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Argosy's Empress - Joliet
August 2003
by
Dr. Kenneth T Pittman, Ph.D., CIS
If you're ever in the Chicago, Illinois area, advertisements abound touting the grandeure of Argosy's Empress-Joliet Casino & Hotel! Roadside billboards proudly proclaim the Joliet facility as "The most enjoyable gambling experience in Illinois." Radio commercials entice you with staggering announcements of over 1,400 big-slot winners every month! Television advertisements deceptively pan through what is claimed to be over 5,500 square feet of gaming floor-space! Even the one and only entranceway into the casino is nothing short of spectacular! Entering guests can be overheard remarking to one another "Wow! This is just like being in Vegas!" Or, "This is truly a beautiful piece of architecture!" But that's where the compliments ends, because once inside it becomes clearly obvious that either the 5,500 square feet is not as big as ones' imagination? Or, the measurement was taken around the outside perimeter of the building itself?
Argosy's Joliet facility did offer two separate floors (maybe combined, the two floors totalled 5,500 square feet), however table games were limited to only the main floor (the lower level contained only various slot machines). Of the seven table games offered at this location (none of them Craps, nor Roulette) only two of them were Blackjack tables. Neither of the two tables offered a "Pitch" Game, and judging from the overall setup both were dealing from a 6-deck shoe. Although my visit was early in the day (prior to 3pm in the afternoon) only one of the two Blackjack tables was occupied - with all of two players. Needless to say, neither of the players objected to my entering the game mid-shoe - even though I graciously opted to wait and watch for a few hand first. Which, as it turns out the two gentleman were really good players, although the guy at 1st Base wasn't fairing too well against the house. The man seated in my covetted seat (3rd Base) appeared to be holding his own, but there were clearly no big winners at this table. A quick review of the scant stack of chips in front of the players at the various other tables, sadly told the story that a low percentage of winners were in this room altogether. As a matter of fact, after four hours of play, I never once witnessed a "fill."
Table rules were not as generous as those I had enjoyed elsewhere, with the Dealer standing on all 17's (hitting Soft-16's). Blackjack paid 3 to 2 and double-downs were allowed on 9, 10, and/or 11 only. Pairs could be split up to three times, howeve double-downs were not allowed after the split? Of course, only one card per Ace was allowed after splitting Aces. If the stringent table rules aren't enough to deter from the Blackjack tables at this facility, the $15 minimum might sway some to seek another casino? Deck penetration was between 50% to 60%, and completely forget about any of the players cutting "thin to win!" I actually attempted to do so, and not only was I instructed to make the again (only deeper) - after the second attempt, I was never offered the cut-card again for the rest of the session. I am a bit amazed that this facility didn't utilize the sevices of a "shill" in thier apparent effort to increase profits, especially since there were clearly pulling all of the other "tricks" of the game.
What could have been good runs of the cards for the players were continually thwarted by 'relief' dealers. I had always been led to believed that an "assigned" Table Dealer was at his/her assigned table for at least one hour? At which point he/she was allowed a twenty minute break, except at Argosy's Empress-Joliet Casino & Hotel that is? Here we saw a different dealer every twenty minutes or less? At one point two dealers were sent to the table before a third one finally began dealing the cards - this action alone caused three consecutive cards to be burned. This measure was significant enough to put a sizeably, noticeable dent in the remaining stack of chips in front of the player at 1st base.
Illinois offers several other gaming facilities here in the greater Chicago-land area. Perhaps my experience in this state will be unique to the first casino visited here? Although I will have to admit that I'm more than just a little hesitant to pursue gambling opportunities within this surrounding area?
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