Card rooms in Chicago proper

[Derek in NYC]

Im heading up to Chicago this weekend (Labor Day), and would love to play some cards (low limit or tourney). In NYC, there are a ton of cardrooms but Im wondering if there's anything like that in Chicago, particularly places that are cool with new players coming in. The cardroom must also be El- or bus-accessible, since I dont have a car. Any chance of this at all?

[Nate tha' Great]

[ QUOTE ]
Im heading up to Chicago this weekend (Labor Day), and would love to play some cards (low limit or tourney). In NYC, there are a ton of cardrooms but Im wondering if there's anything like that in Chicago, particularly places that are cool with new players coming in. The cardroom must also be El- or bus-accessible, since I dont have a car. Any chance of this at all?

[/ QUOTE ]

There are no card rooms in the city limits. The closest cardrooms are Harrah's and Trump which are in the extreme NW corner of Indiana; maybe 30 minutes from Downtown depending on traffic. There are a series of privately-owned bus lines that run down to Harrah's for pretty cheap, but the cardrooms are not accessible via public transit.

[eric5148]

Organized gambling is illegal in Chicago. [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[benfranklin]

[ QUOTE ]
Organized gambling is illegal in Chicago. [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, right. I grew up there. Old Chicago joke:

First Kid: What does your dad do?
Second Kid: He's a cop.
First Kid: Honest?
Second Kid: No, a Chicago cop.

Another old Chicago joke:

Q. What's an honest Chicago politician?

A. One that stays bought.

[eric5148]

LOL.

My favorite is:

Vote early, vote often!

[Aces McGee]

Hi Nate

I'm going to be there in October. Do you know where I can get information on such bus lines?

Thanks.

-McGee

[Derek in NYC]

OK so now Im thinking of taking the trip to the Trump casino in Gary. Anybody ever do the bus ride, and how long does it take? (I'm not going to trust what the casino says!)

[SheridanCat]

[ QUOTE ]
OK so now Im thinking of taking the trip to the Trump casino in Gary. Anybody ever do the bus ride, and how long does it take? (I'm not going to trust what the casino says!)

[/ QUOTE ]

30-40 minutes depending on traffic. It's not a bad ride. $2 round trip. The only bad part is that the pickup point is basically a vacant lot, so there's no where to really hang until the bus arrives. However, it leaves promptly at 15 minutes past the even hours, so there's no need to be there early.

Regards,

T

[Hcullimore]

The easiest bus to take to get to the Trump runs from Chinatown. You can take the red line subway train to the Chinatown stop which will put you a block from the bus stops at Cermak and Wentworth. The Trump bus starts at 10:15 am and runs at about quarter after on every even hour to the Trump in Gary. This bus returns on the odd hour until 1 am. It costs $2. There is a rebate deal where you can get $5 back. You can ask the Trump club people about it when you get to the casino. The Majestic star (which is docked at the same place as the Trump) has buses running all day and night. They are free. They leave at about 20 minutes past the hour of every odd hour and return to Chicago at quarter past the even hours. The bus trip takes about 35 to 45 minutes depending on traffic and construction delays.

[Hcullimore]

See my post in this thread. Harrah's also has a bus which runs from the same location in Chinatown. It leaves at the same time as the trump bus (10:15). You need to have a Harrahs players card to take it however. Harrah's also has a convenient bus from the loop at the Hilton at Michigan Avenue and 8th street. (near the Harrison Red Line Subway stop.) It costs $11. You get $10 back at the casino. It leaves starting at 10:20 am and continues at 2 hourly intervals and returns on the odd hour. It does not require a Harrah's card prior to riding (you can get one at casino)