I'm in Columbus right now with nothing to do tomorrow...thinking about making the drive. It'd be fun to play poker but I wanna shoot dice a bit as well. I understand that they have craps tables there right? Are they pretty lively?

I just went to Wheeling Island yesterday, at about 3:00 in the afternoon.

There were 2 tables of 1/2 NL going, and a single table of 2/4 Limit.

The air conditioner was broken, and it was the hottest day of the year, so the temperature in the poker room was about 85 degrees. People were constantly complaining about the heat. They did bring in fans, and it helped a little, but a whiny player at my table was afraid that the fan would flip cards up, and thus insisted that they point it the other way. So our table had no relief. The chips were sticky, and so was the table.

The actual level of play at the 2/4 Limit table was a complete joke. People were cold-calling pre-flop raises with garbage like Q/2 suited because "It's just $2. Might as well take a chance," and calling bets on the flop and turn with bottom pair.

I really loved the bonuses that they have, though. The Bad Beat Jackpot only requires aces full of jacks or higher, and now they also have a money wheel that gives players a free spin (prizes range from $10 to $500) every time they either make quads with a pocket pair in their hand, or get a straight flush with at least one card from their hand.

My table only lasted 4 hours. Lots of people quit halfway through the game to go play at one of the 1/2 NL tables, and then once the nightly $40 tournament started (20 entrants,) our table broke down.

Dealers were really good, surprisingly. In the entire 4 hours I spent at the tables, the dealers only flipped up one card mistakenly. They were very nice, and the games went along very smoothly.

So despite the fact that the management clearly doesn't care about the poker room, and that apparently the air has been broken for close to 2 years now but they don't care to fix it, I definitely plan on returning, if for no other reason than how good the bonuses are and how crappy the level of play is.

I'm a bit of a regular up at Wheeling (I'm usually there on Saturdays, either playing 1/2 or doing a tournament), so I have an idea of how it has been lately. The past five trips, I've had a profit in the few hundreds, so I'm very happy about that. I've been to Meadows and Cross Lanes and just prefer going to Wheeling. The best thing about the poker room is the dealers. There are only two certain dealers that botch the game, otherwise they are great running the table. The regulars are also pretty nice. Last Saturday (July 30) was actually packed, with a few 1/2, 2/4 and 2/4 kill tables running. One pit boss did say that a PLO game starts up on Sunday night, but I've only been there on Saturday, so I haven't seen or played in it. The past few Saturdays have had around 20-24 entries in the bounty and knockout tournaments. Meadows does have a bit more in tournaments and higher stakes/options, but I'll take great dealers and a fun time.

Is this room dead? Saw on the website that its only a 9 table room, I remember it being more like 20 tables? Any reports?

I am curious too. Have played here once but it was about 2 years ago. Would like to know how things are going now. I am guessing not busy.

Played there some in college and just now am getting back into the game. Was surprised to see the room is no longer downstairs but is not upstairs next to the table games. The room is no longer separated from the games but has about 5-6ft high walls around the perimeter. Only 9 tables and I've yet to see them more than a few tables full.

Stopped in today to play the saturday morning tourney. They had 1 person signed up and only 5 minutes until it started. I talked to a dealer that said its very rare that they ever have a morning tournament go off. There was only 2 tables going, 1 (2-4) and 1 (1-2nl). They eventually started another 1-2nl table and I sat there for a while. I think the meadows and rivers are really putting a hurting on this room.

What's happening with this room lately?

I'm passing by there in a couple of weeks. Whats the room like early on Sunday afternoons these days? Is it worth stopping? How is it now that it has been moved upstairs? One of the things I used to like about the old room was it was essentially smoke free. Is it pretty smoky now that it is upstairs?

Just bumping to say the room is still alive. Was here the other night. Not a lot of games going (2 - 1/2nl and 1 - 2/4 limit) but the action was decent enough. Seemed comprised of half regs and half spots but the regs were lol. Dealers were good, there were some splash pots and high hand promos. Not really a fan of the room being upstairs but that's whatever.

If you're close to Wheeling and only play 1/2 I would rather just save the gas money and play here vs driving to The Meadows for the same action. If you want to play higher, though, you're not likely find action at either and will have to drive to The Rivers in Pitt.

Glad to hear they are still getting games going! Thanks for the quick TR

I was traveling through Pittsburgh and stopped by Meadows to play a tournament. One player said that he heard the Wheeling Island poker room was planning to close. I have no direct or indirect knowledge about this rumor, but thought I would share that with you all so that it gets a response from those in the know.

WI was considering dropping table games altogether, but didn't. I play there once/twice per week and have heard nothing specific about closing poker.

The place has been rocking the last few Fridays because of a weird promotion from 6 to 12pm where each hour they post a specific hand (full house or quads) and if you make that specific hand during the hour using two cards you win a jackpot that increases $200 each hour. It is about eight grand right now. They filled all but one table last Friday...

Then all is well and good. Well wishes - if I'm near WV on a Friday, I just might try my luck with that promotion!

Friday nights seem to be the only night of actual traffic. Other than that you will rarely see more than 1 table of each game going.

They had a 2/5 game that started around 1am. The room will now stay open all night if there is a game is going with at least 5 players. Still such a soft place to play if you like playing with older folks

weekend warriors and natural gas men alike, come play with me on the weekends! there's always a couple tables running. they have a hand-a-monium promo where if you hit a specific hand during a given time period you win a jackpot. just the other night someone in the room won ~$5200 by hitting exactly ten's full of ace's where both cards played! plus you get to bluff me all the time cause I drink, play too many hands and never have anything!!! good times for sure.

If this is the Kevin B that I know, you never play "live" poker...

I passed through here on the way back from Ohio on Labor Day. Does the poker room ever fill up? It was completely dead minus 2 tables full of retirees who will raise and go all in on "a hunch" that they will hit their card on the river. I felt like I was on another planet.