You'll be nervous the first few times you play. Just pay attention and you'll be more aware than 80% of the players more than likely.

No one minds new players until they start winning

Amazingly similar to they way they are Wed-Sat. However it is getting close to Xmas and they may be fewer this week. This past Saturday night was fairly quiet.

I understand you're not allowed to bring in outside food?

And is there raked tables and timed tables? which is better?

Bringing your own food is an iffy thing. A food manager made me leave the room w/ my Subway sandwich (I just took it to the bar area) but that's when they notice so ymmv.

The only time games are the higher limit ones so you don't really have a choice, you'll pay according to the game that you want to play.

No, there isn't any animosity specifically because you are a new player, in fact you will likely find players pretty friendly and welcoming. Most player who get upset will get upset for reasons that they will direct at anyone,(standard " how can you play that hand , etc) but for the most part its really a calm room to play in.

Watch
come in without the intent on playing, look for the game/limit that you are interested in and watch until you are comfortable with how things work.
Ask any one of the floor people/dealers( who aren't in the box dealing) any questions you might have. The board people are helpful to a point but may not be able to answer specific questions, find a floor or dealer. When you are comfortable then take a seat.

Health code prohibits outside food or drink, that said, it happens but don't be surprised if you get called on it. I expect they will be getting more stringent.

There are raked and time games.
Raked games( less than 20/40 limit to include 2/3 and 3/5 spread games) are also bad beat jackpot eligible games
Time games ($7 per 1/2 hour, 20/40 limit and up to include 5/5 5/10 spread games) are not bad beat Jackpot eligible.
"Better"...hmmm, depends? but there is no choice depending on which limit you play, you either play in a raked game or a time game.

Thanks for the help guys Im hoping to be in there before the new year!

I've brought my own food in multiple times and no one has ever said anything to me. Is this a new thing?

If you're concerned about live play, just jump into a 3/6 game for a bit and you'll figure things out pretty quickly. Live poker is a bit different from internet poker/homegames but it's still the same basic game so once you figure out the procedural stuff and etiquette you'll be fine.

I have a hard time believing bringing in food is really a health code violation. People routinely bring in food to literally every other casino with a hotel I have ever played in. Are the laws applying to CA really different than those in Atlantic City, Las Vegas, etc?

Its new in the sense that, people would bring in small things that are prepacked, that's not/wasn't the issue.
The issue now people are scaling it to trying to bring in small coolers with a Tupperware full of food or a bag from Chipotle or Subway or Panda Express..and sitting at the table.
If you are discreet in what you bring and how you eat, you will likely not have and issue

The Casino has seversl restaurants in it. So I can understand not letting people bring outside food in. They operate for profits like any other business.

Yeah but since they have a hotel, people are staying there, and any hotel lets people bring in outside food.

I have played in tons of casinos, with or without hotels. Quite a few without hotels don't want outside food brought in. Never heard of another one with hotel not allowing it.

Yes to be eaten in your room.

I realize that is the general idea, but when you enter the building with food, the security can't know where you plan to eat it, and I have never seen actual poker room security care about it. Anyway, if no health code laws are being broken by bringing in food and eating it in a hotel room, I can't see how they could be by eating it in the poker room.

I never tried to bring food into TS though, as when I was playing there I got lots of comps that couldn't be used for anything but food. I understand their comp system has since changed.

Because there is a menu in the poker room and is effectively a restaurant as well with table side service.

Do you really not see a difference(even without a code stating otherwise) from eating food your brought in your room to eating it in a public area like a poker room with its own food service?

Let's stop w/ the food discussion, please. TS has their policy and this is getting really boring.

This golden token promo is a lolcluster

Anybody know what the poker rate is on the weekends and how many hours are needed?

From what I understand you can call them (480 850 8693 ) to get it. Problem is they do not guarantee that price. If casino gets 80% occupancy they will revert and charge you top price.

What are the issues?

Played for 4.5 hours today first session cleaned up pretty good!

Seen one guy eating a sandwich from home tho...

Deff going back tomorrow maybe a little later for a little longer.....and now i can see why all the hate on the chairs!

Just one additional point. I've been told by day floor supervisor I can bring my own food in if I just take it to bar. So sometimes I'll hit Subway on way in, get on lists and eat in bar while I wait for a seat.

Are the drinks free by the slots/table games?

Only the same free drinks as in the poker room.

If you're playing high enough a host/floor might comp alcohol, otherwise no except for soda. I'm not even sure if they charge for juice or not.

Soda/Coffee/Tea/Ice Water