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Table Games What Happened to the Bally's Craps Pit?

Discussion in 'Table Games' started by tora, Jun 30, 2013.

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  1. tora

    tora Tourist

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    Less than a decade ago, Bally's had a Crap pit with 8 tables. Last time had 3 tables! Craps demise? Not a money maker? Any comments from the VMB? I always loved playing there, Good Dealers with no attitude and good live music at night!

    Anyone with the "inside story" please post:cheers:
     
  2. Viva Las Vegas

    Viva Las Vegas Elvis has left the building

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    Bally's has one of the smallest casino floors on the Strip and casinos make more money with slots, VP with poor pay tables and the carnival table games which outnumber said craps tables.

    Two aspects hurting craps itself is the fact that it is also labor intensive (all other games require 1 or 2 (roulette) and the fact that gambling is at an all time low (1/3 of Strip casino revenue), with table games except Baccarat suffering declines in play in favor of highly profitable slots.

    Couple this with the fact CET caters primarily to slots players and the fact that their debt is larger than Loveman himself and you see why they need to scrape every dollar possible out of their casino floor, with craps falling to the wayside.
     
  3. tora

    tora Tourist

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    thanks Viva. As I observed over the past several years in the reduction in Labor: first the boxman, then the Floor Manager monitoring several tables, the longer wait for the cocktail waitress, the reduced time for the dealers, less low minimum tables, its too bad as I thoroughly enjoyed craps at Bally's.

    any other Casinos with great Crews who are friendly and on your side? Never understood the grouch dealers who make a living on my tips?
     
  4. oc_guy

    oc_guy Low-Roller

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    I played craps at Flamingo for a weekend and found all the dealers friendly and talkative.
     
  5. colpuck

    colpuck Tourist

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    Ditto for Harrahs
     
  6. Nittany1

    Nittany1 VIP Whale

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    Back in the 90s Ballys was considered a major "Dice House" with tons of action and at high stakes.
    I remember my first NYE trip to Las Vegas was at Ballys and the cheapest game was $50 with most at $100.
    Caesars continues to push and reward slot play and walk away from tables.
    Their East Coast flagship is Harrahs Resort in AC.Ten years ago they had 10 craps tables .Today there are 4 with rarely all open.

    Their next door neighbor,Borgata,has 13 dice tables.

    Is there any question why table game players like me have moved to other companies as Harrahs//Caesars moves away from tables and closer to all slots.
    I understand the economics as tables are more expensive to operate.
    Caesars really does not care if we leave as table players and it seems like MGM is happy to have us.
     
  7. Travel Fanatic

    Travel Fanatic The Arbiter of Taste Caviar Kid

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    Wow. I have always known Ballys as a $5 and $10 craps joint. I've enjoyed play there many times, but never seen high rollers at the craps tables.

    No basis for this, just a guess, but I wonder if they are trying to push more of the craps play over to Paris. It's a short walkway to the Paris craps area and it always seems they have more craps games going. As other posters have noted, with declining revenue from table games and the craps tables with higher minimums available at a larger casino next door, it wouldn't surprise me if they were pushing the play to Paris. Similar to how they tried to close the Ballys sportsbook a couple years ago and push that play to Paris (didn't work and they re-opened the book).
     
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  8. Kickin

    Kickin Flea

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    Isn't it 6 tables? I know there are three in a row along the center walkway and then I thought 3 more alongside of them on the other side. The times I've played craps there I recall 4 being open (2x2) with the last two closed. But it's been a few months since I've been there.

    At least they have 5x odds though as well as that goddam fire bet which I always seem to miss out on :grrr:
     
  9. LV_Bound

    LV_Bound VIP Whale

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    IIRC, Ballys is down to 3 tables. Every time I have walked through that place the Craps tables are always full. They have plenty of room for another table because they don't always have the other table games opened.
     
  10. Wanger1969

    Wanger1969 Iowa Nice

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    I find Craps at The Quad to be very lively, and they typically have varying games going on. They have four tables, two of which have some sort of automation with the betting going on.
     
  11. Nittany1

    Nittany1 VIP Whale

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    I could be off Kickin.It may be 3+3.
    I started staying at Borgata where there are always multiple tables open.
    I have been to Harrah's AC on a Sat. morning at 10:30am and there is one craps table open with guys standing behind it waiting for an opening.
     
  12. tora

    tora Tourist

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    Okay Just returned from Ballys Las Vegas. They currently have 4 crap tables.
    Enjoyed another great trip with the dealers and suits at Bally's. Always a great time. They always treat me well there.

    Many dealers leaving for "greener" crap pits at Planet Ho! Apparently they make more money there. Same game, different venue! I played at PHo a few times. Darker, Loud and a much younger crowd.
     
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