Really? I get the impression from reading other casino threads that 7CS is practically non-existent outside of Foxwoods.

Yea, Stud is the do-do bird of poker. not many forward-thinking workers in 'Woods poker room.

Look at all the popular non-holdem variants around the world. Omaha, HL8, triple draw, other draw games. Every one of these games is in some way, and some a lot more than other, neglected at Foxwoods (i don't believe they are competent enough to work with more poker games than hold em at foxwoods), and also neglected throughout new england area due to not having a single legitimate option for poker. foxwoods has had years to get it right, yet they are the most complained about casino in the entire world.

they should not be felt bad for when they get their belly busted when massachusetts takes their casino dollars right away from them. there can be no other scenario that will occur than this.

Yes, I am...thank you for remembering.
I will maintain that the East Coast big rooms spread more varied games than almost all other casinos and areas of the country. Exception to this will be the LA area card rooms, namely Commerce, Bike and sometimes Hawaiian Gardens. I include "big rooms" on EC to be FX and Borgata. A chance look at the Bravo app, right now, tuesday 1130am shows Foxwoods spreading 28 games- 5 Limit HE, 13 NLHE, 9 stud, and 1 L o/e. Thats incredible for a Tuesday Morning. (imo) Borgata only has nine active tables at present, all Hold'em.
Hey, I also will chastise some of the LA based regs as well, and do it in person. At the Bike, I get to choose between o/e and stud/e all the time, and between 4/8 FK, 6/12, 8/16. (s/e usually goes only at 4/8 FK). But DANG, the regs and props are always complaining about the game, dealers, open seats, wandering props, chip runners, - and I have to tell them that in Sacramento, my home base for now, we are lucky to have one table of 4/8 o/e FK running at all. Thats my real rationale for saying you don't know how good you have it- its the fact you have it at all, versus being in a black hole of mixed games like most of the country. Even the LV strip is void of a lot of mixed action. The HORSE MTT at Orleans and MGM is a really nice touch that I try and get to often.
So anyways...I'll maintain my overall happiness with everything at FXWD- games mix, MTT mix, dedicated MTT area, getting a seat wait time, 5th St Cafe, beverage service, dealers and cleanliness. It is what it is- and it is pretty dang good.

And the point about Massachusetts opening and taking a run at FX- agree, and lets not forget the Twin Rivers option as well. However, that which does not kill you makes you stronger. Will FX actually get stronger from the competition that is about to happen? we'll see. no predictions, as I'm only a 2x/yr visitor now. But as a potential customer, I will enjoy the choices.

You guys do know that it's not the casino that chooses what games are spread right?

You can start a list of interest at pretty much any casino and if you have enough players that are willing to play short handed to start it, and its a game the casino is licensed to spread and the is enough dealers they will spread the game. Some floor people are better about this than others but they are in the business of creating rake not deciding what games should or should not be popular. It's the players who drive what games get spread not the casino, I dont know why you seem to think its the other way around.

[QUOTE=monkeymaps;35093191]You guys do know that it's not the casino that chooses what games are spread right?QUOTE]
um....yeah, I think we know that.
however, the room management and culture will work towards getting mixed games spread. A room with three tables and limited customer base will not have any tendency to spread anything but HE. A room with 100 cash tables and a casino full of folks (Foxwoods) will be looking to serve as many varied customers as possible. There are large, very large rooms, that are not the least bit interested in spreading any mixed game. (like the Hustler) there are also large rooms that are trying, in some instances, too hard to keep mixed games going (Hollywood Lawrenceburg)
The best mixed games in LV are found at Orleans, away from the strip, and not any part of the mega-corporate culture of MGM-CET. Its a very friendly and locals dominated room; probably the antithesis of a big, corporate recipe. Kind of like Foxwoods, they are their own bosses, and can be as innovative as they want. The Oaks in Emeryville, The Bike, Borgata, Palm Beach KC are others that seem to want to get more "others-mixed" in the door and retain same as their own loyal customers.
I really do think we are on the historical cusp of poker moving to other mixed games as a way to get other people in the door. It will be done, my prediction, the same way that NLHE grew- in small increments. Everybody learned how to play hold'em in smaller stakes games, 2-4, 3-6 etc., then 100max, 300 max and on up to their own comfort level. Casinos that want to spread PLO 400-2000 better have a ready and willing base to support that (like Naples-FtMyers) or you can advertise it all day and not get enough interest. Sadly, thats the maddening think for the adept mixed games player. you may have to suffer at lower limits to truly get what you want later. I did see a great 8-game mix at Wynn during the WSOP. They were getting tourists involved, they could sit out some games, or even play partners- and it was all $1.00 chips. It was a fab learing expo for a lot of people, and some of the pros in the game seemed to enjoy teaching the game.
So, merely stating that its up to the customer to get a room to list and then spread a certain game is very simplistic and not quite as simple as monkeymaps suggests. Poker rooms and managers will need to find ways to get more people into the rooms, if only to maintain current play levels. All kinds of leisure/recreational industries are finding this out- golf, bowling, movie theaters, miniature golf, drive-in movies, Burger King, etc. Grow, or go.

Are you implying that by somehow offering different games people how would not otherwise play poker will suddenly start showing up??

I just disagree with this at any given time there are xamount of people who want to play poker, there are causal players, tourists, pros, retirees whatever. Most casinos will spread what ever there is a demand for, 10 years ago FW was all 2/4 and 4/8 limit holdem now everyone wants to play NLH so thats what they spread. This is totally decided upon by what the players want to play. Yes some places are move helpful with starting a new game than others, but you seem to vastly overestimate what a poker room means to a casinos gaming revenues. Like why are they going to spend thousands advertising games that may or not even get off the ground to generate a small amount of rake or they just could open another 1/2 game. An empty table with a dealer is just a opportunity cost they dont really care what is being spread and in general in larger properties poker just isn't a large source of revenue for them so they just aren't going to spend for no reason.

I understand what your saying and there is so much hate on FW and other casinos in these forums that just doesn't make sense poker in casinos is totally customer driven, start new games fill them with players then yes new games will take off but often this takes considerable effort on the part of the players, but when there are 500 people in the room all looking to play 1/2 NLH why would a casino be bothering to steer people towards other games??

No, Mr Maps- that is not the implication at all. It is becoming a little bit of a circular argument here, and I've no wish to argue at all anyways. More of a chicken and egg thing- which comes first- a willing poker venue or a bunch of players who want to play mixed games.
In any event, the poker room has to be very strong to begin with in order to even think about directing resources to spread any kind of game other than something wildly popular. On that we agree.
There are only a few places- the ones mentioned- that can even put a game like Horse, Stud/8, 2/7 draw up on a board. And to do this, they've certainly planned for it in their own Business Model Canvas. While most other rooms in the USA have no room on their canvass for anything but LH and NLH. And lastly, my point is....that Foxwoods is one of the few that attempts to spread as many different games as possible to satisfy the widest range of poker players. They are will to try, and even that trying leaves them wide open for criticism from the most number of people.

Any updates on polling in RI over them getting table games, more importantly here, poker?

Maryland is embroiled in a battle and getting extensive coverage over in Legislation. I'm wondering where RI stands at this point in polling. Does it look like a lock to pass? To fail? About dead even at this point?

Agree fxwd is a great establishment, compared to many casinos in the country. U can have a great time there. I guess I had just looked at it through my own eyes; I'm a small-stakes mixed-game player. kinda anti hold 'em in that I always worked better in mixed games, I've had a hard time adjusting to holdem.

It's hard for me to hear the things that go on around the country, like small horse events, variety in L.A. or enumerous mix tourneys during summer Vegas. i don't think that this casino has done enough to promote it's omaha and mix-games @ cash tables. Whoever decides the tournament schedule seems to think that Hold 'em is the only game that people would like to play. I think the reason they vastly prefer to deal hold 'em is they're lazy, it has simple rules/2cards/dealers can't *** up as easy.

FX has been incompetent in many ways, new Mass. casinos will hopefully bring into existence a healthy mix-game scene that appeal to the players want to vary their poker from just Hold 'Em. If Mass. legislation could create in the NewE area 1/10th the amount of mix-game action as florida casinos, it would be huge.

I hope many reading can help me, when the time comes, to lobby the poker rooms for these types of games, and our region can thrive like it should b/c this is actually the perfect state to have casino gaming in. Look at the floor of a convenience store, it's amazing how many keno tickets and scratch tickets you will see.

I am one of those players who would show up if imo better games were spread, not just boring, dull crusty NLHE. due to my Loloption in this area I live in, my poker is forced online to Merge and revolution network. it's a huge joke what poker represents to certain americans who happen to influence the powerful.

The 5/10FK Omaha8 game that foxwoods runs is a joke. It plays nitty and I think the game misses out on a lot of recreational players; there was better action when they had 4/8 HK several years ago. And I don't accept that foxwoods spreading DoDo bird Stud, 5/10FK Omaha8, and Limit Hold 'em counts as FX poker room spreading interesting non-nlhe side games, b/c if you compare it to any other region in the country, new england is dryest in the availability of interesting non-hold 'em games.

It's way too hard to get an omaha table added non-peak hours; then its hard to get a 2nd/3rd omaha table going on weekends, all b/c they won't start games shorthanded. If this room could break from gazing at money signs and for once show some appreciation to poker players who I think bring some legitimacy to a place that preys on gambling sicknesses, many more would be able to enjoy their favorite poker games in new england.

@FWCU

I think you are missing my point in that its on the players to demand what games they want to be spread. FW will and does open tables once there is names on the list and if the players agree to play short handed to start a game they will allow that. I myself have played heads up or three handed to get a game off the ground. There are some floor people that are better about this than others for sure, but in many cases what happens is the people on this list aren't willing to play short so the game wont go. The best way to get games off the ground is a player doing the leg work finding other to play once the game gets off the ground on a regular basis than it is less of issue in the future.

Its really just supply and demand, I think your larger complaint should be about players that don't want to try new games because the casino doesn't really care what they spread its about the demand from the players.

Like you said yourself some of the mix games are nitty, well that's not really the casinos fault who plays in the games right?

I contend that regional casinos are not doing near enough promotional work to spread more interesting mix-games as a reward to loyal players who would love variety.

I also think you overestimate the ability to organize that would be needed for a minority group, in which it would be a struggle to convince suits to understand poker. Gl in that endeavor

I think with Mass getting 3 casinos and Twin River possibly having a poker room will hurt the health of non NLH games in New England. Your going to have 6 poker rooms by 2017. The player pool will be spread out. I hope I'm wrong. Check out the Bravo app. In states with multiple poker rooms like Ohio, FLA & Penn stud and mid stakes limit hold'em are non existent. I know Parx gets a 15-30 and sometimes a 30-60 but we are looking at a future of 2-4 hold'em, 1-2, and 2-5 NLH. Maybe a 1-5 stud. Foxwoods from 05 till 09 was probably one of the top five rooms in the country for variety of games.

My beef with Foxwoods is that they should work on a schedule for Omaha 8 and mixed games. Many times I've seen the board with 5-10 O, 10-20 O, 20-40 O, 10-20 O.E., 10-20 H.O.R.S.E., 15-30 H.O.R.S.E., 20-40 O.E., and 20-40 H.O.E.. They open a 10-20 O.E., the 5-10 shuts down. And forget about starting a 15-30 mix or 20-40 O. I've brought this up to the players and the floor - say if the 5-10 is going don't open up a 10-20 O.E. instead promote a 15-30 Mix. It won't kill the omaha game. Plus try to designate certain games for certain nights. Have a 20-40 mix go on Thursday and Saturday nights. And when that is running don't start a list for 10-20 or 15-30 mixes.

What Stelios is proposing does work, and some rooms use the Bravo system to promote it.
Peppermill in Reno has certain high limit games with a sign-up open one week in advance of the game, with a stated time and day right on the top of the list. Say, customers and room are interested in spreading 10-20 o.e., Thursday, 6pm. Just sign up, and show up. Names after #9 are next in order. If you blow it off more than once, you can't sign up in advance anymore. Period. The Bike does this as well- it started with "Live at the Bike" scheduling.
We have all this wonderful technology. Lets start to use it. Not just poker rooms, but customers as well. I know 2 casino hosts in Sacramento who use their phones, tweets and fb/etc to notify their followers for 5-10PLO or 10-20 NLH. Not e-mail blasts, but rather targeted, specific messages that get to the right addressee at the right time.

Like your idea for improving the games, Stelios. There hasn't been a variety of interesting mix games for a recreational player, though.

Stud and Limit Hold 'em, not everybody's cup of tea. And I would not consider a 20/40 O.E. game a particularly great job in promoting mix; I believe this is the game you might've been thinking, that foxwoods was considered holding mixgames. We need 1/2, 5/10, and 6/12 type games in order to get the customers thinking there's a world outside nlhe.

I think once poker decisions are being made in this area by more rooms than just foxwoods, there will be a whole lot more variety. Little O8 out in springfield; little PLO out in Rhode Island. Maybe some players north of Boston will get a fun Triple Draw/Badacey mix going at Suffolk Downs. I know this state has 1000s upon 1000s of players, and truly think 50% residents think in gambling terms. I think we'll be much better off in 2017, I look forward to playing some fun 1's with all you players that have grown slightly tired of the NLH. Here's to that..

I don't remember the last time 20-40 ran. FCU do you know if Mohegan gets any omaha? Once FW went to 5-10 I figured Mohegan should of tried to promote a 4-8 half kill.

Mohegan gets the occasional HOE or HO at 3/6 or 4/8 level, mostly on a Friday or Saturday. Played last Saturday 4/8 Holdem/Omaha8 rotation. Fun game.

I think you are 95% mistaken on this.
The rooms spread what the players want to play, not the other way around.
If you really want to get some unusual game started as a regular thing at FW or anywhere else, you will have to do it as part of a group of players, not expect room management to do it for you.
FW has lists for various mixed games every day (and they will start a list for you for any game they're licensed for), but the games only go if enough players actually sign up, and if they then actually show up when the game is called. Usually doesn't happen, not because of FW, but because there simply isn't enough demand.
If anything, I think that adding poker at Suffolk Downs, Taunton, Springfield, Long Island, etc.,will enlarge the player pool overall, but will dilute it much more, and may make it harder to find a good mixed game anywhere. Not because of the rooms, but simply because the players will be more spread out.
However, the exception to this (why I said 95% above) would be if any one of the rooms decides to try to promote an unusual game to distinguish iteslf from the other rooms. This does happen, and occasionally works, but it's usually a semi-desperate step taken by a smaller and less successful room (e.g., Mohegan Sun, some of the smaller LV rooms) in competition with large successful ones. Also it's possible (but I'm not optimistic) if a core group of players sets up a regular time and venue for a particular game. This does work, but you've got to have that core group.

Penn National (Hollywood Casino) Springfield , MA proposal:
http://www.bostonherald.com/business...ome&position=5

It includes a poker room!
Penn National’s proposed development will feature 3,000-3,500 slot machines; 80-100 live table games; a 20-30 table poker room; a hotel with 300-500 guestrooms and a spa; a variety of food and beverage options ......

a most xlent proposal. Intersting to note that further in the article Penn Nat is also acquiring Harrah's St. Louis casino.

Has anyone heard what the rake will be to play poker at a Casino in Ma.? I know they are pretty steep in Ohio and figure Ma. will do something that will be just as untenable. Opinions or Facts welcome.

We won't find this out for long long time

The good news is that the MA tax rate on gaming revenues will be lower than Ohio, hopefully that translates to no more than Foxwoods rake!

Most states dictate the max rake the house can take.

Massachusetts has made it clear that they're not interested in governing this industry the way all the other, dumb states do. They're smarter than everybody, and they're out to reinvent the wheel, rather than just copy another state's gaming regs.

My point is: ANYTHING is possible, and NOTHING would surprise me. They might forget to address this, and the rooms can charge whatever they like (and if they're only competition is NH's $7/hand rake, then what do you THINK they'll charge?). Or the state may dictate a max rake so low, that no casino will find it worthwhile to have a poker room. Or anything else you can dream up, I couldn't call your wildest dream "unlikely".

Ugh.

Feds shoot down the compact between Taunton Indians and Gov Patrick, saying the 21% going to the state is too much, and other provisions unfairly restrict the tribe in non-gaming areas like hunting and fishing??????

http://www.eagletribune.com/latestne...Taunton-casino