They are slated to have live dealers for cash games at Harrah's Cherokee sometime early next year, probably starting with 2/5 NL tables and above only. The WSOP event will have live dealers. But it is unlikely that the timing of these things is directly connected, although the WSOP event might give them an extra incentive to have some live cash tables in place by that time.

Any idea of how many people are expected for the Circuit ME in April?

A quick check of Google News (sorted by date) pulls up no new stories since Oct 4th. Last I heard the family is contributing $20K for the reward fund leading to arrest and conviction, for a total of $25K ($5K by offered by the Cherokee Police).

I stayed at the Fairfield on Oct 12-13 (as I had several time before the murder) and they had part of the parking lot roped off near the evergreen trees, presumably where the crime took place and where the perpetrator was probably hiding. Previously, I have parked my car in the same area near the trees where the crime took place to keep it in the shade during the day. This last time, I parked closest to the street, and right across from the Casino. I have stayed at Fairfield hotels in other locations, and the lighting for the Cherokee Fairfield parking lot is poor compared to most others.

You might be able to get some info from the WSOP website, maybe looking at last years results, etc. Personally, I am staying away from the WSOP website until the 2012 WSOP Main Event in Vegas is over with, because I don't want to accidentally see any results before they are broadcast on ESPN in the next few weeks.

Considering it is the first time to Cherokee...numbers should be good. However, they need to release a schedule of tournaments soon so people can plan. Cash games usually boom at these stops so hopefully all cash games aren't electronic even the 1-2 games because it may deter some first timers.

Key is the poker room advertising the WSOPC is coming and have schedule out soon though.

Satellites would be great too. Run them from Jan.-Apr.

Good luck with this one... going by the wsopc website, I could only find one stop that starts after Dec 1st and is before Cherokee that has a schedule posted.

Yeah its terrible...they released Southern Indiana's like 7 days before it started.

I'm planning on coming down just for the weekend of the ME... So it would be nice to book a room ahead of time. Can't wait though should be a fun tournament.

Finally made a visit.
Super nice room with awesome tables.
I felt like it is best of both online and live - fast action with live players.
The first hour was pure joy. I almost cried.

Some surprises (I played here 2 years ago when the room was down stairs).

1. Percentages are displayed when allin. One had I had my opponent drawing dead.

2. Rake seemed high 5-6 handed.

3. 1-2 had 6 tables running but there was only one 2-5. PLO was not running. I really wanted to play that game and see some sick hands.

4. Lots of locals and grinders. I expected more tourists like me. I think locals especially old and middle aged grinders were so quiet. I can understand why fish did not like playing tight regs. The laggy players were entertaining and fun to play with (especially when you get it in with 100%).

Overall it is a very nice room and I enjoyed playing very much.

I want to know the answer to this ^^^^ too.

I will be playing most events or about 8-9 days worth. I would think this stop would draw more than some other stops with proximity to SC, TN and GA.

According to the WSOP website, the Cherokee event will be held during 12 days, on April 4-15, 2013. Even though they have not posted a schedule of the events for Cherokee, this is the same number of days as most other circuit events and one can look at the other schedules for events that have already concluded and have a schedule posted. From what I can tell, almost all of the 12-day circuit stops use a very similar schedule, if not identical.

Therefore I would expect the Cherokee No-Limit Hold'em Main Event to begin on Saturday April 13 and last 3 days, with $1,675 buy-in. Obviously, no guarantees on that.
http://www.wsop.com/schedule/wsopcircuit.asp

I'm going to be in cherokee nov4-9th (maybe longer if I can find a cheap room). Hit me up with a pm if you are gonna be there. Always like to meet other 2+2ers (and stay out of their way!)

Good point.

I'm going up there this weekend. All you who are also going up there, tell me who you are and what your PokerPro handles are, so that I can avoid you! No offense, but I hope not to see many of you!

(J/K -- happy to see and play with any of you)

I wish I could... I have to wait till January then I'll be coming up 3 days a week.

How was the poker room Friday and Saturday nights ? Lots of players ?

poped up there last night for a quick visit... play 8 hours...I havent been up there since they changed it to the upstairs poker room. I like the room but you don't get the randoms drunks walking into the room from the casino floor and it took like 1 hour to get a cocktail waitress. The mesage tharapists are very freindly and do a really nice job.

Lots of players Saturday night, but not that many Friday (maybe 5 1/2 NL tables going?). Quality of play is a bit better than it used to be, IMO (or maybe I'm worse for being rusty, or both). Still +EV, though ...

One issue I think may partly affect below expectation poker room attendance on Fridays:

As everyone knows it is virtually impossible to get a room inside the casino on weekends, even if one wishes to pay top dollar. The surrounding motels this time of year are crap to so-so but all charge ~$100 on weekends. $160's if you want Holiday Inn Express on short notice.

Players (grinders) that would've otherwise traveled to play from out of town are currently less likely to arrive on Friday evening and pay $100 for a $40 quality motel and instead just arrive early Saturday and leave same day.

Once winter sets in and tourism dies down for the slow season, the $80-$160motels begin to charge $40-$80. I'm willing to bet poker traffic from out of towners would increase a bit. It takes just a handful of grinders and random casino patrons to start an extra couple tables.

Personally, I don't mind paying $100/night since technically I can expect to recoup it from ~1.5hrs-2hrs of poker play on average; however the notion of paying that much for a rather ****ty motel irks me and I imagine there are people who share similar sentiments. It is the principle.

In a perfect world HC would build another tower and add another 500 rooms....

If you average over $50 an hour at 1/2 you should probably just buy a house in the area so you won't have to worry about sub-par hotel rooms.

$48/hr @ 1/2 actually. However Fri/Sat are reserved for 2/5 and PLO. I seriously would rather sleep in my Honda. Principle 😁.

$48 an hour at 1/2? Even on the pokertek tables I don't think that's sustainable. Had one very well known grinder there with 5000 hours tell me he thinks $30-35 is the absolute cap on those tables at 1/2. I tend to think he's right from what I have seen.

Delusional lol sample size? Nobody makes $48 an hour at 1/2 over any reasonable amount of hands/hours. Gonna be a long winter sleeping in the Honda in that cold parking garage waiting for 2/5 and plo which may or may not run for a few hours a week. Bring a blanket just for principle.

My sample @ just 1/2nl is only 200hrs and thus insignificant to quantify, however 95% of those hours are Sun-Thur only and not during the juicier weekend times. I do win a lot of pots with stats @ 15%+ pots won at 55h/hr at nl.

Any thoughts on the value of Diamond status at Cherokee? I live 5 hours away and currently get 3 free weekday hotel nights a month. Would I be able to get more with Diamond? Weekends?

Also, I've heard rumors of free food. How does that work?

Just trying to decide how hard to push for the 11,000 points by year end.

Thanks in advance!