let's get the facts straight: poker makes money

[Spiffysean]

Does anyone have any Economics background? Why can't Vegas apply the simple laws of supply and demand to poker rooms?

For instance, if there was a demand for more slot machines because people were 3-deep waiting for a pull, Vegas would make room for more slot machines. Right now there is a demand for poker, so Vegas makes room for it.

Would Vegas rather be making more of a profit on slots and tables games versus poker? Probably. However, most rooms in Vegas are smart enough to realize that a small piece of the pie is better than no pie at all.

Management in Vegas wouldn't go to the bathroom if they thought it cost them money, and they certainly wouldn't open up losing operations.

[ClarkNasty]

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Why can't Vegas apply the simple laws of supply and demand to poker rooms?


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Vegas did. Rooms popped up everywhere for a long time. Now you see the smallest/worst rooms closing, and more will follow as poker finds a new equilibrium post-fad.

[Spiffysean]

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Why can't Vegas apply the simple laws of supply and demand to poker rooms?


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Vegas did. Rooms popped up everywhere for a long time. Now you see the smallest/worst rooms closing, and more will follow as poker finds a new equilibrium post-fad.

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Exactly, and well said. God knows we've been to rooms in Vegas (the Tropicana, etc) that do not even TRY with the room that they have, and I'm sure that they will close in time. However, what we have ALSO seen is that a wellrun poker room IS a good moneymaking draw for a casino. The work that the Bellagio, Venetian, and Wynn have done will ensure that although poker might decline in the future... they will be the ones to turn the light out when the boom is over.

There are too many successful business models for a room out there now. The bottom line is - if a casino wants to make a committment to run a good room, it's STILL (and probably forever will be) possible to do.