In a message dated 2/23/2005 7:28:50 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,
vpFREE@yahoogroups.com writes:
<<< Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2005 12:10:33 -0000
filled)
....
Note to casino-running MBAs: if the class action guys can win their
case against the fast food restaurant industry, who do you think might
be next? Just some food for thought.
What has caused the demise of good VP are a number of factors. The
primary one is that there is too much information out there, and
boards like this one don't help. It's not a personal thing, but these
boards reflect the simple fact that more and more people know how to
play. When this happens, what will happen naturally will be the
casinos' hold on particular game becoming less and less, which will
cause them to downgrade machines. Second, the math is much better, and
large holes by mathematicians and programmers have disappeared. For
example, one well known machine manufacturer almost never got a
program's payout correct during the '90s. Third, casinos are doing the
arithmetic better, but that leads me to my biggest complaint, which is...
.........
Putting stickers on the 10/7, frankly, was so clueless it's not even
worth commenting on. The less potential $100K and up jackpots they
have to pay off, the better it is for job security. Consider the
Harrah's Tahoe "Wacky Wednesday" promotion which had a $5 or $10 Jacks
player with a 4% edge. After the promotion was abruptly ended, a
couple of suits there "decided" to quit or take retirement. I'm not
sure if it was related, but my guess is yes, considering the decision
to offer $2 FPDW*. .........
*a case history in itself. Offer a $75/hr EV game and people will be
fighting each other to try to burn it down. >>>
Regarding the $2 FPDW, it lasted from May - Nov of last yr. Believe ROJ's
post complaining about the pros brought it to the attention of many pros who
didn't know about it who then proceeded to overplay it. (BTW, ROJ not everyone
who sits down at $ FPDW is a pro. Many players also played DW on the other
side of the bank -- you know the ugly pay tables?)
The "Wacky Wednesday" promo was primarily for locals who normally don't go
after $5/$10 plays. So they sloppily left an opening for this promo to get
punched out by pro play when they finally got wind of it.
Don Marrandino is the GM for both Harrahs/Harveys & was formerly GM of Hard
Rock which also used to have great vp & good promotions See a pattern here?
Regarding MBAs running the show, methinks you're giving them too much
credit. They're human & they make mistakes. In another industry, I remember when a
leading competitor hired 8 Harvard MBAs who were going to make a difference.
They did but it wasn't a positive difference. Would have been a great Harvard
case study (what their B-school is famous for) except it would have been too
embarrassing to acknowledge their grads were culpable.
With expansion in gaming comes expansion of inexperienced help. The price of
training are the mistakes that are made along the way. That's where we come
in -- to help in their training. BTW, the gaming industry doesn't really get
the best of the B-schools. Maybe with this industry consolidation, they might
be able to compete with other industries for the better minds but right now
it's still business as usual where time on the job & who you know enables you
to bubble up through the ranks regardless of your qualifications. Come to
think of it, it's not much different than a lot of other industries.
All in all, though, thanks for your broad assessment of the current state of
vp. In light of your background, the perspective you offer is much
appreciated.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
ยทยทยท
From: "paladin415x" <paladin415x@yahoo.com>
Subject: Stupid Casino Tricks (nee Good Casinos---only lousy and smoke