With poker rooms changing, for the better or worse, I feel a need to update the landscape. I have compiled info on 9 poker rooms in the Chicagoland area. I have been to every one of these rooms except Elgin's Grand Victoria, which due to the following, will remain that way.
9) Grand Victoria (Elgin Il)
# 1-847-531-7753
Tables: 8
Main Spread: 1-2NL 50min/200max, 2-5NL 100/300, 5-10NL 200/600
Rake: $8
BBJ/Promos: starting a high hand
Tourneys: none
Comps: ?
Side notes: they just started a high hand promotion of some sort. You are also not allowed to chew gum in this room.
8) Hollywood (Joliet Il)
# 1-815-927-2175
Tables: 3
Spread: 1/2NL
Rake: $6+1
BBJ: $173,621
Comps: $0.50/hr
Tourneys: none
Side Notes: The room is tucked away in lower level corner. Clean room with above average dealers and floor. Casino music is a little loud for a poker room though.
7) Hollywood (Aurora Il)
# 1-630-801-7471
Tables: 7 (expanding currently)
Spread: 1/2NL 50/200 min/max, 10/20 Limit
Rake: $8+1
BBJ: $83,000
Comps: $0.50/hr
Tourneys: Wens 1pm $170, 15 min levels
Side Notes: New room is supposed to be open Feb 1.
6) Four Winds (New Buffalo MI)
# 1-866-494-6371
Tables: 4 and 8 electronic
Spread: 1/2NL 100/500max
Rake: $5
Comps: $1/hr
Tourneys: daily, all on electronic tables. Buy in range from $10-50 some with rebuy/add ons. Elec. Tables also have a .50/1NL game with a BBJ of 30k.
Side Note: very well run room, clean. Traffic is somewhat low, but games are very good.
5) Blue Chip (Michigan City IN)
# 1-219-861-4820
Tables: 8
Spread: 1-2NL 2-5NL, occasional 3/6 limit
Rake: $5+1
BBJ: $53,000 (aces full of kings) Mon-Thurs high hands from 10am-2pm
Comps: $1/hr
Tourneys: tues/wens 6pm $80/$60 sat/sun Noon $80
Side Notes: Nice room, nice casino
4) Potawatomi (Milwaukee WI)
# 1-414-847-7605
Tables: 20
Spread: 2-4, 3-6, 4-8 limit and 1-2 3-5 NL, also 7 stud.
Rake: $5
BBJ: none
Comps: $1/hr
Tourneys: NL Holdem Sunday at 3 and Monday at 6 and PLO on Wens at 8pm; all $120.
Side Notes: A little to far for south siders, IMO
3) Harrahs (Joliet Il)
# 1-815-740-7480
Tables: 8
Spread: 1/3 and 3/5 NL, 1/2 PLO, also 1/3 BigStack 5/10NL and once a month 10/20NL
Rake: $6+1
BBJ: mega $112,939 ( quad 8)
mini $24,654 ( aces full kings)
Royal flush: $150, Strt Flush $100
Comps: $0.50/hr
Tourneys: Thurs 7pm $130, Sund 4pm $130, and various others
Side Notes: Very nice/well run room. If they tweaked a few numbers they could be top notch.
2) Majestic Star (Gary IN)
# 1-219-977-7444
Tables: 21
Spread: 1-2NL 1-3NL, 3-6 Limit, 1-2 PLO Wens nights, 5-10 Omaha HL
Rake: $5+1
BBJ: 87,000 (aces full kings)
Comps: $1/hr
Tourneys:
http://www.majesticstarcasino.com/up...edule_full.pdf
Side Notes: well run room, and probably best place if a tourney player, as they offer deeper games weekly.
1) Horseshoe (Hammond IN)
# 1-219-473-6065
Tables: 34
Spread: pretty much everything; 1-2 2-5 5-10 NL, 3-6 20-40 limit, 1-2 5-10 PLO, 40-80 Horse wend/fri
Rake: $5+1
BBJ: 140K (quad 8)
Comps: $1/hr
Tourneys:
http://www.horseshoehammond.com/casi...om-detail.html
Side Note: great room, also offer huge MTT's via the Venue with Chicago Poker Classic set to start Feb 23.