Marked Cards at The Mirage

[SheridanCat]

I just got back from four days in Las Vegas, with most of my poker time spent at the Mirage. I played 3/6, 6/12 & 10/20 HE and 5/10 O8 over the course of about 20 hours. I had heard mention of cards getting marked a lot in the O8 game, and I saw examples of it in each of my sessions. I also saw it at the HE games.

The first three times I saw it I bothered to ask for a new setup and explained the reason. The room management just took the old setup - I don't even know if they knew why the decks were taken out of play. I guess I should have bent the offending cards in half, but I didn't really feel comfortable doing that.

I sort of stopped bothering after awhile as no one else seemed to see them or really care.

So, if you're at the Mirage, pay attention to the cards. You'll sometimes see a white scratch on the back of the cards that is very apparent if you're looking for it. You should be able to see it from half a table away if you have fairly good eyesight. Most of the marks were on Aces, though I also saw a King and a Jack marked as well.

I sort of felt that the dealers should have been seeing this when they dealt the cards.

Oh, and I'm not a paranoid crank. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

Good luck,

T

[Dynasty]

[ QUOTE ]
Oh, and I'm not a paranoid crank. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

You may not be a crank but you are definitely acting a bit paranoid. Cards get damanged as they're getting handled. The cards which are going to be most damaged are the ones which are handled the most. That would be Aces, then Kings, then Queens, etc.

What you say you saw is to be expected.

[SheridanCat]

[ QUOTE ]
you are definitely acting a bit paranoid.

[/ QUOTE ]

Which is one reason I stopped bothering.

I should say that I play at casinos where the cards aren't nearly as nice as the ones you see at the Mirage and other Vegas casinos - or even in many home games. I know what damaged cards look like. The damage to these cards was definitely not due to normal handling.

Anyhow, it doesn't really matter to me overall. It's just something to be alert to.

Regards,

T.

[Terry]

You might be interested in this thread (and the response to which I didn't bother to reply):
read me (http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=cardroom&Number=441263&For um=All_Forums&Words=old%20maid&Match=Entire%20Phra se&Searchpage=0&Limit=25&Old=6months&Main=431159&S earch=true#Post441263)


I'll add that the live game at which I have had the highest big bets per hour rate is the $10/$20 Omaha 8 at the Mirage.

[FredJones888]

how do you think they were marking them ? did you see anybody marking them ?

[SheridanCat]

[ QUOTE ]
how do you think they were marking them ? did you see anybody marking them?

[/ QUOTE ]

I didn't see them being marked, no. Someone had used something very sharp to make a 1/8 inch or so scratch on the back. These are Kem cards, so it's not easy to do.

Regards,

T.

[FredJones888]

gotcha, i would have never noticed something that small, but I have noticed people really staring at the backs of my cards.

So you just ask for a deck change then I guess.