Majestic Star and Trump Casino's
Hammond, IN
Twin docked at Buffington Harbor in Hammond, Indiana are the Majestic Star and Trump Casino's. With the Trump supplying hotel accomodations to both gaming facilities. Area advertisements boasts that the two establishments offer a combined total of 3,295 slot machines and 95 table games - according to some commercials "The most available in the greater Chicago-land area." Unlike thier Illinois counterparts, parking as well as admission to these casino's are free and due to a recent change in the State Of Indiana Gaming Laws - thier casino's are now open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 865 days per year! Should you ever find yourself in Chicago, and get brave enough to venture out seeking a little gambling excitement - the nearby Indiana establishments just could be the winning choice! (Pun intended).
Shuttle bus services are also offered to and from the casino's, with pickup/drop-off points conveniently located throughout the city of Chicago. On average, round-trip tickets are $15.00USD with the respective casino awarding $10.00USD in chips and/or slot-tokens (cash) to player card holders. Dealers in both casino's were at the very least cordial, with a good number of them being quite friendly! True to thier word, both gaming facilities offered plent of table games. However, at any given time, I could only locate 4 to 5 straight Blackjack tables on both riverboats combined (although admittedly - I never visited the High Stakes Rooms on either boat). The majority of Blackjack games offered were in the form of Spanish 21 and/or 21+3, admittedly, most of my winnings were made at the Spanish 21 tables. Mostly because all of the 10's are removed from the deck (shoe), which really favors my penchant for hitting 12's.
These versions of Blackjack give the decided advantage to the "house." Even this version of Spanish 21 offers yet another distraction to the player, in the form of the "Match Bet." This side wager can range anywhere from $1.00, to the equivalent of the amount wagered on the hand itself. In order to win the match bet one and/or both of the players cards must match the dealers' up-card (pays 3 to 1). If either of the players cards (or both) match the dealers' up-card and are suited, the pay off is 12 to 1 (referred to as a "Perfect Match"). Many a player lost thier entire bankroll by betting $25.00 or more per hand (at a $5.00 minimum table) for no more reason than being able to wager up to that amount on the match bet, then hoping for the longshot to pay off? One player actually became quite perturbed with me over my complete refusal to ever place a match bet? Even when I systematically pointed out to that player after over the course of three consecutive shoes, that I only matched the dealer an average of 3 to 5 times per shoe (and that number grew even small you the total number of "Perfect Matches" were considered in the equation). The optimistic player still turned to me and insisted, "You never know? You just might get lucky and get on a roll?!"
This hope to get lucky mindset was prevalant at both facilites, and the distraction in favor of the casino got even better with 21+3. Here the side wager is that the players first two cards, plus the dealers' up-card will make a specified "winning" Poker hand? This side bet carries a $5.00 minimum and can equal the amount wagered on the Blackjack hand itself. Overall both gaming facilities offered the same table rules.
From 7am until 7pm Monday through Thursday, both the Trump and Majestic Star Casino's offered $5.00 minimum Blackjack tables (after which the table minimums were raised to $10.00). The Majestic Star was more prone to adhere to the time constraints, whereas the Trump would allow players to continue at the favored $5.00 minimum past 7pm - provided that none of the players left the table and there was no one waiting for an open seat. Surrenders were allowed at any/all of the Blackjack tables, and Blackjacks paid 3 to 2. Splitting pairs was allowed up to 4 times, with the exception of Spanish 21, only one subsequent card could be drawn after splitting Aces.
Other than Spanish 21, double-downs were only allowed against the first two cards dealt to a respective player. Penetration at both gaming establishments was decent, with the dealers consistently placing the cut-card at 65% or better. The dealers were also extremely kind to the players by allowing us to continually "cut thin to win." It was only when a Pit Boss was watching that we were merely cautioned to cut greater than a full deck wide? Although Indiana State laws prohibits casino's from comp'ing alcoholic beverages everything else was fair game. Comps were readily awarded (provided that enough points had been earned) and ranged everywhere from cigarettes, to meals at the various eatery's, to reduced rates (and/or free) for accomodations at the Trump Hotel - Hammond, IN. Comparitively speaking - win or lose, the Indiana casino's appear to provide a much better gambling experience than those located just across the border in Illinois?