No, I got that point. As I said, I'm willing to lose the 20% or whatever are smokers. Plus, that could be made up for by those going out of their way to play in a totally smoke-free atmosphere.

They didn't actually use taxpayer money. They are getting over $200M in tax breaks. You could say it's the same thing, but if they didn't get the breaks, the place wouldn't exist, and the state would have gotten zero.

I think we just all have to be prepared to call Revel what it is - a higher-end resort where gaming is a draw, but not THE draw, and poker is even less of a destination. Much like when Borgata opened, poker was thought of, but not given center-stage until the Borgata realized they could become THE poker destination in AC.

Revel has a chance to be a poker destination, but will probably opt-out and just settle in as another place to play. It is a shame because the place has potential, but unfortunately unless they move the poker room (like the Borgata did), that potential is limited to regular players and probably the same faces. Casual players will have to make an effort to get to the room. Sharks won't get enough fish, and the room will likely turn off people who like to smoke or eat while in the vicinity of the poker room.

This isn't the end of the world, but since 2+2 is a poker forum, it is realistic to think that Revel will be a room with a capped potential that may not even strive to meet it.

A soft opening can't change some of the flaws I saw, but the place is a beautiful building with some truly great settings. Poker just isn't their focus, which is fine. We just need to manage our expectations as poker players that it will fall short of what we were expecting.

The other thing to consider too is that Revel's poker room strategy could change. Perhaps if there is enough demand the poker room will move to a better location, etc.

My biggest hope is that there will be a lot of weak players in the cash games over the summer. You know the type: guys with sunglasses, slicked spiked hair and affliction t-shirts on their way to or from the club who like to think they're on ESPN or Jersey Shore after a drink or two and who overvalue TPTK.

I still have very high hopes for the room although it's slightly less based on this thread. I'll be there this weekend and have more to report at that time.

Welcome Revel!

Played for an hour on Saturday, some observations:

1. Clearly a "soft" opening, with lots of areas closed or still being worked on. No big deal, more to come.

2. Agree about the small men's restroom nearby, would be inadequate if more than 10 tables were in action.

3. Players were complaining about the lighting over the table, the cards were very hard to see from anywhere but the middle. Just a wee bit brighter please! Otherwise the feel of the room is luxurious. Deep reds and dark colors, like Wynn or Encore and Red Rock in Vegas.

4. Bad Beat Box and Dealer Toke box are reversed as opposed to other casinos. A player tipped $2 to the bad beat box by mistake (in seat 1). I could see long time dealers making this mistake from time to time too. Why not just go with the flow and put these where everyone else does?

5. Table was very roomy and comfortable, beverage service was fast and reliable. Was greeted near the cage by the shift manager/room supervisor on duty, and she was very friendly. Thumbs up!

6. They had a snafu when trying to open a game and couldn't get the chip cover off the rack on the table. No one would have known, except the supervisors were gathered around a live table complaining about it saying "yet another embarrassing thing went wrong on our opening!"

7. Dealer at my game was inexperienced, but friendly. She'll get it eventually. She wasn't great at controlling the action, and had to call floor 3 times in 1 hour. But every time it was handled smoothly and everyone was graceful about it.

8. Player pool - Didn't recognize anyone really, a couple old familiars from Boardwalk small time games, but mostly casual players. GOOD.

9. Food - I ate at the "Taco Truck" on my way to the room. Only a couple minutes from the room, but it can have a bit of a line. Reasonable prices, and good quality. Big issue though, you get one check for your food, and then when you go over to your table, the neighboring bar waitresses come over and get your drink order. This makes you get 2 checks and is not explained by the staff well. I used a credit card to pay, and put my tip on the first check. The bar waitress was not all that happy that I wasn't going to tip her too, but I already put $3 on a $7.50 food check, so I wasn't going to tip for a $3.50 coffee on top of that!!! Just a clunky customer experience, please fix Revel!

Time will tell, and I hope they are attentive to the soft opening glitches and feedback and really work hard to make it a destination!

I think this room might have some hope just based on how poker-unfriendly it is. The resort is clearly beautiful and will attract high paying customers (just how many of them remains to be seen, but it will attract customers). Some of those people staying there will be casual poker players & find the poker room. Meanwhile all the regulars will stay away, creating a nice fish-to-reg ratio

I played @ Revel Wednesday night and the players were beyond horrible, some were on the fringes of even knowing how to play poker at all. I know one night is a small sample size but I will go back at least a few more times (particularly on the weekends) to see how this whole situation plays out.

Revel management has said in broadcasted reports that they want to be a resort destination primarily, and the gambing casino second just one ingredient.

Poker?

From all I read here (without rose colored glasses), being a significant poker "destination" is not in their strategic plans for success.

It would be nice to have Borgota-quality poker alternative for regs and near-regs.

Evidence is don't hold your breath. It wasnt a "design goal" for Revel.

I hope they are successful, cause AC needs a new magnet to draw new visitors, not cannibalize the existing based of casino goers.

Maybe they will come around to more pokercentric in a big way in the future.

2+2 is a great forum to watch the developments.

NOW NJ NEEDS TO LEGALIZE SPORTS BETTING!!!!

That would raise the tide for all of the casinos growth and attracting new customers and $$ into AC.

Who cares how bad the players are if there is only 1 game going. This is getting sad. Ive been around poker fpr over 56 yrs and ive never seen anyhting as disappointing as Revel(1) "soft opening". Soft opening being the most popular reason from employees as to why its so dead in this place. Ive seen more action in a morgue.
I want this place to succeed but its getting buried by the showboat and caesars. I really like all the employees here except the person who runs graveyard shift. If you play here you know who im talking about.

the business plan seems like a fantasy straight out of Looney Tunes. They are not competing with Borgata in poker. But I can't find an area where they are competing with other Atlantic City casinos in this tough market...the idea that they are competing for high end business, with some of the the most depressed low income housing within a few feet walking distance is incomprehensible to me...as you come in there through the main entrance the site is of a huge building boarded up with plywood...when are they starting tournaments?

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/c...a4bcf887a.html

Heard a rumor today someone fell from the escalator and died... Any truth?

Yeah that may be true but most of the fish are smokers.

Revel(1) is apparently the best thing that could of happend for the showboat, bally's and caesars. There poker revenue has gone up 25% since revel(1) opened.
I guess Revel(1) management had it right. This place is the shot in the arm that AC needed. This place makes the claridge look like the Borgata.

Im guessing its false. Someone would actually have to be in this casino for it to happen.

I was there this weekend and the casino (i.e, slots) was pretty packed even on Easter Sunday. The poker room was quiet yesterday, but poker isn't a major revenue stream, so I think Revel will be just fine.

Whether the poker room has major success is another story. If Revel doesn't offer a poker rate or cheaper rooms, I think it will hurt the poker room because it will mean less people staying in the building. The $2/hr in comps for 1-2 NL is great, but not enough for regular players if there are no other benefits to draw regular players.

Still, most poker players aren't 2+2 members and many casual casino-goers probably don't even know that Revel is open and that there's a poker room there. Poker may not be Revel's main focus, but they aren't going to let it be unprofitable, either. If that was the case, I think they would simply shut it down, which won't happen anytime soon.

I just texted my buddy that is on the mechanical staff at Revel and he confirmed the rumor as true.

[QUOTE=dipce;32514609]the business plan seems like a fantasy straight out of Looney Tunes. They are not competing with Borgata in poker. But I can't find an area where they are competing with other Atlantic City casinos in this tough market...the idea that they are competing for high end business, with some of the the most depressed low income housing within a few feet walking distance is incomprehensible to me...as you come in there through the main entrance the site is of a huge building boarded up with plywood...when are they starting tournaments?QUOTE]

It's really hard to understand how someone who has nothing but positives to write about Taj can find almost nothing positive to write about Revel. I played at Taj, Showboat and Revel last week and it was comical to listen to the Taj grouches bitch about every little inconvenience at Revel. If Revel did nothing else right at least it found the formula to keep the Taj grouches away.

that is hardly the case, everyone at the taj is kneeling to pray at the altar of revel, see:

Trump Taj Mahal's new marketing strategy: 'Great views of Revel!'

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/201...marketing.html

Now that's funny!

they do have a better view of Revel than Revel does I suppose

staying at Revel and having to look at the Taj is certainly no perk

Oh... I doubt someone fell over the side of the escalator. That would be hard to do. I can see someone falling down the stairs of the escalator before falling over the side.

I think Revel will have a lot of positives said about it. But the success of Revel will have little to do with poker, which is probably why it is given little attention.

Revel will have to make money quickly, and they will have to do it by catering to high-end guests who supposedly want an oceanside view. Frankly, to avoid the boardwalk area altogether, I'd rather be at Borgata or even Harrah's, but to each his own.

Revel is banking that high-end players and guests will want to stay at a "resort" type place, even though I tend to agree that calling it a "resort" is a bit of a misnomer when you have dilapidated buildings and run down areas in the immediate vicinity, but maybe that will change.

Bottom line is that Revel needs to make cash quickly. That isn't going to be something poker will help them accomplish, so look for the room to stay in a remote location with little amentities to be added in the near future. Revel will be putting its attention towards drawing the upper end guest, the upper-end foodie, the upper-end club seeker, business convention travelers and anyone else who can fill the rooms by using payment.

Heck, they are even putting a boatload of advertisments on Yankee games and the YES Network.

Wow and even with the "mechanics confirmation" none of the news or media picked up on this story. AMAZING.

Casinos do have a way to hide bad news from the press such as crimes committed inside the casino. But, this is an accidental death and I have a feeling this is bad rumor.

I have no idea if the rumor is true or not. But, as I was rising the escalator up this past Saturday, I actually thought to myself, "some drunken idiot is going to fall off the side of this thing...."

For some reason, the rail really does not seem all that high... maybe its just a illusion given how steep the fall is . . .

That may be true. But every other night of the week there is more action under neath the boardwalk than there is in revels poker room. 12 games on a Saturday isn't going to cut it in this town. When you consistently only spread 1-3 games Sunday-Thursday when you have 37 tables to use you can pretty much guarantee you will never be considered a serious poker room.