Illinois and Surrounding Area Poker Rooms/Tournaments |
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Posted Wed Mar 24, 2004 12:13 pm GMT by Saso8910
I have seen several questions about where to play in the Chicago, IL, and surrounding region. Ever person who has replied to these postings only know one place- and if they know more than one, they only know it exists through a friend of a friend. SO- Here we go:
1) Hollywood Casino- North Aurora, IL- had about 9 tables and it sucks. The room has mostly Hold'em (5/10, 10/20, 20/40-thats all) - an occasional 2-10 H/L stud game or 15/30 H/L Omaha. They offer no Tournaments, they have a horrible rake, and you have to pay for parking (valet and self), plus 5 bucks to get into the casino. They offer no rating or comps for poker players! No Bad Beat Jackpots!
2) Harrah's East Chicago- East Chicago, IN. Yes, it East Chicago is in IN. It's just over the skyway from Chicago and is the first town south of Hammond. Harrah's was known as the Mecca of Midwest poker - until recently. They about 15 or so tables with several games and limits. Games include (5/10, 10/20, 20/40, 50/100 Hold'em\ 1-5,2-10 Stud\ H/L Omaha\ 15/30, 30/60 H.O.S.E\ Tournaments every Thursday- usually Limit Hold'em. Good casino and good poker room- but plan on waiting up to 2 hours for a seat unless you are going high limit. The room is on the top level away from slot noise. They have a Bad Beat Jackpot that I've seen up to 30k once!
3) Trump Casino- Buffington Harbor, IN- just down the street (1 mile) from Harrah's East Chicago. Trump is the newest poker room and the nicest I've seen for myself. 20+ tables and you name the game; they offer it or at least attempt to start it for you! Only room that I know that offers monetary No-Limit!!! Big screen TV's, food, and is on top level- no noise! Plus, they have now proved to be high competition to Harrah's they offer Bad Beat Jackpots and will be in the near future offering Tournaments. I was invited to their opening weekend for the room and the only downfall was that the dealers were all new and slow- I'm sure that they have got it down by now. I heard that most of the poker managers are from Blue Chip Casino- that had poker in Michigan City, IN (yes its weird- Michigan City is in IN). They are the first Midwest Casino who will be filming for the Celebrity Tournament/Bravo on May 8th 2004. My top pick- for now.
4) Soaring Eagle- somewhere near Flint MI- Been there once and they have like 6 tables- it was a while ago and never hear anybody speak of it. Detroit has several casinos in the area and over the river in Windsor Canada offers a couple of rooms too. Canadians? LOL.
5) Isle of Capri- Bettendorf, IA. Been there, done that, don't recommend. It's the only poker room in the Quad Cities (over Mississippi River. The good thing is that they have the room on its own level and free of noise. I went to check it out on a Sunday night and at 7PM - there wasn't a game! A waiting list for about 4 people- about a year ago. I feel that the casino itself is not too bad, but the poker room is small and action very local! Be Careful!
6) Rockford Charitable Games, Chicago area, IL. This is not necessarily in Rockford, IL. This is a traveling charity organization that's based in Rockford and travels to Chicago and the West suburbs regularly. Check out their website. But, they offer mostly hold'em and is the only room that offers a "beginners hold'em" game of $1-$3. Pretty smart they are. They really focus on tournaments! Several of them. All the tourneys are hold'em and the offer multi-table tourneys for 100 or 150 buy-in, no rebuys + several dozen single table tournaments thought the day buy-ins ranging from $60 to $150. All is no-limit hold'em with no rebuys! But- as a warning.... several of the players who attend are pro's who go where the tournament goes!!! The money games are fine- but it is truly a shark's game when it comes to the tournaments! I have heard a lot of talk about this room, mostly bad. I think it's OK- but I met a couple of players who were present at an even in the NW suburbs and the IRS came in!!! LOL! The game was closed down, but obviously nothing too important since they are still around. I heard it had to do with the payouts to the tournament winners (big money winners), or something- the poker room was paying out cash without having players sign for it- the IRS doesn't like that I'd suppose. But, this is all hearsay! I would check it out- I have never had a bad experience there.
7) The Newbies to Poker Rooms- I have heard from several players that the new poker room in the Wisconsin Dells at the Ho-Chunk reservation casino is great! Never been there myself- but heard that there's a lot of loose players and interesting games. Mostly hold'em and stud games. I know for a fact that the Potowname Casino (spelling???) in Milwaukee is opening a room in April, 2004. They have been posting help wanted ads for dealers and managers for the past few weeks. Since it doesn't exist yet- I can't have an opinion. But, this casino is mostly a Bingo hall with some slot machines- most Bingo halls with poker have huge poker rooms! Lets keep our fingers crossed.
8) I have never heard of any casinos in the St Louis area offering poker- they might. It's too far for me to visit and I'm too lazy to look it up or call them.
9) A lot of buzz has been floating around for the new Rosemont, IL casino! Personally, I don't care since it will not be built for at least 3 years due to the lawsuits flying from the cities that bided on it and lost (remember- the casinos in IL are supposed to be in Lower Income areas to provide jobs and money for the area economy- Rosemont is anything but low income!) Once that is taking care of, the Isle of Capri (the soon to be casino) has to accept bids for contracting, then after the audit and approval from the state- ground will then break! Personally, unless the state lowers the taxes on the casino profits in the near future, I don't see how this new casino will offer poker. Poker is not a moneymaker for casinos and can easily make triple the profit with slots - not to mention having to pay dealers and managers. But, still- lets keep our fingers crossed and hope I'm wrong!
-If I left out anything please respond and post it!
-SASO
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Posted Wed Mar 24, 2004 12:22 pm GMT by Dave B
Several areas in MN to hit as well. Canterbury-awesome, Turtle Lake, Black Bear.
Posted Wed Mar 24, 2004 12:32 pm GMT by Saso8910
Sorry about MN. That's been too far for me, but I have heard of enormous poker rooms and huge tournaments in the St. Paul/Minneapolis area! Maybe I'll make it up there sometime- but, not in the winter!!! Chicago is cold enough, those people are crazy!!!!!!!!!
-SASO
Posted Wed Mar 24, 2004 1:00 pm GMT by Sundance
STL Update:
There is a nice poker room at the Ameristar, about 20 tables, all games spread. Holdem from 3/6 to 30/60. Omaha and Stud as well.
Harrah's is currently remodeling their poker room, should be completed this summer, (that's what I heard). This room is comparable to the Ameristar.
The President - worst room in town, 5 tables and they only spread 1-4-4-8 holdem and 2-5 Stud.
As with most cities, these rooms are packed at peak hours, long waiting list. Mornings and afternoons it is easy to get right in.
Posted Sun Oct 24, 2004 8:11 pm GMT by Mr. M
I've played both Ameristar & The President. By FAR the President is the worst card room. When I've been there only 1 table was going & a waiting list for it but the Pit Boss refused to open another table.
Ameristar however has several tables running all the time. And, it's easy to switch tables if you don't like the action at one.
Posted Mon Oct 25, 2004 8:27 pm GMT by Butch
Soaring Eagle - Mt. Pleasant, MI. Gambling age is 18. They have reopened their poker room and it has about 20 tables I think. Lowest game is 3/6 Hold 'Em. The Poker room is right off of the floor so it's noisy. Smaller casino. Free parking. Clean room and friendly dealers. You will be put on a waiting list though. That's the casino I got to. Best time to go is about noon.
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