All this really happened in the
ePoker Room at Hollywood Park Casino.
I like ePoker and have had fun and profit playing when the game is good. Just pushing those on-screen buttons makes over betting a snap for everybody [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]. And often the game can be good, even when you're playing against a table full of "VIP Players" aka "quasi-props". But it's little fun playing in real short or even partially short games when it's easy to see that the tables can be combined into full games (especially when it appears the casino in general is slowing down for the day).
The VIP players apparently can't complain, that' part of their deal. But regular players don't like it and vote with their feet. This means the eRoom is not getting the repeat business it needs.
I think ePoker can succeed somewhere. But it will take a very good understanding of what makes conventional card rooms tick under varying conditions, and working that understanding into the eTable environment. Hollywood Park's eRoom can still turn it around, but it will take attention to the art and details of running a card room to have a chance.
~ Rick