The Meister's Asia Trek

[spearmaster]

Originally Posted by tennis_balls

perhaps they "behave" in Vegas. I've observed the Pai Gow Poker tables at a few San Francisco area card rooms. Late at night these places can be pretty nuts. It looks like an asian riot could break out at any given moment.(whitey tread lightly!) And that's just cards. I'm sure things get even harrier if you add the element of tiles. (they don't offer the tile game locally)

The card rooms are different - there the clientele (aside from the poker tables) is overwhelmingly Asian and for sure the pitbosses there aren't going to chase their clients away. I've played in many of the SoCal rooms and noise was just something to be expected - and enjoyed, particularly if you're holding the broom (a nine-point total in Super Nine) and you're also the banker.

BTW, TB, those color tricks are useless if you get quoted

[chuchu59]

Originally Posted by babs7262

I know it sounded like I was generalizing but even the Paigow tables are very quiet, I go by them oftem to watch them play. To tell you the truth it makes me feel intimidated because they play with such high stakes. Even if it's a $10 table, they have the max bet. They are not messin around!!

The Trop, IMPO is the most catering to Asian Culture (which I think is very smart). We get people that fly in from Singapore, THailand and Japan for the most part. Like Spear said, maybe since they are in our country, they are respectable because there is hardly any noise. Also Vietnamese(sp) (my nephew is Vietnamese and he explained a little why they tend to be conservative

I hope you dont think this is a negative thing that Im writing. Honestly, Ive never seen such a more respectful, well dressed, quiet not gawdy and loud culture in my life! Im sure when they are comfortable at home they are louder. If I were in another country, I would be more quiet

As a matter of fact there was ONE TIME when there was upset.....I happen to be in the Trop during the 3 day gaming ban and there were people from Singapore (an 18 hour plus flight) and Thailand in just to gamble. Imagine flying all of that way to gamble and there's a ban? THere was obvious upset but that was it.

We dont have mah jongg tables to gamble. My mom played that every Monday with her little yenta friends and yes, that is a loud game! I wonder why Jewish people love MahJongg so much? anyone know how that started? I thought the good old days years ago Bridge was the big game but we never played that. It was either pinnochle(sp) or mahjongg

Im gonna take even more notice this weekend and get back to this thread when I come back. LMAO...maybe ill take my camera and do interviews on why Asians are more conservative in America

Oh, dont get me wrong. Of course its not a negative thing Babs. These guys are really wild and bet big. Ever see a person betting HK$1M (USD$126,000) in baccarat on a single hand without blinking an eyelid and then losing six hands in succession. Sometimes, I feel a bit chilly seeing these amounts being wagered. One of the problems is that we dont have a proper work/life balance and the pressure of work is just too great. Many work 18 hours daily and when they are unleashed they just dont care about what they are doing and may regret after squandering a large amount at the casinos. In America, you have abrbecues during weekends and a host of other things to do. In Hong Kong, for example, we either go to the karaoke or horse-racing. Now watching football(soccer) is the trend. The big swings in the local stock market isnt helping things either. You are a millionaire one day and bankrupt the next day. Although we do have a social welfare safety net, many are unwilling to use it when facing financial difficulties or being unemployed. These all add up to a raging gambling culture with extremely high stakes.

[babs7262]

I cant find the "A" anywhere, oh well, not the end of the world!

I looked everywhere

[spearmaster]

To put things in perspective:

* At the weekend, it is extremely difficult to get a ticket on a ferry to Macau - the normal wait is about 2 hours (ferries/jetfoils depart every 15 minutes). And coming back is even worse - many people miss their scheduled departure, or else lose their bankroll quickly - then have to wait in a standby queue for hours hoping to get an empty seat.

* The lowest minimum bet for baccarat or blackjack I have ever seen in a Macau casino recently was HK$300 - roughly US$40 - and that was in what must now be considered a second-class casino (the original Lisboa). By comparison, even the Wynn, Venetian, Bellagio have $5 tables somewhere. Monte Carlo is probably the next closest with a minimum bet of 25 Euro. On top of that, the people stand 3-4 deep at every table fighting to get a bet on someone else's spot.

* In Hong Kong, people walk twice as fast than most other cities, with the possible exception of Tokyo and New York. There is no such thing as a leisurely stroll in HK unless you are retired (and you don't retire because of age or mandatory retirement - you retire because you can't keep up with the pace).

* Horse racing - the wagering on a single horse race in HK is more than any other track in the US takes in a single day, even Breeder's Cup day. On Wednesday nights, and Saturday or Sunday of each week, probably 80% of all TVs in Hong Kong (if not more) are tuned into the races.

* BBQs are for youths and kids. Mom's usually playing mahjong somewhere, dad's either working, or karaoke, or casino, or horse racing, or bar, or massage parlor.

Put it this way. Life in Hong Kong is lived at a very frenetic pace. Whoever coined the phrase "work hard, play hard" was referring to Hong Kong people.

[babs7262]

My brother says the same thing about HK...he said it's crazy there, not head crazy, pace crazy! He prefers Shanghi

[bakonlin]

Is there really a casino in singapore or it just the name of the casino?can you inform the address?thanks

Originally Posted by babs7262

is in the middle of building a massive casino about 15 minutes from my brother's house.

The Tropicana in AC caters to the Asian culture. They have people who fly there just to gamble. Rich and I go there every other Thanksgiving and we are definitely the minority. They have 3 asian cable tv channels and have alot of asian eateries, even in the baccarat section.

I am amazed of how they keep their composure while gaming. Very stoic looks and they shell out tons of money. I love it when we go at that time of year. The Trop can get crazy and it's really nice to have lots of classy people around you not yelling and screaming!

Another thing Ive noticed is they sure smoke alot! Im not profiling either, I smoke myself but they even have special tables that you can smoke at because they stopped smoking in sections (except the asian tables) Ill even take a pic when I go this weekend

Anyway, I just wish other cultures acted more like this when at a casino. Obviously not the smoking part, I mean the other stuff I mentioned lol

[spearmaster]

This casino is not in Singapore, it is in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

The casinos in Singapore aren't expected to open until next year at the earliest, but more likely 2010.