Atlantic City learned the hard way that poker players prefer a live playing environment with real dealers. The Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino recently conducted an experiment that involved removing some of their tables and replacing them with automated poker tables. The response from players was of course resoundingly negative.

The machines which mimicked real tables automatically shuffled and dealt video-type cards. Every player at the table was assigned a small display screen complete with sensor controls to place further bets, to call and to fold. Sort of like a weird combination of video poker and live gaming the new machines neither provided the convenience of video poker or online gaming nor the camaraderie of the table games.

To further hurt matters many members of the casino union clubs were apprehensive about the new devices. They feared that should they become popular it could lead to further layoffs for dealers in the area and they fought hard to get the machines removed.

Whether the deciding factor was the lack of interest in the machines or the outrage of the dealers themselves it was no matter. The machines themselves have been removed and it seems unlikely they will make a return any time soon. Just goes to show that nothing can compare to the real thing.

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