Electronic Texas Holdem - cardless tables

[Slacker13]

The Hard Rock in Hollywood Fl now has cardless texas holdem tables. Each seat has a mini tv monitor that displays your cards electronically. It will be a cold day in hell before I sit at one of these tables.
Anyone seen this elsewhere? It's a first for me but I am not exactly a world travler either.

[Scorpion]

There is talk they will be putting these tables at Foxwoods.

[Chaos81]

Well, my inital thought was, "no way in hell". But now that I've thought it through, it's really not much different then playing online. Well, besides the obvious reasons.

I was thinking, why would I ever leave a computer up to something like that. Then I realized, oh, wait, I already do. /images/graemlins/crazy.gif

How do these things work anyways? Is it just like an online game? A computer shuffles, deals and makes the flop? Or does a dealer actually do it, but from some place else? /images/graemlins/confused.gif

[Fishwhenican]

OK, I hate the idea. I like to hold on to the cards and the whole "Live" thing.
BUT, let me play Devil's Advocate for a second:
No worries about dealer problems, no tipping necessary, no shuffling and therefore faster play with less cost to the player.
I would think the rake might be less as well. Kind of like internet poker but you can see and talk to your opponents. Of course the downside would be no multi-tabling!

[CripAces]

Do you still use chips? I mean at that point couldn't you just make the pots electronic also? It seems like a strange idea. On one had I love it. much faster table, and more hands. On the other it seems as though a lot of the mystique of playing live would seem to have been lost with this.

[TStoneMBD]

if you ask me, this is the dumbest thing a casino could do to their poker room. they are practically advertising online poker, which will take away from their live customers. not only is it retarded to play in front of computer screens at a live casino, it will ruin their business. yes it will probably create a quick boost of guests at their casinos, as customers will be interested in trying out these machines, but imo, it has long term negative effects. its not like this was a brilliant idea or anything either, because ive thought of this a long time ago, but realized that its just a dumb idea that should never be put to use. i suppose that a desperate casino trying to steal some customers from competition could find this tactic useful, but thats all its good for.

[tylerdurden]

Now you can bitch about online AND live poker being rigged AT THE SAME TIME!

[toots]

Heck, might just as well stay home.

I mean, as others have noted, we already have that online, and with a heck of a lot less driving involved.

When I go to the casino, I want to have that whole human experience, including the banter with a real (human) dealer, and getting to play with those "stacks and stacks of cheques so high you can't see over them."

I wouldn't distrust such an electronic system. In fact, I'd figure it'd make fewer mistakes than a human dealer. It's just that it's not the sort of experience I want to have if I'm actually leaving the house.

[RydenStoompala]

Why I don't like it:
1) another mechanical problem that could go wrong if there's a computer problem. Automatic shufflers are a minor nuisance when they go down. When this system has a hissy fit, how do you resolve problems?
2) It removes a key ingredient of the live game, namely handling the cards.
3) It's an expense that will have to be recovered via rake and therefore will cost me money.
4) I go to live games because I am trying to get away from LCD screens. It will seem too much like work.

Why I might try it:

1) Fish will love it. It removes a key form of etiquette and leaves them less vulnerable to making mistakes.
2) See #1 above.

I would imagine there are more variations to come. With the explosion in NL Hold'em I would guess we will see some rule variations and all kinds of super jackpots, bad beat pools, KENO-like promotions and other extras designed to make cardrooms unique.

[Slow Play Ray]

Yuck. If I want to play on a computer screen (which I often do), I will save the time and gas money and sit at my own computer. I go to Foxwoods for a completely different experience.

That being said, it doesn't matter anyway - there's no way these electronic live games could ever completely replace real live games with cards and chips. Imagine the uproar! If anything, they will just be a simpler, quicker, cheaper (rake- and tip-wise) complement to the real game for those who want such a thing...

No worries.

[tylerdurden]

Is it something like this?

http://www.digideal.com/index.php

[Photoc]

What a reply you have there. No tipping necessary? Go back to the internet if you are that cheap. You're going to have to have a dealer to push you the pot. No tips, no dealers, simple as that. Considering the casinos are cheap as hell towards their help and expect their clientelle to help out with the CASINO EMPLOYEE paycheck.

F'k the casinos is all I can say. The dealers are working their buts of, I'll take care of them, simple as that.

[ QUOTE ]
BUT, let me play Devil's Advocate for a second:
No worries about dealer problems, no tipping necessary , no shuffling and therefore faster play with less cost to the player.

[/ QUOTE ]

[Slow Play Ray]

[ QUOTE ]
No tipping necessary? Go back to the internet if you are that cheap. You're going to have to have a dealer to push you the pot.

[/ QUOTE ]

Not necessarily...if the cards are electronic, why couldn't the chips/pot be electronic "credits" as well?

Oof, the mere thought of that is just disturbing...

[bhp374]

The only reason I could see a casino doing this is because the laws of the state won't allow them to deal live cards. That is the case at Harrah's Cherokee in N. Carolina. Their BJ tables have a live dealer and live chips, but the cards are electronic per state law. They advertised opening a poker room at the beginning of '05, but they ran into some snags with the licensing/approval b/c they were going to use live cards.

This is the only reason I can see for having electronic cards.

[bpb]

[ QUOTE ]
What a reply you have there. No tipping necessary? Go back to the internet if you are that cheap.

[/ QUOTE ]

He was playing "Devil's Advocate" with his post.

Just like you were playing "Huge Jackass" with yours.

[Luv2DriveTT]

[ QUOTE ]
The Hard Rock in Hollywood Fl now has cardless texas holdem tables. Each seat has a mini tv monitor that displays your cards electronically. It will be a cold day in hell before I sit at one of these tables.
Anyone seen this elsewhere? It's a first for me but I am not exactly a world travler either.

[/ QUOTE ]

I called to confirm this, and yes it is true. All of the tables have been replaced during a "trial" period. There are no more dealers, which means there is no need to toke the dealers either. HOWEVER this also means:

1) No chips - Betting is done using a credit card style interface, ala a slot machine
2) No cards - even the board is a video screen

But here is the kicker..... THEY STILL CHARGE THE SAME RAKE!!!!

Since there are no dealers necessary, I cannot imagine how this can be a trial period test run. I would assume the Hard Rock let their dealers go, but the poker room maneger would not confirm.

I will not attend any casino that makes this switch for cash games. My decision on this matter is final, and will not be changed.

TT /images/graemlins/club.gif

[Fishwhenican]

Photoc:
Relax Please! /images/graemlins/grin.gif
Did you miss the first part of my reply where I said I also HATE the idea? I even said I was playing the Devil's Advocate.

To be perfectly clear, I personally HATE the idea and I also have no problem playing live and tipping the dealers and paying the rake and all of that. I very much prefer to play live, hold cards, play with chips and talk to living breathing people.

[Slow Play Ray]

Wow, seriously? That is really dumb. Well, let's hope most of the world agrees with us on this one and it fails miserably, so we don't have to worry about it happening anywhere else!

Sheesh. /images/graemlins/mad.gif

[Photoc]

[ QUOTE ]

Just like you were playing "Huge Jackass" with yours.

[/ QUOTE ]

LoL, glad I could help, and thanks for pointing that part out. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[Dynasty]

This has been done with other games but has had limited success.

There are many video blackjack games but "real" blackjack is still much more popular. A hybrid "real"/computer roulette game called Rapid Roulette can be played at Harrahs on the Strip. But, I haven't seen it anywhere else.

[obeythekitten]

this makes perfect sense for florida if what i remember is correct...isnt the betting for poker capped at $2 per round or something bullshit like that in FL?

at that small stakes/rake, how could they afford to have real dealers?

[Sponger15SB]

[ QUOTE ]
A hybrid "real"/computer roulette game called Rapid Roulette can be played at Harrahs on the Strip. But, I haven't seen it anywhere else.

[/ QUOTE ]

The have it in many indian casinos in southern california.

Also, we have a thing where you can play craps, but instead of using dice, they flip over cards. Sounds incredibly stupid and unpopular, but the tables are packed.

[Slacker13]

[ QUOTE ]
if you ask me, this is the dumbest thing a casino could do to their poker room. they are practically advertising online poker, which will take away from their live customers. not only is it retarded to play in front of computer screens at a live casino, it will ruin their business. yes it will probably create a quick boost of guests at their casinos, as customers will be interested in trying out these machines, but imo, it has long term negative effects. its not like this was a brilliant idea or anything either, because ive thought of this a long time ago, but realized that its just a dumb idea that should never be put to use. i suppose that a desperate casino trying to steal some customers from competition could find this tactic useful, but thats all its good for.

[/ QUOTE ]

I completely agree, however i called a friend who's wife works at the casino and she said that the tables were very busy, I would have to assume it is the noobs that are playing these tables.

[Slacker13]

[ QUOTE ]

this makes perfect sense for florida if what i remember is correct...isnt the betting for poker capped at $2 per round or something bullshit like that in FL?

[/ QUOTE ]
Florida is $1/2 only with a $200 cap on pots.This is why tournament NL Holdem is so popular here, you can catch a 180+ man tourney any night of the week and in many cases twice a day. There is no cap on tournament poker buyins.

[Slacker13]

[ QUOTE ]
Is it something like this?

[/ QUOTE ]
No, it has video monitors coming out of the top. I suppose it's the same principle they just look much different.

[Slacker13]

[ QUOTE ]
I called to confirm this, and yes it is true. All of the tables have been replaced during a "trial" period. There are no more dealers, which means there is no need to toke the dealers either. HOWEVER this also means:

[/ QUOTE ]
I was just there Saturday and there were many tables being spread with dealers running the table, unless this happened since saturday this is new to me. They need the dealers for their tourneys, as the tourneys are very popular there. I am going to have ot investigate further. I don't play the 2/4 becuase I like higher stakes so it doesn't directly effect me for the moment but if Florida ever does get it's head out of its ass and allow higher stakes games there is absolutely no way I would ever play one of these electronic tables.
I think my biggest fear is what would happen if this actually did catch on?

[tubalkain]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I called to confirm this, and yes it is true. All of the tables have been replaced during a "trial" period. There are no more dealers, which means there is no need to toke the dealers either. HOWEVER this also means:

[/ QUOTE ]
I was just there Saturday and there were many tables being spread with dealers running the table, unless this happened since saturday this is new to me. They need the dealers for their tourneys, as the tourneys are very popular there. I am going to have ot investigate further. I don't play the 2/4 becuase I like higher stakes so it doesn't directly effect me for the moment but if Florida ever does get it's head out of its ass and allow higher stakes games there is absolutely no way I would ever play one of these electronic tables.
I think my biggest fear is what would happen if this actually did catch on?

[/ QUOTE ]

Live casino poker would die out and be replaced by even more slot machines?

[skeetshooter]

When did this happen? I was at the Hard Rock in Hollywood on Wednesday, and they had cards. (and very low limits, but that's another story)

[mrkilla]

it's the slot machine theroy at work... people want to play poker but aree "embarrassed or scared" to sit face to face at a table. Same reasons why the don't play craps its the social [or anti-social] aspects.
I doubt there designed with the serious player in mind

[peachy]

[ QUOTE ]
this makes perfect sense for florida if what i remember is correct...isnt the betting for poker capped at $2 per round or something bullshit like that in FL?

at that small stakes/rake, how could they afford to have real dealers?

[/ QUOTE ]

yes that is the max per round $2