Folks,
Went to Pala and Pauma this week first times ever. Also note the Golden Acorn no longer has poker.
Pala has about 15 tables. Nice layout, very nice new tables, and very very nice new chairs (except no wheels). The staff was super friendly. I was on crutches and they went out of their way to help out. There is one gaping flaw in the "room" however...
It is not a room, but a partitioned area of the casino floor. That means completely open to the bing-bing-ding song of the slot machines, and the smoke of the degens who play them. I was there mid-day, mid-week, and with the casino busy but not crowded there was no smoke problem. So, I got to figure they at least got a good air circulation system. Also, half the seats face the casino, which means no TV
.
They had one $1/2, 100 max no-limit table, and one $3/6 kill limit table going. They were dropping $5 max ($1 from big blind on deal, $3 flop, $1 on pots $30 over, I think).
In the meaningless short sample time I played there, one hour, my fellow players were nice and friendly, way to chatty for my taste, and the most clueless players I've seen in quite a while. Turned $100 to $200 while completely card dead, and almost considered that a "loss".
Pauma has five tables, but didn't have any games going at all before their 7pm tourney. I donked out first level with set under set (dude hits his quad A's on turn, game over). Floor said don't expect any cash games for an hour so ... off we went.
Pauma gives up $10 slot or table play and a carry bag for joining their players club. Pala gives you nothing. Both have cocktails, Pala has a hotel. Didn't eat at either, but assume they both have table side service.
Now I just need to get out to Santa Ysabel.......