These habitual walkers exist in every casino. We will identify them and reserve the right to pick them up with repeated abuses. We will rely on players to help us police this.

+1

Made first trip out yesterday, beautiful casino. Reminds me of a cross between aria and cosmo.

Sharing some feedback from the first of what will be many future visits. Johnny, i really appreciate that you've been so open and responsive in this thread. Many service based businesses simply ignore their customers and this is such a nice change of pace!

- love that the TVs are mounted high and you dont have to dodge people to get a good view of a ballgame, waitlist etc.

- very friendly staff. saw some of MDLs finest dealers on shift so compliments for the great hires.

-The bathrooms water does come out uncomfortably hot...

-Open Seats went unfilled for far too long. It seems the open seat cards would get picked up pretty quickly but then nothing happened. i'm sure once staffing levels are where they need to be this problem will resolve itself. I did see the seat card rule enforced which was great.

-the front desk brush area could really use a nice sized monitor for the employees. pained me to see a billion dollar property with the poker room running off a 14" screen laptop

-gone for > 30 min pick up chips rule has a great spirit but may need to be re-visited to 45 min? Knowing this rule in advance, i scrambled to get a quick bite. I timed it at 25 minutes. I did not dilly dally around either. Had i tried Shake Shack there is no way i would have been thru that line within 30 minutes. I did see they have a mobile app so that will be my workaround next time.

- as mentioned, doesnt seem to be many trash cans in the room.

- chip racks are a rare sightnng.

- did see a security guy try to enforce the hoodies up rule.

- did not see any chip carts running thru when i arrived, so i just bought at cage, not a huge deal, just sharing.

- seems the green chips are in play in far greater frequency in 1-3 games than in other rooms. doesnt really bother me as chips are chips for the most part but i do think this somewhat slows down the game when change is constantly being made.

- loved the waitress just hauling out a bunch of bottled waters and roaming around offering to players without advance order. Maybe the same can be done for coffees and waitresses have sugar/cream on them to make to customers preference?

- lots of table talk about hating the 1 chip rule and someone needing to be the scrummy guy that "takes a stand" and makes a point of why this is a bad rule. I still dont get the hysteria over this so i will just stop.

Finally, Thank you to all the staff and management! Cant imagine all the energy-stress-hours to get this going. The DMV is gonna be the new poker capital thanks in part to you all. Seems that lots of people are just complaining for the sake of complaining but please accept there will always be trolls and they represent the bottom 1%. This is going to be a great room! Cant wait to see the promos in feb!! Thanks for what you all do!

RE: chip racks

Looks like they are being kept in an Ikea looking piece of furniture near table 5 (pillar between poker and VP)

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As a few others have posted above, I see no abuse here.

The player you cite as "abusing" the wait list still has to show up to play several hours early. This doesn't seem like much of an angle.

And if you restricted the dinner list, this player would probably still show up and sit down early, but just leave their stack unoccupied for as long as they possibly can while they get dinner.

Letting them use the dinner list allows another player to play and removes the controversy of how long the table should wait before picking up someone's chips (which is almost always longer than it should be). So this actually reduces pressure on the wait list and make everything run more smoothly.

Did I say I think that?

I visited the MGM yesterday. I sat down around 815 just before the Dallas and Tampa game. Here are my thoughts:

Access to MGM from Nova -
It was incredibly easy to find the casino and park
Signs easily guide you to the huge parking lot.
The parking lot was packed but still ample spots left.
I was able to find a spot in the cut within a minute of driving around
Spots can be identified easily
The workers guiding traffic did nothing but stand there looking like cross guards in grade school

The casino -
The elevators to the garage is located right in front of the casino entrance
It was easy to find the entrance but everybody was ID'd so it took longer than expected to enter the casino
The place is large, bright and loud. Restrooms are all over the casino
Although the casino is brand new, I was expecting much more out of the MGM.
The restaurants and the casino is separated so getting a quick snack/meal is impossible

Poker room - Pros
The room is on one floor which I prefer over MDL's second story poker room
The room is super bright and the air flow is nice but the noise that leaked from the asian table games was way too loud
There are tvs located everywhere in the room
The huge wall of tv is a great addition
There's a huge variety of poker games
The casual players exists

Poker Room - Cons
No cup holders on the table - it slowed down the game to find cup holders so I kept one ready in case somebody wanted to slow it down

Table and Seat cards - although we had this system in place, there were several times where we had 6-7 players at the table for stretches of 15-25 mins. Our dealers would ask several times to get new players

Front desk is pathetic - It's crazy to think that this newly created billion dollar casino has such a sad excuse of a podium and computer system. Everybody using the computer had to squint to use it.

Chip runners - There were times where we had to stop action to get a chip runner to come to our table. There were multiple times where the chip runner made a mistake and slowed the game for us.

Poker room staff - There were some very green dealers and you can tell. Some of them didn't take constructive criticism well. A player asked the dealer to keep the action going, instead of agreeing the dealer argued that he had to make sure that the money was correct. I agree that you don't want to get in trouble for being short but you must also understand that your job is a service. The more hands we see, the more money the dealer will make. If you can only manage to get out 7-9 hands at table full of alert people, you are only screwing yourself.

Another instance we had two people walk away from the table, when they returned, they posted their missing blinds and called my straddle. The dealer was confused and had no idea how much money to make dead and how much more they had to call. At the end the dealer took our advice but if there really was any uncertainty, he should've called the pit boss.

The pit bosses were awesome. They were able to provide useful answers to my question and they seemed alert and willing to help. Overall the entire staff minus some dealers and chip runners were really good.

Service -

These are probably the best waitresses that I've dealt with on opening months and that includes: Charlestown, Maryland Live and the Horseshoe

They had carts full of refreshments, ladies were walking around with lots of water and soda. Special orders took a split second. At 2:30 am on Monday morning, they were on point with drinks.

The food court is expensive - casinos tend to serve more costly foods - nothing really stood out as long lines and the overall attitude of the food workers left a bitter taste. If I am buying a $15 sandwich from a fast food place, I would prefer you serve my overpriced food with a semi-smile.

Cashiers -

It took me over 10 minutes to cash out at 3 am today. There were two people behind the cage so it shouldn't have taken as long as it did. The cashiers are triple checking everything. It also doesn't help when the chip runners are cutting the patrons. No sorry or I hope you don't mind, just cutting in front of the people patiently waiting to cash out.


Overall I am pleased with my experience. Everything is sad with constructive criticism so don't take it as a personal attack.


Johnny: I am very impressed with your responsiveness to the thread. You are truly the right person for this job.

Edit: I may have broken a rule but I didn't know about it until reading the thread. I sat down when the wait list dwindled down to open seating. That's why I took the opportunity to sit down and escape when the next dealer sat down so I could rush over for dinner.

I was at the table by 820 and I took my dinner break at 9 when the new dealer sat down and without taking my chips form the table. I was able to eat and return back to my seat at 940. Nothing was said to me and it was all good, at least that's what I gathered.

I wanted to emphasize this point to Johnny - I had this experience as well. The dealer's rack was short, and he said he wouldn't deal until he could notify a floor person, because he, quote, "would get blamed for the short if he didn't". With this and some other chip fill issues, we ended up not seeing our first hand until 10 minutes after the down started. Fortunately, the floor allowed us to pay only half time for the insane delay, but this kind of thing shouldn't happen.

So I played yesterday and got sat at a pretty bad table. Every one was short, and no one was really putting any money into the pot except for this one lady. Well she got mad she wasn't winning any hands and just up and left and sat to the table behind her, and didn't ask for a table change or anything. So I finally ask for a table change and the floor guy said he would be right with me.

He never came back so I just said screw it and got up and went to another table. No one said anything and no problem at all. The new table I was at was good for a while, but than the fishes busted and were replaced with short stacks ($100) again, and I was the only $1000+ stack with one other player who I busted who rebought for $500. So I ask for a table change again, and he said he said he would be right back. He never came back so I said screw it and took my chips and started walking around to look for a good table to play at.

I get confronted this time and said I couldn't leave that table because it was short handed. I said that's fine, and just cashed out.

What is the ruling on this? Clearly it's not allowed or the floor person wouldn't of yelled at me, but if I ask for a table change and he never comes back, what would you guys do? Also the action lady who was really poor at the game did it, and should the table of spoken up?

I think the best and proper way to ask for a table change is to visit the front podium, tell them where you are sitting and request a table change. The system should be built to put you at the top of the list and they will call your name.

In my experience, a floor person who is walking through the room is typically busy with more important matters related to the game.

Most of the service/staff issues are improving daily. Many of the new hires didnt have casino experience, but they are taking direction well and will be grizzled veterans in no time. We have already ordered a much larger front podium more suitable for the volumes we are doing. Thanks for the info... We will put it to good use.

There should never be a delay this long in a poker game. If the cards aren't moving, players are pissed, and I am not making rake. I apologize for this one... It doesnt make a lot of sense to me...

Correct, but we have Bravo input capability at 3 different areas of the room. The supervisor should have taken care of that.

Johnny - I have visited the poker room the previous two Saturday mornings...the first trip for 11 hours and the second one for 8 hours. Despite the challenges with a new opening, I have loved my visits. I had two great tables. Most everyone was patient with new dealers and we had fun playing. I want you to know that the pit boss/floor staff we had both times were fantastic. Saturday's guy handled problems with ease, but you could tell he was a veteran of poker rooms.
Keep up the good work! Love it.

Had a dealer today who was quite obviously new, and he kept talking about the hands, action and strategy. Even pointing out after a player limp called with KK that the next hand he limped and I raised he said "oh you don't learn he limp KK!".


Just inappropriate. I let one of the floor know after his session. Fortunately it was a pretty amicable table and nobody seemed to care.

For someone who plays almost exclusively poker, is there any benefit to advancing in tier level? Do pearl card holders earn more free food than sapphire? Gold more than pearl? Sorry if this is obvious, but it just doesn't seem like there is a benefit to having a higher tier if all you play is poker....

Had another mostly-great experience yesterday. One dealer had no idea what she was doing--making a mistake on nearly half the hands dealt (not an exaggeration).

Anyone else having a really hard time finding their car in the lot? Both times I've been, I've remembered the number and letter, but couldnt make any sense of the lettering system, so i end up just wandering until i found it.

(1) There is a sign next to the elevators with a map of the lettered sections. However, if it can't be found

(2) The elevator banks have an entrance that makes you walk through a hallway between the elevators and an entrance that is more flush with the elevators. If you remember which of the two entrances you walked through then that might help you orient to find your car.

I recommend the Shake Shack app for ordering. Selected my pick up time, placed an order, paid within the app, and got a text when it was ready. Head over and order was ready to go.

Hopefully it'll always be that efficient.

Johnny, I am really impressed by how quickly things have improved after only 1 1/2 week. Your responsiveness to this thread is also great.

Updates on previous nitpicks:

- The temperature in the room early this morning was just about perfect for me (subjective of course). One caveat; I was farther from the door today, at table 10, than I have been the other days (18 and 15)

- The dealers(or someone) need to make sure players use the cup holders if the tables are going to remain this way. With the servers bringing hot drinks without a lid it's not just about avoiding a mess; I would hate to see someone scalded at the table.

- Wait service in the early AM seems roughly equivalent to or slightly better than Live.

- Good to hear you are replacing the registration desk.

- This morning was the first time the cashiers were running at a good clip; I hope that will continue.

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Visited again last weekend. Everything seems to be better. Kudos for the continued improvements!

At some point, it might make sense to expand the poker room if the traffic continues to be even 60-80% as heavy as it is right now. Johnny - has the volume of players been at or above expectations so far?

social- yes, and no. All your food comps from poker hours are going to be the same regardless of level. And you need to get a paper comp from the podiums for a food voucher. This is pretty standard at MGM across the USA. And your poker food vouchers don't jump to another casino. OK for Nat.Har., but sometimes ugghh for Las Vegas. I have vouchers at excalibur and MGM that I might not ever use. And I've exhausted mine at Mirage and Bellagio.

Mostly due to my wife's slots play, she and I are Platinum. Yes, you can merge spouses accounts, which gives you a combined earning power. Yes, once you achieve a higher level, you get points and general comps multiplied at a higher rate. I think Platinum gets a 30% bonus on every $1.00 spent- gift shop, restaurants in the program, hotel rooms, show tickets, etc.
Having Platinum is worth it for us. We are in LV 6x yearly, get free parking, great taxi and restaurant line cuts, beaucoup offers, etc. We probably won't be able to maintain Platinum, but we'll still be Gold, and its still worth it. So, even if all you think you do is play poker...well, you still eat, sleep, park a car, and maybe buy something at a branded store. I think its a worthy program.

12/18-12/19 first visit:

Thoroughly enjoyed !!! Great job Johnny and staff !

Killer !!!-
1. Lots of great employees doing their best to keep things moving despite the expected "just opened and working out the kinks" factor.
2. Really nice furniture / tv's / spacing (in most areas)
3. Bathrooms were clean and located close to tables
4. Room is located in a place that welcomes casino table games patrons' to be able to wonder through and maybe "Give poker a try!!".
5. I like the movable cup holders option vs built in the table type except the dealers should be more vigilant in telling players to have their stacks properly arranged to not hide the blacks and greens....no biggie , really.
6. The giant "four square" tvs are super cool!!! ( maybe could have been placed a foot or two higher to allow clear viewing from the entire room.

Not so killer-
1. Not happy with the 10 handed 2/5 games....(instead of the planned 9)..I get it , its busy, but the room did slow down and I ended up getting shoveled around when my table broke and then the next one broke, etc, .....is it possible to transition to 9 handed somehow when it slows down??? Maybe have a few designated 9 handed tables going, giving players an option to transfer to those tables?? Same subject , majority of dealers were not making sure everyone was "squared up", would have made the 10 handed play a little more tolerable.
2. Parking lot is kind of confusing....Im sure we'll all get it wired in no time.
3. I don't like 1/2 hour dinner break, I played for 6 hours on a great, I mean killer, table and to only get 1/2 hour to go eat was not enough ( I wanted to take at least 45-50minute break to relax and eat). To do that , I would have had to give up my seat/table.
4. Cash Out window issues...yes I experienced all the above ITT, also noticed there are no bill counters to check/recheck???!! I saw some counting mistakes ( and corrected them, they were in my favor), both days.

Overall, HUGE thumbs up and worth the extra drive ( 1 hour + ) !!!!!

Weekend business is at volumes we expected. Weekdays are busier than we expected

GolfPro in da house!

Room looks good JG.

Heard you will be in meetings all day. Will say hello next time when I visit. Parked at table 13.

I heard you are going to put the table numbers on the top. That would be a good idea to locate the tables easily.

What would be a good time to leave to escape the evening traffic? Is 3:45-4ish good?