i've seen craps dealers and supervisors ask non-players to move back when the table is getting crowded and more want to walk up.  Usually friends of players trying to learn the game or spectate but not betting themselves.  If there's room, the dealers don't usually mind.  Same for card games.  Non-players in a chair are asked to vacate the chairs if the games are busy.

Another controversial scene that I see a lot at the Downtown tables are craps players sitting in chairs at a busy table.  Many times I want to play but these players take up 2 spaces if not more, depending on the player's size.

I say controversial because I've seen old and frail people that want to play so that's understandable. 

I've seen others that look like they don't need chairs but who's to say.  They might be harboring an unseen health condition but in my opinion most of them are full of shiite.

That's pretty reasonable for Venetian.  I think the Venetian and Palazzo are very beautiful and clean properties, nicer than Bellagio in my opinion.

Looks like crapless craps are becoming more and more popular.  It's bound to find it's way Downtown, if it hadn't already.

I tried the bubble craps machines.  It's ok but it's just me.  I get paranoid that the machine is rigged even though the more logical part of me reminds me that it has an RNG just like the other types of machines.  I guess I enjoy the human aspect of the game.

When Downtown was primarily $5 minimums I liked to play the $10 craps tables because like Flapp mentioned it keeps the budget minded players (those who hold up the game and have no idea of the etiquette or don't care) away.

The worst players I can't stand is the ones who buy in for $40 and just stand there, order drinks and once in a while play $1 prop bets, waiting for a hot shooter.  When it's their turn to roll, they pass the dice.  When they lose all their buy-in, they still stand there, taking up space like leeches.  I don't know why the pit critters don't kick them out.

Maybe they were once $100 bettors and are now down and out and the casino took all their money and feel sorry for them.

Something about collecting chips is way more fun than a credit on a machine.  I hate mid roll buy ins, esp if they aren't betting right away. Last month, I was waiting to buy in and I counted how much I lost had I bought in mid roll and it would have been easily $300.  I would buy in and immediately put money on the inside.  Confirmation bias, but I would say at least 75% of the time of a mid roll buy in, the shooter craps out the next throw.

Another controversial scene that I see a lot at the Downtown tables are craps players sitting in chairs at a busy table.  Many times I want to play but these players take up 2 spaces if not more, depending on the player's size.

I say controversial because I've seen old and frail people that want to play so that's understandable. 

I've seen others that look like they don't need chairs but who's to say.  They might be harboring an unseen health condition but in my opinion most of them are full of shiite.

Chairs on the strip aren't very common.  I see this all the time downtown for the grandpas and even at Orleans for 50's+.  But the guy I saw at the Wynn that had a RSVP table and about $250K worth of yellow chips ($1K) had a chair. He was also like 300lbs and over 70 years old. 

Funny that I can stand at a craps table for 3 hours and my legs and knees are fine, but when I worked retail, legs all sore.

Chairs on the strip aren't very common.  I see this all the time downtown for the grandpas and even at Orleans for 50's+.  But the guy I saw at the Wynn that had a RSVP table and about $250K worth of yellow chips ($1K) had a chair. He was also like 300lbs and over 70 years old. 

Funny that I can stand at a craps table for 3 hours and my legs and knees are fine, but when I worked retail, legs all sore.

Yeah, when we are doing something we enjoy, for some reason we can go on forever.  My legs and knees are bad, but I can stand and play craps for hours.  My longest session was at Fremont.  I started playing at 5:30 or so in the morning and finally quit at 2 in the afternoon.

Something about collecting chips is way more fun than a credit on a machine.  I hate mid roll buy ins, esp if they aren't betting right away. Last month, I was waiting to buy in and I counted how much I lost had I bought in mid roll and it would have been easily $300.  I would buy in and immediately put money on the inside.  Confirmation bias, but I would say at least 75% of the time of a mid roll buy in, the shooter craps out the next throw.

OMG, buying in mid-roll is my ultimate pet peeve when playing craps.  More so if I am the shooter.  I will wait until the hand is over, whether a seven-out or the point is made.  Then I will buy-in.

I like to keep some small denomination chips in my pocket at all times.  Usually several reds and whites. Then when I'm waiting to buy in, I'll sometimes place the point by placing the chips on the last line of the passline bar.  At least I'm kinda in the game, especially when there is a good shooter.

Other players buy in mid-roll because they can see that there is a good shooter.  I believe in rhythm and it might be superstitious but when a shooter's rhythm gets thrown off by these guys, it tends to lead to a 7-out.  Just ask the pit bosses.  They love to throw a good shooter's rhythm off.  The longer the shooter has to wait because of mid roll buy-ins, or greedy players pressing the middle and their place bets the higher the chance of a 7-out.

This is just me because some people don't see no harm nor foul.  Even some shooters don't care when they have to wait a long time between rolls.  Part of the game I guess.

OMG, buying in mid-roll is my ultimate pet peeve when playing craps.  More so if I am the shooter.  I will wait until the hand is over, whether a seven-out or the point is made.  Then I will buy-in.

I like to keep some small denomination chips in my pocket at all times.  Usually several reds and whites. Then when I'm waiting to buy in, I'll sometimes place the point by placing the chips on the last line of the passline bar.  At least I'm kinda in the game, especially when there is a good shooter.

Other players buy in mid-roll because they can see that there is a good shooter.  I believe in rhythm and it might be superstitious but when a shooter's rhythm gets thrown off by these guys, it tends to lead to a 7-out.  Just ask the pit bosses.  They love to throw a good shooter's rhythm off.  The longer the shooter has to wait because of mid roll buy-ins, or greedy players pressing the middle and their place bets the higher the chance of a 7-out.

This is just me because some people don't see no harm nor foul.  Even some shooters don't care when they have to wait a long time between rolls.  Part of the game I guess.

To me, one of the major aspects is the fast pace.  Normally, it's less than 30 seconds between rolls on a 1/2 full table.  It's when the table gets full and each player is doing a variety of bets that the dealers have to pause to make sure everyone is paid and bets places as instructed.  I've had to stand around for more than a minute or two waiting for the stickman to direct who gets paid from the Proposition bets in the center.  That happens after the pass/come, place and field bets are completed.  So, IMO, the pace gets really slow when a couple of "experts" show up and start betting on a dozen different wagers.

It can get complicated making the dealers slow the pace to avoid mistakes while communicating with players -- and some players make it slower because they are elderly, hard of hearing and/or inebriated.

OMG, buying in mid-roll is my ultimate pet peeve when playing craps. More so if I am the shooter.  I will wait until the hand is over, whether a seven-out or the point is made.  Then I will buy-in.

I like to keep some small denomination chips in my pocket at all times.  Usually several reds and whites. Then when I'm waiting to buy in, I'll sometimes place the point by placing the chips on the last line of the passline bar.  At least I'm kinda in the game, especially when there is a good shooter.

Other players buy in mid-roll because they can see that there is a good shooter.  I believe in rhythm and it might be superstitious but when a shooter's rhythm gets thrown off by these guys, it tends to lead to a 7-out.  Just ask the pit bosses.  They love to throw a good shooter's rhythm off.  The longer the shooter has to wait because of mid roll buy-ins, or greedy players pressing the middle and their place bets the higher the chance of a 7-out.

This is just me because some people don't see no harm nor foul.  Even some shooters don't care when they have to wait a long time between rolls.  Part of the game I guess.

That used to REALLY bother me.  It still does, but I've found a way to sort of just "reset" and wait until dice are back in front of me.  I absolutely hate it when someone, generally a drunk newbie, forces their way in mid-roll, throws down money on the table, the dice hits it and then. . .

I've also been where the table has a "cooler".  Where either one of the dealers takes a while or someone starts arguing over something stupid.  In the former, I haven't experienced that many time, especially when the table has been tipping.  I've seen some things advantagious to us/table when tipping well, as I am sure many have as well.  Both craps and BJ. . . For the latter, it doesn't happen very often, but I've had it where the table is hot, running on 45+ min roll.  Where generally the place bets are large(r) amounts.  Then someone is arguing over a $25 field bet.  Where someone on the table gives them the $$$ as essentially a "here, shut up". 

When I had just turned 21 and was in Vegas with my parents.  I was in downtown and got to know a few folks from Hawaii.  One night, I was on the table and someone else was rolling and doing well.  I was drinking had to piss!  I was about to step off and one of the older guys was like "you can't right now"  So, I held it. . . roll continued, and I held it.  Wasn't going to be the jinx. . . haha

That used to REALLY bother me.  It still does, but I've found a way to sort of just "reset" and wait until dice are back in front of me.  I absolutely hate it when someone, generally a drunk newbie, forces their way in mid-roll, throws down money on the table, the dice hits it and then. . .

I've also been where the table has a "cooler".  Where either one of the dealers takes a while or someone starts arguing over something stupid.  In the former, I haven't experienced that many time, especially when the table has been tipping.  I've seen some things advantagious to us/table when tipping well, as I am sure many have as well.  Both craps and BJ. . . For the latter, it doesn't happen very often, but I've had it where the table is hot, running on 45+ min roll.  Where generally the place bets are large(r) amounts.  Then someone is arguing over a $25 field bet.  Where someone on the table gives them the $$$ as essentially a "here, shut up". 

When I had just turned 21 and was in Vegas with my parents.  I was in downtown and got to know a few folks from Hawaii.  One night, I was on the table and someone else was rolling and doing well.  I was drinking had to piss!  I was about to step off and one of the older guys was like "you can't right now"  So, I held it. . . roll continued, and I held it.  Wasn't going to be the jinx. . . haha

My mama told me it's bad luck to be superstitious.

 

I'm never shocked at the superstitious things people will say in Vegas.  The scary part is, sometimes the predictions come true.  i've seen people claim that the dice hitting the chips at the far end are going to cause a 7/out.  The dice can hit the chips 10 times, and every time the table holds its collective breath as they hope for anything but a 7.  On the 11th roll, however, the dice hit the chips and come up 7.  At least one person looks angrily at the shooter as if hitting the chips caused a bad roll.  Why did the previous 10 'bad rolls' not come up 7?  I guess the gods of bad luck were focused on another game at that moment!   

My mama told me it's bad luck to be superstitious.

 

I'm never shocked at the superstitious things people will say in Vegas.  The scary part is, sometimes the predictions come true.  i've seen people claim that the dice hitting the chips at the far end are going to cause a 7/out.  The dice can hit the chips 10 times, and every time the table holds its collective breath as they hope for anything but a 7.  On the 11th roll, however, the dice hit the chips and come up 7.  At least one person looks angrily at the shooter as if hitting the chips caused a bad roll.  Why did the previous 10 'bad rolls' not come up 7?  I guess the gods of bad luck were focused on another game at that moment!   

Superstitious?  Can't say I'm not. . . but also do people link cause and effect?  Maybe. . . I would tend to think about things as not tempting fate, luck, whatever.  The engineer side of me understands the law of probabilities, random whatever, and whatever.  But can someone rule out superstitions? 

I play (or used to) play a LOT of live hold'em.  In that game, I try to play the odds, but I admit I often run on "gut feel", "something isn't adding up", or even "oh what the hell, take a shot". . .

As for the example, while I don't like when that happens, I also understand it's part of the game.  I wouldn't berate anyone, but I have seen some folks make quite a stink/scene. 

Superstitious?  Can't say I'm not. . . but also do people link cause and effect?  Maybe. . . I would tend to think about things as not tempting fate, luck, whatever.  The engineer side of me understands the law of probabilities, random whatever, and whatever.  But can someone rule out superstitions? 

I play (or used to) play a LOT of live hold'em.  In that game, I try to play the odds, but I admit I often run on "gut feel", "something isn't adding up", or even "oh what the hell, take a shot". . .

As for the example, while I don't like when that happens, I also understand it's part of the game.  I wouldn't berate anyone, but I have seen some folks make quite a stink/scene.

Poker is labeled by many as a game of skill, not of chance.  So, the "gut feeling" is usually more of a learned skill on how to read other people.

Sure, you have to use percentages to know if your hand has a chance of winning.  But then you also have to have a way of telling if your opponents' card have a higher chance.  I find the percentages are more useful at the first round of betting before the flop.  Obviously a pair of kings, a king/ace, or a pair of 10s have better odds than a majority of others.  Strategy would be to go all in if that's allowed so you push out the donks and maybe pick up the blinds without a fight. 

The skill comes in figuring out how the others play.  My very first time playing any casino poker against other players was at a 7-card stud game with a $4 max bet limit.  The guy 2 to my left had just pushed everyone else out of 2 pots with nothing but a very small pair.  he kept max raising until everyone folded.  The next time he ahd I were still in the hand, he kept raising and raising.  I kept calling without raising just to make him think I was on a draw.  He turned over a pair of 3s and I have a straight.  The very next hand, it was like a rerun.  He had a pair of 7s, and i had a full house.  I had trips out of the gate, so I wasn't folding to this clown at all.  After those losses, he had to go to the ATM so he could buy in again.

So, when discussing Vegas gaming, I don't usually include poker games that have players against each others, but I do include the ones where each player is against the house.

Woo hoo!

Just got off the craps table and I lost $700 bucks!! 

Trip still in the early stages.  I am determined to win it back and multiply it by 100 times.

Either that or this is me on the way home on the plane......

Other notes:

Coffee is so expensive for regular grind and the cups are shrinking.

At the Boyd properties Downtown, being a lowly Ruby or Sapphire member still had perks like a couple of bucks off at the buffet.  Now you suck wind.  You have to be Emerald or higher to even get noticed, LOL!

Craps Downtown are all $15 minimums wherever I went.  I think there are lower limits somewhere I haven't found them yet.  Maybe cause it's only for limited times.

We just got done eating at the Cal Market St. Cafe.  Their coffee is $4 and some change for a little menehune cup and it tastes like Vegas tap water from Lake Mead.

Really.  It does.  Anyone who drank tap water in Vegas knows what I mean.  Yuck.

Woo hoo!

Just got off the craps table and I lost $700 bucks!! 

Trip still in the early stages.  I am determined to win it back and multiply it by 100 times.

Either that or this is me on the way home on the plane......

Other notes:

Coffee is so expensive for regular grind and the cups are shrinking.

At the Boyd properties Downtown, being a lowly Ruby or Sapphire member still had perks like a couple of bucks off at the buffet.  Now you suck wind.  You have to be Emerald or higher to even get noticed, LOL!

Craps Downtown are all $15 minimums wherever I went.  I think there are lower limits somewhere I haven't found them yet.  Maybe cause it's only for limited times.

We just got done eating at the Cal Market St. Cafe.  Their coffee is $4 and some change for a little menehune cup and it tastes like Vegas tap water from Lake Mead.

Really.  It does.  Anyone who drank tap water in Vegas knows what I mean.  Yuck.

Go rub the buddha's belly! 

Yeah, starting a trip off can make a big difference, at least for me.  Start of with a big loss, I'll play more tentative, at least for a while.  Start off with a neutral or even slight win, I'll usually tend to press "normal" to even higher.  Where I've missed on bigger wins.  Experienced that even when jumping on a table on the downward swing, trying to make my money last and friend's jumping on a little later and pressing more.  While we all made money, they made much more.  I've also seen that logic work the other way, but "it's bad beats" that you remember. 

I haven't been to Downtown in ages.  Maybe the $15 min is for the weekend.  Or maybe they figure lots of folks visiting for the holidays, flush with Christmas money.

In any case, best of luck! 

Woo hoo!

Just got off the craps table and I lost $700 bucks!! 

Trip still in the early stages.  I am determined to win it back and multiply it by 100 times.

Either that or this is me on the way home on the plane......

Other notes:

Coffee is so expensive for regular grind and the cups are shrinking.

At the Boyd properties Downtown, being a lowly Ruby or Sapphire member still had perks like a couple of bucks off at the buffet.  Now you suck wind.  You have to be Emerald or higher to even get noticed, LOL!

Craps Downtown are all $15 minimums wherever I went.  I think there are lower limits somewhere I haven't found them yet.  Maybe cause it's only for limited times.

We just got done eating at the Cal Market St. Cafe.  Their coffee is $4 and some change for a little menehune cup and it tastes like Vegas tap water from Lake Mead.

Really.  It does.  Anyone who drank tap water in Vegas knows what I mean.  Yuck.

El Cortez has $10 craps, but they're not on "Fremont st".  4 Queens has $5 tables, but it's not consistent. 

I get 2 coffee's while playing, that way it just cost me $1 tip. I get it iced too.  For the mornings, I bring preworkout which is powdered and just add to my water bottle when I wake up.

SouthPoint has $5 tables consistantly. Rampart $10 consistantly.

I haven't been to Downtown in ages.  Maybe the $15 min is for the weekend.  Or maybe they figure lots of folks visiting for the holidays, flush with Christmas money.

In any case, best of luck!

$15 is the new post covid norm for downtown. The last to have $5 consistently was Golden Nugget, but they're at $15 as of like 6 months ago.

Also, not many HI people compared to precovid.

$15 is the new post covid norm for downtown. The last to have $5 consistently was Golden Nugget, but they're at $15 as of like 6 months ago.

Also, not many HI people compared to precovid.

You guys are making Vegas sound so bad, I'm glad I haven't been back since pre-Covid.  The air travel hassles were the main thing i wanted to avoid, but now it seems Vegas itself is no longer the same affordable, comp-rich, entertaining experience it used to be.

I've never been to Reno or Lake Tahoe.  Might plan my next trip to someplace I've not been rather than ruin my Vegas memories with the current mess happening there.

Truthfully, I've been considering a cruise.

You guys are making Vegas sound so bad, I'm glad I haven't been back since pre-Covid.  The air travel hassles were the main thing i wanted to avoid, but now it seems Vegas itself is no longer the same affordable, comp-rich, entertaining experience it used to be.

I've never been to Reno or Lake Tahoe.  Might plan my next trip to someplace I've not been rather than ruin my Vegas memories with the current mess happening there.

Truthfully, I've been considering a cruise.

Vegas used to be for the middle income and above and they can have a great time. now it's for the upper middle income with disposable income to burn.  Vegas nickles and dimes you for a lot and no more as much cheap stuff as before.  You can still do Vegas on a budget, but it's not worth it IMO. Save your money or go elsewhere as the precovid budget places have all gone up a lot.

The lower incomes used to be able to go to Vegas and just do the cheap stuff and have an OK time.

Reasons why I go to Vegas so often:

1) Gamble
2) CCW with more freedom
3) Food from casual to higher end
4) Workers are more friendly compared to here, they have more "aloha spirit" it seems

$15 is the new post covid norm for downtown. The last to have $5 consistently was Golden Nugget, but they're at $15 as of like 6 months ago.

Also, not many HI people compared to precovid.

I don't mind the $15-25 min much.  For craps, only really affects how I play the pass line.  My initial place bets same.  Unless I am getting pounded and needing to make my funds last.  Lately, trips are for other events, or combined.  Whereas before I'd be there for a week with family. 

Sad that things are like that now, but everything is more expensive.  Not surprised that Vegas spending is down.  Saw that last time I was in Vegas last fall where even on the strip on a Sat night, seemed busy, but not like how I had expected for late fall. 

Go rub the buddha's belly! 

Yeah, starting a trip off can make a big difference, at least for me.  Start of with a big loss, I'll play more tentative, at least for a while.  Start off with a neutral or even slight win, I'll usually tend to press "normal" to even higher.  Where I've missed on bigger wins.  Experienced that even when jumping on a table on the downward swing, trying to make my money last and friend's jumping on a little later and pressing more.  While we all made money, they made much more.  I've also seen that logic work the other way, but "it's bad beats" that you remember. 

I haven't been to Downtown in ages.  Maybe the $15 min is for the weekend.  Or maybe they figure lots of folks visiting for the holidays, flush with Christmas money.

In any case, best of luck!

Thanks!

Yesterday was better at the craps table.  I was up a couple of hundred then the table turned south.  Greedy me tried to win more and within two PSO's (Point /Seven-outs) in a row I was down $150. 

I just finished doing a work-out session at the Cal's fitness room.  I like going early in the morning when nobody's there.  I was on the treadmill with my headspeakers on and rocking to a music video on my laptop thinking I was still alone in the room. 

I realized there were 3 women in the room working out also.  Startled the sh*t out of me.

Luckily I was toward the end of my workout routine and quickly left after.  Didn't even bother to do the cool down.  I figured leave before they get the hots for this 68 yr. old man's body.......

After cleaning up craps table here I come.

By the way, this place is packed.  Where da hell do people get all their money to gamble......

Vegas used to be for the middle income and above and they can have a great time. now it's for the upper middle income with disposable income to burn.  Vegas nickles and dimes you for a lot and no more as much cheap stuff as before.  You can still do Vegas on a budget, but it's not worth it IMO. Save your money or go elsewhere as the precovid budget places have all gone up a lot.

The lower incomes used to be able to go to Vegas and just do the cheap stuff and have an OK time.

Reasons why I go to Vegas so often:

1) Gamble
2) CCW with more freedom
3) Food from casual to higher end
4) Workers are more friendly compared to here, they have more "aloha spirit" it seems

Yes, the workers here at the Cal should hold Aloha Spirit remedial classes for the folks back home.  Seems like Hawaii people forget how good they have it.

Seems like the Cal is preparing to make at least one craps table a $25 minimum table.  The placards are out but they haven't opened the tables yet.

I actually thought the raising of the minimums for table play would discourage the Hawaii people.  But nooooo......they still reach for their wallets and the hundies keep coming out.

Hawaii people, between fireworks and gambling, where they get the money to eat and pay bills..... 

What? No mo dollar craps, nickel slots, $1.99 breakfast buffet anymo?