Casino Niagara's new poker room

DZgroundhog · #1 09-17-2005, 04:09 AM

Just got back from Casino Niagara's new poker room...Normally I play at Seneca Niagara but my girlfriend's little brother just turned 19 today (as in four hours ago) so we went up there at midnight with him. Now that's a gambling addiction...

New room was really nice; it's out in the open but there aren't many slots or tables near it so it's pretty much in the best possible spot. They were spreading 2-4, 3-6, 1-2 NL, and 2-5 NL across twelve tables. They were absolutely terrible trying to get people signed up for lists but at least you get a nice pager so you can wander off while you're waiting.

I played 1-2 NL for about an hour and half and the play was incredibly bad as usual. It seemed worse than the other times I've played 1-2, but at least half the table was hammered so that contributed to it. It must've cost them a fortune to get drunk since a bottle of beer costs $5.50.

The one downside is that they charge a $5 session fee per half-hour which was absolutely brutal tonight with the Friday night drunks. We only got eight hands in during the first half-hour (slow dealer and she didn't try very hard to keep the game moving) and then the next dealer tried to speed up the action and he got a whopping ten hands dealt. He noticed I was getting frustrated and asked if I wanted a table change, but the play was so bad that I figured it was worth a shot to stay because I would've been paid off very nicely if I hit any sort of hand. Plus I asked one of the drunks for five $5 chips for a $25 and she gave me an extra chip for good luck so that paid for one of my session fees.

I guess this room is okay if you're 19 or 20 as its way nicer (and from what I could tell, softer) than heading down to Irving, but if you're old enough to gamble in the U.S. and you're considering playing poker at Casino Niagara or Fallsview, just come four blocks across the border and play at Seneca Niagara. You get free drinks (so that cancels out the $2.50 border toll) and you can drink for an extra two hours instead of getting cut off at 2:00 which is surreal for us Buffalonians who are used to the 4am last call.

DZ

4thstreetpete · #2 09-17-2005, 09:12 AM

Only 12 tables? weren't there any limits higher than 3-6? thanks for the report.

littlebu · #3 09-17-2005, 11:40 AM

The last time I was there the card room wasn't open yet. We were there from thurs-sun. morning and it was set to open that mon.(argh). Did they have any limit tables? I'm supposed to be heading up there for a weekend in Nov. and we were going to try playing there one night and driving over and playing at seneca the next day.

fyodor · #4 09-17-2005, 03:01 PM

I'll fly to Vegas before I'll drive the hour and a half to Niagra. I understand that it is the repressive anal government that forces them to charge for drinks but there is no need to charge $5.50 for a goddamn beer. It should be $2 tops.

I went up to Rama a cpl times but I've had it with the rippoffs.

I urge all tourists to stay away from all Ontario casinos until they get a clue.

broiler · #5 09-17-2005, 03:28 PM

The only thing worse than the $5+ beer is the $10+ mixed drinks that are watered down. You would think that for ten bucks they could splash some alcohol in the glass.

DZgroundhog · #6 09-17-2005, 04:22 PM

[ QUOTE ]
The last time I was there the card room wasn't open yet. We were there from thurs-sun. morning and it was set to open that mon.(argh). Did they have any limit tables? I'm supposed to be heading up there for a weekend in Nov. and we were going to try playing there one night and driving over and playing at seneca the next day.

[/ QUOTE ]

As far as I know, they had a couple 2-4 and 3-6 tables but most of it was 1-2 NL. Save yourself a lot of frustration and just play at Seneca both days.

fyodor · #7 09-18-2005, 12:27 AM

Welcome to Ontario. 1 oz measured per drink.

lefty rosen · #8 09-18-2005, 02:58 AM

If your whining about 4.50 for a beer you don't go out much. 4.50 is less than average for a Toronto bar or restaurant, I would say 5 including tax is now average..... [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

fyodor · #9 09-18-2005, 11:53 AM

I'm whining because in a real casino beer is free. I understand and accept that when I go to a casino I will be paying rake and tipping the dealers and waitresses. I draw the line at paying $5.50 a beer on top of it.

DZgroundhog · #10 09-18-2005, 12:59 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I'm whining because in a real casino beer is free. I understand and accept that when I go to a casino I will be paying rake and tipping the dealers and waitresses. I draw the line at paying $5.50 a beer on top of it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Agreed. Especially if I'm paying $0.50 per hand in session fees.

Another thing I just found out about the Canadian casinos...A small glass of Pepsi is free while you're gambling, but they now charge $1.75 for it at the bar. So I guess that puts an end to wandering away from the table and getting your own free non-alcoholic drinks when the waitresses are nowhere to be found.