I think the crux of this is the bar in/adjacent to the room. I don't know of any other room that has a bar in their room.

By regulation, they are allowed to permit smoking at this bar. They do not have to allow it - but, they can and do allow it.

Two potential solutions, both may not be easy or popular:

1. Build a glass wall, with doors that must remain closed, across the back of the room, enclosing the bar. Pump up the evacuation system in that new "room".

2. Make the entire poker area non-smoking, including the bar. Put doors at the entrance to the poker area, just off the escalator. Let them smoke out there. This would be no different than any other casino.

Don't worry it annoys us just as much to hear a hackneyed tough guy spiel about how we shouldn't complain about being uncomfortable while engaging in such a manly pursuit.

Good. We're all on the same page then.

How's the room around 4am-ish on weeknights? Been going in the mornings after work but I'm off tonight and might stop over when I wake up.

FWIW

When I went I could not smell a whiff of smoke

Depends on how many chips that you regularly carry with you and if you color up prior to ending.

I've had sessions that I just wanted to leave after a bad beat, and I just dump all of the chips in one big zip loc and put it in my bag...

And others where I will rack up and color up to pumpkins.

If youve ever heard the term Pumpkin chucking FTW...

Its when you are playing the bigger game and are chucking your 5 $1k pumpkin chips that are wrapped together in a rubber band into the Pot...

And banging out a win...

Yet to come in before 8pm...coming by tommorow around 9am have some time to kill....has anyone been there around then? More the one or two tables?

again, i think the smell of smoke and second hand smoke are two big differences. While i agree that the smell of smoke is annoying and can be nauseating, i dont think it's a health risk, is it?

i have yet to check out the room, as ive been playing at harrah's chester, but i will be soon. they're both equidistant from my house so i have a feeling where i may start playing regularly

How's the 1-2 NL games atm?

4 $1/2NL at the moment, 4 $2/5NL...action is really good atm

From talking with Ari and others there, the long range goal is to move the poker room over to the main building after the expansion construction is done in a couple of years or so. Then, there will be a 100 table set up. But that is also after the hotel and other things get built.

For right now, 60 or so is the goal for sometime next year at the present location.

Lee

Largest - without question.

Best? I'll dispute that, because I think Harrah's has the best poker room in AC. But that sort of thing is entirely subjective, and we are all free to put that particular appilation towards whichever room our personal predilictions lead us to.

Viva la difference!

Lee

I think 60 by next year is just perfect.... 60 tables at parx will by far crush the 85 tables that the borgata has. Dont get me wrong, I love the borgata poker room... and have grown quite fond of the great floor personel and amazing looking cocktail waitresses.... But Parx is a 10 min drive up I-95 from my house, and there is no substitute for convience. Im sure alot of people would agree.

No relation. The reason I may seem intolerant is this :

An obvious example of how making an issue about something that really isn't an issue (second-hand smoke in my reply here , as you'll see in a second) can possibly effect ones decision to visit this room. Fortunately, not the case here. I was in the room for a total of 14 hours on two different days. Both 7 hour sessions were from 12 noon (8-10 tables) until 7 pm ( full room). I've sat at the table closest to the bar. Each day there has been 4-10 smokers at the bar at any given time consistantly. Smoke or smell of cigs is not an issue IMHO. As I said, there may be a confusion between smell and actual second hand smoke ( possibly detering people from a visit). If there is a smell of cigarettes, I can't tell, even sitting closest to bar during busy times. But there definately is no second hand smoke whatsoever.

Moving on...



Second-hand smoke is not an issue. This is not an opinion, it is fact.Posting that second-hand smoke is bad for you is good info (and true). Implying that second-hand smoke is an issue in this room (when it clearly is not) is irresponsible and bad for business. I can't smell cigarettes either, unless some1 comes back from just having a cigarette and I can smell it on them.

Please do not take my posts out of context anymore Grim. Read OP , then my response carefully before responding .As you can see, MC's issue is second hand smoke and how it's an issue in this room. There is no second-hand smoke that could effect ones health while visiting Parx poker room and he is wrong.Therefore, I am more than correct in stating he is wrong.

Take the second-hand smoke claims "down a notch" please. Smell is smell (if there is any), but there is no second-hand smoke. The bar is ventilated sufficiently.

That is all.

Because people have complained there hasn't been enough higher LHE games spread. Just pointing out the room is making an effort to spread said games. But you saw this in your readings correct?

Not sure what My $60 dollar buy in has to do with my interest in higher limit games? If I would have said I sat 2/5 w/ $1000 would that have been cooler?

Can we just 86 the arguments about the smoke? Many people are polarized on this issue and that's probably never going to change.

I'm not trying to get the last word in here, but the only facts that are truly non-arguable in this entire discussion are:

1. Parx allows smoking in the building.
2. You may or may not encounter 2nd hand smoke at some time. (regardless of how well ventilated the building/room may be).
3. You may or may not notice the odor that is caused by smoking within the building.
4. Your ability to notice either and your tolerance to either or both, are YOURS alone.

I would also add that it is a fact that the vast majority of people would prefer if the building was made completely non-smoking.

Right now, I am taking the "under" on that happening, but I would be pleased as punch, if it did

Here in lies the crux of our issue, you can't say this. You are not a scientist, you are not using tools to measure things, you are a subjective human being spending a few hours in a room.

Just because your intentions are good, doesn't mean you can make bold claims of truth you can't prove even if the other side of an argument makes a clearly untrue (to you) and exaggerated claim. It is just plain bad discussion.

Edit: IFSATG is a statesman, diplomat, and my personal hero.

There is no second hand smoke at the poker tables at Parx. There just isn't. I don't know why this is open for interpretation. Go and see for yourselves people.

Hey from someone that has played the1/2nl at parx what would be a suitable buyin ? 50bb? Or is more than that suggested? Thanks

$60 - $300

Parx - 2 weeks later

It's been 2 weeks since Parx opened their 24 table poker room. I've been back several times since opening day. The operation has smoothed out very well. Hold em continues to dominated the majority of tables, with usually one table of 4/8 stud, one table of 1/2 PLO, and one table of 4/8 Omaha hi/lo. There are a few LHE tables ranging from 4/8 and up, and the rest are NLHE ranging from 1/2 to 5/10.

In mid-afternoons and later evenings the list for all tables run from 4-6 for 4/8 Omaha hi/lo (with that list all waiting for a seat at one table) to 15 to 25+ for 1/2 and 2/5 NLHE. I've never had to wait more than 40 minutes, although I might not get my first choice of game.

The front desk staff is handling the listings well, especially [name removed], who is a pleasure to deal with. The floor staff is hustling (working their butts off) to keep things operating well, particularly [name removed] and [name removed]. The chip runners have gotten much faster, and the cage is operating well. the cocktail servers are still drop dead gorgeous and pretty quick with the service.

The dealers have gotten better overall, although there still are some sub-par performers. There also are some real stars, dealing hands at a good clip and expertly managing the pot and the game, especially guys like [name removed].

Some notes:

- remember to tip the chip runners. While the dealers and servers are getting their tokes (although I've seen some players "forget" to tip the servers bringing complimentary beverages), the chip runners are getting forgotten. A little love, folks, Christmas is coming.

- I heard that more tables are being opened up on December 22, just in time for the holidays. ho ho ho.

- The player range is huge, from minimum buy in grinders to max buy in fish. I've had winning sessions and losing sessions, but no bad sessions.

- for those who are adverse to smoke, a drawback is the smoking that is allowed in the bar area in the back of the room. Having a smoking section in a room is like having a peeing section in a pool. It is particularly bad at the tables in the back.

- there has been some blogging about security in the parking lot. I've walked out of there at 6 PM, 11 PM, and 5 AM and not felt as though there was a problem. Let me put it another way - I don't feel any less secure there than I might walking out on the AC boardwalk at 1 AM.

Ari, the guy in charge, seems to be doing a good job as he continues to develop the room.

OK, the bad beat story - reraised with pcket kings in late position and the big blind called, everyone else folded. Flop came J 5 4 2 clubs, the BB checked and I bet, he called. Another 4 comes on the turn and BB goes all in. No way, I thought, this guy called a preflop reraise with a 4? Oh no, it was worse, he called with 54, making a boat on the turn. Did I call his all in? Of course. Sometimes it's just not your day.

Damn. You are a stubborn SOB, aren't you? You're also wrong.

How is the rake different than the Borgata? Borgata still takes up to $5 (including BBJ). Parx takes $5 and has no BBJ. Yes, you might hit a BBJ once in a blue moon, but be realistic.

Borgata has been around for years, this place has been in business 2 weeks. They are not on the level of the Borgata, but what other rooms are? You can compare 99.99% of the rooms in the US, and they will fail the Borgata.

Oh - the money on the table? Can you give me an example. I was at a 1/2 NL table last night with 3 guys with $500+, and 3 guys $300. Maybe it is not big money for you, but that is what I typically see in a 1/2 game.

Oh, since you want to kill no money on table - 2/5 NL at Parx is $1000 max buy-in, and at Borgata it is $500. What do you say about that?

I hate people killing the place. It is not perfect, and has flaws, but to completely trash it annoys the hell out of me.

Based on the fact that you didn't like the decor & cuisine and that math is hard for you, when computing rake - I'm finding difficulty in understanding your concept of abundant flaws. The dealers, overall, are slightly below par, on average. But, they are getting better every day. And, the deadwood is being weeded out. There are, in fact, many very good dealers pitching at Parx. I'm expecting within a month or two, they all will be up to standard - or gone!

Leaving the ambiance and food issue alone, how the Borgata's 1/2 rake of $4 + $1 for BBJ is different from Parx's rake of $5?

If you don't like the room - that's OK. Everyone's entitled to their opinions. I love the Borgata - IMO, it's the best run room in AC (sorry, Lee - Harrah's isn't it ). But, that room was poorly run until Stan took it over. Give Ari a shot. The room has been open just a few weeks and already there have been significant improvements, based on player feedback.

Again, regarding the rake: Folks are going to have to get over the fact that the rake in PA is different from the rake in AC (or CA, or LV, or <insert gaming mecca here>). But, the 1/2NL and 4/8LHE/LO8 are essentially the same as AC. The 8/16 is (potentially) lower, since it is raked at 5%, not 10%. The 15/30 is $6/half, same as AC. Not sure about the bigger NL games - I don't play them. And, there is no BBJ. So, if you don't max out on the rake, you get to keep that $1.

The difference with the BBJ money is that it goes back to the players.
Whereas the extra dollar for higher rake goes straight into casinos pocket.
I still detest the BBJ and wish the extra dollar stayed on the table>