2/2 PLO was 9 handed when I played on the opening day.
Also any time game is 9 handed. 5/10 was 9 handed when I played.

Overall really liked room especially self serve drink station and higher buy-ins.

Most annoying thing was dealer waiting for chip runner when someone got stacked so they can be dealt into next hand - just deal them out next hand & then call for chip runner if you can’t give them chips out of the rack. Hopefully they get this figured out - it’s costing them money so they have motivation.

Which games are timed ?

And if the drive is the same for me is it worth coming up to Springfield over say Mohegan right now ?

I have not played yet, but typically new rooms have softer games early on, so it probably is worth trying it out.

I like this. Two omahas no razz and no kill. hope its going often, I'll be there

I was debating the same thing. I'm about the same distance between mohegan and MGM, with foxwoods being 15 min extra.

I've been playing at the CT casinos for the last year, and unless things change quickly, I can't do MGM yet based on the first couple of days.

You're getting I would venture to guess 3x as many hands in the other casinos because of the chip runner situation, the new dealers, the new players that tank for minutes over a $10 bet. Its hard to offset the poor quality of players with the lack of hands. Besides, from what ive seen, more than half the table are refugees from foxwoods and mohegan anyway and the super new players buy in for the min, lose it and leave. Maybe things are different at the higher levels.

I'm beginning to appreciate the quality of the dealers at Mohegan now that I have something to compare it to. haha

But i'm sure things will change in a few months, still too early to tell.

Was worried about all the new room issues

While this is technically a new room it is still a similar market with it being largely MS and FW infested. Surely there will be new dead money in the room early but not nearly as much as a new room in a completely new market. I was there last night for about 4 hours but don't really see me returning anytime soon as it is further out for me and the games aren't any different than in CT.

If they have chip runners, why can’t someone be playing “behind” like here in Vegas?
Where dealer keeps track of what said player owes to the pot, and if the pot is pushed player pays up when chips arrive. They should know better, MGM Properties here do it.

What happens if it’s multiple pots ? Does the dealer keep track of said player owing money to numerous people ?

Maybe let them play behind if it can be done quickly and easily, but if it stalls the game at all, deal them out and move the game on. I think the game should always be moving on, there are nine other people being inconvenienced for one person. No one is owed a hand for busting out. Same idea with first buy ins, they don’t want to inconvenience one person while nine people are inconvenienced.
Ive seen people buy in for the minimum and repeatedly rebuy the minimum at the table and slow down the game. I personally will get up and go to the cage most of the time unless I would miss a blind or button.
Priority should be to keep the game moving.

So where do you folks who have had a chance to visit MGM like eating there? Good bar scene and places to go? I'm thinking the taproom will be my place to drink.

BTW, anyone want to step outside of the casino for a bit I recommend the Red Rose Pizzeria.

Games 5/5 and higher are timed, so 5/10 NL, 5/5 PLO and higher. $7/half hour for 5/5 and 5/10 (might be higher for anything higher than that).

I am the same drive to MS and Springfield as well. I will probably split time between the two. From what I saw there were plenty of underground Springfield players there (in the 2/2 PLO and 2/5 NL games) to make it worth it despite it being slower. 5/10 didn't really run slower than MS other than when someone busted. That game didn't really have local players but had enough non MS/FW players to pique my interest.

Also the one time someone busted at 2/5 and there was a holdup until the chip runner came, when play did resume they did have the guy play with 300 behind w no lammers. He called a raise to 40 pre then folded the flop and just kept track that he owed the one player 40 when the chips came. Luckily they came the 2nd hand otherwise that could've been a nightmare.

About 3 minutes away is Pintu's Indian. Great place to grab lunch on your way in.

As for hotels, read reviews closely. Plenty of cheaper hotels about 5 to 15 minutes away in West Springfield or Chicopee. Some are a good place to crash, some are temporary housing shelters for homeless and are not a place you want to be.
All of the downtown hotels, I believe there are 5 within walking distance are good.

5/10 won't run consistently there, it's simply a dead player pool in the NE area until the Wynn opens

Has anyone heard about possible tournament stops or “series” for the future?

Public service—- do not speed on the pike or drink and drive. The staties are out in full force. I got pulled over going 85 in the fast lane. Please be careful

Yeah. It’s done here all the time.
Sir/Mam you owe seat one $26 and seat seven $10.
Don’t see the biggie

Yes be careful! We don’t want the drunk driving reckless drivers to get arrested or anything!

You're failing to account for many of these dealers being brand new as mandated by the local hiring policy. New dealers are trained by the book so asking them to act outside the box on this issue probably isn't a road they want to go down. I don't blame them in this instance. Of course if say Mohegan went to a short rack and chip runners this wouldn't be a problem with their dealers experience but that isn't the case here.

I know, 85 not bad, take it easy

How about people just wait and miss a hand- damn, its not gonna tank your sessions! Skip a hand and help the game out. You’d probably make up for the lost hands with the extra hands squeezed into the speedier sessions.
Most players would probably save money missing a few hands a year ( but not us right? )

Yeah there is nothing wrong with this either. I was only pointing out what seems to be the most obvious reason for not allowing players be dealt in while playing x-amount behind.

I hear you- I just meant to direct that at the issue I general

I second this recommendation. Also, Frigo's which is about the same distance in the opposite direction is a great place to grab a lunch.

Is the rake the same for 1/2 as Moh or FW?