$5 Tables at FW

[Pelerus]

Does FW still offer $5 games or have these evaporated?

I haven't been back yet since initiating this thread, but I would be surprised if those games were gone. It seemed like a policy change, not the whim of a floor supervisor or a temporary promo.

Btw, how tolerant is FW when it comes to bet spreads? Say 2 x $10 to
2 x $150? Would that draw heat or result in a back-off?

In my experience that should not present a problem. Automatic heat at FW doesn't really begin until the $250 or 2x$200 level. That being said, obviously each situation is different and any advantage play regardless of bet size calls for discretion of some sort. "Soft" camouflage, though perhaps not necessary, is probably advisable regardless of location: by that is meant such tactics as not wonging out after a winning hand, not staying for the next shoe after placing max bets at the end of the previous shoe, etc. On the other hand, hard camo tactics that really burn EV - such as misplaying hands, oppositional betting, etc. - are uncalled for given the location and your bet size.

Are they tolerant when it comes to playing anonymously?

I have only been hassled on a few occassions when playing anonymously, and even then it was a sort of good-natured "Don't miss out on these great offers!" kind of a hassling. One or two rejections is usually enough to send the PB away broken hearted.

Can someone give me an idea of the betting levels required for-
a) buffet comp
b) gas comp
c) room discount
d) room comp

MJ

One of the things I really like about the Connecticut casinos - and appreciate after playing in Las Vegas! - is that comps are not given in the form of individual items that players must explicitly request from the pit, but rather in the form of points automatically credited to your Player's Card account. These points can then be used at any establishment within the casino for the purchase of any type of item whatever - none of that LV "comps are not good for the gift shop" BS!

But to your question, at your level of play, if you devote a day to playing, you should be able to accumulate somewhere in the range of 40 - 60 points, possibly more or less depending upon the prevalence and conspicuousness of your top bets. These points have an exact correspondence to dollars for anything that can be purchased in the casino - granted there is generally a markup on most items, but that applies to cash transactions as well.

Insofar as room comps, you can either use your points toward the reservation just like dollars, or you may receive separate free room offers. These are not applicable to a first trip, however, and it usually takes extended play over several trips to elicit them.

 

[MJ1]

Thank you for the great info!

These points have an exact correspondence to dollars for anything that can be purchased in the casino - granted there is generally a markup on most items, but that applies to cash transactions as well.

Wait a minute, can accumulated points be exchanged for actual dollars?!

Do you think a player can earn points by leaving the shoe at TC = -1? Do the points continue to accumulate as I move from table to table?

Insofar as room comps, you can either use your points toward the reservation just like dollars, or you may receive separate free room offers. These are not applicable to a first trip, however, and it usually takes extended play over several trips to elicit them.

You mentioned 40 to 60 points for a day of play. How many hours does a day of play consist of?

MJ

 

[Pelerus]

Thank you for the great info!

Wait a minute, can accumulated points be exchanged for actual dollars?!

You cannot redeem points for cash directly or anything to that effect; the closest one can come to "hard cash" is perhaps the gas cards you mentioned. Possibly they have gift cards to stores as well, but I'm not sure about that. However, the main idea is just that when purchasing most items at the casino, 1 point = 1 dollar.

Do you think a player can earn points by leaving the shoe at TC = -1? Do the points continue to accumulate as I move from table to table?

If you are wonging into another table in the same pit, particularly one close to your previous table and supervised by the same PB, they might keep you "on the books" automatically without you needing to say anything. However, it is probably advisable to mention to the PB that you switched tables.

In general, aggressive wonging does limit the comps somewhat, just by nature of not playing as many hands as you would otherwise and the hassle of their constantly having to update your location, which they might become annoyed with. Most APs who are really aggressive backcounters will play unrated, both because of the additional heat it can generate and the impracticality of showing your PC just to play a few hands before moving on. On the other hand, wonging into your first shoe of a session with a larger bet can be advisable, because then they will start you out at that level in ther system.

Anecdotally, I once waited to show my card at Mohegan until I was making max bets, then continued to play normally for several more hours. Incredibly, I had been credited with close to 200 points for about a 4 hour session - as if I had been betting close to max the entire time. Clearly that was a mistake on the part of the individual PB and would be difficult to replicate, but it shows that "wonging in" to their comp system with a large bet can pay dividends.

You mentioned 40 to 60 points for a day of play. How many hours does a day of play consist of?

MJ

That means playing for about 8 hours - not necessarily "wonged in" that entire time, of course, but on the casino floor.

 

[eandre]

Apples and oranges,...
I got “backed off” several months ago at Foxwoods. I still have several thousand dollars of chips with me. I’m planning to return in February to test the waters. This really sucks because Foxwoods is my favorite casino in the East Coast.

You will most likely be ok. Their facial recognition software is not sophisticated enough to pick you back up. They may key in on a massive diamond wedding band or patek watch but will not pick up on facial recognition. I would suggest that you keep your play short since the high stakes pit is 1/2 the size it used to be and they are watching play closely. I know the main floor is 8 deck but the crowds will give you better cover.
If you must play in high stakes, stay for 3-4 shoes, take a break and return later.