One nice touch at the Mirage is the graduated rake structure for the $2/$5 game. Instead of taking a straight 10%, Mirage drops a maximum rake of $3+$1 jackpot, with $1+$1 jackpot at $10, then $1 at $50, and $1 at $100. Even better, there is no rake at all if the game is smaller than seven-handed. The major effect of the graduated rake is to reduce the rake on those medium size pots where only two or three players see the flop, and a flop or turn bet takes down the pot. Many of the bigger rooms have similar—though not as slow—graduated rake structures, but a graduated rake is not at all standard in Vegas and is a welcome move for a room looking to spread games other than the basic $1/$2 NLHE and $2/$4 or $3/$6 LHE.
The $2/$5 NLHE game usually started early in the evening and would run well past midnight, even during weeknights. However, the game often would conclude with a couple of hours of short-handed play, with only seven or fewer players in the game. Once the player count dropped to four or five, the game would usually run for another 30 minutes or an hour before the players would break the game to head home or to seats in the running $1/$2 NLHE games. Being a hardcore degenerate, I was usually one of the last stragglers at several games each evening/morning.
Like many poker rooms in Vegas, the Mirage will take a reduced rake on short-handed games. Based on my less than scientific observations, it appeared that the rake for $1/$2 NLHE (normally $4+$1) was capped at $3+$1 for six players, $2+$1 for five players, and $1+$1 for four players. However, the rake was not reduced automatically. Instead, a player had to request that the dealer reduce the rake, the dealer would then call the floor and make the request, and the floor would grant a rake reduction. At one point around 4:00 a.m., a player at my short-handed $1/$2 NLHE table asked the dealer why the rake hadn't been reduced. The dealer replied, "I can't ask for a rake reduction. I have to wait for a player to request it. If I call for a rake reduction on my own, I would get fired."
Now let's allow for a bit of hyperbole here. I have known the Mirage poker room manager, Chris Coffin, since he was manager at TI's poker room, primarily through our postings in the All Vegas Poker forums and through my frequent play at TI and Mirage. I doubt Mr. Coffin would have a policy where dealers would be fired or even disciplined for requesting a rake reduction. However, it appears that Mirage dealers are not allowed to initiate a rake reduction request. Frankly, I don't understand this policy. The Mirage has been taking a lot of steps to transform itself into a solid mid-tier poker room, one that caters to the casual poker player while still offering a more posh experience as well as a variety of poker games not seen in the typical small Strip poker room. Why not make rake reductions automatic upon the game reaching the requisite number of players? If a floor approval is required to verify that the rake drop is correct, then allow the dealer to initiate the rake reduction request without waiting for a player request.
I enjoyed my time—and profit—playing at the Mirage poker room, and the room is certainly back in my regular Vegas rotation. The rake reduction policy is a minor issue in the grand scheme of things, but emphasizing a player friendly rake reduction policy could be a minor selling point in a city where half the poker rooms on the Strip have a $5+$1 rake. Then again, I don't get paid the big bucks to manage the poker room. Just my two cents. Or four bucks.
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I am not aware of any room in Vegas that has an automatic rake reduction, or a policy that would allow a dealer to request a rake reduction.
ReplyDeleteA dealer requesting a reduction on his own would in fact be subject to discipline (though it is unlikely they would be discovered).
In fact I worked in a room where a dealer was barred from playing in the room because he asked for a rake reduction while he was playing in the room.
In some locals rooms the dealers will sometimes automatically give a rake reduction since they know the regulars will start barking and they know the reduction will be granted .... but this is generally a violation of the written procedures (the floors are aware of the practice and even encourage it - unofficially), and I know of several dealers who were fired over this.
I've run into the same sort of "player must first request..." policy at many casinos' poker rooms. I don't know why, but why-ever, it isn't unique to Mirage.
ReplyDeleteThis has nothing to do with rake. I have been dying to tell you of a big win recently at our local casino in a $1/$2 cash game. I played the 'spanis inquisition' against a lady specifically because she had played 'the grump' 4 times. The hand went....EP raise to $7, followed by 2 callers then the lady called also. I look down at 6-3 off, and called "for the hell of it". Flop comes out 6,9,Q w/two spades. Action goes check, check, lady bets $10, I call and one of the other guys calls. Pot is now about $60. Turn is a blank and it goes check, lady makes it $15, I call and other player folds. She tells me, 'you better be careful', and we have a laugh. River is the 6 of diamonds. Yahtzee! She bets $25 and I raise her to $75. She snap calls me while saying 'I told you to be careful, two pair (Q-9). I show my trips and say "that is the spanish inquisition, nobody expects it." Hilarity ensues. She called me an asshole. I told her anyone that plays deuce/four as often as she does should be able to appreciate my play of the 6/3... hehe! She hunted my chips like she was on safari for the rest of the night.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, when can we expect a full IMOP trip report?
ReplyDeleteI'm likewise unaware of any room that automatically reduces the rake when shorthanded. Conversely, I've never been told no when I ask. I accept that there is some sort of prohibition against dealers initiating a request for a reduction although I have had some dealers at local places who would do something subtle to prompt someone to ask.
ReplyDeleteNot sure if that relates to the appearance of impropriety post as well.
@ Pete, Local Rock, & Missing Flops:
ReplyDeleteI agree that most (all?) Vegas poker rooms require a player to ask for a reduced rake. My question is why have such a technical requirement, particularly if a room is trying to establish itself as "player friendly"? What's the reason dealers can't request a rake reduction, in some cases on pain of discipline? I'm not saying the Mirage is unusual, I'm saying a room like Mirage could distinguish itself in a small player-friendly way by abolishing this weird rule.
Not long ago I was playing at Big Strip Casino where I am well known to all the dealers. The table got short-handed. I had recently told the dealer about an experience playing at a local Southern California casino. Said dealer said to me, with eyes subtley eyeing the drop slot, "What's the rake like at those L.A. casinos?" I got the message that it was time to ask for a rake reduction. When I did, he called the floor and told me that he was not allowed to suggest it himself. I don't believe he said he would be fired for doing so, just that he wasn't "allowed" to.
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