U.S. gambling more
Americans spent more money gambling in 2007 than on movie tickets or candy, but the steady growth of commercial casinos in the past decade could take a hit next year because of a slumping economy and setbacks in building new places to play.
The American Gaming Association says 2007 commercial casino revenues in the United States hit $34.1 billion, up 5.3 percent from the previous year.
In comparison, American spent $29 billion on candy and $9.6 billion on movie tickets.
The AGA’s 10th annual State of the States report also noted that gamblers lost a record $5.3 billion at racetrack casinos, up 45.6 percent, as the number of so-called “racinos” jumped to 41 from 36 in 2006.
However, casino jobs were down 2.3 percent, with casinos in Nevada, New Jersey and Illinois cutting jobs, according to the study. The study said commercial casinos lost about 8,500 jobs in 2007, and employed fewer than 361,000 workers in 2007 compared with 369,000 in 2006.
The nation’s top gambling market remained the Las Vegas Strip, at $6.7 billion, followed by Atlantic City, N.J., at $4.9 billion and Chicago, at $2.6 billion.
Despite recent downturns in many markets, “gambling continues to be a popular and acceptable form of entertainment,” said association president and chief executive Frank J. Fahrenkopf Jr.
Higher revenues for the casinos meant more taxes paid to state and local governments. Tax revenue more than doubled nationally, from $2.5 billion in 1998 to $5.7 billion in 2007.
Farhrenkopf acknowledged, however, that 2008 might be the industry’s most challenging year. With the nation’s economy in a tailspin and spending and confidence levels of consumers reaching all-time lows, the nation’s casino companies are feeling squeezed
In addition, the report’s annual public opinion survey found the percentage of Americans who agreed gambling is an “acceptable” activity for others but not for them rose to a record 35 percent from 30 percent a year ago.
Those who said gambling is acceptable “for anyone” fell to a record low 49 percent from 52 percent a year ago.
In March, bids for new casinos were rejected in Massachusetts and Kentucky. Coupled with failed attempts to build casinos in Ohio and Nebraska two years ago, some say rapid expansion of casinos has slowed.
“We’re facing some difficult economic times,” Fahrenkopf said. “People said for years that we were recession-proof. I’ve been saying we’re not recession-proof, we’re recession-resistant.
“There is no question the economy is having an impact on our industry. Airlines are cutting service and gasoline prices are impacting markets dependent on drive-in traffic.”
Fahrenkopf said that tight credit markets - which have led companies to shelve or delay new projects - would likely not affect most of $53 billion in commercial casino expansion expected over the next few years.
The American Gaming Association survey collected data from state regulatory agencies on 467 commercial casinos in 12 states. It did not attempt to track results at casinos run by American Indian tribes. And this survey, of course, does not include any offshore betting such as at WagerWeb.com.
How to play hard hands
A hard hand in Blackjack is two starting cards that do not contain an ace.
If you have eight or less, always hit.
If you have nine: Double if the dealer has 3 thru 6 - otherwise hit.
If you have 10 : Double if the dealer has 2 thru 9 - otherwise hit.
If you have 11: Double if the dealer has 2 thru 10, hit if dealer has Ace.
If you have 12: Hit if the dealer has 2 or 3,
stand if the dealer has 4 thru 6, otherwise hit.
If you have 13-16: Stand if the dealer has 2 through 6, otherwise hit.
If you have 17 - 21: Always stand.
Blackjack game available on newly launched WiiWare
Officials from Nintendo have confirmed the launch of the WiiWare download service in North America, with six titles initially available for download, including a casino game.
WiiWare games are easy to download. Just go to the WiiWare section of the Wii Shop Channel, find the game you want, redeem Wii Points and start the download. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. New games, at various Wii Point values, will be added to WiiWare on Mondays. The newly launched Nintendo Channel on Wii will let people view videos of and read information about WiiWare games and other Nintendo products.
V.I.P. Casino: Blackjack (High Voltage Software, Inc., 1-4 players, Rated T for Teen – Simulated Gambling, 700 Wii Points):re-creates the casino experience, with fully animated players and a realistic Las Vegas dealer. Single players can increase their bankrolls, while multiple players can engage in a head-to-head mini-blackjack tournament.
Playing Ace-Queen
Ace-Queen is one of the trickiest hands for most players to play. Many players believe that the only action you’ll get on this hand will usually beat you, so that means you need to be extra alert when trying to win a pot with Big Chick. There are a few things to consider when you’re playing this hand.
The first thing to look at is the table size. If you’re playing a full ring game or a tournament, you will want to tread a little more carefully. With nine players at the table, the chances of a bigger hand being out there increases. Short table situations make your Big Chick more valuable. Head to head situations make this hand very strong, even a re-raise for the rest of your chips would usually not be a bad move.
Pre-flop is the “feeling out point” in the hand for these cards. This is where you attempt to find out where you stand. Your position on the table is probably the most important factor in playing this hand correctly. From later positions the rule is usually to raise with this hand if there has been no raise ahead of you. In the situation where there is a raise and a re-raise ahead of you, folding A-Q is your best move. You’re likely up against a hand that has you dominated, or at best you have a 50% chance to win. The same goes for an early position check-raise. Many players flat call with premium hands to induce a raise from an opponent in a late position. Once there’s some money in the pot they’ll force the action.
Playing Ace-Queen should be treated like you are walking on thin ice. Consider who’s doing all the betting and act accordingly. If you utilize this strategy properly Ace-Queen will win you more chips than it will cost you.
Why double down?
Whether or not to double down in blackjack is generally simple: do it!
After all, you know the dealer’s up-card. Second, the casino is allowing you to bet more money with that
information. Finally, your chances of winning the hand - when you should be doubling - are better than the dealer’s.
You always want to bet more when the casino is at a distinct disadvantage so as to increase your potential
return. Your edge comes from the new bet’s paying even money on hands you are favored to win.
Want a career change? Go to casino college
Employee turnover and short staffs are problems already facing Vicksburg, Miss., casinos, and the demand for skilled workers is about to get higher as a fifth casino begins hiring and another nears completion of a gaming room expansion.
So, the city’s first casino college has opened with goals of easing local shortages.
“This isn’t something that’s a new phenomenon, it’s always been an issue in this industry,” said Kim Tullos, general manager for DiamondJacks Casino. “There’s an inherent amount of turnover that is always prevalent in casinos.”
Table dealer and housekeeping and food and beverage positions are the hardest positions to keep filled in area casinos. Not coincidentally, these are typically the lowest paying positions and require the least amount of experience.
The Casino College of Mississippi is first in Vicksburg and third in the state. About 25 students have signed on.
Number of decks do matter
The number of decks from which cards are drawn in blackjack very much affects your edge.
The fewer the decks, the lower it is for the house. Specific values depend on the actual rules and way hands are played.
Here are figures for strict Basic Strategy in games where dealers must hit soft 17, blackjacks pay 3-to-2, and bettors and can double on any initial two cards, double after splitting, resplit any pairs except aces, and surrender against anything except a blackjack. One deck: the house has essentially no edge; six decks: the casino has approximately 0.4 percent advantage; eight decks: the bosses have about 0.5 percent hammer.
Games with under six decks are rare. The usual options are six or eight.
Is Vegas immune to recession?
If you look at current trends, the answer is no.
Gambling revenue and hotel occupancy are down. Resorts are dropping room rates and offering coupons or free nights. Casino operators are laying off hundreds of workers, and their stock prices have plummeted as much as 50 percent since October. Credit is drying up for hotel and condominium projects planned before the slowdown hit.
And those showing up are spending less. Historically, Las Vegas has been resistant to recessions, entering them later and exiting them sooner than the United States at large. Gamblers, particularly high rollers, tend to play whichever way the economic winds are blowing.
But executives here worry this recession is different from the last two - in 1990-1991 and 2001 - when consumer spending was propped up by easy credit. Now credit is drying up. High gasoline and food prices, falling home values and rising unemployment are keeping many Americans closer to home.
The good news: More foreigners are taking advantage of the weak dollar and coming to Vegas. However, they only represent 13 percent of total visitors.
Player Wins $5.5M at Blackjack Ballroom Casino
Blackjack Ballroom casino was the site last month for one of the biggest jackpots ever won online. Klaus E. from Finland hit an incredible jackpot worth $5,556,753.68 on April 22, 2008 playing a progressive slot game. Klaus was playing the Mega Moolah Progressive Slot game when he hit the big one that put him on easy street. He couldn’t believe that he had won and says he was stunned and shocked and “my hands were shaking!” He hopes to pay off his apartment and go on a vacation.
Blackjack Ballroom is a member of the CasinoRewards Group, which is part of the Microgaming community. The CasinoRewards Group now has 18 casinos operating under their umbrella, and Klaus E. is the fourth millionaire the group has produced. A CasinoRewards representative has said, “Klaus has just become part of an elite community of online casino players who have ‘hit it big’ and joined the exclusive CasinoRewards Millionaires’ Club. We congratulate him on his win and look forward to joining him in his celebrations.”
He becomes Microgaming’s 13th millionaire. Roger Raatgever, CEO, Microgaming, says, “Those that say thirteen is an unlucky number have only to take one look at Klaus E. who not only becomes the Microgaming Progressive Jackpot’s thirteenth millionaire, but by far and away the biggest jackpot winner we’ve ever had. Mega-Moolah has been tantalising players for months now and it finally delivered on a massive scale – with US $5,556,753.68 being one of the largest payouts this industry has ever seen.”
Klaus is being flown to Australia for a celebration and a check presentation. It’s by far the biggest jackpot ever won at Blackjack Ballroom and they want to do it right. It’s a marketing windfall for Blackjack Ballroom Casino, who will surely see a rise in clientele over the next few months.
MIT Blackjack Announces Card Counting School Dates
The MIT blackjack team has become famous after the popularity of the New York Times bestseller “Bringing Down the House” and more recently the hit movie 21. The team won millions from casinos all over the world, and now they are offering their valuable knowledge to the general public. Card-counting classes will be offered in select cities by Michael Aponte and teammate David Irvine. Aponte, the team’s manager, also won the first World Series of Blackjack.
“The next few months could be very dangerous for amateur or half-hearted blackjack players,” said Aponte. “A lot of people who have seen ‘21′ or read ‘Bringing Down The House’ are going to try their hand at card counting. That’s fine, but don’t try to count cards after reading a blackjack book on a flight to Vegas or Atlantic City. That’s a sure path to financial disaster. In the long run these players will end up hating themselves, but the casinos will love them.”
The two will offer a seminar that will teach what people really need to know to beat the casinos. Topics addressed during group seminars include:
- Why blackjack is beatable
- Calculating odds
- Hi/Lo card counting methodology
- Identifying meaningful pairs
- Tracking the true count
- Analyzing playing conditions
- Responsible gaming
Irvine said the training program employed is exactly the same as the one formerly used to prepare students joining the MIT blackjack team. The lessons are created in a manner where students don’t have to be math geniuses to learn them.
Seminars scheduled in 2008 are:
- Las Vegas, NV - April 19 (Platinum Hotel)
- Los Angeles, CA - April 26 (Location TBA)
- New York, NY - May 3 (Location TBA)
- Miami, FL - June 14 (Location TBA)