The 30K deepstack tournament DP has come up with on most weekends would seem to fit the criteria for a low buy-in, solid structure tournament, would it not? Think it's $150.

And if you're going to P-Ville, shouldn't you just go the extra 20 minutes to DP? You've already paid that ridiculous bridge toll at that point! LOL

From what I've seen, the surrounding area...lets say within 3 hours drive from the DC/NOVA/MD area offers the best tournament action in the country. It's only going to get better once Shoe and MGM open up, I would think. I've spent a few weeks out in LA, the everyday tournament scene is terrible. I start working on cash game skills whenever I know I'm going there because I know the chances of finding a good tournament is slim.

Lastly, there are a ton of home tournaments around here as well. You just need to look.

One of these days I'll head up to DP for sure - I'm about smack center between Pville and MdL though - and frankly since I'm still very new I think I'd rather cut my teeth cheap at PVille for now.

Put me down for a yes vote on DP. Great structures, massive windows, you can walk on the racetrack apron for some air, and $10 craps. It deserves to live and be supported-especially from the tournament crowd. (Unlike C-Town, which deserves death in every respect how it ripped off and dis-respected customers, what a pit that was/is!). Md Live is contaminated by arrogance of management, that they will rip off customers until the day a rival opens in Baltimore0 $100 craps table ? Indeed, that's so far beyond common sense its ridiculous- thats at a level of greed you don't find at Revel or Bellagio, it's an utter disgrace. There should be also a place to watch races, even if you just have to bet on them on your smartphone, but they should be up on the TV screens. Enough with the SportsCenter already, on the 20th loop, lets have Aqueduct.

I think you're overlooking the largest, most relevant group of players: regular recreational players. Guys like me who have full time jobs, play a regular home game, go to AC or Vegas once a year, and enjoy the opportunity to hit a real poker room after work or on the weekend - when we can. We aren't tourists - we live here. Convenience is a HUGE factor - it is often the difference between playing and not playing.

I can get to CT in 1:15. MDL is about the same, but traffic on a weeknight makes it a miserable 2+ hour drive. MGM will be about a 30 minute drive for most of Fairfax County. That means I get an extra 90 minutes of play vs. CT. It means I can leave the house at 8:00, play for 3 hours and be home at midnight - put another way, I can play on a worknight when I otherwise couldn't. I love poker, but on a weeknight when I have limited time to play, there's no way that I'm driving past MGM to get to MDL - regardless of how much better the games are.

You're right. MGM is going to design and build a casino to make money - not to make poker players happy. That said, they are building a very large casino - with 3,600 slots and 140 table games. It will be a little smaller than MD Live! which has 4,750 slot machines and 122 table games plus the 52 table poker room. It will be roughly 60% of the size of MGM Foxwoods which has 6,000+ slots and 114 poker tables. Given the size of the casino that's being built, I'd guess the poker room would be about 40 tables. MDL's success with its poker room might encourage MGM to match its size.

Yes, it is probably pointless to speculate - but still fun.

Those are excellent points, hoos - and case in point - last night at MDL the wait to get into a $1/2 game at THREE PM was just under 2 hours.

WOuld you drive 90 mins to wait 2 hours? No.

We have a HUGE desire for poker in the area, obviously. More venues is going to be good for poker.

Thanks - yesterday was probably an exception. Federal government was closed, but the snow didn't really arrive until well into the afternoon. I imagine there were probably a good many players happy to wait 2 hours rather than be home with the family.

More than anything, I see MGM as expanding the pie more than fighting MDL over a set pool of players. Closer room to VA will mean less driving time and more poker time - that means more people playing more often. Since MDL is over capacity at times (like yesterday), it may not lose much business even when MGM opens. Players 10 minutes away probably checked Bravo yesterday and decided not to come out because of that 2 hour wait.

I do anticipate that the Horseshoe and MDL will be in more direct competition for players. It may be that people in Baltimore go to the Horseshoe and players in the suburbs hit MDL. But being 13 miles apart probably means that a good number of players will be able to choose between them based on factors beyond traffic and drive time. MDL is a great room, so the Horseshoe will have an uphill battle to draw away players who are in that area.

The DP MLK day $120 buy-in with 30,000 starting chips and 25-minute levels and a $10,000 guarantee fits the bill pretty well. From what I'm hearing (I clearly run in a different crowd than you EvilGreebo), that's where everyone is going to be. Maryland is offering an expensive $600 tournament that same day which offers much less value for the money. Standard.[/QUOTE]

And it had 200 runners crushing the guarantee and having a $19k prize pool!

DP is clearly the best room in the area for low buy-in tournaments. Why even bother with those cheap ones at Perryville? Plus, DPs tournaments are run very well.

Anyone know if Ocean Downs casino in O c md. Will have poker anytime soon?

None planned. Closest poker room is a small one in Harrington Delaware.

I read that they started building an addition for table games, with no plans for poker " at this time". Guess you have info that this is still true? What about electronic poker tables.....? Thanks for the info !

Does anyone have a contact with the Baltimore Horseshoe office? Thanks a lot in advance.

How's the 5/10 nlh at maryland live?

Im going to the wpt in niagra next month then i have a week off of school bc of spring break, thinking of driving down to maryland live.

im thinking of heading to maryland live because ive heard its good and looking at bravo theres 5-10 nlh around the clock

way better than motor city here where 5/10 nlh only runs on fri from 3-3am and saturday from 5-3am

I've never played it but I hear it's good. There's a specific thread for Maryland Live in the Poker Venues subforum also. I play lower limits, but it's probably worth you knowing that it's hard to find a truly bad game there in my experience.

Question: Would players in addition to myself be interested in regular shuttle service to and from Maryland Live? I live in Northern Virginia (Woodbridge, VA). I would be willing to pay a reasonable fee for shuttle service to and from Maryland Live so that I wouldn't have to do significant driving when I'm tired or intoxicated. Are there a substantial number of other players who feel the same way? (Also, such a shuttle service might keep me playing at Maryland Live after the National Harbor casino opens.)

Mid 20 y/o's...I live right by MDLive, where is the hot spot bar to go to on the weekends?

Greene turtle? Kinda sports barrish, but, um, you live in Hanover MD bruh. Drive to federal Hill if you want a real bar/club.

ETA1: cancun cantina maybe, but it's sorta country-ass if that's what you're into.

ETA: Also, lol at you for not being able to find a suitable bar after what, 4 months?

Old Town Ellicott City is your best bet. LOL at the Cancun Cantina suggestion, btw. Can't believe how long that place has been open.

Been grinding and dieting mostly and I'm from NJ so idk what there is to do around here.

Thanks for the suggestions!

Line dancing tho.

And ima lol right back at you for main St. Randall is 24 not 44.

The Phoenix is a nice dive bar in old Ellicott City if you're into that scene. (Kinda Hipsterish)

Really it depends on what you're looking for.

I'm 32, married with child so I'm a bit past the bar scene but still get out every now and then because we have some younger friends.

I think Buffalo Wild Wings and Dave and Busters both attract younger crowds right near the Casino but I'm in the go to Federal Hill or Fells Point or Canton group.

Check out The Diamondback Tavern in Ellicott City. Good friend of mine owns the joint. Says there is always tons of young ass in there, esp Thurs-Sat nights.

Downtown Annapolis is good too. Prob about 20 min tops from MdLive so not too far away. Pusser's, Dock Street, O'Brien's, Acme, and a bunch more bars all walking distance from each other. Tons of hot young ass running around town letting their freak flag fly.

Also, +1 on Fed Hill, Canton, Fells Point for Baltimore spots to hit.

We're thinking about moving to Baltimore for the next couple years..I'd like to live in a nice area that's also a great location for Maryland Live and the new Horseshoe..Any local advice ? Thanks

This depends on whether you want to live IN THE CITY or on the outskirts/suburbs. Also on what sort of lifestyle you lead, your age, kids, etc etc etc. Feel free to provide more info or PM me.

In a nutshell, there are a few decent to nice hoods near the stadium that will actually be walkable to the shoe. (although at night you'll definitely want to drive or cab it).

We probably prefer In the City but can adapt easily..It will be just my wife and I and we're both not into the nightclub/bar scene but like fine dinning , sports, movies/music ect..I'll be playing fulltime poker while in Baltimore and she can easily land a job in the medical/health field...

You might want to look at the Otterbein neighborhood. It's close enough to Inner Harbor and Federal Hill to walk, and is spitting distance to Camden Yards. Mostly 30s-40s often with kids. Most other neighborhoods are either going to be infested with 20somethings and/or hipsters, or are a lot less walkable. Just imo.