Additionally, Encore management themselves said in several news articles that if and when poker returns it would be in a much smaller capacity than pre-Covid.

lol they're the only poker room in the whole ****ing country that's not opened and they should have opened a year ago. they literally do not care.

The location of the soon to be Poker Room has no slot machines in it.

The Encore has stated more than once that is has too many slot machines.

I am almost certain the Encore has reduced the number of slot machines they have since the peak.

I know I personally have never seen more than 1/3rd of the slot machines in play at any given time.

I'm not at the Encore at 10 pm on a Saturday night, so maybe it happens then.

The Poker Room situation is about Parking spots, not slot machines.

Yes.

What reasons have they given to expect that? Re staffing, I know there are complications but they've had over a year to resolve them and the same issues haven't stopped them in any other facet of their operations. I hesitate to tempt fate but I can't think of much else that they could do to purposely temper demand besides something like only spreading razz (no offense razz fans).

Oh, ok gotcha thanks.

I have no clue. I only went a few times when it up open up for cash and the games were great but went downhill from what I heard from some the regs. I guess there was too many pros in town waiting for this poker room to open hoping it would be a gold mine. I probably won't be returning until they start up MTTs again sometime in 2025 at this rate

Not according to post #3371:

"It's in the old mid stakes room.... Where $2-$5 was usually spread right in the middle across from the poker cage. The high roller area that was the small room kind of in the corner is still slot machines... at least as of Wed night when I was there."

This is the entire room... if you were standing at the old poker cage cashing out chips it would be directly behind you.

Not much of a sight to behold. I'd almost say this looks like a room in some rich's guy's house that happens to have poker tables more so than a poker room at what was touted as a world glass gaming establishment.

Agreed, it's pretty sad what it will be compared to what it was before.

Also sucks that we had maybe the best room in the country and now it could possibly be the worst in the country... from the things I am hearing about the actual operation of the room when it opens they really don't care if it succeeds or not nor do they care about the player experience or making it a top notch room again, it's as if they want it to fail.

Cliff notes: they don't give a flying fu*k if the room does well or if the players are happy!!! <--- FACT

I agree why would I give them business if they don’t give a sh*t

If they have hours that I can play, I'll try to support games there that I want to build, mostly mid-steaks limit games and plo. Unless the games are very good, I probably won't go to support nl. If they don't have hours that I can play (primarily nights and weekends), I won't go. It's as simple as that. Why? My secret:



Hope to see some of you there.

What are the odds they spread anything other than NLH and maybe 1-2 PLO tables? Not getting my hopes up for the return of my beloved 8/16 mix, especially since that used to run mainly on weekends

10% rake, max *** $10 *** drop — at 1/3NL

I bet they’re going to put the most incompetent new dealers you’ve ever seen at those 12 tables for 10 hours 4 days a week too….and they’re going to hear constant complaining. It’s going to be the worst, most toxic room in the country.

At this point it’s a mercy killing - just let them close the room so this 10%/$10 bullshit doesn’t spread to other properties.


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I hope this is fake news.

Maybe let's wait till they actually open before we go crazy with the conspiracy theories? This is pretty much the only shot at getting a room in eastern Mass. If the room is busy with long wait lists that gives us leverage to push for more tables/longer hours. I think something like a short video, showing a full room racking up at 8pm on a busy Thursday posted on social media would have more impact than players staying at home fuming about evil plots to kill poker.

I've seen the rake discussion in a few Facebook groups. Ashley Adams confirmed it after speaking with someone at Encore. So at the very least that part of the "sky is falling" argument is accurate. I've tried to stay optimistic about this whole scenario even if I wouldn't be able to play with the hours they proposed. And I don't pay much attention to rake, really. But at that level even I'm happier driving to RI & CT instead.

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How much was the rake when they shut down before the pandemic?

What gives you any reason to think this given how things have unfolded since the pandemic, and even beforehand? This establishment wants to check a box saying they have poker yet at the same time ensure that poker players take up as few precious parking spots as possible even on weekdays. To them, long lists and added tables are equally bad, as they mean more spots being occupied. They will do what they can to dissuade people from coming at all, and thus far we know that will be in the form of lousy hours and poor rake. I'd be shocked if we saw competent dealers and it wouldn't surprise me if the drinks weren't even free. The best analogy I can conjure of the top of my head is a landlord in an in-demand building being stuck with a person in a rent-controlled apartment.

**** that. If they want to make the rake twice that of the competitive level in the area I'll gladly drive twice as far to play in the NH rooms or twin river. I'll refuse to play there

In January of 2020 they went from 10% / $5 max to 10% $6 max. There was a $1 jackpot drop, then during active promotions they collected a second $1. If I remember correctly the first jackpot dollar was when the pot reached $10 and the second $1 at a $30 pot. So it was $6 + $2. Now it's going to be what, $10 + $2? That is just insane.

I think the only thing that might change their mind at this point is if massive amounts of poker players showed up and took up parking spots and went on the list and just sat there. I’m talking 300 guys. If this happened consistently maybe they’d put it back to the way it was — though even with this I suspect they’d find some way to limit the lists or something and prevent people from even voting with their feet and those precious parking spots.

At least the NH rooms are fairly good. MA just wasn’t built to host poker venues, I guess.


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There's been a change to their website.

It is NOT fake news unfortunately


My info is from a very very reliable source... very reliable that's all I can say

The $10 rake is completely accurate, and the $10 is before any jackpot drop so when you include rake + jackpot drop + dealer tip the game has to be very tough to beat over time.

Also: There will be NO free drink service in the room (even water) you will have to pay for everything you get in the room... There is talk of building a small cash bar in the loft area where poker and slot players would buy beverages thus making there no need for waitress service upstairs at all.

They will only be hiring 20 dealers and 2 floors for all operating hours and are simply planning to not open all 12 tables if anyone calls out sick.

It's looking like most if not all 20 dealers hired will be rookies (can you say gong show)... the few poker dealers that stayed on when the room shut down due to Covid were transferred to table games and will not be allowed to return to poker dealing.

Fact: Anyone that doesn't think this is about parking spots being taken up at prime times is greatly mistaken... this is all about parking spots being used by poker players at times when more profitable slot and table games players also want parking spots... they simply don't give a sh*t about poker, it's that simple

LOL, I am just legit laughing at this point. I expect the next bit of news to be something like, "the floor managers throw rocks at you when you come off the elevator and it's now Encore policy for cashiers to spit in your face at the poker cage."

You’re incorrect about the dealers tho. The ones that had high seniority in the poker room and ended up in table games are transferring back to poker. I know of this kid Carlos who told me he’s returning to poker that his last day in table games is coming up.