The 2 empty poker tables is more likely staffing issues. A new dealer class just started, so it is probably a few weeks off yet till they can fully staff.

I just hope the wait does not run people off in the mean time.

I'm thinking of heading down after lunch. Any update on waits around lunchtime would be great.

Was there last night. One of the dealers said they have 6 more tables on order from Vegas and they are waiting for their arrival and deciding where to put them until the further expansion takes place. He also commented that he doesn't think the problem is going to be where to put them but their biggest concern is who is going to work them. He said this week he will have logged 72 hours of dealing which from what he said is the least amount of hours he's worked in a week since the poker room openned.

So yes staffing is a really really big issue right now over there.

Oh without a doubt it's all staffing - it's a tedious process to get a letter of intent to hire, pay for the classes, wait the mandatory waiting period then get hired. It's a shame to see 12+ blackjack tables empty, yet people standing 2-4 deep waiting to get on the other ones. If you read the mcall article, Sands is making about $118k / day gross after paying winners. Sounds good until you realize Parx is doing more from fewer tables, and that's probably because 1/5-1/4 of all Sands tables are empty and dormant from play.

Wednesday night I saw one of the worst misdeals of my life, from a dealer who I know has several years experience. Seat 1 was dealt an Ace face up, he kept dealing around the table and the second card to seat 1 was a second Ace, face up. The hand was considered dead because of two exposed cards, a few jokes were made and in the end, it looks bad on the casino...

Total insanity tonight because of the car giveaway - had to park a good 1/4+ mile away in a far lot because the parking deck was full.

Just about every slot machine was occupied approaching the 7pm drawing and the poker room was packed, 1/2NL was up to 73 at one point.

For those asking, they did run one 4/8LHE game tonight, but it wasn't very popular. While standing by the podium, several players came to get on the 3/6LHE list and the boss suggested 4/8LHE as an alternative since the list was floating around 8 people the whole time I was there. No one took him up on it.

Play was kind of soft and loose tonight for the 90 minutes I played.

Also - had some trouble Friday with the twitter bot but I seem to have resolved it, sort of. Updates were 2 hours behind tonight. Tomorrow I'll be looking into it more. Please continue to use the hashtag #sandspoker when you're there and / or follow http://twitter.com/paSandsPoker

Even worse was the drive home. Rt. 78 construction...it took me 2 hrs to get to the NJ border.

Guess I'll be frequenting Mt. Airy more often.

Glad I didn't go then, I was contemplating heading over around 8.

During the construction, you could always take Route 80 West to 57 West which brings you to Route 22 like 10 miles outside Bethlehem. It takes about 1 1/2 hours.

Where are there $2/4 tables- out west? I hadn't heard that the eastern rooms were running $2/4 limit tables (partially due to the rake- taking 1.5BB out is a bit of a flag)

I have off on Wednesday and im thinking about making a trip to Sands.... About what time do the tables fill up? What time should I get there around to avoid any kind of wait?

The rooms in Atlantic City run it, Borgata and Ballys I know for sure.

Before noon

Ill be there tomorrow all day! Hopefully no traffic.

Went for the first time tonight. Played 1/2 for like 90 mins and made $200 (ran pretty nice). Only 1/2 and 2/5 were running, no 3/6 limit like I prefer. The waitlist for each was about 7 when I got there and it only took about 20 mins to get a seat. Will definitely return a lot as long as I'm at school.

Went to play a little 2/5 last night...first time I had been back since opening week, and things seemed to be improving as expected

There were (8) 1/2 tables and (2) 2/5 tables going when I get there, and <10 people on each list...I think I was 5th or 6th on the list, ended up waiting about 40mins, no big deal. The one 2/5 table seemed to have a lot more action than the other, but I got seated at the calmer of the two, and left up a good bit after about 5 hrs.

The dealers were bad to okay the first time I went a few weeks ago, and they've improved significantly. During my 5 hrs there, there were very few to no notable dealer errors, and the floor was only called once or twice for pretty simple issues which were quickly and appropriately resolved. The few seats that opened up during the session were also filled pretty quickly.

I heard differing speculations as to when they're adding more tables, relocating the poker room to a different part of the casino, etc, and it all sounds good. For now, the only complaints I have are the tables (no leg room unless ur in front of the dealer/absurdly high foot-rests) and the amount of distractions caused by where the poker room is located in the casino. The wait times can be annoying, but that's hit or miss...I think once they relocate the poker room and add a few more tables (one or both of which could be in the near future), it should solve the few minor problems I see. Management/dealers/floor are getting better by the day; mix that with a good playing environment (and maybe some luxuries like chip runners when you felt ) and I'm really optimistic about this poker room. Hope things keep getting better.

Open seats 3/6 limit 1 table. 1/2 4 person waiting list 5 tables. 2/5 nl 4 person waiting list 1 table at interest for 5/10 omaha 2 person interest. Not sure if its PL or FL

Pocono Downs runs 2/4 LHE as their bottom level.

Are they raking 10% to $5 + $1 BBJ?

thanks for the info

Larry,

I was up at the other pocono casino, Mount Airy when they first openned tables, week of July 12th, they too were running 2/4 limit hold'em games. They were raking 10% up to $5+ $1 for BBJ. Haven't been there since though so not sure if they are still spreading 2/4.

One or two tables run every day. Near unbeatable IMO w/ the rake though, except for the fact that I assume the players are so bad it's still profitable.

Chester had a few tables of 2/4 limit.

Mohengan Sun @ Pocono Downs is 4 bucks max rake for 2/4 limit and 1/2 NL... 2/5 NL and 15/30 Limit and above is timed. No BBJ!

will i need a players card to sit at a poker table? Thanks!

No but it takes only a minute to sign up for one.

I think im taking a trip to Sands today, anyone else going to be there?

Once I am cleared of my issues I hope to become a regular...Seeing as I am only 20 minutes away that should be no issue