Quote:
Originally Posted by Howard Beale
I just got back from an 8 hour session at Gila's 8-16. Here are some initial impressions:
I should have sent you a PM, I was slumming in the lower limits getting used to the place. I was there for about six hours.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Howard Beale
The casino looks great, nicely decorated. I'm not sure how I feel about the huge TV's in the center that are visible through out the casino. I also think they don't have sufficient rest room capacity. The food court is a nice touch, the other restaurants look nice.
I agree with you here. I think the casino looks fantastic. Definite upgrade from the earlier place.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Howard Beale
The poker room is too dark. They use spotlights onto the tables which is ok but I found that if I looked around from my seat, or walked around the room I got a bad case of eye strain. Their electronic sign-up/board system was not working and they had just 1 'board' person taking names and assigning seats using paper lists. He was overwhelmed. I just don't understand the mentality of a management that can let him stand there for hours, alone, w/o getting somebody to help him.
Also, the swipe card system that they use to sign the players in at the table slows the game down. This was a tremendous mistake. If anybody had thought for a couple of minutes they'd have realized that missing a hand here and there because of the delay multiplied by the number of tables in action multiplied by 365 days is costing them hundreds of thousands in lost hands and therefor rake. Stupid mistakes like this 'offend' the business man in me even though I'm not missing out except the aggravation of a slight delay here and there.
It took me awhile to get "used" to the environment and I couldn't put my finger as to why. You explained it nicely. Plus, because their systems weren't working, it was quite noisy with the floor guys and their walkie-talkies blaring with the open seats. Once I got settled, and into a rhythm, it didn't bother me as much.
I chalk the rest of it though of everyone getting used to the changes. I think once the kinks are worked out, it will be smoother in the long run. Darryl had his hands full...I bet he definitely thought his life would get better with new technology, but he was just swamped.
Additionally, the Aces Cracked promotion had a
huge run...never heard so many shouts of "Aces Cracked! Table X!" From 9pm to 10pm it seemed that every table had one - more on this later.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Howard Beale
Also, their insistence on dropping only white chips is uber-stupid, imo, and has been for years. The dealer will make change for 2 peach ($2) chips w/ 4 whites in order to make the drop w/ them. When there is $200 in peach chips in the tray they call for a runner to bring them whites. You ever want to see the effect of the rake stuck right in your face? Just note on your watch to see how quickly they are needing to refill $200. OTOH, most people don't even realize what they are seeing.
Um...the players hadn't a clue at my table as to "why" this was happening. The regular to my left and I just looked "knowingly" at each other because we knew. The other players - not so much.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Howard Beale
Last: The food sucks, imo, just sucks and the service is horribad. That'll get better once they get organized better but they are charging $2 for a bottle of water (50 cent at CAZ) and there is no water cooler available. That's just insane.
Food is better at CAZ and I think this will not change. Service might, but the food won't. Just my stupid opinion though.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Howard Beale
Game was good, though, so that cures a lot of ills.
btw: Have you people noticed Harrah's Ak-Chin's highway billboard right next to Gila on the I-10? The AZ republic said that Gila's people chuckled at it. For those who don't know Harrah's is 17 miles down the road and they put up the following sign right by the exit to Gila's beautiful new casino:
On the left side of the sign it says 'Everybody's favorite casino' exit 164.
On the right side of the sign it says 'Another casino. This exit.'
lolololol, great sign!
Yeah, I saw it, and I thought it was funny as well. However, I have yet to play there to make any solid comparison, and I don't think I will. My experience was overall positive, my game was good too. I won the double your stack promotion (they pick tables, then pick a seat, long shot, but I won. I needed that money later). I also had my Aces cracked, but only scored $25 out of the deal.
For me, I'll be back. Wild Horse is closer to where I live, and as long as the room stays busy (the management has a huge opportunity here to make it good), the games will probably stay good.