State calls Bloomy bluff, gloms OTB; Takeout up 1%

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Dunbar

A 4% takeout head to head with a 25% takeout? In any other game, the savvy players would flock to the 4% takeout. If a remote Nevada casino offers a better blackjack game than Wynn or Bellagio, the best blackjack players will head for the good game, no matter how much nicer the ambience is at Wynn. A few years ago I heard of an excellent blackjack game in Pahrump, about an hour from Las Vegas. I was there the next day and stayed 3 days until the rules were changed. Smart video poker players think nothing of going across country for a good promotion. Pinnacle became the leader in offshore betting by successfully offering a lower vig. Good sports bettors, blackjack players, video poker players and live poker players seem to understand the importance of takeout much more than horse bettors do.

I know that takeout (or vig) is not the only thing that determines which play is more profitable. But when you are comparing 4% to 25%, then takeout has to be overwhelmingly more important than any other factor.



Phil, I have a lot of respect for both you and Sniper. But this should not have been a tough sell to savvy bettors like you two.

--Dunbar

I see what you are saying but blackjack and poker are still the same game regardless of what casino they are played at. Ellis Park is a far different product than most are used to. If you dont play the track regularly then the takeout is not nearly as big of a draw. I dont think bigger players thought that it was worth their time to study Ellis for 1 pick 4 a day especially when the pools figured to be small as compared to the big tracks. I think that lower takeout is always better but it will take time for it to payoff, you cant expect it to jump overnight