As for the food debate -- I don't mind when someone is snacking on pretzels, chips, or a candy bar. It is the messy/smelly food that bothers me. I got really aggravated when I played poker at the Luminere in St. Louis not so long ago. There was a player next to me with a BURGER BAR hamburger with onions and some kind of sauce that just SMELLED SO AWFUL. This person also was holding up the game while eating the burger and the greesy fries that came with it. I think if food is going to be served at a table, it shouldn't be messy , smelly, or allow the participant to hold up the game. I personally would rather get up for an hour or so and get a decent meal and then come back. Eating at the table would hinder my game.

An opinion and a statement.

Let me preface the following that it is appreciated that management does read these complaints.

Anyone who has been to several poker rooms will agree that the podium is placed inconveniently in the room. I have never been in a poker room where the people running the games could not oversee all the tables in the room at a glance. Personally, I see it as much more work for the people running the room. Whoever designed it does not play poker or understand a poker room. But it has been addressed that they are not going to change the podium. So from my point of view the only way to make it work is to pay attention to the computer screen that shows there is an open seat somewhere and to pay attention to a list that is gathering names for a game not yet in progress and to diversify the games by doing this. There has been a little more competence in that area but still needs attention and improvement.

There are too many people running that computer. If you want to see well-run computer-generated seating go to Canterbury Park.(They have a room with as many tables as The Horseshoe, Hammond.) There is only one person monitoring that screen and constantly calling games and names with such precision it will knock your socks off. That is this person’s only function. PERIOD. She/he is assisted by the floor. The floor shows the player to their seat or the computer person tells them where the table is located. They let the dealer know a player is coming in. How hard is it to say "Table 26, player in." That way there is no one just grabbing a seat. The dealer always is notified by the board. For what its worth, I suggest that management take a trip up there and watch that board being run. (And also, other aspects of that room are worth observing)

I, for one, can attest to the fact that it is very annoying when seats remain open while a name keeps flashing on the board or that the call-ins do not show on that board. At least if you see that there is a list and they are only call ins you feel satisfied that someone will be coming shortly and that names are not just sitting there and not being called. Or, if there are 15 names on the list and only 5 people are present, you know they are not calling a new game soon. Or if there are 15 names on the list you might be number 3 because the a lot of people ahead of you on the list are not there yet. You could be next up but you cannot see that. By the way, of all the complaints I have seen, this has not been addressed and believe me when I say that this issue is discussed among the players.

Also, I have to say I’ve noticed that as soon as Jeremy arrives in the room, there is more attention paid to everything. He, of course, knows how to fill seats, get a game going, and yes, is picking up litter here and there. By now there should be others following his example and as friendly as most of the floor people are there seems to be a laxidasical attitude by some. It seems to depend on the time of day you’re there. Mike and Jeff(chip runners) are very attentive but they are not there all the time. Find some more like them!

I also have to agree bottles shouldn’t be thrown on the floor and my biggest pet-peeve is the chip racks under chairs and tables. The chip runners are pretty good about collecting them but I have occasionally tripped on some that got kicked into a walking area. It only takes a few seconds to put these items in safer places. I, myself, have picked up these items. This does not only happen at the Horseshoe. It happens in all poker rooms but again I have to mention the vigilance of the personnel at Canterbury Park and tending to this problem. Someday, somewhere in a poker room, someone will hurt themselves badly on a bottle or chip rack in the aisle. It will involve a lawsuit and of course this will be a major concern in a poker room from then on.

But back to the Podium - You said that you can't do much about it, but I believe you can.....Since it can't be changed - MAKE IT WORK and that can be done by using some of the suggestions above.

People are complaining about empty bottles and racks on the floor? The Horseshoe is immaculate compared to Resorts.

There's nothing that I hate more than stopping for food when I'm stuck or the tables good. Buy some trays and serve food on the main floor, even if it's a limited menu.

I miss the Resorts chicken wraps and pizza slices from the place by the parking garage. In fact, I'd take any of the Resorts food over the crap they serve at the snack shop at the Shoe.

Food at the tables is very controversial issue. I, myself, prefer to eat elsewhere except for snacks like pretzels or a cereal bar. I do think that food should not be strictly prohibited at the table and I’m not sure that it is. I have had some light snacks with me and have eaten them discreetly at the table.

Food service, of course, would keep more people at the table but I agree with some about the messiness involved. However, the whole food thing is discriminatory and those feelings have been voiced by others on this thread. It seems to be more an issue of “if the high roller area can order and eat food at the table, then why can’t we?” Actually, it is a discrimination privilege that I have never witnessed in any other poker room.

Then StevieB says he can eat at the table(per the above quote) and the games he is playing in are not high limit games as you can see by what he says. So, the question here is - What is going on?

i can't wait for thanksgiving leftovers! i will be at the tables snacking on a cold turkey leg, dipping it in a tupperware of awesome gravy. mmmmm!

you still want my chips?

^ only if i can have a turkey leg

Yes. In the Borg high limit area, you can buy in to a game at the table. Everyone else has to go to the cage for their initial buy in. All tables can rebuy at the table.

One other thought about food: for the people who complain about tables getting short, food at the table would mean fewer people walking.

Winner. I can put up with a lot if it means my "customers" stay at the table playing. This includes stinky food (within obvious limits.) Players who don't have the discipline to take breaks stay at the table, get tired and distracted, and inevitably play worse as the session gets longer.

i'm sorry, but I can put up with quite a bit at a poker table, but id say 80% of the time it is SICK to have people eating at the table. Candy bar or a quick snack? No problem! Burger and fries???? awful. Not to generalize but there are a LOT of just flat out gross people in poker rooms and i dont want to see/hear/smell you eat, nor do i want my cards/chips have your food grease on them. You cant be normal and miss 15 hands???

As an aside, im not much of a germaphobe, but i wouldnt want to be eating, play my hand, grab a bunch of chips and then go back to eating.

Jeremy,

Plz to be considering raising the $2/$5 plo max buy-in to $1500. Since the increase to $1k max, the added insanity is good for humanity, imo.

Jesus

X Post from Internet Gambling Forum:

If anyone is looking for Stars money I am looking for $500 cash to play at Horseshoe. Will send first to reputable posters... Meet up sometime today at Shoe room. PM me. Thanks

[QUOTE=mblax10;7232943]
As I mentioned before, the word "buy" is obviously a sticking point with the Shoe, and the only thing the low-limit players are going to get fed is some more bullsh*t as to why they can't eat, and the higher limit playes can.

Amen to this. Resorts' food choices were outstanding. Quality of food was excellent, by any casino standards. Food was well-prepared and tasty at literally all of their outlets.

Compare them to the Shoe: Discounting the steak house and over-priced buffet (which I assume most people do not want to partake in each and every time they play), the food choices are the worst, and I mean WORST I have ever seen in a casino.

JB's deli is disgraceful, a would-be embarrasment to any other casino other than the Shoe, which unfortunately, cannot be embarrased into anything that involves cost. I hear more derogatory remarks about this deli, than any other food outlet in any casino I've ever been in, with the possible exception of Majestic's buffet. It's truly shameful.

Benny's and the Oriental place next to it are mediocre at best, over-priced for what you get, and with limited choices. I know of nowhere in the Horseshoe that one could purchase a fast hot dog, or ice cream, both pretty-much standard fare in all casinos, and no coffee shop, also a given in any casino worth mentioning. To put it bluntly, the Shoe's food SUCKS, and sucks big time.

We just can't seem to win here in Chicagoland. We finally get at least a wannabe big-time casino, with a wannabe big-time poker room, and you have to pack a lunch to eat in the parking garage or take a run down Indianopolis Blvd for fast food. I've personally seen more than a few people do just that, and I don't know how you can be a real big-time casino, when you have your customers leaving the premises to eat.

Is this a poker forum or the Food Channel ?

are you running .50/1 yet
do sngs or tournies run daily
whats the min buy in for the 1/2 game.. is it still 50
finally, you don't have to pay 6$ per hr for your seat do you

If it wasn't in this thread it was in the other large original post where we covered this topic in detail but you are correct it has not come up recently.

What you explained above is exactly how it is done (we'll at least on swing shift and at times better by some than others) at Horseshoe. There is usually one person seating players and one person checking in players. When it is busy there is even another person just answering phones. As most of you have probably called at one time or another during a busy time and it has rang 15 times before some picked up (this drives me nuts when I call, so I know you guys feel the same way).

The person who seats the players at the front is always in contact with the supervisors on the floor with radios. Watch next time they are calling a game down, they are verifying the players who want the game with the supervisors who are on the floor.

I sometimes wish we could have another podium built just for someone to seat players. When players come in they do not see the sign that says "check in here------>" and they go to the board person trying to seat players and it slows the process down (some don't know when it is their first time). The process also has to do with the dealers updating their buttons for the board person. If the supervisor is in the middle of something and can not notify the board of an open seat the front board goes by what they see on the screen. So if you are sitting at a table and one of the red lights are lit up and no one is coming back to the seat, feel free to politely mention it to the dealer.

Mike and Jeff indeed do a great job along with a few others and they always stay on top of the open seats! (please remember to take care of any brush you feel do a good job, they work on tips)

It’s hard to argue the point that the poker room starts running better when Jeremy enters the casino. The floor staff at the Horseshoe is one the most experienced staffs in the country. Considering they have been together for only four months all shifts have done an outstanding job. On weekends with 300 people playing in the room with hundreds on the list. It’s never easy when 25 people just get up and leave at the same time. There is a large amount of traffic moving in an out of the poker room. Between dining, gaming, smoking, visiting friends, etc, etc it’s challenging keeping track of people. The Canterbury Club has an excellent system but only has horse racing to deal with.

I agree with you to a certain extent Chicago Joe. But I still say the efficiency of the room up at Canterbury is an example to behold. They do have the poker going during the racing season which is a distraction somewhat like having the rest of a casino as a distraction. There is also off-track betting. They also have an area with other games. No slots. They have food service throughout the poker room and a snack bar and an alcohol bar.

There is one significant difference between Canterbury Park and the Shoe. The Shoe takes call-ins. Canterbury does not. The Call-ins are probably causing more than half of the confusion at the podium at the Shoe. People don’t just call in and ask to be put on a list. I have heard the desk personnel giving directions of how to get there and even asking how to get there from Majestic Star. That is ridiculous. There is plenty of information on the internet. There are GPS systems. Also, the main casino number gives directions if you need them. So, I suggest that they put in a system such as press 1 for ½ or 2/5, leave your name, say ½ or 2/5 game. Press 2 for 3/6L, 6/12L,10/20,L. Leave your name say the game of your choice etc………. The time can be recorded.

If the present system is continued, at least put the call-ins in one color and the people who are present in another color. If MS can do it then surely a “World Class Poker Room” can do it.

One other suggestion - Stop the call-ins. I know some people will have a fit reading that. But I see the room as being frequented, especially on the weekends. There are lines at the podium anyhow, even if you called in. First come, first served. Period.

The other part of their seating problem is the dealers who do not pay attention to the little red buttons at their table. I, personally, have reminded more than one dealer that there is a seat open and to show it on their little button board. The dealers at Canterbury are extremely good at doing this also.

Jeremy just addressed the part about reminding the dealers to watch those buttons and there are many viewers on this thread not posting but reading these posts so maybe they will keep in mind to help out the dealers and remind them when a seat is open. Saying nothingaccomplishes nothing

Sunglasses this is an excellent idea. I suggested something similar when Jeremy first started posting. This would be an option for regulars who call in. First the Shoe would give regulars a password. When using a computer a regular could sign up 24 hours in advance for the games they want. Just log in and enter what time you plan to arrive. One hour before your name would pop up on their screen. There would be no need to check in just wait until your name is called. This same idea can be used with a phone. Many regulars show up at the same time every week. With caller ID the system could recognize your name and say “ If you plan to sign up for your regular games at your regular time press 1”. These ideas would be very helpful to the Shoe’s staff and players.

I sometimes feel like I am playing at a completely different poker room than the one you keep writing about. I drive from Chicago, call in before I leave and when I arrive I am always close to the top of the list. I always get seated within 15 to 30 mins of my arrival. My tables are almost always full, with empty seats being filled within a couple of minutes. I like the phone-in system, it allows me to get a seat quickly.

You are fortunate that you have such good luck with your phone-ins and seating. I do not. Are you a no-limit player? I occasionaly get right in to a 1/2NL game, but mostly I play limit.

NL. And the phone-in system is excellent for anyone driving in from Chicago

Arrival time is important on weekends. I usually try to call in before 5pm. This way I almost always get a seat within ten minutes. People who call in after 6pm are usually not so lucky. The 1-2 no limit almost always has over fifty names on it. At this time the only people leaving are the ones that have run out of money. With limit I would try to find out what times are likely they will be starting a new game. It seems like they start a lot of new games between 6-7.

When I said I do not have luck I didn’t mean with the phones, I meant the seats are not being filled as quickly as they should be. The phones were just a suggestion about running the podium. Since you play NL, I suspect it is high no-limit which doesn’t seem to have very many issues.

I do not post things that I have not personally experienced and like I said before if you say nothing then nothing is accomplished.

I hate even mentioning that this past week alone after I was seated in the room at a 3/6 game my name was dropped from the 10/20 list on 2 separate days. When I questioned the desk, they were sorry and very accomodating and put me back on the list, but I don't understand why these things occur.

If you read my post to Rocco(above) I was misleading about the phones. The phones actually are not an issue with me. As you know they were only a suggestion for the running of the podium.

I think there is a problem at the podium separating the call-ins from the people present in the room and too many cooks spoiling the broth. I still would like to be able to look at that board and see where I am in relation to the call-ins and of course, I don't like my name being erased.

Thank you Chicago Joe for your your response to my post. I also know that management, Jeremy, in particular, is working on all of this so I thank him for being concerned and now I JUST REST MY CASE