Probably, not. I have to work day after thanksgiving and also moving to different house. Also, no updates. I didn't quit my job (prob a good decision). I am looking for another job.

I should probably delete that PG&C thread/post.

I noticed that they are constructing a poker room near the sandwich shop at the Star which had a sign for a "new" poker room. I asked the management team about it...

1. Current poker room will be turned into a sports bar. (Not sure if the Shark bar will be expanded or how that will work. Seems like a waste of space to not put slots there. Either way I'm not too happy about the decision.)
2. The "new" poker room will have 8 tables versus the 13 [According to Bravo Poker Live app] that they have now. (Again, I'm not too happy about this. Before they could hold a 10 table tournament and have 3 open for cash games. Sounds like the death of tournament poker at the Star.)

What is everyone's thoughts on the new changes? Also, would it be possible to get something started for "legal" online poker in Kansas? I'm not sure how all the politics work, but the Kansas lottery owns several casinos. Why couldn't they get something passed here? Not enough poker interest to get it passed? Again, any comments are welcomed.

Not enough players for online prob.

i didn't know they were reducing the size with the new room. That kinda sucks, especially for tournaments like you said. I do know they will allow button straddles once the new room is built.

The best thing for the Star would be the law cracking down on the "charity" poker rooms in Wichita. There at least three, maybe four, that get a decent amount of cash game action. A lot of those players would start making the trip if they couldn't play in the city.

What does a new room have to do with button straddles? Where will this be located? I like that the current room is close enough to the doors that I don't get too smoky on my way in.

I'm not real sure where it will be. I don't really ask. On the button straddles, one of the dealers was talking about it. I don't know the reason for waiting until the move to the new room.

Garick, the new room is back by the sandwich shop in the back corner of the casino. If you come in through the main entrance, then it is clear across the casino. You have to go past the pits, past the players club area, and back to the corner of the casino. I guess you are closer if you do valet parking.

Nicname, I'm not sure that I would want the "charity" rooms to get shut down. They have lower rake on the cash games, and they offer better tournaments. It's shocking what you can do when you focus on poker and the players. I understand why the Star would want to turn it into a bar & grill, but I don't think it will be good for poker at the Star. I don't play much cash at the Star so I'm not sure if button straddles would be good for the game.

Charity rooms all got a letter of cease and desist.

New room is ok. They didnt cater to poker players which sucks, but... its ok. Less noise amazingly.

Still like it myself, but the games are so soft.

Interesting. From whom did the letter come?

The new room is fine. Better laid out than the old one, but a bit smaller. Seems to get more foot traffic past it, thus bringing in more randos. Game continues to be very soft and profitable.

I ran in to nicname last night, though we were at separate tables. Good to finally meet you in person.

Nillas has been shut down. They were raided by a swat team Friday night about 11:30. The dealers were arrested and charged with 3 counts of commercial gambling, a felony. They were held for almost 24 hours before bail was set. The owner was also arrested but he was out in less than 12 hours. All money was confiscated. The players were released if they didn't have warrants. However they took their pictures and pictures of their license plates.

This has still not been reported anywhere in the news after 36 hours. It appears to me that they wanted to question the dealers to get inside info on the other games in Wichita. And they wanted to keep it quiet to get a chance to bust other games.

As of Noon on Saturday, Arrowhead was still open for business. However by Saturday night they are unreachable. On their phone message they say that they will be closed for a week for "remodeling". Obviously, they shut down voluntarily to see what happens with Nillas.

Wow. That's seriously over the top. It's not like those guys were hiding what they were doing. They advertised openly. Even if they ignored a C&D, you don't need a SWAT team. I'm sure a patrol going in and saying "we're closing this place down for non-compliance, everybody out," would have been plenty. The patrons definitely weren't doing anything wrong, and I doubt the dealers were. Ownership, well... I'm not so sure, but I always wondered how they were able to operate as they did.

Some say that Bear was arrogant and naive for thinking that they wouldn't shut him down. Others say that the smartest thing to do was to wait until they arrested him so that the burden of proof is on the government. Kansas law does have a carve out for skill games. If he wins this, it would be great for poker in Kansas.

I wonder if the PPA would help in this situation.

It's very odd that it has still not been reported in the news.

If you have contact with Bear, I'd strongly advise he contact the PPA. The worst they can say is "no thanks," but if there's a carve-out for skill games, I think they'd be very interested in this case.

Definitely weird that it hasn't been in the news.

It finally hit the news. It only took three days.

http://www.kake.com/home/headlines/W...369748821.html

I don't understand why poker (online or anywhere outside of a casino) is "illegal" in Kansas. Who can we contact to get this moving? I thought that Brandon Steven would be a big advocate for poker in Kansas since he plays in all the SHRs, and has sponsored a big charity for GFFT.

Why is poker "illegal"? They claim that it meets the three laws of gambling. (1) For a game to meet the definition of gambling in Kansas, three criteria must be met: It must be a game of chance, there must be consideration (paying money to participate), and there must be a prize or payout.

While poker meets two of the three, I think we all can admit that it is a game of skill not chance. (2) Back in May of 2015 Sam Brownback signed into law that fantasy sports is not "illegal" because it is a game of skill. You have no control of how a play performs because you cannot directly impact how they will play. I think most people are intelligent enough to point out how poker is more of a game of skill than fantasy sports. I just want to see the law changed, but no one is pushing this.

(1) http://www.kansas.com/news/local/article56303015.html

(2) http://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news...sy-sports-bill

I am attending a wedding on June 24th near Salina so I'm going to the Kansas Star a couple of days earlier to try and pay for my wedding gift. I arrive on Wednesday the 21st and I'm staying for 2 nights.

Two days after the wedding I head for the WSOP in Vegas so I wouldn't mind winning a little for that trip too.

Staying at the Hampton inn and I believe it is attached to the casino. Can go from my room to the casino without going outside?

Any insight on the typical makeup of a full table on a weekday? How many regs? How many tourists? How many drunks? How many newbs? Better game in the afternoon or at night?

Website says they are open 24/7. Is there usually a game that goes around the clock? If all the games die at 4am do they shut the room down or remain staffed until another game can start?

I see they have a noon tournament. Anyone know how many players this typically draws?

Any other tips appreciated.

The Hampton Inn is attached, and you don't have to go outside. There is usually only $1/3NL spread on weekdays. Weekends (and occasional weeknights) get Omaha going, which usually 1/2, or 1/2/5 (straddle is often on, even if it's not technically 1/2/5) is often a mix game of PLO-high and PLO8 high/low.

There are basically no tourists in Wichita, but we do get folks stopping by on their way through, like you are. I can't speak to the daytime games, as I come after work, but nicname can. He works weird hours, so often plays the daytime games.

When I get in at around 6pm, there are usually two tables of 1/3 already going, and 2-3 more open up as folks like me who come in after work arrive. Most of the room is "reg-fish," about half of whom think they are winners, but don't keep records (they're not), and about half of whom play poker for entertainment/to get their gamble on, because they lose less than they do on the table games. There are a few consistent winners, most of whom are semi-pros, and most of whom have glaring leaks (I probably belong in this category, tbqh), but are still good enough to beat the loose/passive reg-fish. Usually no drunks until at least 8pm, and while there are occasional complete newbs, I likely see one in less than 25% of my sessions.

IDK if the room shuts. I've never played late enough to find out. I do know that they have a morning high-hand promo on Tues and Thurs, so I suspect that was needed to get folks in to the room on the mornings there's no donkament. No clue about the donkaments either. Sorry.

Max BI is $300 for the 1/3, and usually a new table only has about 3 full stacks, with the rest being mostly $200, and a couple of $100-150. Stacks tend to get deepish pretty quickly though. Game tends to be very l/p, and ABC poker is the name of the game. One can bluff occasionally, but you'd better pick your target and situation carefully. Even though I knew a certain V had a fold button, and even though his range had a ton of draws, I unsuccessfully triple-barreled him twice last session and got called down by top-pair/no-kicker both times. Generally best to only bluff the semi-pros, as they are the only ones playing above level one, imo, but again, make sure your story makes sense.

Thanks much. Appreciate the info.

Hope someone else chimes in with answers to the questions you are unsure of.

A couple of more questions:

Is straddling only allowed UTG? Mississippi straddles? Button straddles?

I assume no free drinks, correct? Last call for alcohol?

How would you rate the competency of the dealers and floor?

How strictly are rules enforced regarding table talk, one man to a hand, folding out of turn, etc. I know in some smaller rooms the regs can get away with murder.

Can you call ahead to get on the waiting list? If so, how far in advance?

Recommended dining options?

Thanks again.

Button straddles and UTG straddles only. Straddle is 2xBB. SB is first to act on BTN straddles.

No free drinks. They do have craft beer on tap for $4.75/pint, though, so not bad.

Dealers are generally competent, but tend to let little stuff go, like just letting someone pull back an "overlimp" if they missed that someone raised. I'm fine with that, as it keeps the game friendly and quick moving. I've ever had to call floor, and the one time I was at the table the floor's ruling was LDO to me, but they def got it right.

As I alluded to above, they don't tend to enforce that stuff very strictly. The dealer will give an informal warning, and that's about it. I haven't seen it turn in to an angle-fest though. They are pretty good about shutting down talk that gets close to OPTAH violations.

You can call ahead, and they'll hold your spot for an hour. Dining: the pizza and burgers at Tin Lizzies and the banh mi and pho at the Pho place are quite good. The deli near the poker room is not. I haven't tried the buffet or steak house.

The morning game starts anywhere between 10:30 and 11:30 on Monday / Wednesday and promptly at 9 a.m. On Tuesday and Thursday for the high hand.

There are no pros/regs in the morning games. It's mostly retirees varying from loose passive to differs levels of nits. There are a few spewers and competent players who cycle thru.

The pros are the game moves very fast and the guys are generally good.

Cons: Hard to win a lot of big pots without good reads on villains.

Also the deli has one of the best Reubens I've ever had. The Vietnamese place doesn't open until 5 pm. Comps are only 50 cents an hour and only for food.

It's a good place to play.

Also the "whale" of the room and another huge fish usually show up Monday afternoons

Thanks.

From this I assume the games all end at some point late at night/early morning? Does the room actually close?

Thanks for the input.

Room will stay open as long as a game has at least 4 players who want to continue. It's usually empty by 3 or 4 a.m. on weekdays. If the last table folds then it reopens at 9 that morning.

Have decided to go a day early & will arrive late Tuesday/early Wednesday morning. No room so planning on sleeping in my car at rest area or casino parking lot.

Recommendations?

In light of the movement this year by law enforcement to shut down Nillas and after a review of Kansas gaming laws, I'm going to close this thread temporarily until poker is determined by legislation, courts, or law enforcement to be legal. Note that the Poker Legislation Forum is available for discussion of the legal status of poker in Kansas and legal action/legislation regarding the same.

Please shoot any moderator (me, Lattimer, or dinesh) a private message if you have news of poker becoming legal so we can reopen the thread. Thanks!