowest house edge and offer you a better chance to leave a winner.

1. Casino poker (Big advantage to knowledgeable players)
2. Blackjack (3 -2) with some counting knowledge. Advantage to plaer
3. Video poker (House edge in many cases is less than .5%)
4. Blackjack (Basic strategy) (House edge less than 1% if 3-2)
5. Craps Don’t Pass/Don’t Come (Edge 1.14% or .59% w/double odds
6. Craps Passline/Come (House edge 1.41% or .61% with double odds
7. Pai Gow Banker (?)
8. Baccarat Banker (House edge 1.06%)
9. Baccarat Player (House edge 1.24%)
10. Craps Place the 6 and 8 (House edge 1.52%)

Now if you want to play Keno ....

Rumors abound ..... Due to the apparent success of even money and 6-5 blackjack pay-offs along the Las Vegas Strip, some casino "experts" are saying that dealers will soon not bust if delt a 22.

If the dealers' cards add up to 22, the table will 'push' no matter what your hand totals. But players will still lose their bet if their hand total exceeds 21.

Rumor only at this time, but the above presently applies in the blackjack game called Switch.

Blackjack Switch has been around quite a while. I've never stopped to look and see what the attraction is and what you have to give up.

If you will look at the Aria website under casino, then table games, they proudly list Blackjack Switch as an available game.

Thanks, JMT!

I haven't looked at the website just yet yet, but I do think I saw "Switch" being offered at the Aria last weekend. and just about each of the LV casinos carry the game to the best of my recollection.

But in every case I personally witnessed, a blackjack is paid off at even-money and if the dealer draws '22', it's a 'push' all the way around except for those players who have already lost with a card total/count of 22 or more.

And don't be too surprised if all blackjack-game wannabees follow suit with that dealer/22/push method of giving you much less than what you rightfully deserve from a trustworthy casino.

I say "wannabees" because they are calling the game of blackjack something else in an effort to 'justify' the fact that you are actually paying the casino a part of your profit when you get a blackjack.