Poker is a necessary annoyance for casino executives.

[pocketpared]

Table deals out human factor

Technology could boost profits, but labor situation makes big casinos wary

By Liz Benston
Las Vegas Sun

BY THE NUMBERS

25 hands: Can be dealt per hour by most human dealers.

40 hands: Dealt per hour by the PokerPro table.

60 percent: Potential increase in revenue if casinos switch to the automated tables.

Poker is a necessary annoyance for casino executives.

Televised tournaments and pop culture references have made poker a player favorite, but the games, in which players bet against one another, don't make much money for the house.

A startup company from North Carolina is trying to change that with electronic poker tables called PokerPros that don't require live dealers. These tables, which debuted in 2005 but aren't yet offered in Nevada, have big implications for the casino industry.

Because electronic tables play faster than traditional games, they can increase what the casino takes from the pot over time, yielding a profit that more resembles that of other, more lucrative table games. They save labor costs by replacing dealers with a computer that deals electronic cards to players on a flat screen much like Internet poker games. And these games don't require shuffling machines and aren't subject to human error.

Surprisingly, the tables - developed with input from poker pro and casino executive Lyle Berman - have been a hard sell for Nevada's profit-driven casinos.

That's because the table's advantages come at an uncomfortable time for Strip casinos. Empowered by a controversial tip-sharing policy at Wynn Las Vegas, dealers at other properties are organizing under the Transport Workers Union, or at least exploring that prospect.
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/st...566660812.html

[StevieG]

Not surprising to see a bad article.

[ QUOTE ]
"That people like to touch cards and interact with a dealer seems like a common sense assertion," said [PokerTek CEO] Halligan, who speaks rapidly, with the assertiveness of a young entrepreneur. "But it's false."

[/ QUOTE ]

Really? The manufacturer claims people have no problem. I guess they don't. He must be right. No self interest there.

The statement is just left out there, as if it were undeniable.

No attempt to even contact someone from Cardplayer, Bluff, 2+2, etc.

[Al_Capone_Junior]

[ QUOTE ]
Not surprising to see a bad article.

[ QUOTE ]
"That people like to touch cards and interact with a dealer seems like a common sense assertion," said [PokerTek CEO] Halligan, who speaks rapidly, with the assertiveness of a young entrepreneur. "But it's false."

[/ QUOTE ]

Really? The manufacturer claims people have no problem. I guess they don't. He must be right. No self interest there.

The statement is just left out there, as if it were undeniable.

No attempt to even contact someone from Cardplayer, Bluff, 2+2, etc.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree the statement was made as if it were pure fact, which of course it's not. Bullpucky is closer to fact than this ridiculousness.

However, I wouldn't bother going to bluff or cardplayer if facts are what you seek. I tend to promote these publications as useful when your birdcage needs new liner. I'm starting to rethink that however, as it seems quite cruel to the birds.

Al

[AngusThermopyle]

[ QUOTE ]
I tend to promote these publications as useful when your birdcage needs new liner.

[/ QUOTE ]

[Grasshopp3r]

I saw two of these tables at Commerce, but nobody was playing on them while there were many other tables going. I would think at Commerce with the grinders, these would be a hit due to the increased speed. I think that they are too intimidating to the casual player.

[DeadMoneyWalking]

Speaking at last week's Global Gaming Expo, the industry's premier trade show, Bellagio poker room director Doug Dalton called the games "the next future of poker."

Good to know card room managers have mastered the subtleties of logic in grammar.

Why is this debate only happening at poker? Wouldn't electronic craps and bj games also be faster and less error prone etc. resulting in more hands per hour hour and more money for the house?

[nineinchal]

This ain't gonna happen in AC. At least not until they make it legal to pump your own gas.

[PorkchopDJG]

I for one would never regularly play these electronic casino poker games unless they were the only game offered within a 50 mile radius of my house.
I like live poker with cards and chips and that is what I want when I play live poker.

[SellingtheDrama]

PokerTek is clearly an unbiased source of information regarding electronic poker tables and I'm glad their CEO at least knows what they do as a business.

[nineinchal]

[ QUOTE ]
I for one would never regularly play these electronic casino poker games unless they were the only game offered within a 50 mile radius of my house.
I like live poker with cards and chips and that is what I want when I play live poker.

[/ QUOTE ]

Me too. Not only that, casinos are regulated in NJ so that there is an increase in employment. My opinion is that state government of NJ will never allow the dealers to be replaced by machines.