At the 1/3 table I was at, every time someone left, the dealer would ask if anyone wanted to move to the open seat. If there were no takers, they would then throw the lock button on the seat and open up the seat on the computer screen. Someone asked about this after the seat was locked and the dealer said he wasn't supposed to allow seat changes once everyone turned down the offer but he would make an exception now if the guy asking wanted to move.

I assumed this was so they could tell new players where to go from the front desk, but didn't confirm. Maybe it's just so people walking by don't skip the wait list.

It’s also so when a new player sits down people don’t jump seats to get position in that new player.

Okay, I know it's asking a lot with a brand new casino that has less than 900 rooms to offer but I shall ask anyway: Do they offer a poker rate to stay on site? If not, could anyone enlighten me about possible options to stay for an out of towner, 3 star and higher hotel as security and no bedbugs are a huge issue for me.

Can't wait to play there.

Up til 7/1 was what the employees were saying opening day

My quick report(only played1/3):

The further away from the front desk you are the worse the drink service is. The waitresses can't make it all the way down with out being constitanly asked for drinks. I was at table 50 and waited 2 hours before she came by. Floor did bring some waters earlier.

The tables on the balconies are brutal to hear at I was struggling to hear the dealer from the 8 seat and couldn't hear anyone on the other side of the table at all.

I also requested a table change which floor told me once you get another player problem was we never got another player so I just picked up got food then came back. You can transfer with you're full stack which I thought wasn't aloud anywhere.

Had a couple new dealers that I had to help a little. But that's to be expected.

I actually had no issues at the cage. They were selling reds on a side table that I got some from my second time. Cashed out at like 930pm and there was no wait.

Overall everything was awesome great room looking forward to playing some tourneys at some point.


Also may have some inside info on parking a dealer told me that once validatated it will only be $3. She said don't quote her on it though.

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Sorry

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I doubt anyone has an exact answer as to when parking will start to be charged. Ditto for when they will have a validation system. Biometric system for safe deposit boxes not functional. Mis-information everywhere. There are a limited number of questions customers ask, simply give them a cheat sheet.

My most basic question is how do I check how many comps/points I have if I want to go to Dunkin and get a coffee/bagel or whatever and no one has an answer for me other than to go talk to a host or Red Card rep etc... and they were all so busy I didn't bother.

All I can say is WTF is up with the horrific cashiers. It seems that they could've practiced all day counting chips/money before opening. Like literally have 20-100 hours of practice and do it over and over again. This is actually ridiculous. This is all they do, count chips and cash.

Would it be smart to have a way to identify the table # easier? There is no sign above the table or anything and most of the staff were still clueless where say table 12 or 65 is, etc... and walking around the room is difficult.

There has to be a reason why there are such horrible employees. From everything I have read/heard about prior to opening is that because they offer more pay and better benefits as well as a nice shiny new place to work at they were in essence getting some of the best employees in the Boston area. So if you are a good housekeeper at the Copley Sheraton this would be a better opportunity. Ditto if you are a bartender at an Outback/Pizzeria Uno.

But I also heard they were obligated to give jobs to many Everett locals as well and the breakdown might be 20% good hires 80% here is a free job for you. There is no reason why any dealer should be so bad but I did hear some blackjack dealers were hired 3 weeks ago.

When I played a few tourneys at the last few series at Foxwoods, a lot of dealers claim they would work at Encore when they open but that was back in Dec and March. I did not see one single FW dealer that I recognized the past two days.

Do you guys recognize/know any FW/Mohegan/Chasers/etc... dealers?

At the soft opening I went to I did see one Foxwoods dealer <mod snip> who had been at the woods for a long time. I know a couple Chasers dealers went there, but some are in Vegas for the series. I haven't been back since the soft open as I'm not in a convenient spot for transit and having shoulder surgery last week means no driving for a while, especially while on oxycodone.

Just to get ahead of the inevitable privacy violations that will occur in some of the responses to that question, I'd like to remind people that we don't allow identifying of employees, and that includes descriptions. So I can't foresee any answers beyond a vague "yes I've seen a few from XXX", but those are certainly ok.

I know of dealers present at encore who dealt at mgm, chasers and foxwoods.

Give the new dealers time, they might be good in class but it can be nerve racking for a new dealer to be in a live setting for the first time. Only time will make it better and with some of the floor there, they'll help them along and see to it they improve or are gone.

To me these are just typical growing pains for a new operation. Chasers and MGM both had these issues upon opening.

Yes, at the end of the day we're all super excited this is finally here vs having no options but to drive to Chasers/FW/Mohegan. I think Wynn/Encore's commitment to excellent service and pleasing customers will work its way through.

During the 20/40 LHE kill or 40/80 game discussion the poker room manager said once they get a full weekend under their belt they will have a lot more data points to make serious decisions about a lot of things for the best enjoyment and happiness of the customers and that is a great attitude.

My TR would be similar to others, so I'll just TL;dr it:

- Gorgeous room
- Comfortable chairs
- USB ports at all player stations
- I haven't seen this mentioned, but the felt on the table is really, really nice and just has a nice feel to it. Cards and chips slide easily and I am a big fan of it.
- Regular cards (not jumbo...THANK YOU FOR THIS!)
- Lots of loose/bad players (at 1/3 at least so far)
- Cage wait yesterday was excessive. They all seemed new and paranoid of making any kind of procedural mistake. That will pass in time.
- Mix of brand new and experienced dealers. New ones were receptive to kindly worded assistance.
- 9-handed, no Mississippi straddles
- Free parking til 7/1
- Drink service was hit or miss. They ran out of tea. Seriously, they did.
- Buffet was $40 and good food, but for the size of the place, surprisingly limited options, honestly. But good quality for what I'd expect at a buffet.
- The music in the casino ranged from 80's soft hits to current music. Was an odd mix, but no big deal either way.
- Surprisingly not freezing in there. When we went, it was mid-day Monday and not packed, so you'd think it would be colder in there. I'm a long-sleeve or hoodie guy ALWAYS and forgot my hoodie...but was perfectly comfortable in a short-sleeve button up.
- Polite and very helpful staff all over the casino.
- Man, the bathrooms really are beautiful. No, seriously, they are.


Overall, I'm really, really happy to have this as my new 'home' casino and look forward to grinding my way through the stakes like old days!

Can’t use points/comps at DD.

After reading through most of this thread so far, Encore is the heaven we were waiting for in Massachusetts?

Yes

Yes, I'm in heaven. It felt beyond amazing to wake up and head over to a world class room and play in that atmosphere. Games seemed good enough, service will improve, and I do think once we get going, parking will be much more feasible and getting in and out will be much easier.

I'm very okay with the locals at the cage or those dealing. Lots are still acclimating to the environment. I saw a few dealers getting some pretty direct and clear instruction from floor and the horrible employees will be weeded out soon enough.

I'm so happy to play and know I can play without a long ride. Should I head over later tonight or should I get some sleep grab my morning coffee and head over? I'm not sure. Can you imagine the room come fall? Sunday watching football (sportsbook did I hear?). Its gonna be a great place to spend a day for a long time to come. Boston locals deserve it. We've been the bread and butter of the NE Poker Scene and our time has come.

Does anyone know or have a sense as to when / if the parking garage has been filling up the last 2 days? If you get there between 3-4, do you have a high probability of getting a spot?

From the MassPike, is it easy to get to Encore using google maps? I am absolutely terrible at driving in areas I never been and Boston is very confusing. Is it pretty easy to get there from MassPike or what? And what about getting back home? Easy to get back to the MassPike?

Here's a nice article about features Encore plans to add in the future, including:

-Sports betting room once MA legalizes it

-a multi-million dollar footbridge across the Mystic River, connecting the casino with Assembly Square

- 11 acre area across the street: apartments, convention space, restaurants, bars, concert venue



https://www.boston.com/news/local-ne...opening-future

I read in some pamphlet in the room that comps aren’t usable at Dunkin’

Has anybody taken a shuttle from Wellington to Encore in the 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM range? Wondering if that is insanely busy, if people are left off the shuttle to wait for the next one, etc etc

Just as a note, a did the 1 mile walk from Sullivan to encore yesterday - nice 15-20 minute walk. It will be a different experience if it is extremely humid or cold.

Per trip report, basically seconding everyone from before. Place is very nice, some dealers are very raw, game ran very slow.

Cage was also very slow. Hoping it is just learning bumps.

Yes, we understand, yes, issypissy, yes.