Re: Questions about the Orleans Poker Room
 

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I used to visit The Orleans pretty often. I'd stay there a lot when the strip hotels were expensive prior to moving here. And after I moved here I visited it somewhat often for a while. But it finally dawned on me, the place is just miserable.

The dealers are nastier than any on the strip. I've never seen a strip dealer come right out and hiss "why do you THINK I'm angry, sir--it's because nobody is tipping me, that's why" as she's flinging cards left and right and scowling and sighing and moaning after getting no toke on two hands in a row with a $6 pot.

And the players are worse...the 2/4 and 4/8 games are filled with 70+ yo pensioners playing on their social security checks, treating every $4 bet like it's life and death, and throwing things when they lose a $20 pot. If you want to see an octogenarian grandmother sound like a longshoreman who just dropped a crowbar on his foot, just checkraise her on the turn at the Orleans.

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Although I've stayed there many times, I've only played there a few times because it is the unluckiest cardroom on earth for me. But the times I've played 2/4, it's been like any other 2/4 in Vegas - a few happy drunks, a couple clueless tourists, and a unabomber wannabe.

Re: Questions about the Orleans Poker Room/Follow up Question
 

Ok gang, I was thinking about suprising my wife with a trip to Las Vegas in February. The Orleans was high on my list but it looks like it has declined in reputation on this forum. Given that, looking for a moderate priced casino with a poker room. Here are the ones I was thinking about:
1) Sahara
2) Monte Carlo
3) Gold Nugget

Any thoughts or other suggestions...jb

Re: Questions about the Orleans Poker Room/Follow up Question
 

Not sure what kinda budget you're on, but Sahara is NOT going to impress the little woman. That's a place college students go to (or me, 'cause I'm cheap and single and all I need is a bed and about 30 minutes of TV at the end of the day to suck the brainwaves out before sleep).

Monte Carlo is the clear winner for a trip with your wife. Nugget is a nice enough hotel, but there is NOTHING else downtown to please your wife. MC has a small poker room that's ok (nothing bigger than NL1/2 and 4/8, and often just NL1/2 and 2/4). But you've got easy access to MGM for slightly bigger games. There's nothing to the immediate north except construction, and that could be a downside--folks report sometimes the noise from City Center going up is unpleasant in the guest rooms.

Harrah's, Flamingo, and Bally's tend to be middle-classish, and have a nicer central location, and shouldn't disappoint the chick in your life. Check those out. I'd pick 'em in preference to MC, not because they are nicer (I think MC may be a tad nicer, actually) but they will be quieter and much better located.

Re: Questions about the Orleans Poker Room/Follow up Question
 

Monte Carlo is nicer for wives, Orleans is nicer for gamblers (24hr Subway is answer to a prayer at 3 am).

If you can squeeze out 6 hours of poker a day, the Wynn/Bellagio/Venetian at the poker rate beats all others.

Re: Questions about the Orleans Poker Room
 

I appreciate all the comments. It doesn't sound like a place I'd enjoy. I'll stick with playing at the MGM, and I'll try my hand at 1/2 NL (Lord help me).

Re: Questions about the Orleans Poker Room
 

I have been to the MGM poker room many times, its my favorite, off strip poker room and wives to impress, green valley ranch obv

Re: Questions about the Orleans Poker Room
 

I think best idea is to add like $40 / day to amount you are budgeting for your room...this will open up numerous hotels that are more wife friendly. Use internet search sites for reasonable deals on most hotels, but after getting the best internet price also phone the hotel you decide on direct as often they will offer you a slightly better price.

Budget at least $20 to toke the check in person...it is a +EV gamble.

Extra $40/day = maybe extra 1 1/2 hours poker/day...good excuse to wife why you are required to play so long and don't have time to drive her to the outlet mall.

Re: Questions about the Orleans Poker Room
 

Thanks for the info. I probably should also say that I have been 'blessed' with a wife that LOVES the Sahara. She is the consumate $3 blackjack player and the Sahara was one of the few places that still offered limits that low. Last time we were there, I could leave her at the blackjack table with $30 bucks, cab down to the Mirage or Bellagio and play poker for 4-5 hours, come back and find her with the same $30 smashed out of her mind on free watered down screwdrivers and having the time of her life. Something about the move from $3 to $5 makes her to jumpy to play. I hear that the Sahara is gradually moving their limits up though and thought it might be a good chance to check out the other places...jb

Re: Questions about the Orleans Poker Room
 

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Thanks for the info. I probably should also say that I have been 'blessed' with a wife that LOVES the Sahara. She is the consumate $3 blackjack player and the Sahara was one of the few places that still offered limits that low. Last time we were there, I could leave her at the blackjack table with $30 bucks, cab down to the Mirage or Bellagio and play poker for 4-5 hours, come back and find her with the same $30 smashed out of her mind on free watered down screwdrivers and having the time of her life. Something about the move from $3 to $5 makes her to jumpy to play. I hear that the Sahara is gradually moving their limits up though and thought it might be a good chance to check out the other places...jb

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Saharas daily tournaments rock 20 min levels wooo