"EVEN MONEY IS NOT OFFERED"

[Stealth Bomber]

Was at a casino recently and as I walked by their 1D game, I checked out the rules sign posted at the corner of a table. Typical bad rules with Double on 10 & 11 only + a ploppy in nearly every seat at every 1D table. The sign also said "EVEN MONEY IS NOT OFFERED"! Why would they not want their players to have the option to take even money? I'm puzzled! Why would they do this? Are they so brainwashed by their own players from nearly all of them always taking even money that they think they are loosing money to them in this manner? I wonder what they would do if a player actually put half or less of their original bet amount out on the insurance line in an attempt to insure their BJ. Go figure!?????

 

[The Mayor]

Why...

>Why would they not want their players to have the option to take even money?

On a 6:5 blackjack game, it gives back some of the edge to the player. Here is the computation.

If you are dealt A-T and the dealer shows A (single deck):

For your $5 bet you are paid $6 with probability 34/49 (34 non-T's out of the remaining 49 cards), for an EV on your $5 bet of:

EV = $6*(34/49) = $4.16

Now, if you let the person take even money, then the player has an EV of $5. That is, it costs the casino $5.00 - $4.16 = $.84 to let you take even money on a $5 bet, in a 6:5 games.

Repeat after me: 6:5 sucks.

--Mayor

 

[Stealth Bomber]

I forgot to mention it's 3:2 payoff

 

[Victoria]

not a complete surprise

You would think that someone high up in this casino would understand that even money is advantageous to the house. They already have bad rules for doubling.
The reason I am not surprised is that I have seen casinos change dealers before the usual time, because the table is being beat. Change the cards for the same reason. I have seen this often enough to believe it could not be because they thought the dealer was cheating or the cards were being marked. Just ploppy voodoo on the part of the house.

If I was in a casino and noticed a rule like this I would look real hard for other weaknesses based upon their lack of understanding of their own edge. There might be rules on other games that can be taken advantage of, special promotions, or weak dealers who might flash a card.

As you mentioned (insurance), the rule also makes no sense. If insurance is allowed, even money is simply taking insurance on your blackjack.

Victoria

 

[Automatic Monkey]

The only reason I can think of...

...is that they are very dependent on insurance bets for detecting counters. Most ploppies won't take insurance but they will take even money on a BJ. So when making this play they become indistinguishable from counters. Kind of a lame reason, but it's all I can think of.

 

[Dog Hand]

Was Insurance Offered?

Stealth Bomber,

I played a few months ago at Barton's Club 93 in Jackpot, NV. They do not offer Insurance, so consequently they will not give even money on a player's BJ vs. the dealer's Ace.

Was Insurance offered at the casino you visited?

Dog Hand

 

[V-man]

Even not same as Insure in 6:5

Let's say you bet $5. Dealer shows A, you have BJ. If you are allowed to take even money, you get $5 profit.
Now instead of yelling 'even money', you insure your BJ, ie put $2.5 on the table to buy insurance.
a) If dealer has BJ, you push your hand of BJ, but get paid on the ins bet, a profit of $5. This is same as 'even money' case
b) If dealer has no BJ, you get paid $6 on your BJ hand but lost the ins bet $2.5, for a profit of $3.5. This is not the same as 'even money' case.

 

[zengrifter]

"insuramce still allowed"...

... is probably the case and what the sign did not say. zg

 

[SammyBoy]

It might be...

because they've had complaints from players who wanted even money after the dealer flipped the hole card. The dealer offered insurance but did not ask the ploppy with BJ if he wanted even money. Instead of requiring the dealer to ask for even money, they force the ploppy to take insurance. If this is the case it is really stupid on the part of the casino. They should be practically begging these people to take even money.

 

[Victoria]

Am I confused?

Or perhaps too logical for that casino?
In my opinion "even money" is simply a shortcut for a player with blackjack taking insurance. A time saver. Instead of the player pushing out half his bet and the dealer paying double on that and pushing the natural, the dealer just pays him even money on his blackjack.
Saves time, and with less chips moving around the table, it makes it easier for those watching the game.

The only other thing I can think of is perhaps they had a ton of complaints where people said that they did not ask for even money after the dealer checked and did not have blackjack. By forcing them to put out an insurance bet, the eye can be totally sure of the players intention.

Victoria

 

[Stealth Bomber]

Ins is offered on all but 1D

The 1D tables are where this stupid little sign is posting this statement:

"EVEN MONEY IS NOT OFFERED"

The tables were also double 10 & 11 only. Therefore, I didn't care to check into it further. I just went on about my business with 6D. I still wonder though what they would do if a player pushed out half there regular bet amount on to the ins line when D shows Ace while the player holds a B J.

I'm thinking like Victoria on this. They have ploppy minded idiots running the show.

 

[Stealth Bomber]

Casino managers do wierd things that don't add up

In fact, I think I may have been one who was instrumental in enlightening a few casinos managers who subsequently changed all there signs at their tables.
The sign used to say:

'SPLIT PAIRS UP TO FOUR TIMES'

After making a tongue-in-cheek issue many times with the P C's, the old signs disappeared. New signs reflect what they are willing to allow in a proper statement such as:

'SPLIT PAIRS UP TO FOUR HANDS'

 

[gorilla player]

response

I think that if you assume that because someone is running a pit or is the games manager for a casino, that they must have some minimal intelligence about the games they offer, then you are assuming facts not in evidence, as is often said in the judicial system. Some pit critters, or games managers, are sharp. Some haven't seen a whetstone in years even though they have been cutting tin cans repeatedly...

IE even grocery store managers and department store managers know about the concept of "lost leaders". That to make more sometimes you have to take a loss on some items... The casino types seem to "want it all".