Vegas casinos report that younger gamblers are taking an interest in table games. Industry analysts believe that many 20- and 30-somethings like playing blackjack and similar games because they can socialise at the tables, the Reno Gazette-Journal reports.
The return of table games was one of the topics discussed at the G2E Training & Development Institute, which preceded the annual Global Gaming Expo held in Vegas this week.
Analysts credited the fad for poker, saying it has spilled over to other games, and the popularity of television shows that depict gambling, including Las Vegas.
Gamblers in the 21 to 39 age group are not only more likely to play table games than the older crowd, they are also willing to risk more when they bet.
Bart Pestrichello, vice president in charge of casino operations at Hard Rock, said that casinos have to provide the atmosphere the younger crowd wants at the tables, including training dealers to be more like an entertainment employee, and less like a cop.