I was playing today at Parx, and a box man said that the fire bet will be discontinued within the next couple of weeks.  I didn’t get an answer why.  My guess is that they don’t like the fluctuations when they have to pay out 20 or 25K, despite the huge house edge.  Anybody know?

Really?

Yeah, I asked a dealer at another table and he confirmed it.

There is also construction taking place.  A sizable expansion to the main casino.  I don’t know if it will be used for casino floor space, restaurants or something else.  Anybody know?

I used to do the fire bet only when Im shooting but no more.I cant think of a reason of them getting rid of it unless they are losing money on it.I been seeing other posts about TALL,SMALL AND ALL hopefully they will replace it with that

Mr7-11 - 02 October 2011 06:56 PM

There is also construction taking place.  An sizable expansion to the main casino.  I don’t know if it will be used for casino floor space, restaurants or something else.  Anybody know?

The Sugarhouse has been renovated too

There is nothing on their website about it.  Curiously, I went to the online credit application and it is not done over a secure connection despite asking for your SSN, bank account number and employment information.  I would caution anybody not to apply for online credit with them.

My thought is they first planned on it as competition for Atlantic City because Harrah’s properties all carry firebet tables,  One Parx decided that they had captured XX amount of new client base they figured dump it as preplanned.  A good alternative as someone mentioned is the “All Tall and Small” prop bet.  Its a lot easier of a payoff.

EagleDice

bek423 - 02 October 2011 07:33 PM

Does the Sugarhouse offer the firebet? I may have to reconsider that place.

They do, but I would recommend driving a little further and instead going to Harrah’s Chester.

bek423 - 02 October 2011 07:42 PM

From your point of view, whatdo you like better about Harrah’s Chester than Sugarhouse?
I was in Sugarhouse only once. It felt very clautrophobic - ceilings seemed low - it was very smokey and I didn’t feel safe in the parking lot.

I agree with everything you say about Sugarhouse.  It feels more like being in a 7-11 (no pun intended) than a casino.  Harrah’s Chester doesn’t have a phenomenal vibe either, not nearly as nice as Harrah’s AC.  But it’s way better than Sugarhouse.

If Parx is getting rid of the fire bet, does that mean they need to remove the bet from the felt, meaning they’re going to re-felt the tables, or will they just stop accepting the fire bet?

RFB1 - 02 October 2011 08:45 PM

If Parx is getting rid of the fire bet, does that mean they need to remove the bet from the felt, meaning they’re going to re-felt the tables, or will they just stop accepting the fire bet?

I couldn’t imagine them leaving the bet there and having to explain all the time that it is to be ignored.  I guess we’ll know soon enough. 

Another thing I noticed is that their blackjack tables now used discard trays.  Previously they were dropping used cards into into the table. Similar to the way cash is dropped.

bek423 - 02 October 2011 07:42 PM

I have been to Harrah’s Chester many times and like it well enough, but it takes me a full hour to get there.  From your point of view, whatdo you like better about Harrah’s Chester than Sugarhouse?
I was in Sugarhouse only once. It felt very clautrophobic - ceilings seemed low - it was very smokey and I didn’t feel safe in the parking lot.

Well bek if you want to go to Sugarhouse let me know.I’ll be your escort and bodyguard

bek423 - 02 October 2011 07:42 PM

I have been to Harrah’s Chester many times and like it well enough, but it takes me a full hour to get there.  From your point of view, whatdo you like better about Harrah’s Chester than Sugarhouse?
I was in Sugarhouse only once. It felt very clautrophobic - ceilings seemed low - it was very smokey and I didn’t feel safe in the parking lot.

Well bek if you want to go to Sugarhouse let me know.I’ll be your escort and bodyguard

I just got back from a quick trip to Parx.
I spoke with a floor person and they confirmed that they were eliminating the fire bet.
It will happen as soon as the new felt (layouts) arrive which should be in about 2wks time.
ALSO, they will be changing how vig is paid on the buy bets.
When the fire bet is done away with, they will also be requiring the vig to be paid BEFORE the number hits.

With 3x4x5x, no fire bet, paying the vig for buys before the number hits and a slightly bouncy table, you’re better off driving the extra 30mins to Harrah’s in Chester, or even going all the way down to AC.

At least sometimes you’ll find $5 tables and 5x odds at all AC casinos.  (with the exception of the air craft carrier table in Bally’s Wild Wild West which offers 100x odds, and the main casino in Bally’s which offers 10x odds)

A few months back I had heard them discussing procedures for paying vig on the buy bets and that it would change as you describe.  I don’t make buy bets, but understand how the commission works.  How do most casinos handle this now?  Do you pay before or after?