Hi. Thanks for that. Unfortunately I can't go to Cambodia, I'm sure it would be fun though. I'm based in Macau for family reasons. I also don't consider 25/50 to be micro stakes if you can buy in for $20k HKD+.

Nordling are you a kiwi?

Hello,

Does anyone know which is the best casino to play cash games?

Also which recommendations would you give to someone that visits Macau for the first time(in terms of money exchange,hotels…)? I will be in HK during summer and I would like to visit Macau to play some poker.

Venetian brother, Venetian

So i have been watching this guy on YT (name BluffaloSam), a week ago he released poker vlogs from Macau. He complained that Parisian had very bad games, high rake (5bb) players mostly tight fishes buyin short (50bbs) trying to double up and run, and game was super slow (20hands per hour). Then he tried Wynn and games were great, rake (3bb cap), players play deeper, looser and there are whales in the game. Also Wynn had 300/600/1200 public game running where half of the table were non pros.
Can you explain why you recommend Venetian?

Citizen of the world. Originally Russian, left when I was 17, studied in New Zealand for 4 years. Lived and travelled for poker or business a while after that. But based in HK since 2010. NZ is a good country for someone with either zero ambitions or 50+ though.

Can watch purely for "entertainment" value. Hand analysis, given live play is non-existent, like "brain explosions" and "mouse clicking" mode. Watched 3 videos, related to Macau, apart from showing hiking scenery, game decisions are extremely poor. No pro that is profitable is going to walk around all his vlogs, trying to remember random hands. It's either going to be live table action, pit, or hotel room. If you're profitable live, there're a lot of factors to describe on every street. He doesn't provide input on anything apart from cards and bet sizing.

Will play WPT to catch up with a few old timers and see what's up regardless. Whoever wanna have a drink during that time, feel free to message me.

Can we get taxis from HK to Macau over the bridge? If not, how do people make the journey between like 1:30AM-5AM

I was back in Hong Kong the other day but had things on every day during the day, and could’ve only done like an evening ferry to Macau, but had to be back in HK like 3-4AM each day. Ferry and helicopter didn’t seem to run between midnight and 6am so didn’t have any options 😔

HZM bus runs 24hrs

Buses run during that time with a certain interval. Haven't took a ferry in years since either driving on mixed plates or just taking a bus. Tuen Mun link is very solid now, so an hour between each bus for whatever ~60-80HKD is max, during that time is acceptable.

WPT Macau has been canceled, no reasons given.

Oh my... Thx very much for poasting dat anyway, I was very close to booking my non-refundable stay at the Sheraton Cotai in the last couple days, cos it was lil bit bit cheaper than the refundable one. Ah well, the world keeps on turning, I guess. If anyone thinks I'm gonna make it to Macau cos of the cash games, umm, no, no look at the fred...

sounds like a sponsored post

there's no chance of 300/600/1200 public games where half are not pros

Whats up with the bb/hour rates nowdays in Macau for
100/200 esp? What is great
4-5 nowdays?

ok here we go, a confirmed tournament at MGM Cotai poker room Sept. 3rd-15th with 4 main events. this is being run by MGM, no outside partners, and 4 major events (not including daily satellites). They were training new dealers when i was there in late June specifically to get ready for this tourney(with regs getting pissed off because they were dealing too slow, f*** that reg, YES it did seem like her first time at a live table after training, but come on dude...anyways).

4 major events:
HK$5,000 (US$640) Mystery Bounty Event
HK$6,800 (US$870) Golden Lion Bracelet Event
HK$88,000 (US$11,265) High Roller
HK$8,880 (US$1,136) MGMÂ’s Millionaire Maker Poker Tournament (main event, guaranteed $1M HKD 1st place prize)

I called the poker room tonight to get more info...they said come in and scan the QR code (helpful ...right?). talking with one of the floor managers in June, there will be hotel deals as well. Seems they are going all-in and going relatively big with this tourney.

Will be interesting to see the turnout, what mix of regs & newcomers...seeing as it's not published on any major poker news site and hard to get more info...

http://www.asgam.com/index.php/2024/...-in-september/

(btw not a sponsored post at all lol, i am just excited to be able to go to a tourney because i live nearby, and this forum has been dead recently)

They're taking crazy rake on these events, hard to see why you aren't a sponsored poster when you don't mention that.

For eg the main even $8800 is $7400+1480

I have never seen the main event of any series in the entire world that is 20% rake

mgm room already has probably the tightest nits in macau, im not even sure that 20% tourney entry fee is beatable.

They're also currently running a high hand promotion where best hand gives you a satellite seat, winner gets a main event seat. But that satty seat is raked and then main event seat 20% goes to rake again. So until you can mincash in the main you're just a rake slave for 2-3 full days for 0 reward... literally a scam.

I think they only did all of this because macau has no tourney scene these days and they think cash regs won't understand. But if any US or even euro room did this they'd be outted as pure scammers.

Ok after finally getting more info from themÂ… totally agree with everything you said. I will not be going to this tourney, rather save my time in money for other events coming up in Vietnam or Taipei.

I live close by in China which I why I was excited when I heard about it. But now IÂ’ve seen the detailed breakdowns of buyinÂ… and as you mention the rake.

LetÂ’s also mention the weird structure. Main event day 1s, only 20 ppl each day make it to day 2Â… not a % like normal. Bounty tournament, 25ppl get paid no matter how many people enterÂ… maybe these limits are related to # of tables limits? I donÂ’t know, but I have to completely agree with you they probably are doing this for an easy rake and take advantage of the cash reg nits.

Love your comment about the tightest nits. Shall we give a nit honorable mention to that older guy who wears countryside clothes who basically puts the mainland tourists all-in only when he has strong hands at the 50/100 games?

I’m also very curious how prepared the MGM floor/poker room managers are for a tournament and whether they are capable of making accurate, consistent decisions across the board (I.e. following TDA or whatever rules they may have in place)

Rake is insane but it’s A step in the right direction. Better than nothing going on at all.

And if it is a success, other rooms will follow and when there’s competition, better for the customers and rake will probably lower.

Major reason why WPT cancelled was because Macau do not allow third parties running the event, hence the casino itself has to do it.

I like that MGM is at least trying, it seems that they put an effort into making their PokerRoom a success. Players get points as well which has never been the case for poker players.

Games fairly tough though unfortunately. Everyone’s solid.

In the good ol' days acceptable rake was one of the main draws why you would go to Macau during tourneys, and it also provided weaker players to the back then already heavily raked cash games. I don't have time and will be away these dates anyway, but I would have probably skipped it regardless. With the player pool as it is, it might not even be beatable, but whatever I agree it's better than nada poker going on...