Here's my first draft of the FAQ. Let me know if there's anything you'd like to have added. Once we're happy with it I'll notify the mods and have them put in it the first post of this thread for easy reference.
What games and limits are offered at the poker room?
No Limit Hold ‘em:
1/2 NL (50-200)
2/5 NL (200-500)
5/10 NL (500-2000)
10/25 NL (1000 – uncapped)
PLO:
1/2 PLO with $5 bring-in (100-500)
5/5 PLO (300-1000)
5/10 PLO (500-2000)
10/25 PLO (1000- uncapped)
Limit games (Hold ‘em , O8, Stud, Stud8):
3/6
4/8
6/12
8/16
10/20
What games actually run on a regular basis?
The casino has been open four days as I type this so obviously this is still evolving but here’s what I’ve seen so far:
1/2 NL, 2/5 NL, and 3/6 limit run every day. So far there have been three tables of 2/5 NL by evening.
5/10 PLO runs every Wednesday and Friday for sure, possibly other days
1/2 or 5/5 PLO has run most days so far
6/12 limit hold ‘em and 6/12 O8 have each run a couple times so far
I’ve seen interest lists for Stud and bigger limit games as well but so far nothing has gotten off so far.
5/10 NL has run once so far. There’s been talk of establishing a regular game but no details yet.
What’s the rake?
10% up to $6. There is a $1 drop for the bad beat jackpot on hold’em games taken when the pot reaches $20. NL and PL games 5/10 and higher have an $8 per ½ hour time charge and no bad beat drop.
Tournaments! What about tournaments?
There are none so far. They have announced they will start sometime in the summer. There will be a WSOP circuit event sometime in 2014. I will update this space as details become available.
What are rules on straddling?
Only allowed UTG and for double the big blind. At 1/2 PLO the straddle is to 5 and at 5/10 PLO it’s to 25. I would assume this applies to Hold ‘em as well but I’m not certain.
Do dealers keep their own tips?
Yes.
Does the poker room have chip runners and their own cage?
Yes to both. If the chip runners are all busy the floor will also run chips. There’s a dedicated cage in the room with three windows. If for some reason that’s really busy the main cage is right around the corner to the right.
Can you call ahead to be put on the waiting list?
No, they do not allow call-ins.
Are they listed on the Bravo app?
Yes, under Horseshoe Cincinnati.
What are the hotel options?
There is no on site hotel. The casino has partnered with seven downtown hotels to offer rooms at varying discounts based on your play. They have a free shuttle which runs from 8 am to 2 am during the week and 8 am to 4 am Friday and Saturday night. The next closest option after downtown is across the river in Covingtion or Newport. Details on their hotel partners are here:
http://www.horseshoecincinnati.com/c...l#.UTn7sFdlBI0
What about self-parking?
The casino has an attached 2,500 spot garage. There are entrances on both Reading and Gilbert. There are two entrances on Reading, valet is the closest to the casino, self-parking is the furthest. Parking is free on Saturday and Sunday and on weekdays from 6pm until 6 am. From 6 am to 6 pm it’s a dollar an hour; however this can be comped by playing slots or table games for a half hour or poker for one hour. The casino does not intend to charge its guests for parking; this policy to prevent people going downtown for other purposes from taking spots away from casino customers. For people worried about security, the garage has hundreds of cameras and 24 emergency call boxes. All you have to do is hit a button and it sounds an alarm and connects you directly to security.
What about valet?
Valet parking is available. The valet entrance is the closest entrance on Reading. It’s $20 for the general public, $18 for Total Rewards members, $15 for Platinum card and free for Diamond card.
What about comps?
Poker players earn $1 per hour for playing. You also earn 17 Tier Credits per hour for playing poker. Tier Credits go towards determining your Total Rewards card level. You need to accumulate 5,000 TC’s in a year for platinum and 15,000 per year for Diamond. You can divide those numbers by 17 to see how many hours you need in a year for those levels.
What are the benefits of Platinum and Diamond cards?
Platinum doesn’t get you much really. Diamond gets you free valet, access to the Diamond Lounge (which has free food supposedly) and priority seating at restaurants. There’s other stuff too like discounts at the gift shop and what not. You can go to the Total Rewards website for full details.
What’s the policy on eating in the room or going to dinner?
Officially eating in the room is not allowed. So far they haven’t been saying anything if you bring a small snack like a candy bar or banana. Foods that could leave crumbs on the table like potato chips are not allowed. If you leave to eat you can miss two dealers plus a 15 minute grace period before you’re picked up.
What about cocktail service?
Non-alcoholic drinks are free (except energy drinks) . Alcohol must be paid for with cash. Also, you must tip the waitresses with cash. If you’re planning on having a few drinks it’s a good idea to keep a few fives and ones in your pocket. Beer is 3.50 for a 12 oz bottle or 4.50 for a 16 oz bottle. Mixed drinks are around $5. Last call is at 2:30. Unlike Hollywood, there are no self-serve pop machines.
Are there massage therapists?
Not yet but I’ve heard rumors they’re getting them.
For people used to playing at Hollywood Lawrenceburg, are there any different rules to be aware of?
Nothing major. Two things I’ve noticed so far is that a second boxed card does not kill the hand and straddles must be in place or announced before any cards are dealt. Also, black chips do not play at 1/2 NL and purple chips do not play in any game. You can use pumpkins (1,000) in 5/10.
