+1. The only reason I went to the room on a Sunday night is because I had a vacation day scheduled for today. I figured it would be a good chance to play without the insane waits associated with Friday and Saturday nights. The lists, while huge, did move pretty quickly as a lot of people either registered for every list or just gave up on getting on a table until late Sunday night.

Yes, each dealer's tray is stocked with yellow $2 chips and beige $4 chips for the rake. According to one dealer, they are doing it so that the rake box does not need to be cleared out as frequently. The chips are NOT available for sale to poker players. I am not sure if they are used at other table games.

I don't have a problem if a dealer is fast and can make the change without interrupting the flow of the game. However, there were several instances where dealers stopped the game to make change for the blinds (compared to Atlantic City, where dealers usually make the change as the action is occurring). If they are going to do the same thing for the rake, I think you're losing some time overall.

Personally, I thought the game moved pretty fast given the new dealers and the new room. I may have been lucky though, as my table had pretty fast decision-makers. Right before I left, an older gentleman sat down who was trying to be a character (the dealers seemed to know him, so maybe he's already a regular of sorts) and he slowed the game considerably, pretending he didn't know how to play, etc. Fine, it might be cute once or twice, but the 20th time, just make a decision.

Anyone know what the waitlist is currently like for the NL games? Also, has anyone ever seen Omaha played at Sands yet? One article stated that omaha and omaha 8 or better will be offered there, but have never seen it myself yet...

As a resident of PA and one who lives about 20 minutes from the Sands I have been waiting a long time for this poker "room" to open. If I may, I'd like to give my take on the Sands.

First off while reading this (for those who do) keep in mind I am a relatively easy going person so I may not have a lot of negativity to spray here.

First off the wait.... Yes its ridiculous at 30 deep for limit games and sometimes approaching 100+ for the $1/$2 NL. I've found the way around that by making sure I get there in the 10-10:30 AM range. They usually have 4 to 5 tables going with a minimal wait and at 11AM a second wave of dealers come on and new tables open when lists get large enough to warrant opening a new table.

Secondly not being able to buy chips from the dealer is a bit annoying but it doesn't bother me too much as I am a limit player that has a strict money management rule I follow. So me rebuying probably will NEVER happen. I loose I cruise. As far as not being able to buy chips from the dealer...that is the casino's choice not a PA law. The PA law is CASH DOESN'T PLAY. I played at Mount Airy twice before the Sands opened and to be honest with you I hate their chip purchasing at the table system. Every new dealer has to make sure the table rack is $500. This became rather annoying. The table I was at was $17 short and EVERYTIME a new dealer came to my table they had to call a floor person over to "verify" this. Which took 5 minutes minimum. This would not have been bad had it not happend EVERY half hour.

As far as the dealers at the Sands, well a lot of them are still new. There was one guy that dealt my table that was absolutely horrible, I gave him the benefit of the doubt since it was last Sunday, their opening day. I did notice the next time I went, the following Wednesday he had improved dramatically. However there are a few that need a lot more time and I'm not sure if this one lady will ever make it.

Now for my player review...not too shabby all around at the $3/$6 limit games. Granted it IS limit and you will have your call any players and they WILL suck out on you time to time but like they say without those players people wouldn't be able to make a living playing poker.

Overall I am very comfortable playing poker at the Sands and look forward to many more visits to pad my bankroll. Sorry about being long-winded here.

I have yet to see an Omaha game at the Sands. When I was there Saturday morning there were 8 empty tables and the floor person at that time told a guy that was waiting that if they offer a game and he wants to start a list of interest for that game that they would put it on the board and see what happens. So I'm guessing if you can get there while they still have empty tables and ask them to start a list for an Omaha game they will. Then of course you would just have to hope that people coming to the poker area have an interest in Omaha.

I actually think there is ample space amongst the tables. You want to see a place with no room between tables...got to the Sardine factory..Mount Airy. When they change dealers half the room has to stand up.

I was told by a pit manager that it is indeed true. The original regs sent to the state did not include selling chips to players from the table. Not sure why, but it is in the process of being changed. The manager told me that in a few weeks they will be able to sell from the rack once they do get approved from the state. Mount Airy obviously put that in their regs from day 1.

Is it a rule too that the cage can only sell red birds and whites? If the did sell greens and you were planing on re-buying you can buy an extra 300 in greens and put them in your pocket.

Did anyone try this yet? Buy 600 in chips from the cage and go over to a blackjack or craps table and color up. So you don't have to put 300 in reds into your pocket.

BTW you can buy chips off the tables in other card rooms I'm been in PA. It must be a house rule and the dealers are blaming it on the state.

Did you not read my post? I said that other places must have initially been allowed to sell chips from the rack from Day 1. The Sands did not have that included according to the pit manager I spoke with. They want to be able to sell chips from the rack, it is slowing the games down, and it is upsetting players. He said that it is being changed, but it will take a few weeks. After then it will be no issue..

As someone who used to be a dealer, I do know that it takes time to change procedures and everything must be approved by the gaming commission. That's the way it was in NJ, and I am assuming the same holds true in PA.

Like I said it's casinos fault(poor planning when they put together their proposal to the state) not the states fault. Are they also going to change the "you can not buy greens or blacks from the cage too?". Is this the states fault as well? It's a stupid rule as well.

I don't think that they are "blaming" the state. They are merely stating that until they get approval from the state, they are not allowed to sell the chips from the rack. It is obviously the casino's fault for not putting it in the initial regs, but it is fairly obvious that any change in procedure must be approved by the commission first..

As for the chips, I didn't hear anything about that. The cage and the poker room are separate entities. Why would the poker room have any blame in that one?

Hey guys, Im just wondering what the games are like during the weekdays? Specifically 2/5 at around noonish. Is there usually a game and if so are there waits around that time? Thanks in advance, I'm sure I'll be seeing some of you there in a week or two.

Been watching the posts about the dealers not being able to sell chips out of their wells. From what I understand, if a casino does not specifically put in their internal controls how to do something, it can't be done until it is resubmitted. BTW, heard a rumor that Mt. Airy was fined for dealers selling chips because they don't have permission for that.

that's how it usually works... someone has to start the interest list.

btw is it an electronic video board like Borgata, or an overhead projector of a handwritten list like Taj (used to be), or a self sign up kiosk?

Do any of the local hotels offer a shuttle service to the Casino?

If not, does anyone have an idea what a cab is?

Any hotel recommendations?
Thx

I just got to the sands, there's a 90 wait to play, and two of the 12 tables are not being used. I wad told they are understaffed. WTF?!?!?!!?

hahahaha... Looks like their on top of things.

Is it me or do the wait lists at the sands seem alot bigger then MT airy

In fairness to the Sands, I heard on Sunday night that they were only going to be running 10 tables on Tuesday. That came right from one of the suits that man the front sign in desk on Sunday night already. One of the players at my 3/6 LHE game asked the floor if the room was going to be open on Tuesday because he had heard that the room was going to be closed for the day. This may well have been BS, but the answer given was that the room was only to be running 10 tables on Tuesday because of something with the state. AFAIK, it was just a one-day thing.

I know that is a weak explanation, but I wasn't really paying attention because I knew I wouldn't be playing there on Tuesday. But I don't think it was a staffing issue if the floor and players already knew about it on Sunday night.

are the sick waits because the room just opened or theres actually too much demand for 12 tables or w/e?

I was thinking of driving out there if it was a noticeably faster drive from nyc than AC but if theres long waits I dont really see the point. =[

There are two hotels within a mile of the casino, the Comfort Suites University the Holiday Inn Express. HI Express has been open about a year, so it's rather nice and comfortable. Comfort Suites University has a shuttle that will take you to the Sands. Book in advance as these places will fill up with Philadelphia Eagles training camp visitors.

DavyGravey Questions:

I will say to the other people watching this forum that the floor manager is a former Showboat AC manager, and he is very competent in his role. I am sure he is doing everything he can to improve the poker conditions at sands.

DaveyGravey:

Can you give us any timelines as to potential expansions? Tourneys? Or any other news?

I was there today around 1:30 PM. Was #28 on the list when I got there, and I was seated within an hour. ALOT of no-shows when names are called, so keep that in mind when you hear about the waitlist. I am sure that the % of no-shows is lower on weekends, but still . . .

Manager was very accurate when telling wait times for a seat.

Definitely still some noob dealers that make things rough at times. I am pretty sure they will be weeded out as the room gets established. There are already rumors that reinforcements are on the way.

It is very true that they are understaffed. I have been playing there pretty much everyday, and several of the dealers I talked to there said that they have not had a day off yet. One of them even told me that they could possibly work 2-3 weeks STRAIGHT without a day off. They are also working like 12 hour shifts. From what I understand, a few of them are getting 1 day off this week, so they are short-staffed. The one manager I talked to said that there are more dealers coming soon, so this shouldn't be a problem too much longer.

I give props to these dealers for working that many 12 hour days in a row. That is not an easy thing to do, especially for the newbies. Heck, I doubt I would have been able to do it and I dealt for years. Very easy to burn out quickly. It's a good thing that they are starting to give days off... It's better to be short-staffed for a bit than to have a ton of dealers either get sick or decide to quit IMO..

They have an electronic video board, similar to the Borgata. You sign up for the list at the floor desk at the entrance to the poker area.

Thanks!