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2003 Curacao This is the second version of the page. Being REDONE !!!
Posted at every casino on Curacao (like Aruba) is that all chips MUST be redeemed before leaving the casino. I saw this posted at all casinos. Some casinos even had it posted on the door as you come in as well as at the cage, on the security desk and at the tables.
Tables open at various times...one casino opened the "tables"(one) at 11:30am. That was the San Marco in the downtown area of Willemstad, the capital city of Curacao. They opened the black jack table closer to 12:30 and unfortunately the dealer didn't speak English, nor did the other locals at the table.
My lousy Spanish was useless as they only spoke Papiamentu! That's the local language which is comprised of Portuguese, Spanish, French, Dutch and various strange dialects known only to a few desert dwelling nomads. Anyway, they only had a few chips at the table and many were being used since there were 5 players. Most of the $1.00 chips were so worn the hot stamp was completely gone! Soooo...I played; communicating via the international language of the black jack table. This language is known simply as: "ScatchOrWaveOff". This language is complimented by the international response of grin or moan. In my case, the above aforementioned communications were then followed by another international action known as: "The Wallet Reach".
Most casinos there do not have craps tables, just Black jack and Caribbean stud and an occasional roulette table. The black jack tables don’t stock many $1.00 chips at all. If they are running low, they ask you for them out of your stack. I had a pit boss in the Plaza ask me if I had any $1.00 chips in my pocket! After I got done stumbling over my tongue, I pulled a few out (leaving the remaining few there as if they didn’t exist). He gave me a look, in which I just smiled and shrugged. Luckily, he smiled back and all was well.
I think dealers in Curacao are all on tranquilizers. I’ve never seen table play at a casino go so slow!! Its like they were only allowed to deal so many hands in an hour and dare not go over their allocated number. I think smiling was also restricted. The northern casinos on Curacao were very different, but they were at the resorts. I went to the Sheraton which I soon discovered didn’t open their tables until 7:00 pm. Now there’s a problem! My flight back to Aruba was at 9:00pm and the airport was at the other end of the island. Did I mention this island must have a restriction on the number of street signs or markings on a road?
I finally get a few $1.00 chips from her and even a couple $5.00 chips. She actually opened a locked black jack chip box and took out chips. Another first for me to see. I explained (begged) and tried to convince her (pleaded) of how I was a collector and really wanted, needed and must have chips for souvenirs of my wonderful trip to Curacao.
Well, the Chip-Gods had pity on me and she said to me with a heavy Jamaican accent "hold on baby, I will get you some old ones". She left for the back room and then came back with the obsolete red ones! OH JOY! Unfortunately, they were very worn. I told her I loved her and slipped her a $5.00 as I left.
Cash out? WHAT A NEW CONCEPT FOR THEM. You see, they do not want the chips leaving the table. None of the chips; not even one! When you cash out, you give them all the chips, and they write you a cash out ticket which you can then take to the cashier cage. Cashier cage...hmmmm, did I mention that the cashier cage is actually the slot change booth? Yep! BELIEVE IT! They expect the chips to stay at their dedicated table. No taking chips from one table to the next. If you want to play at another table, you lay down additional cash, or go to the cashier cage (he-he) and get the cash and then lay it down at the next table (assuming its open).
I'm sure that nighttime things are different. Well maybe they at least have a few other tables open.
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