There are two ways to handle a bad economy. If we owned a restaurant, we would offer two-for-one nights; free two-drinks nights; bring your family and the kids eat for free lunches. Something like that. Or, if you are a ploppy, you could raise your prices through the roof to get more money from fewer people.
Atlantic City seems to have embraced the ploppy modus stupid-rendi according to a massive number of letters we have received these past three months. Here's a sampling of some of them:
"Oh, yeah, oh, yeah more and more hitting on soft 17s and more eight-deck games where there used to be six-deckers. Fewer and fewer tables open. The worst blackjack games always have tables available. The AC that exists now is like a rotten egg."…Louie B.
"Not only do the blackjack games mostly stink, but my comps were pulled way back. I am a $25 player and I had to almost beg to get a buffet for two at one casino after two hours of play. What the hell is wrong with these people?" …David Freeman
"Comps? Don't make me laugh! AC is a graveyard and they not only have fewer tables opened during the day but the two casinos I like to play in have cut their comps way back! I can get a free room during the week but ask for a food comp and it's like asking if you can rape their daughter. It stinks!!!" …Miriam C.
"Okay I think that Atlantic City has made the wrong choices in most of the things they are doing. A whole lot of places are about to go belly up and the town while not empty is missing a lot of that old pizzazz. They are getting very tight with the comps and I have noticed a big decline in the people who play the slot machines. You can't lure in players by making them feel you are going to take what they have and give them nothing. The casino bosses are all like AIG people - idiots!" …Paul Martin
"Screw Atlantic City. I play or used to play blackjack there twice to three times a week. I am a Golden Touch player and what I have now seen is a paranoia that is so great these pit bosses need psychological therapy. They are nuts. Maybe I'll go to Vegas more often because I heard they are giving the players more." …K. Thomas
"Who cares about the AC casinos? I am taking up stamp collecting." …A.R.
"The other day there were more bums on the Boardwalk than people in the casinos. At least it seemed that way. How can AC reduce their comps when they are hurting for customers? If you can't get the players in you can't make any money from those players, can you? I think the Three Stooges must be in charge. Wait a minute, I take that back. The Three Stooges would do a better job." …Lawrence Baron
