This problem seems to me to be a non-problem for the Coast folks and all
of the other operators. If certain players are hurting their bottom line,
simply cancel their slot club membership. Period. With the current state of
the machines and plays, without slot club benefits, advantage players are
no threat. Of course those players are entitled to all comps and cashback
which they have earned, but just don't allow them to earn any more. It keeps
those players (locals as well as visitors) who are not hurting the casino,
coming by retaining the good promotions and plays, and eliminates those that
are hurting the bottom line. It seems that the current level of
sophistication of many players will at least have them looking for good
paytables, even though they cannot, or will not, play proper strategy. Seems
like a no-brainer to me. The tricky part comes in identifying the advantage
players that are hurting the casinos. If the casinos bar all winners, then
they are barring those that are not advantage players, but just happen to
have been lucky, and from whom they will get their percentage over the long
haul.
Greektown seems to be trying to violate the pig rule, and I believe that
it will burn them. Had Greektown not downgraded their inventory along with
the barrings, then they might have been more credible in their
protestations. I believe their heavy-handedness will cause players who are
losers to simply not go there.
From the casinos view the threat from the advantage players that are
hurting the bottom line to "walk with our feet" seems to me somewhat akin to
"please don't throw me in the briar patch"; that is exactly what the casino
wants you to do. Trying to keep those players is like the manufacturer who
loses money on every item he makes and says, "...but I'm going to make it up
on volume". If the really good advantage players walk, the handle goes
down, but the overall hold goes up. The casinos keep those folks, who are
not advantage players, that they are trying to draw with the good promotions
and machines, and gets rid of those that hurt them. If your ox is the one
getting gored, then this is not a good solution, but from the casino
standpoint it seems to make perfect sense. They just need to follow the KISS
principle. Basically the same problem and solution they had with BJ players.
I have no doubt that if I was one of those players who fit the category
of an advantage player, I would feel differently, but I go to Vegas to play
video poker as entertainment and to enjoy the "Vegas experience".
Just my $.02 worth.
Barring advantage players
Hi everyone-
It can also depend on the jurisdiction. Casinos in Atlantic City are considered semi-public property, and people age 21 and over can't be barred unless they're excluded by the Division of Gaming Enforcement or engaging in disorderly behavior (panhandling, drunk and rowdy, etc.).
The full-pay opportunities are much less frequent in Atlantic City, and the few advantage players are (so far) beneath the casinos' radar.
Casinos are in the business of making money, so if there are too many good machines and too many good players, they go out of business. Players have to pick the best deals, take advantage of them as long as they last and then move on when the casino cancels it or removes the good inventory.
Personally, I think Greektown was just plain dumb to bar those few players. It generated tons of bad publicity, and probably drove away customers who are not advantage players and lose regularly.
Blessings and Royals to all.
Elaine
I have no doubt that if I was one of those players who fit the category
of an advantage player, I would feel differently, but I go to Vegas to play
video poker as entertainment and to enjoy the "Vegas experience".
Just my $.02 worth.
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