Poker players in upstate New York have more choices of where to play, with four commercial casinos opening since late 2016 to join four tribal casinos offering live games.

Dec 06, 2019  Casino Niagara has good cash games, and also good tournaments now. They have tournaments every Tuesday and Sunday. Check their website out, and download Bravo Poker so you can see how many games in room. 1/3 & 2/5 NL games every day. 5/10 NL & 2/5 PLO on weekends, and some Thursdays and tournament Tuesdays too.

Legal poker rooms and full-fledged casino gaming haven’t cracked the New York City metro market yet, but players looking for a Hold’em or Omaha game have a variety of options elsewhere in the state.

A state law allowing commercial casinos targeted areas that needed an economic boost, says Dave Urie, poker room manager at the $1.2 billion Resorts World Catskills, which had a grand opening in May 2018 in Monticello. Other commercial casinos are in Schenectady, Waterloo, and Nichols.

Tribal casinos with poker rooms are at Turning Stone in Verona, Seneca Niagara in Niagara Falls, Seneca Allegany in Salamanca, and Akwesasne in Hogansburg, which is so close to the Canadian border that some slot machines accept Canadian currency.

Competition for players has picked up as players get more choices.

“We’re still growing our room and brand,” says Dave Grubb of the poker room at Rivers Hotel and Casino. “There’s a big poker community in the capital region.”

For example, to counter the August grand opening of MGM Springfield in Massachusetts, about 100 miles away, his room will offer an hourly $1,000 high-hand bonus for six days.

All the casino poker rooms in New York are smoke-free. New York law requires commercial casinos – Tioga Downs, del Lago, Rivers and Resorts World Catskills – to be smoke-free throughout. Tribal casinos are allowed to have smoking areas inside the buildings.

All offer daily or weekly tournaments and NLHE; all except the five-table Akwesasne room also deal Omaha and occasionally a stud game when there’s enough interest.

Five rooms are listed on the Bravo phone app: Turning Stone, Resorts World, Rivers, Tioga Downs and Seneca Niagara. Del Lago uses the InTurn app by Bally Technologies.

Turning Stone was the first legal casino in the state, opening in 1993. Before that, underground poker games were so well- known that they were an integral part of the plot for the 1998 movie “Rounders,” starring Matt Damon and Edward Norton.

For an excellent history of New York’s poker evolution – from the “Goulash Joints” of the 1960s to the growth of private card clubs in the 1980s to the state’s role in the Black Friday crackdown of online sites in 2011 – see PlayNY.

Here is a look at casino-based poker rooms in New York, ranked by number of tables.

Turning Stone Resort Casino

Location: 5218 Patrick Rd. Verona, NY 13478
Phone: (315) 361-8676 (poker room)
Website:www.turningstone.com/gaming/poker-room
Tables: 32
Promotions: High-hand bonuses; Bad Beat jackpot
Comp rate: $1 per hour; $10 food voucher given for three hours of play between 1 and 10 a.m.; “rake back” promo offers cash reward ranging from $40 for 40 to 59 hours of monthly play to $250 for 200-plus hours.
Extras: Phone-charging ports at every seat; free wifi; tableside massage service for $1 per minute; big tournaments include Empire State Hold ’Em championships offer tournaments with $50,000 and $100,000 guaranteed prize pool;
Rake: 10 percent of pot, up to $5, plus $1 for promotions
Trivia: Straddle and Button Straddle available on select games
About the property: Opened in 1993; casino has 1,715 slot machines and 85 house-banked table games; the site includes four hotels with a total of 707 rooms, two spas, five golf courses, more than 20 dining options, a showroom, a 5,000-seat arena, and a heliport.

Resorts World Catskills

Location: 888 Resorts World Drive Monticello, New York 12701
Phone: 845-428-7200 Ext. 1785
Website: www.rwcatskills.com/casino/poker
Tables: 19
Promotions: High-Hand bonus, awarded every 20, 30 or 60 minutes; Bad Beat jackpot;
Comp rate: $1 per hour
Rake: 10 percent of pot, up to $5, plus $2 for promotions
Extras: Direct access to poker room from casino parking garage; restrooms and cashier cage within room; in-room food service; massage service available
Trivia: Feature game is $5-10 Omaha High-Low and Seven-Card Stud Eight-or-Better (O.E.), with full kill on Wednesdays and Fridays
About the property: Opened in May 2018; casino has 2,150 slot machines and 150 house-banked table games and private gaming salons; the all-suite hotel has 332 rooms, a spa, two indoor pools and two fitness centers; the RW Epicenter entertainment venue can seat 2,500.

Rivers Casino and Resort

Location: 1 Rush Street: Schenectady, NY 12305
Phone: 518-579-8810 (poker room)
Website:www.riverscasinoandresort.com/casino/poker-room
Tables: 16
Promotions: High-hand bonus may also include free entry into tournaments, and players may use only one hole card to qualify; “Unlucky Sevens,” a promo similar to a bad-beat jackpot, splits $77,777 among all players at a table where quad sevens or better gets beaten; royal flush bonus, also can be won using only one hole card.
Comp rate: $1 per hour for most games; $1.50 per hour for $5-10 no-limit and $20-40 limit
Rake: 10 percent of pot, up to $5, plus $2 for promotions
Extras: Text-to-order food service; free wifi, phone-charging ports at each seat; featured cash games include 20-40 Limit Hold ’Em on Tuesdays and $20-40 Omaha High-Low on Wednesdays and Thursdays; big tournaments include Capital Region Classic with $100,000 guaranteed prize pool, a Monster Stack event with a $100,000 guaranteed prize pool, and the Rivers Poker Open with a $200,000 guaranteed prize pool.
Trivia: Only “Poker Night in America” room in the state.
About the property: Opened February 2017; casino has 1,150 slot machines, 67 house-banked table games, and off-track betting service; site features 165-room Landing Hotel and a 10,000-square-foot Event Center.

Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino

Location: 310 Fourth St. Niagara Falls, NY 14303
Phone: 716-278-6300 (poker room)
Website:www.senecaniagaracasino.com/casino/poker
Tables: 23
Promotions: High-hand bonus; Bad Beat jackpot; weekly tournament with $20 buy-in and $1,000 guaranteed prize pool
Comp rate: $1 an hour for most cash games; $2 an hour for $2-5 No Limit Hold ’Em
Rake: 10 percent of pot, up to $5, plus $2 for promotions
Extras: Free wifi, complimentary beverages, phone chargers, tableside massage
Trivia: Stop for Mid-States Poker Tour and host of own Summer Slam and Western New York Poker Challenge tournament series
About the property: Opened in 2002; casino has more than 3,600 slot machines and 90 house-banked table games; hotel has 604 rooms, a full-service spa and salon, indoor swimming pool and 2,400-seat entertainment venue; site is near Niagara Falls State Park and the 18-hole Seneca Hickory Stick Golf Course.

Del Lago Resort & Casino

Location: 1133 State Route 414 Waterloo, NY 13165
Phone: 315-946-1759 (poker room)
Website:www.dellagoresort.com/casino/poker
Tables: 14
Promotions: High-hand bonus; Bad Beat jackpot
Comp rate: $1 per hour
Rake: 10 percent of pot, up to $5, plus $2 for promotions
Extras: Free wifi; charging station at each table; instead of Bravo poker app, players can use InTurn phone app by Bally Technologies to get on waiting list and check current games or promotions.
Trivia: Del Lago was the second casino to sign casino to sign a sports-betting partnership with DraftKings, setting the stage for a retail sportsbook and an online operation if the state approves legislation. The agreement was announced July 16. DraftKings’ first partnership was with Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City.
About the property: Opened in January 2017; casino has 1,956 slot machines and 85 house-banked table games; the hotel has 205 rooms and a spa.

Tioga Downs Casino Resort

Location: 2384 W. River Road Nichols, New York 13812
Phone: 607-699-7588
Website:www.tiogadowns.com/gaming/poker-room
Tables: 12
Promotions: High-hand bonuses, Bad Beat jackpot, hot seats, hot hands
Comp rate: $1 per hour
Rake: 10 percent of pot, up to $5, plus $1 or $2 for promotions
Extras: All players get all-you-can-eat pizza from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturdays
Trivia: Home to the state’s only WSOP poker room
About the property: Opened in December 2016; casino has 944 slot machines and 32 house-banked table games; hotel has 160 rooms; harness racing track adjoins casino.

Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino

Location: 768 Broad Street Salamanca, NY 14779
Phone: 716-945-8902 (poker room)
Website:www.senecagames.com/senecapoker-salamanca
Tables: Eight
Promotions: High-hand bonuses
Comp rate: 60 cents per hour
Rake: $4 max, plus $2 for promotions
Trivia: Opens at 10 a.m. Wednesday through Sunday; closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Poker room is about three-fourths of a mile from the hotel-casino, with shuttle service provided.
About the property: Opened in 2004; casino has 1,800 slots and 33 house-banked table games; hotel has 413 rooms, a spa and salon, indoor pool, fitness facility, and 2,400-seat event center. The hotel and main casino is at 777 Seneca Allegany Blvd.

Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort

Location: 873 State Route 37 Hogansburg, NY 13655
Phone: 877-992-2746
Website:www.mohawkcasino.com/gaming/poker-room
Tables: Five; room opens at 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, at noon Saturday and Sunday
Promotions: Bad Beat jackpot
Comp rate: $1 per hour
Rake: 10 percent of pot, up to $5; no additional promo rake
Extras: Cell-phone charging station, free wifi; tournaments scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, with cash games starting afterward; cash games are 1-2 No Limit Hold ’Em, differentiated with buy-in ranges of $40 to $100, $50 to $200, and $100 to $300.
Trivia: “Akwesasne” means “Land where the partridge drums.”
About the property: Opened in 1999; casino has more than 1,600 slot machines and about 30 table games, plus a 540-seat bingo hall; hotel has 150 rooms, spa, fitness center and RV park.

When Pennsylvania first legalized table games and live poker in early-2010, few imagined that within three years the Keystone State would usurp New Jersey as the nation’s second most profitable gaming market.

Contents

• 1 Pennsylvania’s best live poker rooms
• 2 Other live poker rooms at PA casinos

But it did.

Unbeknownst to most, Pennsylvania played host to a thriving bar and social poker scene long before the first card was dealt at a state-regulated casino. But for locals looking for something more, namely in the way of high stakes cash and tournament action, there were only two options: play online or make the arduous trek to Atlantic City.

With the advent of live poker in PA, not only did it become more convenient for the state’s poker community to find a game, it provided those situated in New York City and northern New Jersey with better alternatives — alternatives they would soon take advantage of.

And thus began a major shakeup in the East Coast’s gambling scene.

Today, Pennsylvania plays host to a burgeoning poker scene. But given the wide disparity in size and offerings among its rooms, finding the right one at a PA casino can be a bit of a crapshoot.

To simplify matters, here’s a quick look at some of the best live poker PA has to offer.

Pennsylvania’s best live poker rooms

Parx Casino

Judging by pure size, Parx Casinoand its 80-table poker room is undoubtedly PA’s crown jewel. In fact, as the gross revenue leader among PA poker rooms, it’s also far and away the most profitable.

Parx hosts a bevy of daily poker tournaments, an illustrious higher buy-in tournament series (Big Stax), and the most varied selection of cash game offerings in PA. Its high stakes area is teeming with life, with games ranging from 10-10 NLHE all the way up to 150-300 mixed games.

Casuals and players with lesser monetary ambitions can try their luck at one of a myriad of lower stakes No Limit, PLO and O8 games.

Plus, things are about to get even better for players at Parx.

The Parx Poker Room is planning to move to a new location inside the main building as part of the casino’s upcoming expansion.

The new room will host 48 tables and boats some high-end finishes. This includes 22 high definition TVs and an exclusive 3-table VIP high-limit poker enclave.

Sands Bethlehem

Sands Bethlehem’s poker room also makes the grade.

At 30 tables, Sands’ dedicated poker area is notably smaller than Parx’s, and its location smack dab in the middle of the casino floor may prove oft-putting to those who prefer quieter settings.

But make no mistake, Sands attracts a wealth of players from PA, northern New Jersey, and New York City.

Given its smaller size and exceedingly high popularity, players will often find themselves regulated to the wait list, especially during peak hours. However, management does everything within its power to accommodate player needs.

Like Parx, Sands holds a semi-regular deep stack series (DeepStack Extravaganza) and daily tournaments. Overall, Sands’ tournament schedule proves to be a bit more varied than the one found at Parx.

Now, if only Sands weren’t owned by casino mogul and staunch internet gambling opponent Sheldon Adelson.

Harrah’s Philadelphia

Nipping at Sands’ heels is Harrah’s Philadelphia. The 28-table poker room’s claim to fame is it’s affiliation with the WSOP, of which the most notable benefit is its permission to host WSOP Main Event satellites.

Branding aside, Harrah’s poker room in many ways resembles the Sands, albeit smaller and slightly less profitable.

Harrah’s poker foray holds a slight edge over PA’s top poker rooms in the areas of game selection, room management, and most notably, promotions. A Bad Beat Jackpot and high hand rewards are just a few of the delectable promos to be had at Harrah’s.

It’s also the only PA casino that accepts the vaulted Total Rewards card.

SugarHouse Casino

The Poker Night in America Poker Room at SugarHouse Casino calls itself Philadelphia’s first poker room.

The room hosts 28 tables and runs tournaments six days a week and twice on Saturdays and Sundays — not to mention the huge slate of cash games.

Casino Niagara Poker Room Bad Beat In 2017

There are 24/7 food options, in-seat text-to-order food service, and complimentary alcoholic beverages. Promotions include an instant high-hand progressive jackpot.

The poker room’s affiliation with the “Poker Night in America” TV show also sees it host televised events.

Other live poker rooms at PA casinos

Rivers Casino

Rivers has the advantage of boasting the only large poker room in western PA. And while the 30-table room has yet to fully realize its potential, the inclusion of the Pittsburgh Poker Open should solidify its place among Pennsylvania’s poker heavyweights.

For now, Rivers is the best of the rest.

Hollywood Casino at Penn National

For a 16-table poker room, an annual non-banking gross revenue margin of more than $4 million is very impressive.

Hollywood serves up a variety of cash games and plays host to a multitude of qualifiers into bigger events. But it’s hard to imagine such a tiny room ever hosting an attractive tournament series of its own.

Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs

Another highly profitable, yet smallish, poker room, Mohegan Sun’s live poker room features 18 tables and spreads a variety of the most popular poker games with a range of limits.

Mohegan Sun Pocono runs daily tournaments with Texas Hold’em and bounty structures. Promotions include a Bad Beat Jackpot for both cash games and tournaments.

Plus, there is a progressive Royal Flush Jackpot promotion, adding $25 to the pot for each of the four suits daily.

Give Mohegan credit for its Bad Beat Jackpot and relaxed atmosphere; just don’t expect to find big action.

Meadows Casino

At Pittsburgh’s other poker room at the Meadows Casino, players are treated to a full menu service and an awe-inspiring view of live horse races.

The room features 14 tables with an open view of the live racing action on the track. Texas Hold’em and Omaha are both spread 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The room runs a regular tournament schedule, hosting tournaments twice a day, six days a week, and one on Sundays.

The venue also hosts special events throughout the year, now including a stop on the televised Heartland Poker Tour.

Casino Niagara Poker Room Bad Beat In Game

Promotions include a High Hand Jackpot Progressive paying out when a Royal Flush is hit and a set Bad Beat Promotion paying off when Four-of-a-Kind is beaten.

Mount Airy Casino

A once thriving poker room, Mount Airy has lost the majority of its poker faithful to the nearby Sands.

The new upstairs location was a welcome change, but the lack of business has caused the casino to cut back its amount of poker tables significantly, all the way down to nine.

The Poker Parlor at the Mount Airy Casino Resort is open 24 hours per day, seven days per week. The room spreads Texas Hold’em, Stud, and Omaha, no-limit and limit. Promotions include random seat and high hand promotions.

Presque Isle Downs & Casino

A beautifully positioned, reasonably well-managed poker room located on the coast of magnificent Lake Erie, Presque Isle’s offering is quaint yet hardly a poker player’s paradise.

Unfortunately, lately the room’s popularity has waned, with revenue margins among the lowest in PA.

The room now runs with just seven tables. Games spread include Texas Hold’em and Omaha. The room opens at noon on weekdays and 10 a.m. local time on weekends, staying open as long as there is action.

There are regular multi-table and single-table tournaments. The Presque Isle Downs & Casino poker room also offers full-service dining.

In addition to regular comps, poker players can earn a $10 dinner voucher after only three hours of play.