Table Games Will minimums ever go back down?

So, when playing in Vegas (late August), and seeing $15, $25 & $50 tables, they were all packed (even if at half capacity) & a line was formed with folks waiting to play behind them. Part of me chalks this up to people missing Vegas/Gambling due to COVID and wanting to play. The other part is people will play what they're offered.

Leads me to the question, when the restrictions are lifted, do you feel Vegas will keep with these high minimums?

 

I don't know why minimums would be expected to drop anytime soon. If there is a line - pent up demand - there's no incentive to drop. And as for when restrictions - across the board - will be lifted, I don't see that anytime soon either. Gotta remember, if we're gonna let the plastic-bag-luggage-and-styrofoam-cooler crowd take over our side of the street with their scooter-racing-fetish, we have to make up revenue somehow. And what better way than emptying their bankroll at the highest speed possible.

 

I know I mentioned this in my TR from a few weeks back, but at that time the pit bosses as well as my dealers at DTG, the D and GG all stated they don't expect minimums to come down anytime soon and they think $5 tables are going the way of the dodo downtown outside a few exceptions.

Now obviously they aren't policy makers, but im preparing for another trip in October and fully anticipate playing $10 and even $15 craps again DT and expect that to be the case for the coming years.

 

I refuse to play $15 craps in Vegas. I’ll either play bubble craps or won’t play.

 

Agreed. And, for the most part, the only people going are the gamblers since there are no shows, restaurants are working under limiting rules, and so much of what makes Vegas 'Vegas' is not the same. Once those things come back and there are more casual visitors in town, I think the limits will drop. My local place is already back to normal for the table minimums ($5 during the week on craps, $10-15 on the weekends). Vegas will get there eventually.

 

$5 tables were already an endangered species outside some of the DT places. I suspect that Circa will have more to do with them finally being killed off DT than the virus does. The virus hurt them, Circa will finish the job.

 

Agreed. The consensus was that this is giving the DT properties the justification to do what they wanted to do for a long time which was move away from $5 tables.

I also agree circa is going to impact that.

Glad to hear your local is back to normal. Ours are not. I rarely visit any locals, but went last night just to see. Everything was 15+, and it would normally be 10 on a Tues night. Craps was working with 2 dealers on a table as well.

 

If they are going to keep the BJ mins higher, I wish they would go back to all 3:2. Stayed at the Luxor last week, and they had several $10 BJ tables (one 8-deck shoe, the rest CSMs), and only one $25 3:2 table. Was there M-F, so maybe that changed over the weekend?

 

From what I'm able to tell... it seems there's no chance. They're doing ok with $10+ minimums pretty well across the board, there's no incentive to lower that.

Of course, that will drastically alter my inclination to visit Vegas as frequently as I'd intended. I get the idea low-limit tables will be more likely to remain in the Gulf Coast, so that could be an option. But as far as gaming-specific trips go for playing tables, I'm mentally preparing to start scoping out places in Central America and Europe. Might seem crazy, but betting $10/$15 or even $25 minimums just prevents me from enjoying gambling.

 

I have to say that I agree with this statement. I’m not happy to see larger minimums, but many of the casinos will continue to increase revenue while minimizing costs. As long as patrons show up and willing to pay the higher minimums, then there’s no reason to drop them lower.

I think this could make a case for “local” off-strip casinos seeIng an influx of players. I think as more players leave the strip and DT properties to gamble, then table minimums may be lowered to gain those players back. But honestly how many people want to come in from all over the world and not be in the heart of the chaos that is Vegas?

 

As long as it is still only ~ 6 players instead of ~ 12, they need to double the minimums to earn the same from each table as they still have the same staffing per table but half the players. It's also a cheapest in a long time to fly/stay in Vegas, so although Covid is having an impact there are factors working in their favor to keep the supply of people to the tables, although the cheaper clientele they are attracting to fill up the hotels is probably more of a red chip minimum player than a green chip minimum player.

But, if the tables are packed, and a crowd circling waiting for a spot to open up, there's no reason to think of dropping the minimums.

 

I have not been to Las Vegas, but I hope to get there soon enough and when things calm down. Here is my two cents.

I work in downtown Cleveland and often park at the casino. I went there on a Wedneday night with a friend to grab the free buffet (was pretty good, even though most of it is shut and there is very limited capacity). The place was nearly empty and they had all four craps tables open with $25 minimums. Yes, Cleveland on a Wednesday and 25 DOLLAR MINIMUMS!!!! Get the f*ck out of here.

After dinner, I played about 5 minutes. I won $225, tipped the crew (I know them pretty well and they really work hard) $35 and got out of dodge. Pre-COVID you could usually find a $10 craps table in mornings and at dead times. I talked to the workers and they said they do not expect to drop minimums under $20 anytime soon.

FYI: Blackjack and roulette both had $25 and $50 minimums and no one was playing. I talked to the beautiful asian roulette attendant and she said she has had 1 person play all day. But I guess they know what they are doing because they just posted an $18 million profit.

 

Do not forget at least half the casino's are still not open yet. That includes locals. The locals will still offer $5. Very few people actually play $5 a hand for very long anyways. The itch and or the booze kick in. I actually think Circa will force DT properties to stick to $5. Circa I am assuming is gonna be all $10 the other downtown properties will have to offer $5 otherwise why not play at the all new shiny Circa? As new and shiny as Circa will be it's still not the strip I can not see them being a $15 and up minimum. After you walk outside you're still on Freemont. Not the same product at the strip. Just my opinion and I could be 100 percent wrong. One thing is for sure as a local it is getting harder and harder to find a good $5 game. Used to be extremely easy. Still blows me away every time I walk in the Cal it's a ghost town. Literally no one playing tables. Every other DT property fairly busy. Put the limits to $5 I guarantee the word would get around.Especially, as others have said people are literally waiting play at a $10 table. Let them play $5 they will up their bets anyways.

 

Yes, once the table heats up, the bets rise quickly.

 

Or cools down and the chasing starts. That is usually how I get suckered in. I never learn.

 

Then you need to play with me and @EastCoastVegasFan! We can chase with the best of the bunch!

 

I know its been brought up that less capacity at the tables can be a reason for higher minimums. However, for those who have been to Vegas since the casinos opened up, are the minimums by and large markedly higher than they were before the shutdown? Things I see in trip reports and Twitter indicate somewhat of a mixed bag. I'm going in late October......haven't been in two years, but am pretty much expecting $10 minimums downtown .

 

The dealers at DTG and The D both told me they expect the minimums to go down post covid so we'll see. This situation gave me a reason to check out Lake Tahoe and Reno. Not only is the area beautiful around Tahoe but reno mins are usually 5 even in these times.

 

When was this? Because that is the exact opposite of what they told me when I was in town? You either talked to different dealers or people's opinions have changed.

But I think the fact we were told different things at the exact same properties demonstrates how nobody really knows how it's going to shake down.

 

Two weekends ago lol.