Maryland Live! Casino ~ A review from my first visit

Maryland Live! Casino has had table games for a while now, and a few of my friends  went there the weekend the table games first opened.  I wasn't that enthusiastic about going right away.  I figured that the casino would take advantage of the excitement with high table minimums.  Needless to say, I decided to check it out for myself a few weeks ago. 

If you're a poker player, this post may not have anything for you.  I don't play poker and have no interest to check out whether there is a poker room.

Here are my observations:

• People say that they've seen $15 table minimums.  As far as I'm concerned this is urban legend.  The $15 table minimum is just as real as the Loch Ness Monster and Bigfoot.
• The ATMs will let you withdraw a maximum of $250 for each transaction and charge you $4 for the chance to do so.
• There are lot of blackjack tables and not all of them use an automatic shuffler.
• There are 6 craps tables
• The craps tables offer 10X odds.  You can do the math.  A $25 point with maximum odds means that the gambler would have $275 on the table at any given time.  Personally, I would never regularly bet that large.  Odds are where a craps player can really make his/her money so if you have the bankroll and can afford to survive through one/two/three "coolers" by all means, go for it.
• There are actually people who played $100 minimum craps.  Who are these people and what do they do for a living?!!?
• I saw an old man get told to leave for card counting while playing blackjack.  I've seen the movie 21, but I'd never seen that before.  When I got home I started Googling card counting and there was a blog/article written about how casinos identify these people.  Sure enough, in retrospect, this guy was obviously counting.
• He was in the high-limit room drinking coffee and not tipping the server nor the dealer.
• He was playing the last 2 spots.
• He was betting the minimum (i.e. $100/hand) in the high limit room and playing a couple of hands.
• He started out never doubling down on 11 (i.e. which I noticed while I was sitting watching) but would hit and get 21 anyway.  You don't need to watch the movie Swingers to know that you "always" double down on 11.
• He wasn't consistent with how he played his 16s. 
• Next thing you knew:
• He was increasing his bets and always doubling down on 11.
• He split 9s.
• At this point at least 2 casino supervisors/bosses etc. were watching him.  One of the older supervisors had a cell phone in his hand and he eventually moved towards the table, covered the shoe, told the dealer to shuffle immediately, and informed the guy playing that he was no longer going to be able to play at that casino any longer.  It was all pretty interesting.  I was chatting with my friend and watching baseball, but when the guy was told/asked to leave, I looked and he must've had close to $2,000 wagered on each hand for the next round.  If he'd won his next 2 hands he could've made close to $4,000 on that round alone.  Crazy stuff!
• When the old man was asked to leave, he started fussing and asking why he had to go.  The supervisor made a remark that he should know why (i.e. or something to that effect).  The gambler wanted an explanation and made a small stink about not being able to win.  I've seen movies, so I was waiting for him to continue complaining and then get taken away, but that didn't happen. 
• I'd heard that Maryland Live! Casino was really smoky.  I didn't experience this.  The place seems to have good ventilation.
• It's a large casino, but not overly crowded.  I didn't want to deal with crowds of people, so I decided not to go on Friday or Saturday night. 
• There are TVs playing music videos from the 80s/90s.  There are also TVs that show sporting events, so you don't have to worry about missing your favorite team play while you wager.
• The Cheesecake Factory is near the casino entrance as soon as you come down the elevator after parking.
• The casino is right next to the mall area.  I've never been shopping at Arundel Mills before, but I suggest shopping before you gamble.
• If you live in the DC/VA/MD area, the only reason to skip Maryland Live! and go to Hollywood Casino in Charles Town, WV would be the lower table minimums...

Good luck!


THE WIRK

My (Updated) Review: Hollywood Casino in Charles Town, WV

Today I went back to the Hollywood Casino in Charles Town, WV with my friend Sherry.  She and I are very similar in our gambling philosophy and we're both lucky so it was time to head back and check out the casino.

Here's a link to the original post:  http://www.thewirk.com/2010/08/hollywood-casino-in-charles-town-wv-my.html

Now, here's an update:

Craps:

• I saw a $10 minimum craps table, but it was not open. At the $10 tables the casino only offers 2X odds. 
• There were 2 $15 minimum tables that were open, and the odds offered are different than most casinos.  With a $15 minimum pass line bet you can place:
• Up to $40 behind for your odds, if the point is 5 or 9
• Up to $50 behind for your odds, if the point is 6 or 8
• Some people can't afford the $15 minimum you'll see those folks placing bets in the center (i.e. prop bets).
• As a result, the table can get slow since people are throwing white, dollar chips from all directions and betting the C&E, hard ways, any 7, etc.  Therefore, you'll need to be patient.
• Tables were cold, and there were a good number of "don't" players.

Blackjack:

• My friend said she saw $15 minimum blackjack tables.
• We played $50 minimum Lucky Ladies blackjack and won.

General:
****  Supposedly if you write a letter to the casino, complaining about the odds (i.e. increase demand for 3, 4, 5X odds) the casino might change their practices.  There is a Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg, IN that offers better odds so you'd think that the one in West Virginia could follow suit ~ especially with all the table game competition in Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.


THE WIRK

My Review: SugarHouse Casino left me feeling salty ~ Go to Harrah's in Chester

Before I went to the Meadowlands to watch the Duke v Butler rematch, I stopped at SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia.  The casino opened in September.  It was on the way to the venue for the game, and I figured it made sense to review it for you guys.  ****  I review the metrics of this blog often and my review of Hollywood Casino in Charles Town, WV is a popular post along with my review of Harrah's in Chester, PA so here you go!

This review will be brief. It was a Saturday morning (i.e. approximately 10AM).  As soon as I walked into SugarHouse, I was greeted my a lady at the door who asked me if I had a player's card.  I didn't so she swiped my driver's license and printed me a card right then and there.  That's convenient.  I liked the fact that I didn't need to wait in a line, but let's face it ~ the casino wasn't packed for a Saturday morning.

I've always wondered what kind of people, wake up and intentionally go to a casino "first thing" in the morning.  I'm not even going to begin to tackle that question here.  Regardless, the slot machines were dong some a decent amount of business.

I'll focus on craps because that's what I paid attention to.  There were about 10 people spread over 3 tables trying their luck with the dice.  About 3 people were consistent "don't pass" players and were achieving a nice little pay-out with each shooter since the tables were cold.

There is ABSOLUTELY NO REASON for SugarHouse to have their craps tables set at a $15 minimum.   There is competition only a few exits away at Harrah's.  Further, Harrah's (i.e. Caesar's) brand is much more ubiquitous than the independent SugarHouse venue.  I reviewed the Harrah's casino in Chester previously and my only real complaint is that the craps dealers are learning. 

****  There are only 2 dealers at the Harrah's in Chester that I trust to know the payouts.  There is one female dealer at the Harrah's in Chester that is very slow and prone to error when paying out the table, and I've actually seen her be removed from a table when a high-roller is playing.

I have no idea what odds were offered at SugarHouse, because it wasn't prominently displayed (i.e. it was early, but I think I would've seen it, had it been posted).  It didn't matter though.  Although the dealers and the staff were nice, appeared sharper, and knew the payouts better than the staff at Harrah's in Chester ~ at the end of the day SugarHouse left me feeling salty.  There's no reason to play a $15 minimum table when a $10 table is down the street and will earn you more "rewards".  Further, who wants to be the person who wins playing "don't pass"?

My $15 opinion?  Skip SugarHouse and go to Harrah's.


THE WIRK

Hollywood Casino in Charles Town, WV ~ My review

Table games are still a novelty for the people in the DC/VA/MD area and being that I like to play craps I was curious to see what Charles Town, WV had to offer.  There's a Hollywood Casino in Charles Town.  I'm actually familiar with Hollywood Casino since there's one in Indiana that I've visited previously.  Picture a Regal Cinemas or movie multiplex sans movies theater but add in the lights and sounds of slots machines and now table games.

I'd recently visited a casino in Harrington, DE.   Here is the URL: http://www.harringtonraceway.com/ for Harrington Raceway & Casino.   This particular casino only had 1 craps table and if I remember correctly, the table minimum was $15.  That casino offered 3X, 4X, and 5X odds.  I wasn't particularly fond of my experience, but at least I left even.  With only one craps table it's either hot or not and there are no other tables to jump to when the dice are ice cold.  I'm not exactly the most mobile person, but I do like having options.

Hollywood Casino is probably the shortest drive away and I was able to convince my friend, Pun, to go with me for a quick Saturday, day trip to check it out.  Here is the URL:  http://www.hollywoodcasinocharlestown.com/.  Pun likes to play craps also so it was a perfect match.  It took about 90 minutes to get to Charles Town, WV.  He drove and I just checked out the scenery.  ****  FYI - There's not much to see...

Upon arrival to Hollywood Casino Pun and I bee-lined for the table games.  After hearing horror stories about the high table minimums, we were pleased to see that the casino offered 4 craps tables and two each with minimums of $25 and $10.  Three of the 4 tables were crowded and the $10 table I wanted to play appeared to be at capacity. 

When I approached the table to further investigate who had chips in their rack and who was there just wasting space, I noticed a guy about my age and height just standing there.  He was leaning against the table and following the action, but wasn't betting.  I made eye contact with the dealer and asked if the space was open and he nodded.  Then I tapped the guy who had no chips in his rack and asked if he was playing.  "I'm learning," was his reply.  I told him I wanted to play and asked him to move back.  He replied by pointing to another table (i.e. a half empty $25 table) and telling me that I could go play over there.  I informed him that I didn't want to play the $25 table, and that I wanted to play where he was standing.  The man to his right could see that the guy wasn't moving and politely moved over so I could get in.  Within 5 rolls of the dice, I'd boxed the kid out, and he was standing behind me. 

****  Here's your first lesson: If you're not playing, you need to move so someone else can gamble.  This rule is for slots and all table games.  You can learn online, by reading a book, or standing behind someone.

****  Here's your second lesson:  I'll approach you politely and tell you what I want, but if you don't listen, I'm not afraid to tell you how it is.  Very little scares me, when I know I'm in the "right".

When I got to the table it was about 1PM.  I went ahead and cashed in my $20s.  I don't like $20s.  I prefer $100s.  With $180 in my rack, I was in the game at the $10 table.  The first thing I noticed when I got to the table was that the odds offered were only 2X.  I've played many casinos and I've actually never seen 2X odds offered.  I'm used to 3X, 4X, and 5X odds.  I've seen 10X odds and higher - but let's face it, I get cheap with my cash and I will never put 10X odds behind my pass line bet.  I don't care how hot the shooter is ~ 10X odds is a mental hurdle I don't want to jump.  I was chatting this over with my dad earlier today and he thought that was funny when I mentioned it.  Whatever.  I just can't do it.

At the craps table I noticed that no one could make their points.  Awesome.  I'm not a "don't pass" person, so I just picked up and left.  I headed over to the roulette table, and Pun hit the slots.  Roulette.  Simple game, right?  Well I guess to some, not really.  There was a young couple sitting at the $15 min table.  Here are two examples of the conversations that I overheard.

Girl:  Are there more even numbers than odd numbers?
****  I learned today from my friend Sherry that 0 is actually an even number.  Regardless, if you bet "even", you're still not going to get paid if 0 hits.

Girl: If I bet this 1/3 group of numbers what do I get?
Boy: You get any of those 21 numbers...
****  Seriously?!?!  There are only 36 numbers covered by 1/3s...  1/3 of 36 = 12.  The question was raised and I literally counted the numbers in the 3rd in my head, because I couldn't believe that such a basic question was being asked.

After getting bored with roulette and Pun wanted a break from slots we hit the buffet.  I like buffets.  I'm not ashamed to admit it.  2 buffets cost about $40.  There's nothing special on the buffet, but my expectations were reasonable.  I wasn't expecting the spread at the Bellagio.  There were no crab legs and no cocktail shrimp, but there was fried shrimp and a variety of other choices.

After eating Pun ran into some guys he knew and I went back to the craps table.  I made $100.  It doesn't sound like much, but you try making any real money with such low odds offered.  One thing I don't enjoy about being one of the only (i.e if not the only) girl at the craps table is that there's always a guy who thinks he knows how to play better than me.  "Better" is a subjective term.  Just because I don't spread my bets and place numbers doesn't mean I don't know how to.  In fact, I usually don't because I've been standing at the table and I know that it's cold so I don't feel like chasing my money and throwing it out there. 

Sure enough, I was there and a man rolled up next to me with $75 in $20s, $5s, and $1s.  Seriously?!?!  Anyway, the man got his change and then proceeded to tell me that I could make more money by making place bets.  I simply said, "The point hasn't even been set, so what numbers are you even going to place?"  He looked confused.  "You play your chips, and I'll play mine." was what I followed up with.  Sure enough 2 rolls after the point was set the shooter crapped out.  On the outside I was smiling.  Inside I was laughing...

At about 6PM, Pun and I decided it was over.  There really was nothing else I wanted to see.

Moral of the story:  Just drive to Atlantic City or fly to Las Vegas.

Interesting unrelated trivia: My purple Lakers T-shirt attracts men, but not money...


THE WIRK