Question of the Day - 05 May 2017

That’s right. All the table games at Fiesta Henderson now offer a maximum bet of $1,000. The new director of table games raised the upper limit and we hear that it has increased play in interesting ways.

Part of the reason why a low-roller locals casino would make a major leap like this has to do with image making. The appearance of rising beyond the grind-joint realm creates a positive customer perception with less risk to the casino than might be initially apparent. From what we understand from an insider, 95 out of 100 regulars continue to play at their usual levels at the same old neighborhood joint, but that now has an improving reputation.

Again, the appearance seems to be that there’s something less classy about a $5-$300 table game than the more “respectable” $5-$1,000 table. When the average patron feels like he or she is in a more serious gambling hall, the play gets more serious.

In addition, there’s an upside in variance. We’re told that Fiesta Henderson is starting to see relatively big-money gamblers on the graveyard shift, who get to do their thing without too many other people around, the way many of these players prefer it. In the meantime, the busier day and swing shifts cover the potential whipsaw effect from the big-play variance with the weight of their smaller but heavier action.

And finally, the drop (a.k.a. the buy-in) is higher, which looks good to the managers and accountants. A low drop usually indicates an unpopular game, or in the case of the legacy games, mismatched table limits, particularly with the max bet.

Overall, we’re told that the action has gone way up, including during the off periods of late nights and early mornings. 

Removing as much money as possible from a gambler’s pocket is a science and an art that have been evolving over millennia. It’s not neurosurgery, but it is deep psychology — as this seemingly simple example illustrates quite well.