Gun Lake shutdown was a bit of a snoozer. They indicated a 3 AM closing, but cut off drinks at 12 AM and started shutting down slots as Players walked away from them ... essentially just weeding them out. Last hand was 130 AM with staff indicating that 'they' had to be out by 3 AM, if possible. All good, it was just interesting to be there for it. (I forgot to check to see if the doors even had locks on them!!)
The word was that everyone should bum rush Four Winds South Bend, but I see they only have one table going right now. I called them last night and they seemed unaware that they might need to staff up if they continued to stay open. GL
Do you think this will motivate Michigan Online poker to move more forward? It would be a way to keep revenue arriving? Maybe help fund the sate etc. What else have they got to do?
Do you think this will motivate Michigan Online poker to move more forward? It would be a way to keep revenue arriving? Maybe help fund the state etc. What else have they got to do?
Seriously, this is the PERFECT time to roll out online poker again in MI!
Gaming was trying to work through all the 'live' sports betting first before they went full steam on any of the online opportunities. So they may be ready to put more effort into those areas ... but they may also be under work restrictions as well. GL
Gun Lake poker room is no more, decision was just made to fill room with slot machines since number of players has dropped off dramatically since swapping high limit room and poker. There go all our jobs
Interesting news ... hopefully it's just talk. 'Of course' numbers are down since moving ... it's a smaller room!! The timing of the move certainly couldn't have been worse with the implementation of the new Rewards Program at basically the same time. Players are a finicky bunch.
I do think 'tax season' was a bit down, but I also think the games are playing bigger so it's easier for a Player to blow through a night's funds quicker.
I would really be interested in the language of the promo fund and BBJ to see what their options are on that. We all saw that Turtle Creek was unable to 'move' those funds out to the pits and I would assume that to be the case at GLake as well. So they would 'have' to open at least to deplete those funds.
I don't know the numbers, but unfortunately in a casino you need to have 'management' (Floors) present ... and one would assume that they are 'costly' to the operation. So a drop in total play would make it harder to cover any fixed cost (salaried employee ... et).
If we refer to my previous post where there were 281 (plus 30-40 RIT) hands of PLO on a Monday that would've generated $1605 in rake at that table. That only averages about $66 per hour over the 24 hours that Table 6 takes up space, which is well below most 'service' hourly rates in today's world (car fix, plumber .. et). I can understand where casino management could get nervous.
I've basically challenged all of Shawn's five posts without much response, but now it seems that the information may be more than opinion ... note the "our jobs" language. That's hardly grammar that an outsider would use ... but I've been fooled before. GL
Another interesting note is the person in Holland who tested positive for COVID-19 was supposedly Gun Lake casino days prior to a positive test. Coming from someone who works a high up job in Allegan County.
That may very well be why GLake was a bit ahead of the curve when it came to shutting down and 'obvious' increased cleaning efforts. One would think there has to be a point in the efforts where that information needs to be made more public than here. GL
Gun Lake has extended it's 'voluntary' shut down until Monday April 13th at 9 AM ... well, it was voluntary (mostly) when it started!!
Keep all your 'Golden Ticket' vouchers to exchange for whatever promo they are trying to get approved at Gaming. Not sure Gaming is 'essential' to state government but I hope that flexibility is at least temporarily part of the approval process.
No word on the weekly promo tickets that any of us might have had nor whether or not the poker promos will just be extended to the next 'available' dates. GL
Isn't our state fun? Obviously we all look forward to each potential 'deadline' and the information that comes forth each day ... one way or the other. I've been in contact with a couple of GLake staff and they are just hanging out at home trying to wait this out.
Personally anyone who thinks we are just going to flick a switch and go back to normal really needs to take a second look at that idea. IMO even if we are 'released' back into public on May 1st we will still have social distancing rules in effect for commercial businesses going forward for 'x' more time ... and that would impact 'poker' since it's just not feasible to have 6' between Players. So perhaps even though the casino will open, poker may not.
A restaurant can 'close' every other table, a casino can open only every 3rd slot as well as other restrictions that are already in place continuing forward that would still inhibit other activities from returning to normal for some time.
Will sports stadiums, churches, amusement parks, malls or any other close contact gatherings now become 'at your own risk' to eliminate any potential liability related to a new exposure?
Even with a vaccine, how do we prove or know that 'everyone' is covered? Do we brand CV19 onto everyone's wrist that's 'clear'?
Hopefully everyone's hanging in there. Looks like unemployment is getting their act together and money will actually be coming through. I know of a guy in Minnesota that already got the $600 bonus last Thursday ... but how did MN get ahead of MI? That is a question that I don't want to try and handle in this thread ... go somewhere else on that one. GL
A little bump here ... but really not much to 'report' ...
1) There are (multiple) poker opportunities in WM .. and really all over .. if you know the right people. Where there's a will there's a way. Just like with SSA, there's an increased amount of traffic when the UIA sends over their funds ... and don't forget about the stimulus payments too!!
2) From a 2nd-hand mid-level source, Gun Lake as done a decent job of maintaining some communication with it's staff.
3) IMO .(not fact or otherwise) .. Gun Lake probably doesn't want to open it's poker room with the rest of the casino. And they may not 'have' to do so at the same time anyway. But with the promo funds sitting there my feeling is that they will have to open 'soon' unless there's some magic backdoor clause to those funds that would allow them to put them out onto the floor/pits somehow. If that type of clause exists, or they can get an exemption from Gaming, then I'm leaning towards no poker at GL until the expansion is completed ... which would now be Fall of 2121 with all the delays.
4) IMO .. If they don't do so right away, FKeepers will partition off the back side of the room (9-12 tables?) and create a pseudo non-smoking slot area in the short term. If FK can get even 70% of the normal tournament interest back, then and only then will they get the rest of their room back full time. I would be stunned if FK backed off poker completely. GL
I would have to agree that in my OPINION the poker room is in danger at GL. The casino will need revenue and space on the floor for socially distanced slots will never be more valuable.
Both GL and FK opening on June 1st without poker. GLake only open from 8 AM to 3 PM for slots (table games with limited seating shut down at 2 PM) ... You must park in the parking garage and go through a screen process to enter the building.
Don't remember all the FK details but neither facility is offering valet ..
Just the first step. i'm sure casinos will be keeping an eye on each other to see how far each is willing to go to get back to BAU. GL
Both GL and FK opening on June 1st without poker. GLake only open from 8 AM to 3 PM for slots (table games with limited seating shut down at 2 PM) ... You must park in the parking garage and go through a screen process to enter the building.
Don't remember all the FK details but neither facility is offering valet ..
Just the first step. i'm sure casinos will be keeping an eye on each other to see how far each is willing to go to get back to BAU. GL
Isn't GLC June 8th?
Just to state the obvious: no poker room when they open
Just like the Gov's orders .. things are a moving target in the media!! Here's a paste from their website this morning ... Smoking is also limited to 'past' the pit games by valet and the old poker room. So essentially from the parking garage past the pit is smoke free (for now).
OPERATING HOURS
Experience The Best Days from 8AM – 3AM daily for Guests that are 21 years and up. Building access will be closed from 3AM – 8AM for an intense and detailed cleaning of the entire facility with an emphasis on all high-contact surface areas.
SLOTS
The sounds, the lights, the feel of a jackpot win — it’s all here! Enjoy your favorite games with adequate social distancing provided by powering off every other game. For your protection, hand sanitizers and sanitizing wipes are available for your personal use.
8AM – 3AM daily.
TABLE GAMES
The thrilling play of your favorite games will be here with limited max occupancy for each game type. The Poker room will remain closed until further notice.
8AM – 2AM daily
DINING
From the chocolate drizzles to the steak’s hot sizzle – our creative chefs have been getting ready to serve you. Sandhill Café will feature a new menu that is sure to please.
Sandhill Café: 11AM – 11PM Sunday – Thursday and 11AM – 12AM Friday & Saturday
Sandhill Café Grab & Go: 8AM – 3AM
Harvest Buffet will remain closed until further notice.
GLake is now open 24/7 with the same 'entry' protocols (enter via the parking garage). Presently the slot capacity is a humble 8% at 7 AM.
There has been no word (official or otherwise) about GLake (or FKeepers for that matter) poker, but the GLake Dealers have been receiving calls about 'alternative' employment at the casino, including the Sports Book and pit. This is a pretty good indicator that poker is not even on the horizon. From a picture on Twitter the tables have been removed and slots put back into that area.
The obvious question is what will happen to 'our' money in the promotional fund. This is an interesting issue since, from the information that I have, poker is under a separate gaming agreement with the state. IMO that would make it extremely difficult for those funds to be 'absorbed' into any other area of the casino. My gut tells me that GLake will/may inform Gaming that poker is 'on hold' until after the expansion is complete and then deal with it somehow next year.
Of course they don't have to do anything about it currently since there's no live casino poker anywhere in the state ... of which Gaming needs to approve the logistics of (at least at the Detroit casinos).
So you can vent your frustrations all you want, but until there's live poker somewhere in Michigan (or the Midwest for that matter) there's really nothing to complain about. GL
WSOP.com online series started yesterday with Michigan's Adam Lamphere cashing.
One event per day in July with GGPoker picking up that ball later this month and into August for the international Players.
You can play as long as you are physically in Nevada or New Jersey for the WSOP.com events.
Plenty of big time names if you look at who cashed.
So with all the hotel deals that are popping up in our emails, it may not be a bad idea to fly to LV and just sit in a hotel room and mash out some online tournaments. Shoot, if PHellmuth can finish 11th, so can you!! GL
