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Table Games Craps vibe at MGM properties and observations, questions.

Discussion in 'Table Games' started by bryan1650t, Feb 4, 2014.

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  1. bryan1650t

    bryan1650t Tourist

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    Hi Team,

    I'm a once-a-year Vegas tripper for a convention-- so please forgive me as I am not an expert. I'm deep into mLife at this point since our convention is always held at Mandalay. This year I have the option of spending a few days and dollars in Vegas before the convention and want to pick a property to unwind and play craps. I like my table mins low so I can play and have fun. $5 to max of $10. Where is the fun if all you can do is make a passline bet? I personally think it is rather stupid for casinos to increase the min to $25. The amount of come bets/place/field and prop bets decreases tremendously.

    Here are my observations from a $5 min craps player in no particular order:

    1. Mandalay Bay-- opulent hotel. Perfect for the convention. Not very lively in craps $10 increases to $25 in the evening. I don't like being in at $10; I'll put up with it until the mins increase to $25-- then I'm either either outclassed or a genius for leaving with my bankroll. Convention/business clientele. This probably is changing.

    2. Luxor-- So far, this is where I usually end up playing craps. The dealers are much more fun than Mandalay. They like to joke around which I think is okay; others may not. $5 and $10 mins. Rougher clientele than Mandalay-- seems like a blue collar, Californian, vacation destination

    3. Excalibur-- I've only been in the casino and the craps situation is active. $5 craps all day at least at one table. Lots of older people and people in their 20s and early 30s. Vacationers. Craps noobies? I've never been able to get on the cheap table

    4. NYNY-- fun vibe in the casino. Players of all ages. All craps players seemed rather seasoned-- no noobies. $10 min. Luxor-like clientele.

    Those are the MGM properties I've played at. This year I could stay at MC, MGM or Aria before the convention. What would you say the craps vibe, dealers, mins are at Aria, MGM Grand, or Monte Carlo?

    Thank you,
    bryan1650t
     
  2. kingslender

    kingslender Low-Roller

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    When I stayed at Aria, the craps tables were a ghost town. Mostly $25 tables, never saw more than 3 people there rolling. The one time I stayed at MGM, I really liked the vibe, tables were lively.
     
  3. BigGTMike

    BigGTMike Low-Roller

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    Aria has plenty of $10 tables and definitely a fun vibe. Last trip, Champ Bailey walked up and threw down a considerable amount of $$ at a $10 table. They did finally bump it up to $25 to keep people jock sniffing away.
     
  4. usmcbaby

    usmcbaby Tourist

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    Finding a good craps table is always a plus for me when I'm in LV. I'm always on the fence on whether I want to roll at a table with older more reserved folk that mostly know the game or a table with younger players that are happy and yelling but sometimes bog down the table because they don't know the rules and etiquette.

    The most enjoyable and the most I ever won ($3k) was at the Orleans about 8 years ago.

    To the OP: Good luck with your search and let us know where you had the best luck. I will be there in late April looking for a good table.
     
  5. Stapleton

    Stapleton Tourist

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    For all the criticism that the Cosmo gets for it's Blackjack games I think the craps there are great. Usually spread lots of levels and a good mix of newbies and more experienced. Also great dealers which encourage a fun vibe.

    In my experience at certain levels they also count odds when rating you.
     
  6. bryan1650t

    bryan1650t Tourist

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    @ USMCBABY, I'll be there at the same time, end of April. Convention is at Mandalay.
     
  7. FountainFiend

    FountainFiend Low-Roller

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    I love craps at the Aria. Always found good 10 dollar tables in the morning and many evenings.
     
  8. Bo333

    Bo333 VIP Whale

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    I play craps about 15 hours a day while in Vegas, almost all at MGM props.

    MGM - friendly most experienced dealers, box are fairly strict, some more nuts than others. Complete mix of people at the $10 tables. More knowledgeable at the $25 and pretty great people at the $100s.

    NYNY - inexperienced friendly dealers. Relaxed but watchful box. Mostly inexperienced people at the $10s, not much more experienced at the $25.

    MB - somewhat experienced dealers. Crazy strict box, completely militaristic. Mix of people at the 10,15 and $25 tables, but tends towards the experienced at the $25.

    Aria - fairly experienced dealers. Very relaxed box, generally rooting for you. $10 tables mostly inexperienced players, $15 slightly better. $25 a mix. $100 pretty experienced players, sometimes uptight, sometimes relaxed.

    Of course there are exceptions to those generalizations.

    I've played at lots of other casinos but not enough to form generalizations.
     
  9. LV_Bound

    LV_Bound VIP Whale

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    Hard to find a spot at Excalibur.
    NYNY has some good dealers.
    Monte Carlo is worth stopping by as well.
    Didn't get a good vibe from MGM for Craps. I don't think they like small players. :eek:
     
  10. vegasvic

    vegasvic VIP Whale

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    With the total crap of 6:5 blackjack replacing 3:2 I won't be surprised when the day comes that the casinos alter current craps odds in some way.
     
  11. undathesea

    undathesea Grandissimo

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    I think the boxes at Aria and Mirage are probably the most relaxed I've ever experienced. I like to set the dice and usually hit the back wall with at least one die, sometimes both. I've never been called out at the those places. Last trip at the Monte Carlo the box called me out several times before finally giving me an ultimatum. He was nice about it... but it still happened. I was off the table shortly after that.

    I haven't played at the MGM in years. Nor the Bellagio. As I recall, I didn't like dealers at the Bellagio though. I was averaging well over $100 per roll and I was advised not to even put up my MLife card as it wouldn't amount to much. And, I had a Champ Bailey sighting at the Bellagio... he was on the craps table directly behind mine playing at the same position I was playing at. Good to know he's still in the game at low-stakes!
     
  12. 44inarow

    44inarow VIP Whale

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    I love playing at Aria, but I find that it tends to be a lot like Mirage in that it's either really, really busy, or completely dead. Aria also tends to be less likely to have a decent table at off-peak, whereas at MGM there's usually at least one reasonably-full table in the early afternoon.
     
  13. usmcbaby

    usmcbaby Tourist

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    Seems you throw similar to me. I like to take a few seconds to align dice and then a soft toss towards the back wall. I've only been asked to speed up once (@ TI about 7yrs ago). Nowadays, I understand that if the table is busy (8+ people surrounding the table) then it is wise to speed up my throw. However, I don't like to speed up to much because there always seems to be some rookie, drunk or girl still reaching their hand out across the table at the last second. I've seen many a hand get hit with a dice throw.
     
  14. numeno

    numeno VIP Whale

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    Honestly any casino can have a great vibe at craps. Younger crowds is my preference at craps. Excal, NYNY,Luxor and Planet Hollywood are my top 4.

    Casino Royal would be on the list if they didn't pack that table so full.

    I have limited experience at Aria and MGM Grand. MB is just hit and miss for me as you pointed out. I've had some great times and then just some dead times.


    My #1 pick right now is probably NYNY. PH would be first if it wasn't for the fact that $10 tables are fairly rare it seems in the evening there.
     
  15. Kobra2848

    Kobra2848 VIP Whale

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    MGM and PHO are the only tables that always seem busy whenever I walk by.
    Mark
     
  16. Bo333

    Bo333 VIP Whale

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    Me and my buddy set the dice and the box at TI just about went crazy. He brought out the floor supervisor and after about 6 throws he says 'The dice can't just touch the back wall sir, they must come off the back wall!'.

    We ran out of there rather quickly, they didn't even wait to see if we were any good at it.
     
  17. RockyBalboa

    RockyBalboa Front Line Winner

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    I too set the dice (before people jump in, I realize that it doesn't make much of a difference, but I am a superstitious guy and prone to routine) and haven't caught any heat...yet. I do try to get them off in a reasonably quick timeframe though.

    I haven't played at Mandalay, Luxor or Excalibur but I do like shooting at Mirage the best of all MGM properties. I will likely be staying at Aria next trip so I am anxious to try them out.
     
  18. WWGB

    WWGB High-Roller

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    I initially misread that as "Champ Bailey threw up a considerable amount." :vomit:
     
  19. Wolfman619

    Wolfman619 Low-Roller

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    I'm shocked to hear about shooters getting put on blast by the box for setting the dice. I always set, and do a controlled shot, try to bounce then touch the wall. I have been told to hurry, but I have found a tip goes a long way in getting them off your back. Those a holes at T.i. Sound unbelievable...I would have ran too!

    I used to shoot a lot at casino royale, they used to have 10x odds at $5. Not sure what they have anymore. They used to have this poor older dealer, can't remember his name now...but he would get flustered and stutter when the action would get heavy. You could count on him overpaying you if you were there for a while during peak hours.

    My favorite place to shoot in Vegas is golden gate. Everyone there knows their $hit, attitudes are good, cocktail service is impeccable, the odds are solid and minimums low. Plus, the party pit is right near the craps tables.
     
  20. Darkace54

    Darkace54 Tourist

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    My favorite craps location has to be Margaritaville just inside Flamingo. The table is right off the strip so you get a great view of everyone walking by. The music is always upbeat and the cocktail waitresess are oustanding.
     
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