I'm a beginning card counter that has just acquired the skills but has not actually played in any casinos yet. I live closest to Atlantic City, but I've heard that the rules aren't that great there. So where in Atlantic City should I play if I really want to play seriously and win, or even make a living? Or if not AC, where should I try to play without getting caught? What are the best places for card counters in AC and in general? I'd appreciate any feedback.
Best place for card counting in Atlantic City
- Thread starter airasia
- Start date
My Recommendation
" I live closest to Atlantic City, but I've heard that the rules aren't that great there. So where in Atlantic City should I play"
Forget it!
On the east coast, Mississippi has the better games. Yes, it costs $$ to travel there, but with no casino experience and 8 deck games, your ev will be miniscule in AC. The added ev you'll pick up at the better games will offset any expense money you pay. You can get RT tix to Vegas/MS for approx $250 or less anywhere on the east coast. Why would you NOT want to play the better games with better expectations?
And, hey, don't forget the frequent flyer miles and comps! Mississippi has the most liberal comp policies anywhere...that, too, adds to the bottom line.
My two-cents and I have been wrong before. (only once that I can remember though)(TFIC)
Good luck and keep us posted as to your progress.
Radar
" I live closest to Atlantic City, but I've heard that the rules aren't that great there. So where in Atlantic City should I play"
Forget it!
On the east coast, Mississippi has the better games. Yes, it costs $$ to travel there, but with no casino experience and 8 deck games, your ev will be miniscule in AC. The added ev you'll pick up at the better games will offset any expense money you pay. You can get RT tix to Vegas/MS for approx $250 or less anywhere on the east coast. Why would you NOT want to play the better games with better expectations?
And, hey, don't forget the frequent flyer miles and comps! Mississippi has the most liberal comp policies anywhere...that, too, adds to the bottom line.
My two-cents and I have been wrong before. (only once that I can remember though)(TFIC)
Good luck and keep us posted as to your progress.
Radar
stainless steel rat
Well-Known Member
comps
Things have tightened up quite a bit, at least at places like the Beau. I don't follow the "who owns which casino" trades, but something changed at the Beau in the last year or so...
Things have tightened up quite a bit, at least at places like the Beau. I don't follow the "who owns which casino" trades, but something changed at the Beau in the last year or so...
Mississippi and Vegas
What makes Mississippi and Vegas rules and conditions so much better than AC? Isn't it still 6 decks in most places? The Borgata in AC is all 6 decks if I'm not mistaken. And how do you avoid being caught in places where the conditions are so good? I know that in AC they can't bar you for counting, but other places they can, right?
What makes Mississippi and Vegas rules and conditions so much better than AC? Isn't it still 6 decks in most places? The Borgata in AC is all 6 decks if I'm not mistaken. And how do you avoid being caught in places where the conditions are so good? I know that in AC they can't bar you for counting, but other places they can, right?
Automatic Monkey
Banned
Here's why
Reason #1- high table minimums. If you're a beginning counter you don't want to practice on a $25 table, and that's what most of the 6D tables are in AC.
Reason #2- Crowds. Bad counts you can make disappear right away by Wonging out (you need to know all about Wonging to play AC profitably) But good counts disappear fast when the table is crowded. Also when you Wong out you will find it difficult to get back into a table.
Reason #3- No surrender. Late Surrender is worth only 0.08% to a Basic Strategy player by it increases the win rate for a counter who uses 6-10 Surrender indices by up to 40%, after you re-Kellyize your spread. So you don't want to play a shoe game without Surrender without a really good reason. If it's a local game, yeah, that's a good reason.
So if you must, try the 6D games at the AC Hilton. The penetration isn't terrible, nor the crowds, and you can usually find a $10 table.
Reason #1- high table minimums. If you're a beginning counter you don't want to practice on a $25 table, and that's what most of the 6D tables are in AC.
Reason #2- Crowds. Bad counts you can make disappear right away by Wonging out (you need to know all about Wonging to play AC profitably) But good counts disappear fast when the table is crowded. Also when you Wong out you will find it difficult to get back into a table.
Reason #3- No surrender. Late Surrender is worth only 0.08% to a Basic Strategy player by it increases the win rate for a counter who uses 6-10 Surrender indices by up to 40%, after you re-Kellyize your spread. So you don't want to play a shoe game without Surrender without a really good reason. If it's a local game, yeah, that's a good reason.
So if you must, try the 6D games at the AC Hilton. The penetration isn't terrible, nor the crowds, and you can usually find a $10 table.
AC low limit 6D
AC Hilton has about 5 tables on the main floor with 6D. During the weekend/peak times, the minimums start at $25. At other times, a few of the tables will have $10 minimums. At certain times, they will offer $5 minimums as well - generally during the week at times when they are not busy, such as the graveyard shift.
Borgata has a pit of about 10 tables that offer 6D games with minimums that range from $5 to $15. Most of the time they start at $10 or $15. On weekdays and non peak hours, they offer some $5 tables. These games use automatic shufflers. They also allow for players to be "grandfathered," which means that if they were playing on the table and the minimum is increased, they are permitted to continue playing at the lower minimum. I am not aware of any other casinos allowing for this in AC anymore.
Resorts has $25 minimum 6D games during the week in their high limit pit.
Showboat has $25 minimum 6D games during off peak periods in their high limit pit.
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*** Other low limit games - NOT 6D ***
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AC Hilton has a number of 8D $10 and $15 minimum games. They also offer $5 minimum 8D games at certain times.
I generally avoid Tropicana, but IIRC, they have 8D $10 and $15 minimum games.
Trump Plaza has a low limit pit of 8D games. The minimums generally start at $10 or $15. During weekends and peak hours they increase many of the games to $20 minimums. They offer some $5 minimum games at off peak hours.
I haven't played in Caesars much recently, but I remember them being mainly an 8D $15 minumum store.
The Claridge has 8D $10 and $15 minimum games. They also offer some $5 minimum games at off peak hours.
I haven't played in Sands much either, but last time I was there, they had 8D $15 minimum tables.
Resorts has a number of 8D $10 and $15 minumum games. They offered 6D $10 and $15 games for one week, but then changed them back to 8D games. I believe it was during some promotional weekend.
Taj Mahal has 8D $10 and $15 minumum games. You can get $5 minimum games during off peak hours (generally during the week days).
Showboat has 8D $10 and $15 minimum games.
Borgata is primarily a 6D store. They do offer one pit with 8D games. I don't know what the minimums are there since I avoid that pit.
I have only been to Trump Marina a couple of times and it was during the weekend. IIRC, they did have some $15 minimum games. I suspect that they are similar to the other Trump offerings, but don't quote me on that.
I haven't been to Harrahs in about 3 years, so I don't know what they have to offer. I would imagine they offer poor games like their other stores.
AC Hilton has about 5 tables on the main floor with 6D. During the weekend/peak times, the minimums start at $25. At other times, a few of the tables will have $10 minimums. At certain times, they will offer $5 minimums as well - generally during the week at times when they are not busy, such as the graveyard shift.
Borgata has a pit of about 10 tables that offer 6D games with minimums that range from $5 to $15. Most of the time they start at $10 or $15. On weekdays and non peak hours, they offer some $5 tables. These games use automatic shufflers. They also allow for players to be "grandfathered," which means that if they were playing on the table and the minimum is increased, they are permitted to continue playing at the lower minimum. I am not aware of any other casinos allowing for this in AC anymore.
Resorts has $25 minimum 6D games during the week in their high limit pit.
Showboat has $25 minimum 6D games during off peak periods in their high limit pit.
**************************************
*** Other low limit games - NOT 6D ***
**************************************
AC Hilton has a number of 8D $10 and $15 minimum games. They also offer $5 minimum 8D games at certain times.
I generally avoid Tropicana, but IIRC, they have 8D $10 and $15 minimum games.
Trump Plaza has a low limit pit of 8D games. The minimums generally start at $10 or $15. During weekends and peak hours they increase many of the games to $20 minimums. They offer some $5 minimum games at off peak hours.
I haven't played in Caesars much recently, but I remember them being mainly an 8D $15 minumum store.
The Claridge has 8D $10 and $15 minimum games. They also offer some $5 minimum games at off peak hours.
I haven't played in Sands much either, but last time I was there, they had 8D $15 minimum tables.
Resorts has a number of 8D $10 and $15 minumum games. They offered 6D $10 and $15 games for one week, but then changed them back to 8D games. I believe it was during some promotional weekend.
Taj Mahal has 8D $10 and $15 minumum games. You can get $5 minimum games during off peak hours (generally during the week days).
Showboat has 8D $10 and $15 minimum games.
Borgata is primarily a 6D store. They do offer one pit with 8D games. I don't know what the minimums are there since I avoid that pit.
I have only been to Trump Marina a couple of times and it was during the weekend. IIRC, they did have some $15 minimum games. I suspect that they are similar to the other Trump offerings, but don't quote me on that.
I haven't been to Harrahs in about 3 years, so I don't know what they have to offer. I would imagine they offer poor games like their other stores.
