Full Vegas experience won't float on boats
September 1, 2006
BY JOHN G. BROKOPP GAMING COLUMNIST
State-regulated casino gambling in the Chicago area has come a long way since it first began operations in 1992.
Who among us looks fondly to the early days when we had to call up to make reservations for a gambling session, fork over as much as $18 admission per person, board the vessel in a veritable cattle call, then be requested to depart when the session was over to make room for the next herd of eager gamblers?
Although the industry has matured, there's still a long way to go. But there is one major obstacle that stands in the way: As long as gambling is restricted to permanently docked riverboats and barges, we've probably come as close to a Las Vegas style experience as we're ever going to see.
Also, Chicago gaming is still a seller's market. With four destinations on the Illinois side and another quartet of properties in northwest Indiana, the demand for gambling exceeds the supply. As long as this situation remains, we're going to have to live with what the present license holders choose to give us.
This is pretty much the way it is with all of the gaming jurisdictions that have sprung up in states around the country. Casino operators cater to the specific market dynamics in which they do business, so some regions are more "player friendly" than others, but in a major metropolis like the Chicago area the biggest emphasis remains on attracting the high rollers.
Table games with a $5 minimum bet at casinos in the Chicago area are the exception rather than the rule. Some destinations don't even offer them.
The two most profitable casino operations are the Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin and the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, yet both casinos place little emphasis on video poker and the games they do offer have anemic pay tables. Their success is based on high roller table game and slot machine play.
It's a far cry from Las Vegas where, in essence, two gambling worlds have evolved: (1) The mega resorts that cater to the tourists and the biggest gamblers in the world and (2) the properties that have become known as "locals" casinos whose stock in trade is building strong bases of regular customers among the residents of the area.
Locals casinos are also a favorite among some tourists, who seek them out for the affordable table games and the strong video poker inventories.
The Majestic Star Casinos & Hotel in Gary comes closest to filling the role of a locals establishment around here. Three-dollar minimum blackjack, roulette and craps games were recently introduced, available 24/7, plus the casino is home to the area's biggest live poker room (21 tables), which offers low stakes $3/$6 Texas Hold'em. The Majestic also offers double-deck blackjack.
Perhaps the Majestic Star's best claim to player friendly fame is the video poker. The casino's extensive inventory of machines and games includes 9/7 Double Bonus Poker, 9/6 Double Double Bonus Poker and Super Aces Bonus Poker and Not-So-Ugly Deuces Poker available with optimum pay tables. Video poker doesn't get any better in the Chicago area. |
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