What's up w/ Praire Meadows?

[Moyer]

The state(iowa) voted to let them add table games to their slot casino & racetrack in Altoona. Last I heard, the Iowa Gaming Commission also gave them approval.

They're website says they are hiring poker managers & supervisors.

Anyone know how long it will be before they actually open a poker room? Anyone have any other info? How many games they will offer, limits, tournaments, etc?

[Clarkmeister]

They only requested 33 TOTAL table games. That likely means a very small poker room.

[Moyer]

Yeah, that's bad news. Half of those 33 will probably go to black jack. I guess it will depend on how many of those tables go to games like craps, roulette, pai gow, 3 card poker, let it ride, caribbean stud, etc.

The only local cardroom I can compare it to is Meskwaki, which I think has 10 poker tables. These are only filled during tournaments though. There are usually only 3 games going at most, but sometimes more on weekends. Usually 2 of 4/8 hold'em, and 1 of either 1-5 stud or omaha.

So I guess all that matters to me is how many games Prairie can keep going. I also think a 3/6 or even 2/4 table would bring many more new players in. I hope it opens soon.

[eh923]

I actually just moved from DM, and a friend mentioned an article in the Des Moines Register (which I couldn't find) saying that they anticipate 10 tables by December. Again, that's completely second hand.

Lakeside Casino in Osceola (35 miles or so south of DM) opened a cardroom a few months back. Actually, they put 4 tables in the main gaming area...but it's poker nonetheless. They had 2/4 and 4/8 HE regularly, and the occassional 10/20 games.

[Moyer]

Your friend is probably right. I know there was an article in the Register last friday, but I never got to read any more than the headline.

BTW Clark, how did you know they requested 33 tables?

[Moyer]

OK, nevermind. Just found some more info (http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=23444) .

[Moyer]

December is a long time. I'm surprised they couldn't throw a few tables up quicker than that. They have to go and be organized and all that crap. /images/graemlins/smirk.gif

[Moyer]

From the Prairie Meadows website:

"COMING IN DECEMBER: Poker (including 5 Texas Hold 'em tables), Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, Pai Gow, 3 Card Poker, and Crazy 4 Poker!"

"We are in the process of remodeling our facility to incorporate the addition of approximately 18 blackjack tables, 1 roulette tables, 2 craps tables, and a poker room featuring 9 tables. Table games are scheduled to become available on December 15, 2004."