So you’ve decided to play poker live. Congratulations! When you head to the casino, what can you expect? Remember that playing poker live is vastly different than playing online poker. Luckily, we have you covered on PokerBonuses.com. Here is a quick guide to help you learn what to do when you enter a casino’s poker room.
First, find the poker room host. They’ll often be scuttling around the room, helping players find seats and ensuring that chip stacks are properly delivered. Each poker room typically has one or two main points of contact for players. They’ll be dressed up, may be carrying around a microphone, and you can often find them standing behind a counter that is often located near the front of the poker room. If you walk in and don’t see anyone who matches this description, ask a casino employee. The poker room operates like a little family and virtually everyone will be able to point you in the right direction.
Second, tell the poker room host what stakes you want to play. Oftentimes, the games that are available are presented on flat-panel monitors around the main desk. Typical Limit Hold’em games will start at $2/$4 or $3/$6. No Limit Hold’em games will usually start at $1/$2. You can also ask the card room host what the casino is “spreading” in order to make your decision. If the game you’d like to play isn’t listed, feel free to ask if you can be placed on a list to open up a new table. If a certain number of people ask for a game, the poker room may organize a new table. You may be placed on a wait list until a seat opens up for Hold’em, but you can usually sit and read poker magazines or play at a nearby slot machine to pass the time.
Third, when you’re about to be seated, give the poker room host money to be exchanged for chips. He or she may ask you to go get chips from a counter or cage, but this procedure varies in each casino. Just tell the manager that you’d like a certain amount of dollars in chips, give them that exact amount of money, and then walk with them to your seat. Don’t ask them for change. In other words, don’t give them $500 and ask for $450 in chips. Also, many card rooms call $200 “a rack and a stack,” which derives its name from a rack of 100 white chips (each worth $1) and a stack of 20 red chips (each worth $5). A “rack” will always refer to 100 chips and comes in a plastic case. A “stack” will always refer to 20 chips.
Fourth, give the dealer at your table your casino’s club card and say you’re “checking in.” The casino will log the amount of time you’ve played poker and then comp you accordingly. Of course, you can feel free to ask for a buffet or anything else you’d like. Most poker rooms tend to treat their players very generously and the worst anyone could say is no. If you don’t have a player’s card, the poker room may be able to make one for you. If not, you can usually head to the main casino and have one made there. This is the only way you will receive any comps for playing, so make sure to take advantage of it. The dealer will usually hand your card off to one of the floor staff.
As Mike Sexton of the World Poker Tour would say, “May all your cards be live and your pots be monster.” Good luck on the felts of a live casino!