Re: MGM Poker Room - The Best Room in Vegas?
 

Depends on where you live. MGM is way more convenient for me than the north end of the strip. Even just getting to Bellagio seems to take forever these days.

Re: MGM Poker Room - The Best Room in Vegas?
 

yah, but it'll be sloppy seconds - (i.e. - whoever couldn't get into Wynn)

When I was in Vegas, once a dealer found out I was from Minneapolis, I expected 2 things to come from their mouth.

1. - They would ask if I knew Deborah, who was the manager for Canterbury's card room and is now the card room manager for the Wynn

2. - I would expect them to say they had auditioned or were auditioning for the job and were going to meet her if they hadn't already. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

RB

Re: MGM Poker Room - The Best Room in Vegas?
 

I like the room a lot too.

BTW, Parking is great if you know where to park (ie, NYNY 3rd floor, walk right in by Rain Forrest Cafe).


They did call down a $20-40 when I was there. Just Key West Mike (a Mirage 20-40 regular) and myself showed up to the table though. Everyone else on the list was happy where they were (in other games).


I did get a chance to play in the 10-20, 6-12 and 2 & 5 blind no-limit.

I drank a lot of free beer and somehow managed to win the first pot of $10-20 in the history of the new room (unimproved AQ).


I also was lucky enough to get a guided tour of the upstairs high limit table/loft/area (not in use at the time). SWEET! Looks great!


I was hoping to play the $2-10 stud (they had a list) but it did not go when I was there (though friends tell me it was called down right after I left).


I like the room (I play mostly low limits) and plan on giving it another look Wednesday night.


Best Wishes

Howard

Re: MGM Poker Room - The Best Room in Vegas?
 

We some folks couldn't wait the extra month for the Wynn opening too I am sure.

I still am not expecting much from Wynn's, I have to fall back to, I'll believe it when I see it, for me in Henderson it's more of a traffic headache then South end.

And true be known, I am not a high stakes player either, ATM, so I have to factor that in, knowing I can find magoos at 1/2 NL and up to 6/12 for now without having to venture down there.

I am very curious to see how it plays out, that spot where it's at, doesn't have a glowing recent past $ wise.

>TW<

Re: MGM Poker Room - The Best Room in Vegas?
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The MGM isn't (yet) the place to go for high stakes action, but I think it *could* be.

[/ QUOTE ]

No it couldn't. The chances of that were miniscule before Wynn was about to open. Now that Wynn is coming along, it will be very rare that the MGM gets more than a single 20-40 going. The location is simply too inconvenient for locals.

[/ QUOTE ]

Based on what I've read, I think the MGM Grand is going to put up a good fight. Being on the east side of the Strip is inconvientient for most locals. But, locals also have a hard time getting into Bellagio and will face the same east side problem with Wynn. Everyone but me seems to complain about the Mirage. So, the MGM Grand has a shot.

The computerized waiting list is similar to what I saw at Foxwoods this weekend. It obviously blows away the clipboards of the Bellagio and Mirage. (It also leaves big boards like the Commerce has in the dust too). $1.50/hr comps are going to bring in some loyal locals. And, there should be a massive tourist base with the 5,000 room hotel above.

The next 6-12 months of poker in Las Vegas is going to be interesting. We're going to see a good fight between the Bellagio, Mirage, Wynn, and MGM Grand (and maybe the Rio and Caesars Palace).

Mason has written a few times about how the big cardrooms of the 1980's lost all their business when the Mirage (and later Bellagio) opened up and offered much better service. We may be seeing that again.

Re: MGM Poker Room - The Best Room in Vegas?
 

I couldn't disagree with you more. I find MGM must better location for locals and tourists alike. can get access to parking garage from Koval or Tropicana very easily. Or park in NY NY. must less traffic congestion than up at Wynn's location. not that much farther to walk from garages to poker room than other properties and if you plan to play several hours anyway, who cares about an extra few minutes walking.

Re: MGM Poker Room - The Best Room in Vegas?
 

Why are you so skeptical about Wynn?

He created Mirage and Bellagio. Those have been the major poker rooms in Vegas for a long time. He has done more for poker than anyone else. Why would you think he is going to do a crappy job with his new room?

I don't understand the obsession with parking that you Vegas people have. Is it so terrible if you get a little exercise by walking across the casino?

If the properties at that end of the strip have not done well it is more likely due to their crappiness than their location. I have no doubt that Wynn will be a huge success.

Re: MGM Poker Room - The Best Room in Vegas?
 

I also went last night to the MGM and I must say it was GOOT!

"A class act" are the words I used to describe the place.

Yeah, so some of the dealers were new and a little rough, but whatever, the waitresses brought us free booze and the 6-12 had lots of magoos in it. Of course after like 12 red bull and Jagers the magoos were probably US, but what the hey! Won a few bux playing, toked the hell out of the dealers, and generally had a great time schmoozing and boozing! Hats off to MGM for a GREAT room! I highly recommend it to anyone!

al

Re: MGM Poker Room - The Best Room in Vegas?
 

[ QUOTE ]
The location is simply too inconvenient for locals.

[/ QUOTE ]

High stakes games aside, this is actually a very GOOD thing. Vegas locals are mostly rocks, jerks, or both. They may be good for providing bodies to start games, but they are usually a major detriment to the game once they are in it.

By the way, I scoped the 10-20 out three different times last night, and all three times I chose not to give up my seat in the very magooey 6-12 game, where the average pots were just as big or bigger in $$ amounts.

I am not sure, but I don't think 20-40 ever got going. Doesn't matter because I wouldn't play those stakes while drinking anyway. But hell, for day ONE they sure had a nice selection of games!

al

Re: MGM Poker Room - The Best Room in Vegas?
 

Someone mentioned the Rio in a post earlier...compared to Mirage, Bellagio, MGM, and soon to be Wynn(assuming its a good room), the Rio sucks! Totally cramped in there, not many tables at all. I'll take the Aladdin, or Excaliber over the Rio any day of the week just for the comfort factor alone.

Now onto the MGM...I tend to not be too optimistic when it comes to new rooms opening. However, this room far exceded my expectations for an opening day. The major complaint seemed to be the noise coming from the bar next door. (Apparently, the girls jump on the bar and dance for a few minutes every half hour) When the music wasn't playing during that little show, the noise wasn't an issue. Dealers were fine. I know many of the new dealers, and they're basically poker players turned dealer... They were nowhere near as bad as the dealers that opened up the Golden Nugget last year. What the MGM dealers seemed to lack in experience, they gained in customer service. For the next month, at least, I would say the MGM is the best spot for loose cash games(4-8, 6-12, and the 2-5nl). No tournaments yet, since they just opened, so I'll continue to frequent the Aladdin because of the popularity of their tourneys.