Some rapid-fire, good-news poker room updates from around the country.
**The Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, MS, has completed a $30m renovation that includes a major facelift for the 17,000-sq-ft MS Showroom, which will reopen Aug. 31 as the Back Bay Lounge. **
Ways Casinos Lure You in with False Advertising (Beware!)The room's poker area has been expanded and updated with new tables, chairs, carpets and lighting.
It hosts up to 10 tables with nightly $1/$2 and $2/$5 No-Limit Hold’em and $2/$3 Pot Limit Omaha.
Hard Rock Casino - Hollywood FL
THE Hard Rock in Hollywood, FL, recently changed hands but not before unveiling a massive $140m upgrade, much of it dedicated to expanding the poker room.
The former Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is now simply called the Hard Rock Casino, part of the London-based investment group Highbridge Principal Strategies' network.
The new owners inherited a newly renovated poker room boasting 56 tables, one of the biggest in the state and ranked No. 4 in the top 10 list.
As you'd expect from a room this size there's a constant selection of games and limits, including mixed games, and plenty of promotions and tournaments.
It's located just off the main lobby and connected to the Gary Player Desert Course, so you can go from putting a pitching wedge past that final rough bunker and into the hole worth $120,000 (it happened!) to having a go at taking blinded tournament players without having to cross a parking lot.
The restaurant row at the back of the casino is handy for pre- or post-game analysis and grub, and if you feel like a stroll there's a broad walking path that connects all three casinos.
The new Hard Rock Cafe and music memorabilia exhibition are well worth a look, although maybe not directly before settling in for a six-hour session of chasing the horse.
The new Hard Rock Yacht Rock opened in early June offering live music, craft cocktails, waterfront views and, naturally, a great selection of rum drinks.
The property's centerpiece pool area gets in on the fun starting in April with its Weekend Pool Parties that run until Labor Day.
free casino games funNext door the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tampa is going through its own $700m expansion that's expected to be finished some time next year.
Expect another upgrade in that room at that point. It was originally fitted out by Donald Trump and is presently ranked No.8 in Florida.
Miccosukee Resort and Gaming
THE Miccosukee Resort and Gaming, about a 30-minute drive from the heart of South Beach, underwent its own major refurbishment a few years ago and was fitting to host the popular Southern Comfort Poker Tour.
It has 50 tables and a high rake for tourneys but some tasty-looking promotions, including a $100 added Daily Deep Stack for $40. The resort has its own attractions, not the least being proximity to South Beach, but also a par-72 championship golf course designed by well-known pro Gandurpe Ramos.
Guide - Which States is Online Poker Legal in the US?There's also an onsite spa and fitness center, six restaurants and airy melody to your game courtesy of an open-air design that allows the warm south Florida breezes to blow through.
Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa
JUST over an hour drive east of Edwards Air Force Base, where the Smithsonian’s X-1 – the first successful rocket-powered aircraft – is on display, is the Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa.
The casino recently completed a $25m expansion that increased its footprint to more than 100,000 square feet while adding 75 new slots and fifteen table games.
But it’s the poker room that catches our eye.
Already one of Southern California’s best rooms with 19 tables it got a whole lot better. They expanded the space, bumped the tables to 23 and installed comfortable new seats from the factory.
As if that weren’t enough they introduced two new food and beverage options, Thirsty Heads Ale House and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf … hello third break.
Best Casinos in Albuquerque, NM - 2023's Top Picks“Our poker room has always been a favorite among players in Southern California,” said Robert Frommer, Morongo’s president and CEO.
“With these improvements we’re able to provide a more comfortable experience with even more ways to win.”
Morongo Poker Room
- No-Limit Texas Hold’em
- 19 Tables
- Limitless rewards
- Rack & Magnetic card holders to all host club
Poker Room Info: Hosts, comps, food, drink, etc.
- Monday Happy Hours 10 am – 8 pm * 50 cents drafts * $3 wells * $4 appetizers
- Food Service: Mondays 10 am – 12 am; Tuesdays – Thursdays 10 am – 11 pm; Fridays 10 am – 2 am; Saturdays 8 am – 2 am; Sundays 8 am – 12 am
- Tobey Welk – Poker Room Manager
- (951) 849-3080
* * *
Pechanga Resort & Casino
ANOTHER top southern California room and, in fact, the largest in the state with 105 tables.
Ways Online Poker Is Different From Live PokerThey run daily tournaments ($20 buy-in esquire) and a loyalty program that includes valet parking and a free buffet for platinum members.
Pechanga Resort & Casino
- No-Limit Texas Hold’em
- 105 tables
- Limitless rewards
- Rack & Magnetic card holders to all Blue, Silver, Gold, and Platinum Host Club members
Poker Room Info: Hosts, comps, food, drink, etc.
Real Money Poker Sites That Accept US Players in 2023Poker Room Manager Brian Bacon
Phone Number: (877) 711-2844
Elevator Pitch: “World-class gaming in a world-class facility.”
- Monday Happy Hours 10 am – 8 pm * 50 cents drafts * $3 wells * $4 appetizers
- Food Service: Mondays 10 am – 12 am; Tuesdays – Thursdays 10 am – 11 pm; Fridays 10 am – 2 am; Saturdays 8 am – 2 am; Sundays 8 am – 12 am
- Tony Ruberi – President/CEO
Yaamava' Resort & Casino - San Manuel
THE Inland Empire’s newest casino, formally known as San Manuel Indian Bingo & Gambling Hall, recently emerged from a a $550m renovation and reopened as Yaamava’ Resort & Casino – San Manuel.
The poker room is as good as ever with 65 tables, spread out over 24,000 sq. ft., a coffee bar and snacks right outside.
Guide: Is Gambling Legal in Kentucky?It offers separate High-Hand and Bad Beat Jackpots along with a LOoyalty360 Rewards program that delivers cashback, free-play and hotel stays based on your play.
Yaamava’ Resort & Casino - San Manuel
- No-Limit Texas Hold’em
- 65 tables
- Separate High Hand and Bad Beat Jackpots
- LOyalty360 Rewards: Cardholders receive cashback, free-play and hotel stays based on their play
Poker Room Info: Hosts, comps, food, drink, etc.
- Monday Happy Hours 8 am – 9 pm * $3 domestic drafts * $4 import drafts * $5 premium drafts * $1 off well drinks * $2 off imported and premium bottled cocktails * 10% off Barista Bar menu items
- Food Service: 24 hours
- Jennifer Beltran – General Manager
Pala Casino, Spa and Resort
**A SMALLER room, 31 tables, but still rated No.5 in California, and the Pala Casino, Spa and Resort is only about a 30-minute drive north of the Morongo along I-10. **
Best Free No Deposit Bonus Casinos in Canada (2023) | AskGamblersThe room features 31 tables, a variety of promotions and a lovely new patio for players and guests to enjoy.
Pala Casino, Spa and Resort
- No-Limit Texas Hold’em
- 31 tables
- Daly Steakhouse
Poker Room Info: Hosts, comps, food, drink, etc.
- Monday Happy Hours 8 am – 9 pm * $3 domestic drafts * $4 import drafts * $5 premium drafts * $1 off well drinks * $2 off imported and premium bottled cocktails * 10% off Barista Bar menu items
- Food Service: 24 hours
- Ronda M. Sowman – Vice President of Casino Operations
Commerce Casino Poker Room
**WE make no apologies for including the Commerce Casino Poker Room again. **
With 200 tables it’s almost three times the size of second-place Pala and nearly four times bigger than third-ranked Bay 101.
Michigan Online Slots Casinos for 2023 and Tips For Picking a SiteCommerce Casino Poker Room
- No-Limit Texas Hold’em
- 200 tables
- Best jackpots in Southern California
- Lowest rake in SoCal
- Largest bad beat in SoCal
Poker Room Info: Hosts, comps, food, drink, etc.
- Monday Happy Hours 6 am – 9 pm * $2 domestics * $3 imports * $4 well drinks * 50% off specialty drinks * 10% off all food items
- Food Service: 24 hours
- Barry Hutter – General Manager
Top Ten Rankings & Methodology
SOME pretty big changes in this edition of the top-ten rankings with five new entries.
Atlantic City’s Tropicana Pavilion made the biggest jump, leaping nine spots after being voted No. 1 by readers in our annual survey of Atlantic City area rooms.
Encore Boston Harbor held serve at No. 1 in PL’s first ranking of New England rooms while Beau Rive Bluffs View Poker Room in Biloxi, MS, and the Hard Rock in Hollywood FL were new at No. 8 and No. 4 respectively.
Rounding out the top five were the Borgata in Atlantic City, Bellagio in Las Vegas and MGM Grand Detroit.
There were eight rooms submitting qualifying ballots this year and all were included in the final rankings.
PokerListings.com Room Rankings methodology:
Each room listed on PokerListings.com is eligible for inclusion in the room rankings. Only rooms in regions with five or more eligible listings are considered for that geographic listing.
For example, since we have five rooms listed in Atlanta, GA, we do a top-10 ranking for the city. Since we only have three listings in Houston, TX, we do not currently rank that city.
Rankings are determined by a room “Survey” sent out to followers on social media and by email to the rooms on the list. Questions revolve around several categories with a score out of 10 assigned to each answer.
Category weights are then applied to adjust each number for importance. For instance a perfect score for “Overall Satisfaction” would weigh heavier in the final result than the maximum mark in “Number of Outlets.”
casinos near huntsville alabamaAll scores are totaled and verified before ranking determination.
