Perhaps it's the early hour or the fact that most of the crowd has yet to start ordering cocktails in earnest, but the atmosphere here at the Empire is remarkably quiet today compared to the din of activity that has marked our last two weeks here. The loudest noises are coming from the electronic roulette machine stationed behind media row, which, every minute or so, asks players to "place their bets" in a crisp English accent. The audience is rather subdued as well, rarely applauding after pots are won.