Poker in Phoenix area

[Mano]

Going to visit some family in Phoenix, and was wondering if there are any cardrooms or casinos in the area.

[Ragnar]

Mano,

There are all sorts of Indian casinos. Some of them have card rooms. The Valley is very large, and it will in part depend upon where you are staying.

The best place to play is Casino Arizona. They have two casinos, but only one has a poker room. It is the casino located at Loop 101 North and Indian Bend. That is in North Scottsdale. The room is large and has many big screen TV's. It is a no smoking room. There are usually several 3-6 and 4-8 games as well as a few 5-10 and one 20-40 hold 'em table. I only play hold 'em, but there are also a number of stud tables and usually an Omaha table or two. I go in non-peak hours, and I'm sure there are even more games being spread on Friday and Saturday nights.

Casino Arizona has another casino at Loop 101 and McKellips. It has slots and blackjack, but no poker. The normal Indian casino games are available at the Indian Bend facility as well.

Gila River Casino has two facilities with poker rooms. The first is at Wild Horse pass. In the past it has been strictly low limit city, but with good low limit games and tournaments. The last time I went it was dead because Casino Arizona had just opened. Smoking is allowed. I'm going Friday afternoon because I will be near there. It is located south of Phoenix, west of I-10 at the Maricopa road exit. They have blackjack and slots as well. Their Lone Butte casino is east of I-10 at the same exit, but it only has slots and blackjack. They also have a casino with a poker room on the far west side, but I've never been there.

Fort McDowell has a poker room. The casino is located east of Fountain Hills. I've only been there once, and it had one stud game and one hold 'em on a Friday. They were both low limit.

You will also see signs for Harrah's, and apparently they have a card room. It is even further south of Phoenix than Gila River, and is quite a trip. I haven't been there, but would skip it because of distance unless you are staying in the Maricopa area.

If you send me a PM and tell me what area of Phoenix you will be staying in, I can send you further directions if needed.

Ragnar

[jstnrgrs]

A few months ago, I was in phoenix on buisness, and while there, I played poker at Gila river wild horse pass (see above post).

Anyway, this was when I was just begining to play (I had not yet had a winning session.) I recorded 2 winning sessions in two days, and I have yet to see another live game as loose as what I saw in Phoenix. It's a great place to play LLHE IMO.

[Sloth]

Just found these boards.

I cut my teeth in Phoenix. When I started Ft. McDowell was the only place to play.

Now, Casino Arizona has the best games over 6-12. Vary rarely will any of the other casinos have a red chip game. The games at Gila River are indeed the loosest I have seen in 5 states.

For 6-12 and lower I would recommend Gila River, and Casino Arizona for higher limits.

Harrah's does have a card room, but it is 17 miles further along the road that Gila River is on, so is very dead now.

[Barry]

I will be at Gainey Ranch on a business trip next week. How far is the Casino Arizona from there?

[Sloth]

I would guess its about 6 miles away. (had to look up where Gainey Ranch was)

there are 2 locations, you want the McKellips one.

[Barry]

Does this one have poker? One of the posts says only the other one has poker

[Ragnar]

McKellips used to have the poker room. Trust me--I'm a lawyer [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] and besides, I was there Monday. They moved it to Indian Bend. That is much closer to Gainey Ranch.

Ragnar

[Alister]

Trust me, I m a lawyer. That's too much!

[Cyndie]

shuffling machines and smoke free poker areas were the big draws as far as I was concerned...a side benefit of shuffling machines is almost no calls for setup or deck changes.