Ever since I stepped into a casino for the first time, I’ve been a big fan of slots. They’re where some of my most exciting casino moments have come from, and the constant revolving door of new games continues to capture my attention.
But like many of you, I’m finding the ups and downs are getting wilder, and it’s a ride I sometimes find less fun and more… uncomfortable. Burning through a significant budget quickly at $1 a spin didn’t feel as likely in the past, and has become somewhat common now, due to the harder to reach bonuses, more difficult scenarios to get the best bonus variations, and the continued increase in minimum bet requirements.
Where we’re based, we have a smoke-free property a few minutes outside of Palm Springs. I had forgotten, but was recently reminded, that they offer a $3 Blackjack offering. For that price the rules are not optimal (even money Blackjack being the most expensive change), but at $3 a hand, it also makes for swings much less wild than I’ve experienced on slots lately. For those who refuse to play anything but 3:2, that entry point is $10/hand – also workable!
I’ve played more Blackjack in the last month than I have in quite some time, cruise weeks excepted, where I tend to balance my time more frequently between slots and cards due to the lower machine counts.
During this time I’ve gotten to know many of the people working the pit (being a smaller pit of 11 tables, you tend to see familiar faces popping up more often). I learned the casino actually has hot and iced tea available as free options from the cocktail servers – things not always on offer. And most importantly, I can enjoy a couple of hours at the casino without having to put up a dramatic amount of money.
When I was younger, lower slot bets meant I could bring $100 to the casino and likely make a day of it. It’s simply harder to do this now, as casinos have been more aggressive at removing older machines. I’ve tested this theory, taking $100 to the slots after my Blackjack session. In many cases, even betting $1 or less per spin, I’ve had multiple occasions where the money is gone in less than 10 minutes, in some cases without a single bonus or significant line hit.
Sticking to smaller budgets now means either having a smaller and smaller set of older games that allow more flexibility to bet lower on less volatile games, or simply getting lucky before blowing through your budget. That makes the entertainment budget aspect of things a bit harder.
The news has shown that budget travelers have been the ones more likely to abandon Las Vegas trips in the past year. While the economy is an obvious target, so has been the recent evolution of the games available in casinos.
You won’t find $3 Blackjack on the strip (you can find lower limit options at a few locations downtown or at locals casinos). Slots have been more aggressively replaced in casinos in recent year, so that less of those older and less volatile machines are floating around, replaced by video slots that for sure have potential, but at the cost of more dramatic volatility and higher per spin bets.
I still love slots, and appreciate the various creative ways the games can operate. I still have my favorites and still love to take a swing. But I also don’t have an unlimited entertainment budget, and that means pivoting to other games that let me have a fun night at the casino when I want to get out and relax.
I hear you! The volatility of slots is exhausting and painful on the pocket. And I don’t care to chase comps and tiers these days.
Nowadays, I prefer table poker to blackjack, and will occasionally try my hand at roulette too.
This weekend we moved on to Ultimate Texas Hold ‘Em for a bit and it was fun! Roulette in California is a bit different because you can’t bet on the outcome of a ball so they have a clacking wheel with cards in it. We also just got Class II electronic roulette, which helps close the gap.
You are SO spot on! There seems to be a dramatic change in how much slot machines are paying out. I’m in Vegas on generally a six week on, six week off schedule and have seen my losses increasing with every trip. It is not just me either. I always wander around in a casino observing what the temperature is; are other people winning? It seems that I am seeing less and less action myself and observing less and less with others. Not only that, comps seems to be tighter as well. The corporate greed has become the norm and they aren’t even trying to hide it! Thanks for reminding us all that there ARE other ways to find our joy when we are out in a casino.
If it’s our entertainment budget we’re bringing with us to the casino, Dianna, we want to have fun! The ups and downs of slots feels different now, and so it helps to know your options!
I too go looking for the old Games in the casino. I play more poker, and the money lasts longer. Good update, thanks. 84 year old player.
We appreciate it Bobby, and at least some casinos have kept that in mind and left a group of machines for players like us. It’s particularly fun when you go into a casino and see an old favorite that you haven’t in awhile.
Hi,
After reading your perspective I totally understand all that you stated. I’m a senior and have enjoyed (wisely!) casinos for the better part of my older adult life and have seen major changes within the gaming industry.
I do like to play poker and various other card games but in all honesty I don’t have the courage or (I don’t think) the budget to sit at a table to play even simple Blackjack.
I do hope you keep slots on your videos and perhaps you could show table games in “introductory” sessions? I’m assuming when you mention a $3 Blackjack it’s $3 per hand?
I love your videos, how honest you are and care about people and your friends& crew.
Please keep up the great “work”!
Hey Sue! Yes, we mean $3 a hand. It sounds like a lot if you’re used to betting smaller on slots, but our experience is a small budget can last awhile. We have had fun watching people walk up to the table, change in $20, and play for awhile.
Rest assured, as the name Brian Christopher Slots attests, slots is our main focus and we have no plans to change that focus. But we will introduce some new things here and there periodically, as we have for almost 10 years now!
What about the electronic black jack with the ladies? Do you think it’s just as volatile as the slots?
In casinos offering traditional Vegas-style gaming, the electronic blackjack must play the same was as actual cards would play, so no it’d be the same old Blackjack. The payouts and rules that the game has (number o decks, can you split/surrender/double down, how much a Blackjack pays for, etc.) will ultimately determine what the game’s long term payback will be, but generally speaking for the bet levels allowed it will likely be advantageous vs. slots.
It’s nice to have nearby options (and I don’t mean that sarcastically). The closest casino to me is Encore Boston Harbor. As part of the much higher-end Wynn family, I’ve never seen anything less than a $15 minimum on blackjack, with availability dropping significantly at night or on weekends. Fortunately I’m old and retired, so I can visit during the day with all of the other old and retired folks, and get home before minimums go up, traffic gets bad, and all those young whippersnappers show up!! ;–)
That’s certainly a fair point – southern New England isn’t exactly bustling with lower limit options on tables, even with the competition, so this is one of those times where your mileage may vary. When I was based in New England I’d be happy to find a $10 table where I could, but that was definitely not likely in recent years.
I agree about your slots assesment. The constant increase of volatility makes the lulls of no wins no fun. But, I continue to stay away from BJ due to how the rules continue to be unfavorable and the limits are far too expensive. Low rollers continue to battle 6:5, at low limit tables that hardly improved since Covid.
But the thing that keeps me away the most is the players. The fun and patience for other players is simply not the norm. The shaming of “not the correct play” has become such a downer. But if anyone can find a silver lining it’s you! So, I’ll try it with you next time you visit Mohegan.
Until then, it’s the solace of a morning battle with video poker. The only person that can get upset that I didn’t play the optimal strategy in me. And even thatis a handful!
Slots have among the most unfavorable conditions of all, so that 6:5 is still a pretty good deal by comparison :)
Fairly noted about play. The ironic thing about that $3 table is it’s a lot of players that do their own thing. Splitting 10s, hitting against a bust card… so it’s one of those scenarios where you sit down accepting it’s the wild west haha