Relocating to Champaign, IL

[pacecar86]

otter, 5/10 NL at Resorts usually has a must move system of 2-3 tables & is the only 5/10NL game in the Chicago area that I know of...decent/deep-ish action too...a deeper, 1 table NL game usually runs on Fridays, 1K min/no max, think it is a 10/20NL game, never played it, but, would guess it is the largest casino NL ring game around

[magoo]

It won't be long before you will hear about a few players from the Urbana Champaign area, making trips up I-55 to Empress Joliet. Empress attracts players from those towns close to I-55. Among a few other problems with Empress, the Holdem games are among the toughest, you will find anywhere. Check out the clientele -- western Chicago suburbs. Long time experienced gamblers. Those three tables in the "poker corner" are less profitable than some joint in Las Vegas. On the bright side, Four Winds (New Buffalo, Michigan) will be open in August. And you won't have long to wait (2008) for the expansion of Harrah's Horseshoe (Hammond, Ind.)

[ QUOTE ]
Hey guys, I'm relocating to Champaign, IL - I've never lived there or anything, and I have no idea what the legal brick and mortar poker scene in the Land of Lincoln is like. Where are the nearest casinos with poker rooms? Where are the good ones? Do they spread Omaha 8 anywhere within a 2-3 hour drive?

I believe the area is 2 hours from Chicago, 2 from Indy and 3 from St. Louis. Thanks for any help.

I would also be interested in finding a low stakes (.50/1.00 blind pot or no limit, for example) home game or tournament (up to about a $100 buyin). I really don't know anyone in the area except for my new boss and one friend who doesn't play poker. Thanks for any help.

[/ QUOTE ]

[MortalWombat]

[ QUOTE ]
go to harrah's in st. louis. of all those mentioned or not i like harrah's stl best. a little bit farther, but better games i think.

[/ QUOTE ]Here's a tip if you're traveling to the St. Louis casinos (not the downtown one, the good ones Ameristar and Harrah's) from Illinois. When you get to where Interstates 55, 70, and 270 meet in Illinois, take 270 west and then get back on 70 once you're in Missouri to bypass the downtown congestion on 70. Once you get back on 70 from 270, the exit for Harrah's is next (Earth City Expressway, take south exit). Ameristar is just a few miles later, the first exit after you cross the Missouri River.