Horseshoe Baltimore: Not Really a Trip, More Like an Afternoon

This really isn't a trip report -- more like a summary of half-an-afternoon's events. Not really worth telling except for the end.

This past Saturday, a couple of friends and I decided to head up to Baltimore to watch the Orioles play the Nats. We stopped by the still new-ish Horseshoe Baltimore, mostly to kill a couple of hours before heading over to the ballpark to find a parking space.

The Horseshoe Baltimore is a nice casino, but I think some of the table limits (particularly craps) are a bit ridiculous. I parked myself at a $25 min blackjack table. Played a couple of shoes, but couldn't get a rhythm going -- play was choppy, and I was down $100 after playing $50/hand. As it was 7/11, I thought craps might be the better bet.

I sauntered on over to a craps table that had yet to open. They had one or two $15 tables (which were packed), the rest were $25. (This was at 2pm on a Saturday!) I actually prefer warming up an empty table, so I waited for the $25 table I'd been hovering over to open. Just as they opened the table and I was about to shoot, a guy walked over and made it clear he wanted to shoot first. I deferred to the anxious player, placed my pass-line minimum, and placed the six and eight just to be cautious. Point-seven. Ouch. I get the dice, make a couple of points (playing the full inside, too, but didn't really get to press since I was hitting points fairly quickly). I had odd points and I like to throw in a bit of dealer action, so after making my second point, I put $10 on the C&E for the boys. Rolled a yo, which they were pleased with. (Tips apparently are fewer and further between in Baltimore.)

The table started getting crowded, and one guy dropped a prop bet just as I was throwing. Boom. Hit the chips he threw on. Seven-out. This is probably an irrational pet-peeve, but I absolutely hate it when dealers give you the dice while folks are still obviously betting. Same with people dropping in random bets once dice are out. I'm a relative newbie when it comes to craps, but the dealers I've played with taught me a different set of rules/etiquette.

The table went ice cold pretty quickly. I went down about $700 in the span of 20 minutes. Wasn't really expecting a Vegas-style bruising while waiting for a baseball game, of all things. In retrospect, I should've played dark side, but I've actually . . . never played the dark side. (I'm a chump, I know, but I like the passline.)

I went back to the blackjack table and played another 20-30 minutes of choppy blackjack. Eventually, one of my friends came looking for me and asked me if I was done. I said, "Sure, why not. Let me cut my losses and run." My friend went back downstairs to get our other friend (who generally needs to be pried from the blackjack table with a crowbar), so I said I'd wait by the $1 WoF machines. I figured "What's another $100?" (Note: I never play slots. They're really not fun for me, WoF possibly being the only exception.)

Put $100 in a $1 machine (with 5 lines), hoping for a spin or something. $80. Zilch. $70. A cherry (or whatever you want to call it.) $50. Another cherry, but otherwise bupkis. $40. $30. $20. I figured, "Eh, my luck is terrible today."

I was down to my last $8 on the machine. Took it for a last $5 run. Spin. Spin. Spin. Finally! I hit the spin button quickly, and it teetered as if it was about to land on a low-value spoke ($20 or $30 or I'm not sure how much). But it tipped one over to the white spoke. $1,000! I cashed out quicker than you can say "I'd like to solve the puzzle." My friend came back upstairs (our friend needed "just 15 more minutes" on the blackjack table), and started laughing when he heard about what happened.

The Nats beat the O's 7-4. It was a good day.

 

Nice turn of events. I think the table limits are probably higher on game days, but that's just a guess. I was there when the O's were out of town and I don't remember the table minimums being that high.

 

Has anyone ever seen a craps table less than $15 at either Baltimore Horseshoe or MD Live? I went to Charles Town Sunday and played $10 craps, but its smoky in there. I don't even want to think about what MGM is going to have for mins when they open next year.

 

I've been to the Horseshoe a few times -- I've never seen a craps table for lower than $15. Even on non-game days, I've seen mostly $25 craps tables with one or two $15s. (And I usually go during weekend days, if I go.) Things might be different during the week.

That said, the BJ tables are fairly generous -- 3:2, $5 mins (with a required $5 sidebet), DAS allowed (not sure at the $5 tables though, never played there), S17. That might be state-mandated, though.

And for what it's worth, the Horseshoe is far more reasonable in its table limits than Maryland Live. I didn't see a single table below $25 on a weekend night at Live! -- and the tables were packed, too.

 

I live about 3 blocks from Union Station in DC, so I'm a big one for this same trip. $7 MARC train to Charm City, quick cab/Uber ride from Penn Station, gamble a bit, earn some TCs/RCs, hang out in the Harbor or Fell's Point, and then Amtrak back that night. If I take a half-day off on Friday, it allows me to gamble when the place is fairly empty, around 2 pm, and then be in the city by happy hour. I have kind of a soft spot for Baltimore, so this is a nice trip.

 

Been to Horseshoe Baltimore a few times and have yet to see a $10 craps table. Me and the wife Uber down there around 2 pm and leave at 11 pm on a Saturday. Because it is the only place in the city that has a 24-7 liquor license, it gets pretty crazy after hours Saturday and Sunday morning from folks leaving the bars and clubs. They got permission from the state to remove some slot machines and add table games, so they put in a couple of extra craps tables downstairs. The paid drinks are reasonably priced at the 1440 bar. Do not know why the drinks are more expensive at the bar by the bubble craps machines. Going this Saturday for some "Vegas prep".

 

I've done this trip several times (this past trip had a friend driving up to Baltimore). The $10 or so cab ride from Penn Station is very clutch. (And the Horseshoe has cabs on stand-by, too.)

I'm an mLife loyalist, though, so I think I'm done with the Horseshoe once National Harbor opens up. Unless that casino has $50 minimums or something (and even then...)

 

Yeah, I'm a huge CET guy because I love getting comped in New Orleans, so Horseshoe Baltimore is a close, easy accessed place that helps me earn future comps without budgeting for a serious vacation.