Poker room rate procedure

Aces McGee · #1 10-04-2004, 06:17 PM

Probably a lame question, but I need some help.

Gonna be in Chicago this week for work, and I'm staying the weekend to play poker. I won't have a car, so I'm going to shuttle out to the casinos on Saturday. I plan on staying out there til Monday morning, then doing the shuttle-El routine to O'Hare for my flight home.

So if anyone needs me, that's where I'll be.

Seriously, my understanding that there's no decent place to stay out in East Chicago/Gary except the casinos. So I called Harrah's. They don't have poker rates. I called Trump's and they do. Since the poker rate will save me about 10 BB a night, it would be prudent to stay and play at Trump if I can get the rate.

Finally, my question. When I talked to the guy at the Trump poker room, he was able to give me a little information about how to get the poker rate (play a few hours, etc.), but I wasn't able to get much more than that out of him. So basically, I'm looking for anyone who has ever a)stayed at the poker rate at this particular casino; or b)stayed at the poker rate at *any* casino, in the hopes of getting the answers to the following questions:

1)Do I have to reserve my room ahead of time/at the usual rate, and then have the poker room discount it for me...or can I just wait til I get there, play, and then get my room?

2)Who do I talk to, when I'm at the poker room, about getting the poker rate?

3)Anything else I may not be taking into consideration.

Thanks in advance for helping me on this rather lame post.

-McGee

chrisdhal · #2 10-04-2004, 06:45 PM

I stayed at Trump in Gary in August. I actually lucked out as I asked for it very late in the night, like at midnight. On a Saturday night. Luckily there was one left. Just ask the floor when you sign in and make sure you get a players card right away so they can track you otherwise you most likely can't get the rate.

cardcounter0 · #3 10-04-2004, 09:01 PM

Screw the poker floor. Call the 1-800 number to the casino.
Ask for a "casino host". Tell them how much poker you are planning on playing, and at what limits. Ask them what they can do for you (maybe even throw in, "I like to shoot a little craps too.") They will explain what the procedure is. The floor would just be a middle man to the rooms anyways, go direct to the source.
[img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

thomastem · #4 10-11-2004, 11:21 AM

Got to meet Aces at Trump Sunday, always cool to meet a fellow 2+2er. Thank God I was on his left.

I think the fact that my pelican was flying over the table and my possum was lying in wait under the table was the give away!

Hope you had a safe trip Aces.

steamboatin · #5 10-11-2004, 02:35 PM

Here is how I do it when I stay at Tunica. I am wide open for suggestions if I can save money.

I call the poker room well in advance and make reservations through the poker room. When I get to the poker room, I tell them I have a room at the poker rate and make sure I get swiped in.

At the Gold Strike in tunica, you have to play 6 hours to qualify for the poker rate. You can break it up into sessions. I usually get there late on a Friday and am tired so I might only play two or three hours Friday night and get up early Saturday and take advantage of the drunks that have been playing and drinking all night.

Time spent playing a tournament does not count toward your room rate.

Barry · #6 10-11-2004, 03:19 PM

Most hosts don't care one bit about your playing poker. If your not playing against the house you're a nobody to them.

Call the poker room, they are the one's that take care of the poker player, if they can. At the 'Shoe in Tunica, I was able to get a limo ride from the Tunica airport. On the other hand at FW's the best you can do is get a lounge pass about once a month.