Quote:
Originally Posted by eco74
Maybe two decades ago.
A single operating table (figure a typical 5/5 NL game) is taking in $150-200/hour, and out of that the biggest single overhead expense is the dealer sitting there making minimum wage. They're making money. Just like in Vegas, casino employees tend to be the least knowledgeable when it comes to the casino industry.
Yep.
Indeed, you can sort this out pretty easily by comparing the differences in rake between LA poker tables and Vegas poker tables.
I don't think poker is a "loss leader" in Vegas either (poker tables are somewhat profitable), but it is certainly something used to draw people into a casino where they will hopefully bet money on slot machines and table games which are more lucrative for the casino, or perhaps spend money on restaurants, clubs, drinks, and shopping.
In contrast, the higher rakes at LA poker rooms are set that way precisely because the tables need to maximize profit rather than simply draw people in.