ABOVE: The future of poker? The new fully automated poker tables at Excalibur
The upside? You get a lot more hands for your time at the table. The table can deal 50% more Hold-Em hands per hour than a live dealer, and double the Omaha hands. The table can switch games immediately, if desired. It can run efficient tournaments and even be adjusted for heads-up play. And if you are grossed out by holding grimy chips that that have gone through 2000 other pairs of hands before yours, that can be a thing of the past.
Excalibur is doing this in part because it can. Excalibur is not the first (or even the seventh) poker room of choice in Vegas, so this new move might improve the traffic there (even if for only the novelty value). It is also a good financial decision because the computers can work 24 hours a day and don't need breaks or a health care plan. Excalibur plans on laying off over half of its poker room staff. That being said, it is doubtful that Bellagio or Binion's will ever get rid of the dealers and chips.
Personally, I love the feel of the chips in my hand, raking in a big pot and haughtily stacking them in front of me for several hands after my big win. I enjoy a saucy or humorous dealer to chew the fat with over the hours. I've never been a fan of online poker, to me it is a very human and social activity. Call me old school, but I will always prefer to play at a table with real people with real dealers controling the play and throwing around those real grimy chips into the early morning hours.
9 comments:
I think the poker craze is on its way out. Thank goodness
What leads you to this belief, Pocky? (Other than the transparent attempt to annoy people.)
I have been in a few casinos over the past couple of months, and the poker rooms are all packed. In most cases, the wait for a table is at least a half hour.
As for your original post, Dez, I agree that (for me) poker is a tactile experience. I like the feel of the cards and the chips. I don't mind playing poker on-line when I'm at home. However, sitting around computer screens with a bunch of other people would feel too much like the depressing slot-machine culture that I have (so far) avoided.
I couldn't agree more with your last paragraph, Dez. We're automating ourselves out of existence.
I meant to add that when I was in Vegas in April, one of the very best moments was a witty comment made by a poker dealer...
I am just saying that it is now no longer on EVERY channel on TV. It is going the way of the cigar fad
I think the difference is that people who are not truly interested are no longer paying as much attention, which is probably what you are saying. For a while there, you are correct, everybody was talking about poker, whether they really played or had much interest at all. Your cigar comparison is a good one.
Now, you still have a very large segment of the population who are playing poker (and even smoking cigars). However, the fringe has fallen away. So, those that are left are those that truly enjoy the activity.
This goes back to Dez's original post, because now is not a great time for the casinos to be bringing out these electronic tables. Many of the people still interested in playing poker are not the same type of people who might have been interested in this format in the past.
That being said, I think the new tables will most likely bring in a few people who are curious to try it out. However, in the long run, they will alienate more people than they attract.
I think that people who still play poker and smoke cigars are now on "the fringe."
Yes, we understand, Pocky. You consider us beneath you. Got it.
I agree with walter evans. Poker and cigars are beneath me, as well. :)
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