Rivers Casino in Portsmouth, VA.

3630 Victory Blvd, Portsmouth, VA 23701


The casino is open 24/7; the poker room is open from 10am-2am daily. 24 Tables with a separate high limit room.

No Limit Hold 'Em

$1/3, $100 min $500 max.
$2/5, $200 min $1000 max
$5/10, $500 min $2500 max

There's been talk of higher limits, but I haven't seen a list.
PLO -

Various. They run various PLO4, PLO5, and Big O games throughout. I will update when I see their list again.

Limit

I've seen a $3/6 limit game pop up, but haven't paid it quite much attention. Will update when I see it again.

General
NLHE games are 9-handed.
There are betting lines on all tables.
UTG straddles are permitted. Mississippi straddles are illegal.
Running it twice and rabbit hunting are not permitted.
Bomb pots are not permitted.



Rake
10% to $6 max.
$1 at $10, $1 at $30 for BBJ.
No flop, no drop.

Bad Beat Jackpot & Promos
Both hole cards must be used (presumably for both players).
Qualifying hands: Quad 10s beat.
40%/20%/40% - loser/winner/table

$500 to players who make a royal flush using both hold cards and a pot minimum of $10.

Parking

Parking is free.

Comps

$1/hr, updated daily at midnight (allegedly).

Tournaments

Currently not running as the room says they are dealing with a dealer shortage. They are also planning on hosting tournaments in their upcoming event center/convention center.

Food/drink

Drink service is available, as there are cocktail waitresses roaming the floor. Food is currently not permitted in the room, but there are five restaurants on the property.

1. Mian - Asian
2. Slice Pizzeria - pizza
3. Crossing Cafe - modern American
4. Admiral's - seafood and steakhouse
5. Starbucks - coffee

Thanks for the info. I’m heading to SC from NY this week and plan on stopping by to check it out.

I just saw this on Bravo and I'm planning out a cross country road trip. Is this place brand new?

Yes brand new. Opened in late Jan 2023

Yeah opened on January 23, 2023. As far as I know, the place doesn't have any hotels directly attached to it.

Here's what I saw on Bravo for PLO variants on Monday evening.

PLO
2-2 PLO4 200-1000
2-2 PLO5 200-1000
2-2 Big O 200-1000
5-5 PLO5 500-2500

Only big O runs even with big waiting list of more popular omaha games. They have let the locals decide what runs and how the poker room operates. Big mistake. Have fun running home games for the locals.

Their main problem is they don’t yet have enough dealers to handle the crowds they’re experiencing.

Right now (9:00 pm on Thursday), they have 6 tables of 1/3 going with a waiting list of 51 and growing by the minute.

They have only 11 of 24 tables running with a total of 102 players waiting.

That’s also likely why they close at 2 am.

If there’s anyone who will be going to this room anytime soon, please PM me. I have a request. Thanks.

My issue has been resolved. Thanks.

So apparently there is something wrong with the comps and it's not counting correctly, so more words on that later.

Here's a picture of the room's rules, as of 2/19/23.

I live about 30m away, went there a few Saturday's ago. Here's some info:

Arrived 7pm. Got on waitlist for both 1/3 and 2/5, no 5/10 going at the time. No option to call ahead or use Bravo Poker waitlist feature.

Called for 1/3 at around 8:30 (so 1.5 hr wait).

I played until closing (basically 1:30am).


Players:

Mostly loose passive preflop and tight passive post flop.

Had one action player at the table who made the game good. Raising most pots, high VPIP, having a good time.

I haven't played B&M for a while but I couldn't believe how stupid some of the other players at the table were, getting mad at this guy for splashing around and playing like a maniac.

Some redneck girl on my left was cursing under her breath at him every time he'd win a pot with some garbage hand. I had to go into politician mode and get her to relax to not kill the table vibe.

There was a 2/5 table next to mine that I was keeping an eye on. Seemed pretty nit-ish so when I was called for 2/5 (about 3 hours after getting on waitlist) I just stayed at my table and rode it out.


Dealers:

Hit and miss. There were a few that were sharp, one who seemed to have trouble with basic math, a few that were painfully slow I had to encourage to keep the game moving.

The Bad:

Portsmouth is a pretty questionable area to build a casino considering the other options in Hampton Roads. High crime, low income, etc.

Supposedly, there had already been 3 instances of people threatening to come in and 'shoot the place up' because of some errors that happened on table games out on the floor.

When I left to go to my car at 2am, walking through the parking lot was one of the sketchiest scenarios I can recall from recent memory.

As soon as I walk out and get into the parking lot, there's a busted ass 90s saab with smoke billowing out the windows just chilling there. When I crossed the street, the passenger gets out.

I had to stop and watch him for a second to see if he's going to walk towards me, then I immediately go back to the casino and walk through to a different exit.

Walking to my car from a diff exit, probably had to walk past 10 cars with multiple people in them just sitting there. Like 2 mother flowers sitting in a car in the parking lot while I walk past by myself carrying a decent amount of cash on me, ready to get out at anytime.

Unfortunately there aren't any other places to play close by so I'll probably go back and just try to park really close to the exit, but yeah the place feels very unsafe.

So does everyone have this sketched out review of the place? I'm planning to pass through the area and would like to check it out, but as an out of town traveler, the above description isn't appetizing.

Also has anybody played at Stack757 or Ultimate Poker room?

Was in Virginia for a family visit and stopped by for a single session at Rivers. It was a Thursday evening. Here is my experience:

- Location seems plenty safe. Very large parking lot with decent lighting. Security at the exits, so I'm sure. you could ask for an escort.

- Surrounding area.....not as safe IMO. At 3am or so Friday morning, not many around. So gas stations and such probably not the best place to hang around long if you have a bunch of cash on you. I'd suggest hitting a large truck stop type station in the surrounding area with more people a lighting. Don't read this as the area is terrible, just would suggest if you're holding a lot of cash....find better spots to stop when leaving casino.

- Largest game running was 2/5 1k cap. Locals/regs say 5/10 doesn't run often. On weekends if you make a list, it might run.

- Action at 2/5: I only played at one table. But the action was pretty loose. At least 2 players at the table were either big time calling station or drunk/calling. The rest were a smattering of bad recs, bad regs, and decent regs. Didn't see anyone who cycled through that appeared to be a crusher, despite plenty seeming like they were known/regs. And with the at least 2 pay off wizards at the table, any crushers at the room should have been on the table change list.

- Locals/regs aren't experienced in casino poker yet. I.E. most didn't even know what a seat change button was when I asked for one (and they don't have them....oddly). This is pretty common when new casinos open. And a good thing for profit players. For the immediate future there should be plenty of home game warriors who haven't played much at casinos or against good competition and will be fish for quite a while until they adjust or go broke.

- Poker room open from 10a-4a. Seems like not enough dealers to keep it running 24/7 yet.

- Wait staff came by very, very infrequently. So much so that many would walk out to the bar to get a drink. Very bad service on this front.

- No massage staff.

- Restaurants in the casino seem to close whenever management decides. All the locations inside the casino closed earlier than the time posted on their doors or the website. I had to get a sandwich from Starbucks at about 1030pm because all of the restaurants advertised as open until midnight were closed. Regs/locals confirmed this saying it's a coin toss when food will be open.

- Signs/directions hanging in the casino were not just bad....they were flat out wrong. Sign pointing left to poker room hanging *before* corridor.....when the room is past the corridor. So easy to think you need to take that left and not keep going.

Cafe restaurant signs show just straight to the back of the casino. Back there is just a window to see in the cafe. You actually have to walk out the casino floor exit (but not exit the building, and take a corridor around to the cafe, which no sign indicated at all......at all). And it was closed earlier than time listed on the door when I finally found it.


Overall opinion:

Seems decent for poker action if 2/5 1k cap is enough for you. But don't expect good service, massage, or 24hr food. Go there just to play the game and look past the shortcomings of the casino overall and hope they improve.

Since it's the only legal place around at the moment, they will be fine. If other venues open and spread more games and have better service, this place will need to improve to remain relevant.

I'd go play again, but it wouldn't take much to get me to go to another room when/if available.



From my very short experience, winning players should easily be able to produce a worthwhile win rate at Rivers Portsmouth.

I also just visited this room. I ran terrible and lost both nights, but the room itself is very nice and generally run pretty well. I wish they ran plo instead of big0 but I guess that's what the locals want. One cashier was so slow counting my buy in that I ended not getting my seat to a game one time, that was ridiculous.

I stayed in Virginia Beach, enjoyed some tourism, and drove to the casino at night. Parking lot felt safe enough.

2/5 games I played had good action,, and other than running bad, I enjoyed my visit. Both nights the players were almost all UTG straddling, so it was really 2/5/10. The plo8 tables I played were super nitty, but isn't plo8 always full of nits?

I had hoped to visit the local bingo club poker rooms too, but they had both recently shut down their poker.

Current promotion for July is $300 high-hands every half-hour from 10:45am -12:45am.

Royal flush promo is still active. $500 for any royal when you use both your home cards. $10 minimum.

BBJ changed to 40% loser/30% winner/30% divided among table. Minimum quad 10s beat. Maxed at $100k right now.


Minimum qualifying hands are Aces full of deuces. Both hole cards must play, doesn’t need to reach showdown to play.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This place is consistently getting a 2-2-5 Big O game daily. Although there is a list that fills up for PLO4 Hi, it rarely fills as it seems the casino prefers to not make the game. Tuesday and Friday there is a 10-10 PLO5 Hi game that happens. I went last Saturday and they also had a mix game of 5/10 PLO5 and NLH, then converted to 5-10 PLO5 Hi only around 10:00 PM that ran rest of the night. Pretty good action overall. The 1/3 NLH seems like a better game to play than the 2/5 in my experience, easier opponents and higher VPIP players.

August promotion is $400 high hands every half hour from 10:45am - 12:45am on Mon-Wednesday, and $300 high hands every half hour during the same time m, but from Thursday-Sunday.

Aces full minimum, both hole cards must play.

Anyone know if the room management monitors this thread? Hope so as I have some hopefully constructive feedback to share based on me playing in the 2/5 games.


On whim took a road trip to check out this room. Room is visually nice. Tons of space between the tables. Great semi-private room behind glass doors for big games, that I doubt ever run. Plenty of floor staff\chip runners\cage staff to handle number of games running.

Smoking happening just outside the room you have to walk through which is gross. Room has large glass doors that were always closed while I was there which kept smoke out.


Some good dealers, some not so much. Some examples:

- They have rule that in 2/5 you can only bet increments of 5, even if all in. So random 2-4 dollars don't play. Observed 2 dealers enforce this. 4 different times 4 different dealers didn't, until I reminded them. Don't care either way if the odd chips play or not when someone is all in. Just that if they have rules they should be consistent.

- Tables are 9 handed. Button is in seat 2, seat 1 is empty. Seat 5 would have been UTG when he moves to seat 1. Hand is delt to everyone, when preflop action gets to me in seat 9 I ask if seat 1 needs to post. Dealer says no. I respond "are you sure? How many spots away from the blinds did he move?". Dealer "doesn't matter". I say ok.

- 7 people see a flop. Button won high hand from previous period. Floor comes over to have him sign forms during hand. Flop checks to button who is facing away from table towards floor signing form, he does not act and is not even aware flop has been put out. Dealer forgets button is in the hand, burns card and puts out the turn. While he is doing this I try to stop him saying button hasn't acted. Dealer "**** I didn't realize he was in the hand, you are right". Dealer then gives button option to decide what to do on the flop, while turn is still out there. Button "check". Dealer "we are good then." I say "wait, he looked at the turn before acting on the flop, isn't that a premature turn card?". Dealer isn't familiar with this terminology. I said I don't think the turn can stay out there. Button "I was going to check anyway". Dealer "see that's a legit check" and continues the hand. I give up and say fine. Floor paying the high hand watched this entire exchange and said nothing.


Half dozen times over the 2 sessions I corrected dealers making incorrect change etc. Second night player to my right made comments to me about how I was always paying attention to catch stuff, then he says out loud so the dealer at the time can hear "I wonder how many times they make mistakes that nobody notices". This made for an awkward moment of silence with the dealer. A couple of examples below:

- Heads up on flop I announce bet of 40, dealer acknowledges then I put out 2 green chips. My opponent calls with 2 green chips. Dealer gives my opponent 2 reds change, but does not give me change. I had to remind him after the turn was put out.
- I open to 25 preflop. Big blind cuts out 5 reds and pushed them forward into his blind that is already posted there to call. Dealer pulls in the money and puts out the flop. I point out the mistake, dealer has to count out what's in the pot to see it has 5 more than it should.


All dealers were friendly with players, to determent of game integrity. By far my biggest concern was constant home game antics - every flop has at least 4 people. So many people talking about hands in these multiway pots, lifting up cards to show neighbors and\or the dealer while deciding what to do. Many times cards could be seen by others in the hand. Never once during the nearly 20 hours I played did a dealer try to put a stop to this. Seemed like they thought this was normal and completely acceptable way to run the game.

Let me start by saying the staff are extremely friendly and make me feel very welcomed. The management does great hustling to fill tables and making me feel comfortable. I truly love playing in the room. The dealers are very friendly as well and the overall atmosphere is welcoming and great. But there are things that drive me crazy, some of which you mentioned.

Apparently the semi-private room runs on Tuesday and Friday nights for a 10-10 PLO5 high game.

I agree that the dealer / player relationships can be distracting at the table at time so much so to impact the integrity of the game. Depending on who is at the table, things can go astray quickly. I don’t really care to much about the increments of 5 thing for a bet as I personally don’t care but I’ve seen things similar to what you described. Here’s a few things that bothered me.

1. Playing NLH. It gets three betted preflop with 4 players. About $250 in the pot going to the flop. First to act who three bet fires out $125 as a C-Bet. One guy folds, one guy calls. Another guy has his arm over his cards and isn’t paying any attention. He’s kinda turned to the side talking to someone who is waiting to sit down. Dealer isn’t really paying attention and is talking to someone he knows at the table. Dealer burns and shows the turn card. It’s an Ace (obviously a betting card). Guy who wasn’t paying attention said he didn’t get a chance to call. They have to call the floor, and have to put the ace back in the deck and put out another turn card. The guy who CBet flop claimed to have AK after the hand, and was obviously heated.

2. Very similar thing as number 1. Playing 2-2-5 Omaha. 3 bet preflop with 4 or 5 people. Flop comes out with 2 spades and a low draw. Guy around the button was very quiet and down a couple buy ins for the session. One guy leads out with $135 and gets two calls. The dealer who is very fast, burns and puts out turn card which is the 10 of spades, putting out a straight and flush. Play starts to actually continue again, and the guy around the button states he didn’t get a chance to act on flop. He only has $185 total. They call the floor. Initially, it sounded like they weren’t going to put out another turn card since his total behind him was so low? More and more discussion continued, and they finally agreed to do so. In my opinion, it seemed like the guy around the button was stuck and might have been trying to free roll a turn card anyways. Either way shouldn’t happen in a pot that’s going to be a $1,000.

The frequency of the premature burn and turn has happened more times here than any place I’ve been to and it’s not close. It’s something that should be looked at.

4. Playing a mixed game, currently Omaha. One of the biggest pots of the night (about 6-7K total). I flop top two pair, nut straight and second to nut flush draw. EP pots, I repot. Person last to act thinks for a while, shows their cards to the person beside them. They talk for a little bit and person goes all in (only had about as much as first pot bet). The person who saw the callers cards announces they need a spade, and the person also said they are on a flush draw. Turn is a spade. First to act checks to me, I have second nut flush but am confident other person who is already all in must have nut flush or wouldn’t have called a flush draw. I go all in and get called. EP also had straight but no spades. Ended up making a little money and maybe I fire a pot bet on turn anyways but hearing someone else call an all in with flush draw certainly helped.

5. Not sure about other rooms and not applicable to the 1/3 NLH, but some players are away from the table more than they are at the table. I’ve often seen full tables with only 4-6 players at them and even seen the game break completely because everyone else is away. They’ll come back for a round or two and disappear again. All while the waitlist is 6 or 7 players deep. It’s frustrating.

6. Every time there is a big event in the Sportsbook (mainly UFC) the cocktail waitresses become almost nonexistent in the poker rooms. I try to tip very generously during these times to keep them in. I would even be willing to pay a few bucks to keep one around the table if needed but they should try to manage that a little better.

I frequent the room, but I’m not management. I did ask if they had someone monitoring this thread and it sounded like they did not have somebody doing that right now.

Shame. A missed opportunity for them.

I'm in the area temporarily and have visited the room a small handful of times so far. I agree that staff has generally been friendly. The room is comfortable and well appointed. A very nice space to spend time in. Based on my experiences so far (all Friday/weekend nights), it's hard to go a full evening without spending time at a very good table. Table time where the game was dry and nitty was quite limited. I haven't had a losing session yet. Honestly, great game selection is my #1 criterion for poker venues so in some ways the conversation ends there. (Well, after being safe enough not to get rolled on the way out. No concerns at all there. Handful of police cars scattered near entrances/exits to building and throughout the lot.)

My most recent visit was the first in any of the larger games, and ran into the problem described in (5): Multiple players up from the table for extended time, simultaneously, while the list is 8+ deep (the 2-2-5 Big O game). When I raised this to the dealer, asking "These guys have been gone a while, how much longer until they get picked up?" the response was "I don't know how long they've been gone, I just sat down here".

I tried to stifle an eye roll and replied along the lines of, "Yes, I know. That's the point. How long are they allowed to be away from the table before they get picked up?" The dealer did not have an answer.

Several other players at the table chimed in; one said "Yeah, they haven't been here since I got to the table, so that's an hour at least." We eventually got a floor (maybe he was even the room manager?) to the table and I asked him about it. He replied that he would look into it, and bustled off, but didn't give me an answer to the question "How long before they get picked up?" and didn't come back with any response/resolution in the next half hour I was there, at which point I decided to call it a night since it was getting late-ish and they didn't care to fill the game back up.

It was clear that one, maybe both players were well known in the room, so there may have been some "Who is this guy" (me) vs "Folks we see all the time & know by name" (walking players) factor. Though there were also at least two regs at the table who were interested in adding some new blood too instead of continuing to have dead seats, so who knows.

I will say I have gotten the feeling that regs liked by the staff will get favorable treatment (such as ignoring my questions about picking them up) & perks, though I'm not super worried it would extend to a floor decision strictly about a game ruling.