Demana
09-28-2004, 04:49 PM
I only made it to two casinos while in Venice Beach: The Hustler and Hollywood Park.
Overall, I enjoyed playing more at the Hustler, but made more money playing at Hollywood Park.
Distance
From the Venice Beach boardwalk (my hotel was by Muscle Beach), it took 20 minutes to get to Hollywood Park and 30 minutes to get to the Hustler.
Location
The Hustler is in Gardena and it has a nice, friedly feel to it. There is a movie theater and shopping mall close by, in case you need to find something for others to do while you enjoy a game of poker /images/graemlins/wink.gif
I don't remember the city Hollywood Park is in, but it doesn't have the greatest vibe. They have a monsterous parking lot, with the casino entrance a decent walk away.
Atmosphere
Walking into the Hustler was like walking into a Kenneth Cole.
Classy, friendly, comfortable.
Added bonus of going to the Hustler was that Larry Flynt's private game was going with the assorted Poker Legends playing stud with him. I was told that you can play in the game, but the buy in is like $200,000.
Walking into Hollywood Park was like walking into WalMart.
Boring, tepid, a place where addicts waste away.
Added bonus of going to Hollywood Park is the race track. Lots of electricity when the races are going.
Skill level
The game at Hollywood Park was way easier than the game at the Hustler.
Lots of fish, nice and loose / passive.
The game at the Hustler, even at 4 AM, still had some tight / aggressives sitting at the table.
Games
Both had a plethora of Hold'Em games, though Hollywood park had about twice the number of tables and other games going on too (stud, omaha, etc.).
Food
Both had discounted menus if you were playing at a table.
Tournaments
The Hustler has a $100 buy in, NL tourney on Monday with 1 rebuy for the first two hours.
Hollywood Park had a variety of nightly tournaments with sattelites running during the day.
Blinds, Rake, and Jackpots
Hustler
Blinds
One big blind
One small blind
Button posts $1 for jackpot (coutns like a small blind)
Rake
Jackpot always taken.
Full rake taken if flop seen.
Though a lot of people do not chop, it is not worth it to see the flop if only 2 are in because the pot will only be worth $2.
Jackpot
Aces full of Tens or better beaten by Quads or better.
Each game (2/4, 3/6, etc.) had its own jackpot.
Hollywood Park
Blinds
One big blind
Rake
(I might have this incorrect)
Jackpot taken on flop.
Full rake taken after turn.
Jackpot
Aces full or better beaten by Quads or better.
Same Jackpot for all tables (I think this is right, but I don't have my notes with me)
And if you are a smoker, the Hustler has an atrium where you can smoke and play table games and poker. The only had the poker table running for a short while, but there were many people who left my table for a quick drag in the smokotorium.
Overall, I enjoyed playing more at the Hustler, but made more money playing at Hollywood Park.
Distance
From the Venice Beach boardwalk (my hotel was by Muscle Beach), it took 20 minutes to get to Hollywood Park and 30 minutes to get to the Hustler.
Location
The Hustler is in Gardena and it has a nice, friedly feel to it. There is a movie theater and shopping mall close by, in case you need to find something for others to do while you enjoy a game of poker /images/graemlins/wink.gif
I don't remember the city Hollywood Park is in, but it doesn't have the greatest vibe. They have a monsterous parking lot, with the casino entrance a decent walk away.
Atmosphere
Walking into the Hustler was like walking into a Kenneth Cole.
Classy, friendly, comfortable.
Added bonus of going to the Hustler was that Larry Flynt's private game was going with the assorted Poker Legends playing stud with him. I was told that you can play in the game, but the buy in is like $200,000.
Walking into Hollywood Park was like walking into WalMart.
Boring, tepid, a place where addicts waste away.
Added bonus of going to Hollywood Park is the race track. Lots of electricity when the races are going.
Skill level
The game at Hollywood Park was way easier than the game at the Hustler.
Lots of fish, nice and loose / passive.
The game at the Hustler, even at 4 AM, still had some tight / aggressives sitting at the table.
Games
Both had a plethora of Hold'Em games, though Hollywood park had about twice the number of tables and other games going on too (stud, omaha, etc.).
Food
Both had discounted menus if you were playing at a table.
Tournaments
The Hustler has a $100 buy in, NL tourney on Monday with 1 rebuy for the first two hours.
Hollywood Park had a variety of nightly tournaments with sattelites running during the day.
Blinds, Rake, and Jackpots
Hustler
Blinds
One big blind
One small blind
Button posts $1 for jackpot (coutns like a small blind)
Rake
Jackpot always taken.
Full rake taken if flop seen.
Though a lot of people do not chop, it is not worth it to see the flop if only 2 are in because the pot will only be worth $2.
Jackpot
Aces full of Tens or better beaten by Quads or better.
Each game (2/4, 3/6, etc.) had its own jackpot.
Hollywood Park
Blinds
One big blind
Rake
(I might have this incorrect)
Jackpot taken on flop.
Full rake taken after turn.
Jackpot
Aces full or better beaten by Quads or better.
Same Jackpot for all tables (I think this is right, but I don't have my notes with me)
And if you are a smoker, the Hustler has an atrium where you can smoke and play table games and poker. The only had the poker table running for a short while, but there were many people who left my table for a quick drag in the smokotorium.