ES
I will not be returning to this poker room, and I strongly caution serious players to think twice before spending their time or money here.
This was my first visit (Friday night tournament), and the overall environment was disappointing. The regulars were loud and often visibly intoxicated at the table. I was genuinely surprised that players were allowed to play music out loud from their phones during hands, and that it was treated as normal. It created a distracting and unprofessional atmosphere.
Dealer performance was inconsistent. While a few were solid and professional, several appeared inexperienced, showed favoritism toward regulars, or became visibly frustrated with players. Raising voices at the table — especially during routine situations like someone acting out of turn — is not acceptable. I also observed several hands that felt highly questionable in how they were dealt. Whether coincidence or not, the patterns were concerning enough to raise eyebrows at the table. Additionally, I recognized a few dealers from lower-tier poker rooms that have since shut down under questionable circumstances. Some of these same individuals also actively play in the room’s tournaments. Even if technically allowed, that overlap between dealing and competing creates optics that do not inspire confidence in the integrity of the games.
From an operations standpoint, management seemed unprepared. There were only two tables running for a $5K tournament while enough alternates were waiting to fill at least two more tables — and this was within 15 minutes of start time. On a Friday night, not staffing enough dealers to accommodate demand is poor planning. Paying customers should not be sitting on alternate lists when seats could easily be opened.
The physical space also left much to be desired. The room was extremely overcrowded, with tables packed so tightly together that I was regularly bumped into while actively playing hands. That should never happen in a live tournament setting. The lighting was subpar, and there was a noticeable humid, musty smell throughout the room. It felt cramped, uncomfortable, and poorly maintained.
The biggest concern, however, was seating. In a five-table tournament, I was placed at a table with three immediate family members (mother, father, and daughter). Multiple players commented on how unusual and inappropriate that was. There were several hands where soft play appeared obvious. Whether intentional or not, placing immediate family members at the same table creates a clear perception of collusion — and perception matters in poker. What makes this especially ironic is that the front desk prominently displays a sign stating that collusion will not be tolerated. Yet seating three related players together directly undermines that message. If integrity is truly a priority, basic preventative measures like separating family members should be standard practice. Adding to that frustration, much of the play at the table felt less like structured tournament poker and more like bingo with random “donkey” cards being splashed around. Strategic play was largely absent, and the overall table dynamic reflected a lack of seriousness that only amplified the concerns about fairness and competitiveness.
Also, make sure you read the fine print before registering. Their top regulars reportedly receive additional starting chips simply for attending frequently, which raises questions about fairness in what should be an even playing field. In addition, $100 from every tournament prize pool is diverted into a World Series of Poker package instead of being paid directly to players. That is a portion of the prize pool and should be clearly understood before buying in.
Overall, the room felt more like a social club than a professionally run poker room. Between the environment, questionable table assignments, uneven dealer conduct, operational mismanagement, overcrowding, and policies that appear to favor certain players, it did not feel like a fair or well-managed tournament experience.
I won’t be back, and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone looking for a professionally run, competitive poker environment.
