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For years, I've wanted a legit poker room close to my home in tghe Triangle, so I was excited when Caesar's Virginia was announced. I was ready for a change from semi-legal and shady home games.... or long drives to DC or further to play at a real card room. I've been there about four times now, and on the whole, it's a good experience.
Let's get the bad out of the way: as of March 2025, the drink service is poor. The place is just understaffed and one or two overworked servers seem to be handling the entire room. But there are good food and drink options a two-minute walk away. Second, the side bet thing on the table is annoying (as others have detailed) and wastes time, but most tables I've sat at tend to ignore them over time. When I've been at tables where suckers keep slowing down the game with the side bet action, it's not hard to switch tables to get to one where the players are more focused on poker.
Now onto the good... The dealers are mostly friendly and skilled. The staff running the room are professionals and have been very pleasant. Since opening weekend, I've always been able to get a table within 30 min of arriving; and I've only played on Fridays and Saturdays. The chairs are comfortable and the tables are modern. Lastly, the competition is relatively soft -- it's a good mix of randoms who want to gamble, skilled players, and semi-regulars who play a limpy, loose style that's very beatable.
Overall, I'm grateful this place opened up. It's the best option for poker if you live in the Raleigh-Durham area (about an hour or so away). As of Spring 2025, the place is still having some growing pains, but I think the potential is great.
