If you have to give up a few-hours' EV to cultivate a potential long-term player, do it. After all -- at least in theory, anyway -- we're still in the gambling business. If you're going to err, err in the guest's favor.

Bottom Line?

All this said, should you try to be the next Bellagio, Binion's, or Barona?

Maybe.

In some cases, where casinos have a geographical exclusive (Thunder Valley comes to mind), all you need to do is open the doors, put in a slug of Continuous Shuffle Machines, and get out of the way. In most cases, however, you have to decide where you want to position yourself in your marketplace. If you want the most profitable blackjack pit possible, senior management must make the commitment to articulate its vision and retrain or restaff the blackjack pit with bosses who truly understand the business you're in.