Closest B&M room to Western PA

[Swax]

I currently live in Pittsburgh, and obviously there's no poker rooms in PA. There are various fundraiser type games at churches and such, but I'm lookng for the closest real cardroom experience.

Obviously there's AC - but from what I hear there may be something closer. I have heard rumors of Indian Casinos near Erie, PA (by Buffalo) and also in Niagara, but from what I can tell Casino Niagara doesn't have a poker room.

Does anyone know a place closer than AC with some action?

[sekrah]

According a friend of mine, Casino Niagara does have a poker room now.

[mtdoak]

there's Seneca Alleghany Casino, which has exclusivly low limits, and the Seneca Niagra Casino, which has mostly low limits as well. You can also try turning stone, depending on what part of central PA you live in.

[neotope]

- Atlantic City is 6 hours away and in my opinion the only place to go from Pittsburgh.

- Niagara Falls is about 4 hours away and has three casinos with card rooms. Senaca Niagara is on the US side and is fairly well run. Casino Niagara is on the Canada side and supposedly has a lot of low limit action, but I have not been there since they opened the room. Fallsview Niagara is also on the Canadian side and had decent action last time I was there but the room was horribly run.

- Detroit is five hours away and it has three casinos with poker rooms. I've only played at Greektown which was a fairly decent room, but could be a lot better.

From now on I think I will only go to Atlantic City. The options are just a lot better and the action is a lot better. Detroit is mostly local grinders that are grumpy and just not good to play with in general. Niagara is OK but the pirce of rooms is so expensive up there.

I also think going to AC save me money in the long run. I mostly play 2/5 NL. At Greektown the NL had a $8 (I think) time charge per half hour compared to $5 at The Borgata. I also get $2 in comps per hour at The Borgata. So if I'm paying $16 at Detroit and only $8 (technically) at The Borgata I am saving $8/hour. I usually play at least 10 hour sessions, so in the end I'm saving a lot of money by playing in AC.

AC might not be worth the extra two hour drive for you, but for me it definitely is. I was just at The Borgata this past weekend and I made reservations for Labor Day on Tuesday when I got back.

[Swax]

Thanks to all for your help - neotope that is super informative.

basically, my deal was to find somewhere for which I can leave in the morning, play all day, and plausibly return late night without having to get a room. At 6 hrs. away, AC isn't quite that.

However, that Seneca Allegany place is only about 3 hours away...that's very doable. Have you played there, mtdoak? As long as it's not totally awful, I'll probably check it out. I'll probably play whatever the lowest limit that they spread there is.

[calmasahinducow]

The 5 poker rooms closest to you are:
1. Seneca Gaming Hall in Irving, NY (18+)
2. Seneca Niagara (21+)
3. Seneca Alleghany (21+)
4. Casino Niagara (19+)
5. Fallsview (19+)

I highly recommend #2.

[neotope]

[ QUOTE ]
However, that Seneca Allegany place is only about 3 hours away...that's very doable. Have you played there, mtdoak? As long as it's not totally awful, I'll probably check it out. I'll probably play whatever the lowest limit that they spread there is.

[/ QUOTE ]

I've heard that a lot of the action at Seneca Allegany has been killed by the casinos in Niagara but I know they still have some decent games. I've never stopped because I'm always heading up for a weekend so I just go to Niagara. One good advantage to Seneca Allegany would be that you can probably get a cheap room close by if you decide to stay.

Check out there website as well - http://www.senecaalleganycasino.com/sac/index.html

[bigbeardedbryan]

You'd be surprised. There are very few major-brand hotels in the vicinity of Salamanca, and those that do exist are usually filled on weekends with the casino crowd. The truly "cheap" hotels aren't really anyplace I'd want to stay. You'll probably wind up staying in Olean or Jamestown unless you reserve well in advance and shell out for the Holiday Inn Express down the road. That being said, it's only about three hours from Pittsburgh, and I know of a number of players there who make the drive as a day-trip.

The smallest limits they spread at SA are $1-2 (40-100 buyin) NL and $2/4 and $3/6 structured games. It's not an awful room, but there are a lot of locals who know each other (and a lot of truly awful players). Dealers are largely capable and friendly (not commenting on the floor staff here), and will know your name within a few hours of play. Just don't expect Omaha or anything fancy.

[mtdoak]

Its ok. They have like 12 tables, but barely half of them are ever used. They have a 2/4, 3/6, and some baby NL games spread.

[dicelumpY2005]

Ive done the whole list, and I also strongly recommend Seneca Niagara. They occasionally have omaha 8/b and stud games going...plenty of tournaments, and quite a few games going on the weekends to keep you satisfied. They have free alcohol, also...(have to pay for it in Canada, and its expensive!)