The following answer is penned by Arnie Rothstein, long-time casino-management friend of QoD.
Having been a pit manager, I feel your pain. Here's how this circus act goes down.
During weekdays, most tables are $3 to $5 (also known as Silver Alley). The single- and double-deck games (with the 3-2 payout on naturals, as opposed to the 6-5) are almost always set at a $25 limit. They feel you have a better chance of winning on these games, so they want you to risk more.
On the weekends (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Monday if it's a holiday) the table limits are low during the day and as the night goes on, they keep pushing the limits up to whatever they can get.
But don't despair; I have a couple of insider tips that are guaranteed to work.
First, don't put the floor supervisors on a pedestal. They're there for you. Feel free to approach them for favors or requests. For example, you could make the following request: "Excuse me, could you please open up a $5-minimum table for my friends and me? Your other table about wiped me out and I'd love to make my $500 last a little longer." This is a subliminal message that always works. The pit supervisor hears selective things in that request, such as this guy is a good customer because he said, "Your other table about wiped me," and he thinks you'll bring him a full table when you mention, "A table for my friends and me." Finally, you're telling him that you still have money. In this day of fierce competition, floor people are instructed not to let any bet get away, and here you are, coming across like you're ready to lose another $500, though you want it last a little longer.
Secondly, even on the weekends, most joints have $5 tables. You just have to get there early to find them -- and find a seat at them. Once you start playing on a $5 table, floor people can't increase the table minimum on you unless you take all your money and personal effects off the table and leave. The table minimum can be increased on everyone who shows up afterward, but you'll be grandfathered in.
Again, once you leave with your stuff, your $5 session is over. But here's a way to extend it. If you must leave the table, leave some chips, or your lighter, smokes, whatever, in your area on the table. Advise the dealer that you're going to the restroom (even if you're going to grab a bite to eat) and that you'll be right back. This way you'll save your grandfathered $5-minimum spot.
I've seen this tried more than 50 times and I've seen this work more than 50 times. Now if only the games were this predictable.
