Inside Asian Gaming

October 2008 | INSIDE ASIAN GAMING 33 to be given to the social aspects of table games.However,it is in the casino operator’s interests to consider how best to maximise returns in light of such realities. One simple solution might be to offer some higher limit Blackjack tables with a lesser number of playing stations than the standard six. In the same vein, the casino might change the size and shape of higher limit tables and offer more luxurious and comfortable seating for each player. Yet another solution might be to offer a dynamic (electronic) table with betting areas (boxes) that could be activated on demand. This could be achieved by LEDs embedded into the tables to delineate betting areas. The number of boxes could then be altered dynamically. When games are initially opened, it may make sense to have only three to five betting spots activated per table. Betting areas could also be activated in circumstances where total demand exceeds supply at some average betting level, or where an individual higher value player might want to play multiple boxes. Management can then get closer to optimal table utilisation either by considered alteration as playing conditions change. Alternatively, technology might allow the number of spots at the table to change as a matter of electronically observed playing patterns and carefully written algorithms. Harking back to the example of six $100 players and a choice of operating either six Blackjack tables or one, it was shown that it was more effective to operate six individual tables as long as the players chose to play on a single table each. However, what if the players instead chose to all play together on one table? In the example, this situation would be sub-optimal not only for the reasons found in the analysis, but also because the five inactive tables would incur an additional operating cost in aggregate of $200 per hour.Thus,part of themanagement challenge is to encourage the right kinds of players to spread out while discouraging lower betting andmore highly skilled players to cluster together. To some extent, this can be influenced by opening or closing tables at various minimum betting limits. Similar calculations to the blackjack example could also be made for any other table game. Each game should be analysed by estimating its particular mechanical characteristics and direct cost components. Such estimates should also reflect the Baccarat is still the preferred game in Macau In Focus