Borgata versus Taj

[Riverman]

As an AC regular, I am truly puzzled as to why more players have not come over from the Taj to the Borgata. Whenever I go to the Taj everything is dirty (chips, floor, tables, even chairs. One time a new player entered the game and complained that his chair was wet. Then he smelled it and it was urine. The rest of the table confirmed this. Even after the floor manager realized that the guy's chair had been pissed on, he wouldn't even pay the dry cleaning for the guy's pants) Anyway, the other players are unbathed and unpleasant, and the attitude of management and dealers is one of complete non-interest. Furthermore, there is no convenient place to eat.

Compare this to the borgata. Flat screen TV's that you can actually see, beautiful atmosphere, great adjustable chairs, and a floor staff that actually wants to help people out. One day I was playing in a 30-60 Omaha game and the Poker Room manager unexpectedly comped the rooms of everyone in the game. If you play 15-30 and above, they can always get you a room, and it is 100 bucks. These rooms are easily the nicest in AC. Plus, the comp system is good and you can eat at the tables.

The only problem is a lack of action...which is why I am doing this. If you are one of the many players who go to the taj just because it is where people go...dont do it anymore. Come on over. Hell, parking is even cheaper.

[slamdunkpro]

[ QUOTE ]
These rooms are easily the nicest in AC. Plus, the comp system is good and you can eat at the tables.


[/ QUOTE ]

/images/graemlins/confused.gif Last time I was at the Borg you could not eat at the tables.

The Borg has lot going for it. I prefer it to the Taj. The thing the Borg needs is a good deli/quick food service. Ther snack bar in the poker area sucks! I wish The Stage would move out of the Taj!

[Mike Gallo]

Riverman,

Don't forget to add you can see celebrities at the Borgata. I saw Huck Seed there last Friday.

I prefer the decor of the Borgata but the Taj does have better action.

I like them all.

The Trop offers poker for the family oriented people.
The Taj offers poker for the Rounders wannabes.
The Borgata offers poker for people with money to burn.
Ballys offers poker for those who like to smoke at the tables.
The Sands still has to figure out how to draw more customers.
Harrahs offers poker for people who like to play in a glass closet.

Ok I have covered all of the AC poker rooms.

During the month of the WPT events I played in all three major rooms. One night I even played in all three rooms. I felt like I achieved a hat trick of sorts.

[DOTTT]

Never been to either one I'm only 19, but was wondering if I could sneak in without getting caught. Do they check IDs when you enter or cash out?

[RollaJ]

[ QUOTE ]
Harrahs offers poker for people who like to play in a glass closet

[/ QUOTE ] .....quote of the week.

To make a comparison many can understand..... Paradise has by far the best software out there, but everyone plays at Party b/c of the fish.
A better win rate is hard to compete against with a few hot waitresses.
Also for some reason you have to go upstairs to smoke. I know that pisses off a lot of players, have you ever noticed at the Taj how people light a cig, smoke, put it down, go back in check their two cards and then go back out to smoke.... Its a convenience you do not have at the Borgata. In essence going upstairs to smoke costs you a lot of money as you are missing hands you paid for both in the time charge and the price of blinds. That adds up a lot to someone who smoke even 1 cig an hour

BTW, I played with Amir Vahedi a few weeks ago at the Taj. He's no Huck Seed, but he's a good player too /images/graemlins/smirk.gif

On the other hand, if a poker room in AC offered espresso like the Bellagio Id have to switch.

[Mike Gallo]

Do they check IDs when you enter or cash out?

No, and if you behave and do not bring attention to yourself you might have a chance of playing without getting caught.

[DOTTT]

Thanks MG, just wondering how much money I can get away with is $500 too much? What about tournaments? I would love to play the weekly tournament in the Tropicana any ID checks for that? Thanks.

[Mike Gallo]

just wondering how much money I can get away with is $500 too much? What about tournaments? I would love to play the weekly tournament in the Tropicana any ID checks for that? Thanks.

Forget the tournaments. You need a card. In order to get a poker card you must provide ID. You cannot give id because you did not turn 21. Remember I said do not draw attention to yourself.

just wondering how much money I can get away with is $500 too much?

What do you mean by this? Winning $500 or buying in for $500?

[DOTTT]

What I mean is a cash out of $500, and thanks again.

[afish]

Anyone who is reading this board is not a fish and is not going to give action. A fish is someone who wanders by the room, sees the action, and starts to play. It is hard to attract fish when (1) the casino is not accessible from the Boardwalk, (2) the poker room is hidden in the basement, and (3) there is no rail that allows newbies to watch games. Although I haven't played at the Borgata, the dealer reviews have been fairly negative, as well. But I think structural problems (the casino's location, and the poker room's location within the casino) will prevent the Borgata from supplanting the Taj as the action room in AC.

[Riverman]

I would argue that the players at the Borgata are just as fishy as those at Taj. People with alot of money stay at the nicest place, which is the borgata. On many occasions our pot limit game has been greatly improved by newbies who want to "try" big bet poker. The 10 20 and 20 40 games always have wealthy, fishy players as well.

[Mike Gallo]

I would argue that the players at the Borgata are just as fishy as those at Taj. People with alot of money stay at the nicest place, which is the borgata. On many occasions our pot limit game has been greatly improved by newbies who want to "try" big bet poker. The 10 20 and 20 40 games always have wealthy, fishy players as well

I completely agree. I watched the pot limit game on several occasions. The game usually has at least one player attempting to play big bet poker for the first time.

The Borgata does a good marketing job and does attract players who do not know the game that well, but do participate in home games. I prefer those players to the totally clueless.

Players who have home game experience, usually try to play well and make mistakes that border on weak tight, as opposed to complete gamblers who sometimes back into the correct play.

[ML4L]

Hey DOTTT,

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but they do occasionally card at the Taj. I started playing there shortly after turning 21 (I'm currently 22), and I've been carded twice. But, the good news is that I've played around 15 sessions there, so I think that you still have fairly decent odds of not being carded... I also know a few people who started playing at the Taj before turning 21 and got away with it just fine.

A couple of additional things: first, I think that the chances that you'll be carded actually DECREASE if you play for higher stakes. I play 10-20 and buy-in for the $500 that you mentioned. I think that I would probably be carded more often if I tried to play 2-4 or 3-6 (but, whatever you do, DON'T play over your head just to try to avoid getting carded...). Secondly, along those lines, MG's advice about not drawing attention to yourself is key. You'll want to look like this is not your first time playing in a poker room, so make sure that you are 100% aware of how EVERYTHING is going to work (e.g. do you know what "chopping" is?). There has probably been a thread posted already that gives first-time tips, but if you search and can't find anything, start a new thread and I'll be happy to give you some pointers...

Good luck; 2 more years is a long time to wait... /images/graemlins/wink.gif

ML4L

[DOTTT]

Thanks for the great advice ML. Your right two years is a long time to wait! I actually would've thought playing in lower limit games would give me a better chance of making it out without being caught. The only problem with playing in the 10-20 games you mentioned is that when I want to cash out I would have something like $1000 ( I plan to win /images/graemlins/grin.gif) and I've heard they ID anyone cashing out more then $1000 on the spot, have you heard anything like that before? My last question is lets say I end up cashing out and get ID'ed will they take my money away? I can stand loosing it on the table, but it'll drive me crazy if I have to give it up to them for nothing.

[ML4L]

Hey all,

I actually opened up the B&M section because I was about to write a "Borgata vs. Taj" post... But, Riverman and others have already begun touching on the answer to my question: where to play?

This past weekend was my first trip to AC since Borgata opened, but I decided to do my playing at the Taj, because I've always played at the Taj. I was AMAZED to find the softest 10-20 games in which I'd ever played; several players playing any two cards, very little preflop raising, etc... In trying to figure out why the games were so soft, I thought that maybe the Borgata had something to do with it.

So, this is my question: since the Borgata has opened, where has the 10-20 and 15-30 been softer: Taj or Borgata? Let's assume that I don't care about urine-stained chairs, eating at the table, or any of those other things; I just want to know about the games.

Along those lines, although I didn't play there, I did go over to the Borgata just to check it out. Although I was a bit perturbed about getting lost twice trying to find the poker room, I had to admit that it was very nice; a bit Bellagio-esque... But, when I talked to one of the managers, he said that they generally had one to three 10-20 tables, maybe one 15-30, occasionally a 20-40, but nothing higher! I was shocked that such a nice place wouldn't even spread hold 'em games higher than 20-40. So, did this guy mislead me? And in general, how is game selection? Are games usually full?

Any help that y'all can give me in deciding where to play from now on is much appreciated...

ML4L

[ML4L]

Hey DOTTT,

To answer your first question, I think that they automatically ID if you win over $10,000, not $1,000. To be honest, I don't remember for certain, but I don't think that I was carded any of the times that I've cashed out for two racks. Again, along the lines of not wanting to attract attention to yourself, if you start winning a good amount, get up, cash out, take a break, and then put your name back on the list to get a seat. Because, if you are running over the game, some guy might be pissed off and ASK for you to be carded (you meet some real jerks at these tables...).

Regarding your second (and probably more important) question, I don't know what they would do if you were caught after the fact. If you're caught before you start playing, it's not that big of a deal; you say you left your ID in your room, leave to "go get it", and head to a different casino... /images/graemlins/smile.gif But, if you already have money on the table, it is a little tougher to pull that trick. This issue is exactly why I waited until I was 21; because I had absolutely no idea what would happen to my money if I got caught. And I don't even want to make a guess for you, because I'd feel bad if you relied upon it, played, and ended up getting your money taken. I know that there MUST be someone who posts here who has tried to play underage and gotten caught; hopefully they'll read this thread. If not, then search the archives and/or start a new thread of your own (maybe under "General"). I'm sure that people have some good stories to tell... /images/graemlins/grin.gif

ML4L

[RollaJ]

I got carded in the casino once when I was 17 after hitting a big win, I gave them the line they've heard a million times "I forgot my ID in my room". They let me cash out and I left. I doubt they would ever take your chips, especially at poker where it isnt their money.
Also be caferul if you think of a fake ID, they have a book of all valid govt IDs and if caught with a fake one thats when you may get F***ed

[Riverman]

I played underage at the trop for 3 years. I dont think they know that there is a minimum gambling age there.

[MaxPower]

At the Borgata the Poker Room is not hard to find. There is plenty of traffic near the escalators. When I was there 2 weeks ago, the 6/12 was one of the best games I've ever played in. The game was run well. The waitresses are nice to look at and you can actually get something to drink without waiting an hour. The chips are clean. The chairs are comfortable. There is a bathroom nearby. The parking is great. The people are less grumpy. There were plenty of new players who wandered down there, some guy even stopped me and started asking questions about how he could get into a game. The snack bar isn't great, but I won't miss the Taj snackbar.

I think the room is going to do very well. The Taj probably has better game selection, but other than that I'll take the Borgata.

[John Deere]

I'll give my two cents about getting carded and such, since I am 21 and am still obviously eligible to get carded based on my appearance.

I would basically say I have been carded 50% of the time I've played at the Taj. And it has always been by a security officer at the request of a floor manager -- never by a dealer or while buying in or cashing out.

If you get caught, I think it's a toss up as to whether or not they let you keep your money. But I think as long as you got out of the city without going to jail, you would have to be happy. I think that the chance of getting caught is not at all worth the potential gains.

That being said, I have been with a friend who had a late birthday but wanted to come with the rest of us to Atlantic City, and he had a really good California ID that he had paid a lot of money for (he actually used it successfully in California, so you know it must be decent). He was carded, and it ID was scrutinized but accepted. Likewise, a friend of a friend played in AC for about two years with a fake ID -- this was actually a real ID with someone else's name and face on it that he had somehow been given. Not only was it OK'd every time, but he had the balls to sign up for a players card and got comped with it!

To conclude, I would say that it's not worth trying to play without an ID -- be it real, fake, or whatever. A lot of people will tell you that the security in AC is really, really tight, but this is not at all true... they could care less who is on the casino floor. Nonetheless, there is a good chance that you will get carded at some point during your play if you look young and, in my opinion, the possible rewards of playing do not outweigh the possible consequences of getting caught.

[StevieWonder]

I played in the Tropicana Thursday Night Tournament about 10 times while underage. I was kinda carded once. I busted out and later came back to watch the final table. Security was watching the final table too and asked me, "Are you over 21?" I said, "Yeah, do you want to see ID?" and he responded "No, it's cool."

I actually got one of the cards from the Trop and the Taj while underrage. I got the Taj one when I was 18 and the Trop when I was 19. Both times they didn't even ask for ID, they just had me fill out a form. I went to the Borgata for the first time last weekend and they checked my ID (i'm 21 now) and had me sign a form to say I was over 21.

All in all, I've never been carded at the Taj while underage (I mostly play 3-6). I've played many times and some people even recognized me. My friend was carded twice out of like 50 times at the Taj tho. He looks younger than me but he is actually 2 years older.

Hope this helps.

[DOTTT]

I want to thank John and Stevie for sharing their experinces with me, and wish to apologize to River for taking the discussion of track. Hopefully, I'll be able to post my opinion here soon about the cardrooms. Thanks everyone.

[John Deere]

Oh, and one thing I forgot to mention re: the automatic carding if you win $1000 or $10000 or whatever. According to the signs by the cashier's booth at the Taj, they are required _by law_ to report any winnings (which I assume to mean total cash outs -- since they have no way have knowing how much you bought in for) of $10,000.01 or more to the government. I can only assume that this would require them looking at your ID. It is also noted on the sign that any attempt to structure cash outs to avoid being reported or a similar work-around is against the law as well. Since I have never won anything even remotely close to this amount, I have no idea how stringently the policy is enforced. Just wanted to clarify for anyone who's interested.

Good luck!

[daryn]

of course they have to say this.. the 10K thing is a law.. but about structuring cash outs.. anyone who doesn't do this is an idiot.

[alphamale1]

I agree completely. Garbaj-Mahal is disgusting.
You forgot to mention the gum that idiots stick under the tables at the Garbaj-Mahal. The place seems to attract
a smellier crowd than most places. Last time I played there an old dude had an obvious cold, smelled and liquid drained out of his nose onto his chips. Table change for me.
Every time I request table change from floor they forget about it until the third time I remind them. I am not a habitual table changer. Maybe once in 15 visits, so I don't abuse the option. I think AIDS and SARS actually originated from the Garbaj-Mahal casino chips. Just my theory.

[soh538]

I mainly play at the Trop when i am in AC mainly because of the reasons stated, the uncleanliness and the characters that play. I have been to the Borgata once and it did have a Las Vegas feel to it which is much needed in AC. I think the way to get people there is to have tournaments, which is what every casino does to get side games in. The Borgata is very nice and hope to play there in the future, if i can figure out how to drive into the self parking.

[Ashe]

I had a friend that got caught with a fake in the Taj when he was underage. He was arrested, had to go to court, and pay big fine for a HS kid. On the otherhand, I had another friend with someone else's real ID, and he signed up for a comp card.

I had a whole series of fake IDs growing up, some better than others. I had one that worked at the local bar when I was 17, but I would have never thought about using it in AC. As a general rule, I would say don't try to use an ID in AC unless it would work at your state liquer store or a strict club. If you have a fake, know all the info on it, and something about the town and what your sign is. If you're not confident in your fake and/or haven't used it a lot, if carded just tell the ID in the room bit and leave... No need trying to con your way out with a fake when you probably don't have too. /images/graemlins/smirk.gif